[Cool & tender]
No.124 "Sayonara no Kyuu-jitsu" by Minako Itoh
Hi. Today's song is "Sayonara no kyū-jitsu" (A holiday I said good-bye) by "Minako Itoh".
According to the news, a frigid cold-air system is now hitting North America. It must be serious.
We wish safety to everyone in this extreme weather. Keep Warm.
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Song data
| Title | Sayonara no kyū-jitsu |
|---|---|
| Artist | Minako Itoh |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | SRCL-1902 |
| Track No. | 2 |
| Duration | 3:37 |
| Released | 1982 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Shun TaguchiLyricist
"Shun Taguchi" is an award winning lyricist, singer-songwriter, music producer, guitarist and a bassist of a progressive rock band "Yuka & Chronoship", active since 1980.
Debut
In 1980, "Taguchi" teamed up a rock band called "LORELEI" with 3 others members.
The band quickly debuted as a professional, and it became virtually a career start for "Taguchi".
"LORELEI" released 2 albums, and gathered core fans. But it discontinued in around 1982.
As a lyricist
Even afterwards, "Taguchi" formed few bands next by next, like "Reico", "Sense of wonder" or "Daizō Koshiba & Water club band". This early phase band activities of him were lasted until around 1991.
At the same time in 1982, he received a strong request from a powerful producer "Masataka Matsutōya", to write quite a few of lyrics for newly debuting, or rising female artists, including our "Minako Itoh".
According to an interview, he was forced to write 80 lyrics for "Kaoru Sudō"s 4th album "planetarium" (1983) within 1 month, by "Matsutōya".
Popular lyricist
Such "tough love" might not be allowed in the modern world. But he did a good job, and greatly contributed to the albums of those artists.
Since then, he quickly gained attention. And soon became one of the most popular lyricist.
The number of singers he offered lyrics, has already surpassed 100. And, it is still increasing.
In 1988, he was honored as the best selling lyricist. in the J-pop.
Band again
"Taguchi" had a short break on his band activity after Daizō band. But he resumed it in 2009, by teaming up a nrw progressive rock band "Yuka & Chronoship" with 3 other members.
Of course, he is carrying on working as a lyricist as always.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of Kiyotaka Sugiyama's song "Kaze-no Lonely way" (Wind blowing lonely way), of which lyrics was written by "Shun Taguchi".
If you like, please have a look.
* "Kaze-no Lonely way by Kiyotaka Sugiyama
Minako ItohComposer
"Minako Itoh" is the artist of this song.
Then, we would like to come back to her later at "about the artist" section.
Masataka MatsutōyaArranger
"Masataka Matsutōya" is a music producer, arranger, composer, car commentator, radio personality, Director of his music school, and a former keyboardist of a legendary band Tin Pan Alley, active since 1971.
He is also well known as a partner of "Yumi Matsutōya", since the person has been one of the most famous figure of J-pop.
Debut
"Masataka Matsutōya" began to learn the piano in his childhood. In 1971, when he was a university student, asked to play the piano on someone's recording. This became a start of his professional career.
In 1973, he participated in a legendary pop instrumental band "Tin Pan Alley", with members like "Haruomi Hosono", "Shigeru Suzuki", "Tateo Hayashi", and "Hiroshi Sato". And began a unique band activity.
Due to increase of the individual business by the members, the band naturally faded away around 1977.
Then, "Matsutoya" finally began to work as an arranger in earnest.
Prominent arranger
Since then, he has arranged few thousands songs.(not accurate though.)
And produced many artists, including super stars like "Yumi Matsutōya", "Amii Ozaki" and "Kaoru Sudō".
To all appearance, he is keen to cultivate capable new artists.
In 1986, at an early date of his career, he established a private music school called "Mica Music Laboratory". And it has been turning out many competent musicians for popular music for a long time.
And of course, he himself has been a top arranger, who is still working at the forefront of the J-pop.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Masataka Matsutōya)
(Ref: musicman-net.com,
Masataka Matsutōya open discussion)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of NOKKO's song "Tsubasa" (wing), which is arranged by "Matsutōya".
This song was released in 2018, and adopted as a theme music for PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics live telecast, televised by TV Tokyo networks.
The singer "NOKKO" is a vocalist of a recently revived rock band "Rebecca". She's been famous with her overwhelming power of voice. It was distinctly very good when she was in her 20s.
* "NOKKO - "Tsubasa"(wing) MUSIC VIDEO"
And, here is a video clip of Rebecca's super hit song "Friends" (1985). You can see the powerful and lively "Nokko"s vocal in the '80s.
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Cool & nightly
It seems to be a cool, quiet, tender, and slightly sentimental pop song in a medium tempo in 8th-note rhythm.
Smooth
The bass, drums, percussion, keyboard, and the electric guitar get together, and begin a thrilling introduction.
Melody and arrangement are designed in a simple and straight way. Then, it is easy to find that the backing band is playing so accurately.
"Minako Itoh"s vocal is pure and moist, and resonate with listeners.
Sentimental melody
At first glance, it sounds like a cool urban pop song thanks to an excellent arrangement by "Matsutōya".
But the main melody of this song has a flavor of an orthodox Japanese popular songs, which are often somewhat sentimental or nostalgic.
Perhaps that is why this song is still popular among fans of her.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Minako ItohStylish sentimental
"Minako Itoh" is a singer, song-writer, and keyboardist active since 1982.
She debuted in 1982 with single "Glass-no naka-no aoi umi"(Blue ocean in a glass). Since then, 4 singles, and 4 original albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Minako Itoh)
Debut
"Minako Itoh" began to learn the piano when she was 4 years old.
And, when she was a 3rd grade student of a junior high-school (circa 1977), she longed for popular singer-songwriters like "Mayumi Itsuwa" or "Mariko Takahashi", and started to create her own compositions.
From 1977 to 1982, we could not find any information about her biography for this period.
But in 1982, she was set to debut as a singer-songwriter under the produce of "Masataka Matsutōya".
1st Album
And in October the same year, her first album "Tenderly" was released from CBS Sony.
All the lyrics were provided by budding lyricists of that time. "Itoh" herself composed all the music, and "Masataka Matsutōya" arranged each of them.
Members of backing band are all top class musicians, and really gorgeous. Namely,
- Keyboards
- Masataka Matsutōya
- Drums
- Tatsuo Hayashi, Jun Aoyama, Hideo Yamaki
- E.Bass
- Tsugutoshi Gotō, Mitchie Nagaoka, Kenji Takamizu), Shigeru Okazawa
- E.Guitar
- Masaki Matsubara, Kazuo Siina, Tsuyoshi Konn
- A.Guitar
- Chūei Yoshikawa, Hiromi Yasuda
- Percussions
- Nobu Saitō
- Horns
- Shin Kazuhara, Masahiro Kobayashi, Nobuo Katō, Jun-ichi Kanezaki, Eiji Arai, Sumio Okada, Jake H. Concepcion
- Strings
- Tomato Strings ensemble
- Background Vocals
- Minako Itoh, Jin Kirigaya
It maybe already impossible to gather such brilliant members in this day and age.
So, this high quality performance of the backing band, is another pull of the album.
Albums
As seen above, thanks to capable staff around her, she made a good start as a newly debuted singer-songwriter.
As far as we understand, the record companies do not usually expect a huge hit for singer-songwriters like her, who have own styles. Because they know the fact, that it takes some time for those type of singer-songwriters become popular.
Therefore, they are wishing if those artists come to achieve constant sales in the future, and contribute for their business on a long-term basis.
In this context, she was doing pretty well.
Then in 1984, she released the 2nd album "Yūgyotō" (誘魚灯) (Fishing light attractor), again received a support from " Matsutōya"
And in 1985, her 3rd album "Portrait" was produced, and became on sale.
This time, all the lyrics were written by herself.
Like the above, she was building her career quite smoothly.
Intermission
However in 1986, she suddenly stopped all music activities.
They say that because she got married, but we aren't sure.
Indeed, she was doing a good job, we wanted her to continue.
New album
In 2000, we have received a delightful news, that "Minako Itoh" has released a new album.
The album title was "Gaku", which means melodies, or possibly an enjoyment.
Different from a gorgeous sound of Sony era, this album brings more simple and purified Minako world.
Core fans of her might prefer music like this, since there is no fancy.
We have provided a sample link at the bottom of this section. If you like, please try.
Natural life
According to her blog, she likes to live in country side rather than busy city.
In 2009, she move out with her family to a garden city near Tokyo. Then, borrowed a plot of field, and has begun to grow vegetables.
Seemingly, she couldn't share much time for farming at the beginning, because she still had some works in Tokyo. But as far as we have read, quite a bit of crops, like strawberry, sweet corns, zucchinis... she has harvested so far.
So. she must be a natural life lover.
Thank you.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Minako Itoh)
(Ref: Yotaro world, Minako Itoh)🇯🇵
(Ref: Shin-nosuke blog, Minako Itoh)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "Kanran-sha no natsu"(A summer seeing a Ferris wheel in the distance) from her 4th album "Gaku".
It begins with a new age music like pure sound of piano, but soon a nice piano ballad will start.
The name of the pianist is unclear, because we don't have an album. But it must be "Minako Itoh", or an arranger "Megumu Maruo" (ex Weekids). since both of them are pianists.
The poster "itarugra" seems to be a friend of "Itoh". And uploaded this clip on behalf of her, according to her(Itoh's) blog.
So, there should be no issues.
If you like, please have a look.
* "Kanran-sha no natsu"(A summer seeing a Ferris wheel in the distance)
by Minako Itoh
Just in case, here is a link to the album contains the above song.
"Gaku"(2000)
by "Minako Itoh"
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select the track No.2 once the page is open.)
Music Samples
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | さよならの休日(Sayonara no kyū-jitsu) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 伊藤美奈子(Minako Itoh) |
| Album Title | Tenderly |
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