[Song Review #131] "Sunglass-ha mou iranai" by Miki Matsubara
Hi. Today's review is about "Miki Matsubara"s song, "Sunglass-ha mou iranai" (Bye-bye to my sunglasses) of 1985.
"Sunglass..." is a stylish and thrilling pop song performed by an unforgettable Jazz & urban-pop singer "Miki Matsubara".
And the backing band supporting her is a team of skillful musicians, featuring the members of a powerful fusion group "Casiopea".
The song seems to be singing an emotion of a "Top-model" who decided to throw her celebrity life away for love.
If you like, please have a look.
Some links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Few 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 Java script in your browser.
Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Sunglass-ha mou iranai |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miki Matsubara |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | PCCA-50218 |
| Track No. | 3 |
| Duration | 3:18 |
| Released | 1985 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Masako ArikawaLyricist
"Masako Arikawa" is a lyricist active in pop music since 1978.
Hit maker
She has offered many lyrics for various artist mainly in the '80s, and quite a few of them became hit songs.
A song like this, performed by "Akira Terao" is an example of her early notable work.
"Shadow City"(1980)
by "Akira Terao"
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select the track No.6, once new page opens.)
On the way...
There is no much information about her on the internet other than the list of songs.
If we find any reference, will update this section.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "1986 Omega tribe"s big hit song, "Kimi-ha 1000%" (1000%, you are.) released in 1986.
"Kimi-ha 1000%" was the debut single by "1986 Omega tribe", and "Masako Arikawa" offered its lyrics.
Just for your information, but "Omega tribe" was a band, or more precisely a project who was very popular in the '80s.
They produced dozens of quality pop songs with the image of the sea, or summer, which fit with the life style of the resort-minded young of that time.
On this project, a keyboardist "Hiroshi Shinkawa", who we have introduced in our post No.64, was deeply involved as an arranger.
If you like, please listen.
Minoru MukaiyaComposer & Arranger
"Minoru Mukaiya" is a renowned keyboardist, music producer, famous rail enthusiast, entrepreneur, TV character, and a former member of a Japanese fusion band "Casiopea".
A wikipedia article "Minoru Mukaiya" is providing a good summary.
So, please check it for the basics.
Before debut
He began to learn the piano at 6 years old.
He changed the instrument once, from the piano to the "electone" (electronic organs), but continued training until graduated high school.
He then went to a music college, operated by a instrumental manufacturer Yamaha corporation, and continued to study the "electone".
In 1977, when he was student of the college, he joined an amateur instrumental band, which later became a fusion band "Casiopea".
And in 1979, he debuted as a professional musician, together with other members of "Casiopea", after "Mukaiya" graduated from the college.
Until 2012
"Casiopea" gradually gained the popularity after debut.
And around 1982, they created a phenomenon even they are an instrumental band.
In 1984, they were recognized as an internationally popular fusion band, through the success of their Europe tour.
Since then, "Casiopea" had been a front runner until they stopped activity in 2006.
And "Minoru Mukaiya" had taken a key role on the band performance, throughout their active period.
After 2012
In 2012, "Mukaiya" decided to leave from "Casiopea".
Since then, it seems he is even busier for promoting various other music.
And in parallel, he is spending hectic days for "train" related businesses. Actually, "Mukaiya" has been well known as an extraordinary Train enthusiast.
For more information, please look at "his Wikipedia(JP) page", which contains the details.
Lady Bounce
"Miki Matsubara"s 8th original album "Lady Bounce" is the 2nd fully involved vocal album for "Mukaiya".
The production year of this album was 1985, and it coincided with the sparky days of "Casiopea".
So, the sound is really thrilling. If you have a chance, please check full album.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "Minoru Mukaiya presents, East meets West 2018"s song, "The game" -MM ber-, released in 2018.
Recently, Minoru Mukaiya, and his long time friend, "Don Grusin" who is also a super keyboardist, formed a core, and began to gather great musicians to establish a super band to play for Jazz & Fusion.
And in November 2018, this dream team performed a concert in Tokyo, and released an album titled "The game".
For the recording, all the members got together in California, and had a session at the studio.
And this is a short clip of the recording scene.
If you like, please listen.
Four your information, this is an article on the Live in Tokyo, reported by billboard-japan.com.(Japanese)
billboard-japan.com, Minoru Mukaiya presents, "East meets West2018" Live report
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Punchy & thrilling
This is a thrilling, stylish, and progressive fusion, which reminds us a typical "Casiopea" sound in other words.
Tight
An edgy introduction in tight rhythm is started by the drums, brass, and slap bass. Then the keyboard, and the guitar join, and begin the main theme.
In the bridge, the brass section performs a cool session play.
"Miki Matsubara"s vocal is still very charming even in a slight high key.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Miki MatsubaraCupid of Jazz
"Miki Matsubara" was a singer, composer, and lyricist active from 1979 to 2004.
She was a very impressive Pop & Jazz singer, and there is still a lot of core fans of her.
She debuted in 1979 with single "Mayonaka-no door" (The door in the midnight). Since then, 16 singles, and 10 original plus 9 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miki Matsubara)
Before debut
Thanks to her mother who used to be a Jazz singer, "Miki Matsubara" began to learn Jazz when she was three, and grown up with music.
She then joined a rock band when she was in junior high, and during high school, she began as a semi-professional keyboardist in a "live-house" in Kyoto.
In 1977, she decided to be a singer, and moved to Tokyo to prepare for debut.
During this preparation period, she performed singing in various venues including US Army camps.
And in 1979, after gained some experience as a singer, she debuted with her first single "Mayonaka-no door" (The door in the midnight).
Good start
"Mayonaka-no door" (The door in the midnight) is a debut song, and one of the best known song for "Miki Matsubara".
In terms of the sales, it may be ranked in a middle hit. (sold 300 thousand disks according to Wiki.)
But from the popularity point of view, it is an outstanding example.
As a proof, this song has been covered by 24 professional artists to date, which is rare. And it is still often chosen as a favorite song by the listeners.
Pops, Fusion, & Jazz
After this lucky debut, she constantly released original albums almost every 9-months until 1985.
Because she was a pretty good singer, and had a Jazz groove in her nature, all the albums she released were fine and attractive.
And thanks to the various excellent producers, and musicians, there were always an unique taste, and fresh discoveries on her albums.
Each time she released, she got more fans. The above may be the reason for that.
Lady Bounce
While saying so, her 1985 album "Lady Bounce" is even more unique in her line up, since it was excessively swung to the most edgy fusion style.
Because the producer of this album was "Minoru Mukaiya", the keyboardist of "Casiopea" (of that time). And therefore, super musicians including the members of "Casiopea" participated in. (You can see the list of musicians on Wikipedia.)
So, good or bad, it is a high quality fusion with vocal album, or more precisely speaking, it is virtually a collaboration between "Miki Matsubara" & "Casiopea".
Actually, "Casiopea" has took part in only 3-4 times for vocal albums. (Miki Matsubara, Tomoko Aran, & Masae Ohno's).
Even from that perspective, this is a precious disk.
As a composer
In 1988, she moved a record company to Victor. And released a fine album "Wink" in May.
But there might be some thought, she stopped releasing original albums, and started on a new page as a composer in around 1990.
In 1991, she wrote, and sang a theme music for a popular SF animation movie "Mobile Suit Gundam 0083, Stardust Memory", as one of her early work.
Since then, "Matsubara" had written, and offered roughly one hundred songs.
Those songs were offered to more than 70 popular artists including "Mariko Kōda", "Yumiko Takahashi", or "Hitomi Mieno".
And some of them were also used as a theme song, or incremental music for popular TV anime series for kids, like "Go-kinjo monogatari" (Neighborhood Story), "Ojya-majo Doremi" (Magical DoReMi), or "Ultraman GAIA".
They are still quite popular even now.
Bye
It was far too early, but she passed away in 2004.
She was 44.
Miki & fans
Because of her popularity and personality, a lot of fans, and colleagues in music have posted a tribute to her on the internet.
Quite a few of them are still readable, and they are all touching.
Actually, we have rediscovered her greatness through reading them.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miki Matsubara)
(Ref: castella.chagasi.com, Miki Matsubara)🇯🇵
Video clip
We looked for some video of "Miki Matsubara", but there were no suitable one.
But instead of that, we have found an interesting clip of a street performance.
On this video, a fresh singer, "Misato Koide" is covering "Miki Matsubara"s masterpiece, "Mayonaka-no door" (The door in the midnight) in front of the JR Akihabara station.
Her performance is good as a new singer, but we feel she has more potential.
Anyway, you can check a nice hit song of "Miki Matsubara" from this video.
If you like, please listen.
It seems the up-loader of this video clip has obtained a necessary permission from the performer. So, should be all right.
Music Samples
3
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
3
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | サングラスはもういらない(Sunglass-ha mou iranai) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 松原みき(Miki Matsubara) |
| Album Title | Lady Bounce |
Comments