[Song Review #129] "Anata-ni Tsutsumare-te" by Keiko Maruyama
Hi. Today's song is "Anata-ni tsutsumare-te" (Wrapped in you) by "Keiko Maruyama".
It's (↑) a beautiful picture of cherry blossoms. How can the photographer take such a perfect shot?
"Sakura"(cherry) flowers are still a bit early to bloom, but perhaps you can see them in 2-3 weeks time even in Tokyo.
As you might have noticed, we usually select the main picture based on the contents of the lyrics, or the song title.
But today we have picked out this photo, because of the melody of today's song, which is calm and breezy, and remind us a balmy, pleasant spring day.
So, we hope it won't puzzle you.
Some contents have been put away in a " ▼Memo " tab in each section, so please click it to read.
If the " ▼Memo " tab does not open, please enable the JavaScript in your browser.
Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Anata-ni tsutsumare-te |
|---|---|
| Artist | Keiko Maruyama |
| Album Title | Haru Sigure |
| Catalog Number | KICS-91751 |
| Track No. | 13 |
| Duration | 3:40 |
| Released | 1977 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Keiko MaruyamaLyricist & composer
"Keiko Maruyama" is the lyricist & composer of this song, but she is a singer as well.
So, we would like to come back to her later in "About the artist section".
Nozomi AokiArranger
"Nozomi Aoki" is a long serving arranger and composer.
He has been active in the areas around pops and anime music, since 1946.
Early days
"Aoki" started his music career in 1946, when he was a high school student.
After spent some time in various band as a musician, he gradually began an arranger's job since around the late '60s.
Pops & anime
About a decade, from the beginning of the '70s to the early '80s, "Aoki" concentrated on arranging a lot of popular songs for the various musicians.
His great contribution to "Keiko Maruyama"s albums were also done in this period.
From the '80s to the '90s, he shifted his center position from pop music to Anime music, and had performed many noticeable works in this one decade.
Remarkable works
Just a small portion of his great arrangement works in the popular song field are, for example,
- Tulip
"Boku-ga tsukutta ai-no uta, Itoshi-no Emily" (1974)
(A love song I made, Emily my love.)
- Keiko Maruyama
"Dōzo kono-mama"(self cover 2009)
(Wish if it keeps on...)
In the Anime song field,
- Ginga Tetsudō 999 (1978)
(Galaxy Express three nine)
(Please check the Video in below) - Genma Taisen(1983)
(Genma wars)
(No samples) - Hokuto-no ken(1984)
(Fist of the North Star)
(No samples)
might be some representative works of him.
To be continued
We might have another chance to write about him. Please allow us to take a break at this point for today.
(Ref: popo's page,
Interview to Nozomi Aoki)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "Ginga Tetsudō 999" (Galaxy Express three nine).
It's original TV series was 1st on-aired in 1978. And "Nozomi Aoki" participated in as an arranger.
"Ginga Tetsudō 999" is a popular series of comics originally drawn by a master SF manga artist, "Reiji Matsumoto" from 1976 to 1981. It's TV animation series were also quickly produced in 1977, and was very well-received by the people.
Opening melody of this video is the main theme arranged by "Aoki". If you like, please listen.
* "Ginga Tetsudō 999" by Isao Sasaki
Cover art today
Haru shigure
(Spring shower)
(paper jacket)
(New CD (Collectors item), Amazon.co.jp)
Keiko Maruyama, 1977.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Gentle & breezy
It's a light and breezy nice pop song in moderated speed.
The song is arranged in a fairly soft and elegant atmosphere. It is one of good character of the '70s J-pop.
Like a gentle wind
An ensemble of the bass, Drums with Brushes, strings, trumpet, classic guitar, and Glockenspiel play a smooth introduction, and the main melody starts.
In the main part, electric piano, marimba, and the horn section also join, and support the singer.
A solo play of the classical guitar, appears in the bridge, is also impressive.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Keiko MaruyamaTender innovator
"Keiko Maruyama" is a singer, songwriter, and currently a visiting professor to a college of music.
"Maruyama" debuted in 1972 with single "Kokoro-no naka-no" [(Something) in my mind]. Since then, 14 singles, and 11 original, plus 14 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Keiko Maruyama)
Debut
According to a biography, her music career began in 1972.
In that year, she entered a song competition hosted by a radio program, and performed her original song.
Luckily, she won the first prize. And this victory finally led to the debut of her.
In November 1972, she debuted as a folk singer, and released her 1st single, "Kokoro-no naka-no" [(Something) in my mind], and 1st album "Sotto Watashi-ha" (Softly, I...) almost at the same time.
Good start
Soon after debut, she became a radio personality to a music program titled "Keiko-no Sonnet". and introduced quite a few of her original songs to the listeners of the program.
In June 1973, she also started a band activity as a vocalist.
The band she joined was a unique folk song group featuring the guitars and harmony, and performing simple & artless college folk songs.
The band was fairly popular in those days, but broke up in 1975. From this point, she concentrated again on the solo activities.
Refresh
In 1976, she moved a record company, and released "Hitori-ne no lullaby" (A lullaby for me sleeping alone) as the 2nd single, and "Tasogare memory" (Twilight Memories) as the 2nd album.
"Hitori-ne no lullaby" was a light, airy, but a bit adult, and swingy pop song. It was certainly not a folk song she used to sing. Then, fans gave attention to this song.
"Dōzo kono-mama"
4 months later, in July '76, she released a French Bossa style vocal song with an ennui atmosphere, "Dōzo kono-mama" (Wish if it keeps on...) as a 3rd single, or 2nd single cut from the album "Tasogare memory".
It was an elegant & sentimental, but slightly suggestive very nice song. We think it is one of the Jewel of the '70s J-pop. (A sample of 2009 self cover is in the Arranger's section. Or, please check the video clip at the bottom of this section.)
The song slowly came under the spotlight, and it turned out a big hit after 4 months from its release. Since then, it has been a signature song for "Maruyama".
Temporary absence
After the big hit of "Dōzo kono-mama", she became a very popular singer, and lived a busy life until around 1984.
But in 1984, because she needed to dedicate more time for child raising, she tentatively stopped her music activity until 1996.
Come back
In 1996, she resumed her music activities.
A number of solo & joint concerts, releasing new songs & albums, offering lyrics & melodies, Appearing as a guest for various TV and Radio programs, etc. etc...
It seems she is enjoying a lot of works in her own pace.
And in 2009, she was appointed to a visiting professor at SENZOKU GAKUEN college of Music, and lecturing on popular music now.
We wish to listen her lecture someday if possible.
Tender innovator
In the early '70s, there was still a strange invisible wall between the main stream pops world, and Singer-song writer's (folk song or rock) world.
The former was believed more commercially-driven, and the latter was regarded as more artistic, but little too philosophical, or assertive.
In such a funny atmosphere, singer-song writers, particularly female like "Keiko Maruyama", began to release more personal, and friendly type of self-created songs one after another.
These songs were accepted well, not only by folk song fans but also by the main stream pops listeners. This eventually contributed lowering the height of that wall.
In this sense, her 1976 album "Tasogare memory" (Twilight Memories) was one of the crest. Because it combined a familiarity of mainstream pops and an artistic aspect of songwriter's world. That may be why "Dōzo kono-mama" (Wish if it keeps on...) became a big hit.
Perhaps, she had no special intention to change something. But what she had done changed the J-pop a lot, we believe.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Keiko Maruyama)
(Ref: keikomaruyama.net, official website)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of a college concert at "SENZOKU GAKUEN college of Music" in 2010.
On this video, "Keiko Maruyama" is singing her 1976 super hit song, "Dōzo kono-mama" (Wish if it keeps on...), backed by a college orchestra.
The song was originally released in 1976, and came to a big hit. It is still a favorite song for a lot of midlife people.
Of course, she is not a 22 any more. But there is a great genuine taste, only the present herself can deliver.
If you like, please listen.
* "Dōzo kono-mama" by Keiko Maruyama
Music Samples
13
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
Tower records online
billboard-japan.com
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | あなたにつつまれて(Anata-ni tsutsumare-te) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 丸山圭子(Keiko Maruyama) |
| Album Title | 春しぐれ(Haru Sigure) |
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