[Funky & sunny]
No.133 "Hi-no ataru basho" by MISIA
Hi. Today's song is "Hi-no ataru basho" (A Place in the Sun) by "MISIA".
"MISIA" (miːʃa) is one of the most remarkable Funk, R&B singer in the Japanese popular music scene.
And this is her 2nd single released in 1998.
It's a funky, soulful, but relaxing hip hop song in a superb vocal.
If you like, please listen.
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.
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Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Hi-no ataru basho |
|---|---|
| Artist | MISIA |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | BVCR-807 |
| Track No. | 11 |
| Duration | 5:17 |
| Released | 1998 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
MISIA & Jun SasakiLyricist
Joint work
The lyrics of this song seems to be a joint work between "MISIA" & "Jun Sasaki".
"MISIA" is the performer of this song, then we would like to come back to her later in the "About the artist" section.
"Jun Sasaki" is also a composer and arranger of this song. So, we would like to cover him in the next section.
Jun SasakiCompose&Arranger
"Jun Sasaki" is a music producer, composer, DJ, re-mixer, and a photographer (as YAJIMAX), active since 1987.
But, perhaps the most of fans know him as a former guitarist of a stylish disco funk band, "Cosa Nostra (band. not a mafia.)".
Early days
"Jun Sasaki" started his music career as a club DJ when he was a college student.
And in 1987, he participated a DJ unit "FUNK MASTER GO-GO", and released one single record. And this was taken as his professional debut.
Cosa Nostra (band)
In early '90s, he worked with a producer "Moichi kuwahara" on a production of a famous conceptual album series "Snake-man show", as a re-mixer.
And in 1994, he joined a funk band "Cosa Nostra", who was specializing for a stylish Disco Funk, as a guitarist.
MISIA
In 1998, "Sasaki" produced the 2nd single CD of a newly debuted rising R&B singer "MISIA".
The song titled "Hi-no ataru basho", which is today's song, sold well. And "Sasaki" successfully appealed his capability as a producer.
As a producer
In 1999, he left the band "Cosa Nostra". Since then, he began to pour more energy on producing other artists.
"Chara", "Yuki Koyanagi", "Saramary" are just a few example of the singers who "Sasaki" involved, or offered songs.
Like that, he is now spending busy day's as a popular producer.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "Monari Wakita"s song ,"Gozigen Lover-Joi" (The 5th dimensions lover-joi) released in 2018.
On this song, "Jun Sasaki" offered a melody, and "Momoko Suzuki", "Sasaki"'s band mate at "Cosa Nostra" provided a lyric.
"Monari Wakita" is a vocalist, and a former member of "Especia".
Her lively singing performance is quite popular, and well-known.
Touch sensual
There aren't particularly sexy images on this video, but an overall impression is touch sensual, as far as we see.
So, if you think it could be a matter for you, please skip this video.
Thank you.
* "Gozigen Lover-Joi" by "Monari Wakita"
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Funky & cheery
This seems to be a sunny, funky and upraising song in a Hip-hop rhythm.
Soulful
The introduction begin with a Jazzy gentle phrase by electronic piano. Then a rhythm section (the bass, drums and percussion), the brass, electric guitar, and the synth join, and start the main melody.
The brass section, various keyboards, and a rich chorus create a nice ensemble, and a crispy shaker sound is impressive too.
What's interesting is the guitar. It accompanies with the vocal from beginning to the end, just like a playful puppy.
MISHA's vocal is warm, powerful, and soulful in this song too. And there is a unique persuasive tone in her voice, which is not easy to explain though.
About the artist
MISIAMAWARE MAWARE
"MISIA" is a R&B, funk, soul, and hip-hop singer, and also a lyricist, and composer active since 1998.
Her singing is outstandingly powerful, wide range, and inspirational, and with no doubt, one of the most remarkable singer in present Japanese pop music scene.
Naturally, she has a lot of fans not only in domestic, but also in all over the world.
"MISIA" debuted in 1998 with single "Tsutsumikomu-youni"(Like embracing). Since then, 34 singles, and 15 original, 2 live, and 5 best albums,and 22 DVDs have been released until now.
Early days
According to Wikipedia, she was grown up with music.
She took a voice training after became a high school student, and in parallel, she began to audition, or sending application for few record companies to be a singer.
And finally in February 1998, she debuted with a single CD, "Tsutsumikomu-youni" (Like embracing) from BMG.
Debut
This MISIA's debut song "Tsutsumikomu-youni" was in fact shockingly cool & high-quality, and its name spread quickly from club scene to the general fans.
3 months after in May, she release the 2nd single "Hi-no ataru basho", which we are introducing today, even her 1st single was still in the chart.
And the next month in June, her first album "Mother Father Brother Sister" became on-sale.
Based on the data from Wikipedia, this album sold more than 2.5 million disks.
It is a great record for a fresh debuted singer.(Maybe in the top 3.)
The Tour Of MISIA
Now a days, a lot of musicians has begun to put more effort on live concerts, but in the '90s, "Live" were still a part of promotion to sell CDs.
Under the atmosphere, MISHA placed a premium on live performances.
And since the beginning, she have poured a lot of energy for making live stages unique, wonderful, and exciting.
As a result, her live stages are perhaps already not in a "concert" category, but more like a musical. or pageant type of large-scale show.
Here is a small video clip of her live tour uploaded by herself. ("Shiawase-wo forever - Happiness forever - live version.)
If you like please have a look.
MAWARE MAWARE
"MAWARE MAWARE" is a title of the song released by MISIA in 2010.
Luckily, this song was selected as one of the song for the official 2010 FIFA World Cup album "Listen Up!".
And in 2013, new version of "MAWARE MAWARE", featuring Senegalese ethnic drum player, and band conductor "Doudou N'Diaye Rose" was released.
Hopes
Be that as it may, we feel this song "MAWARE MAWARE" is expressing MISIA's messages well.
Let us try to explain the meaning of the word "MAWARE MAWARE" first.
According to our neighbor who had been a teacher of Japanese, the word "Mawa-re" is an imperative form of the verb "Mawa-ru".
And, the verb "Mawa-ru" is more or less equivalent to the words like, "go around, circle, spin, circulate, rotate, whirl etc," in English.
The imperative form of Japanese language does not only mean a command, but also means hope, wish, and cheering.
So, "MAWARE MAWARE" is a kind of call-out, asking, pushing, hoping, and cheering someone or something to "go around", "spin" or "circulate", or do those more.
In a brief comment, (natalie.mu, 30-05-2013), MISIA mentioned that she put her feelings into this, such as,
- "Spin the earth",
- "Children, take hands, and dance around in circles", and
- "The happiness, please go around to everyone in this world more".
We feel they are the essences of what she is delivering often.
That is why we chose this word for the title of the article.
Thanks to MISIA, the original version (Not the one featuring "Doudou N'Diaye Rose", but with "M2J + Francis Jocky" version.) of this song is listen-able on Youtube.
If you like please check.
Recent
As a top artist, she is spending busy days.
"MISIA" has been releasing single and albums fairly constantly since debut.
Even just a few months ago, in DEC 2018, her the 13th album, "Life is going on and on" became on sale.
At the live stage side, in 2016, she finalized her famous gorgeous concert, "Tour of of MISIA" since it has completed its original mission in the past 18 years.
But in 2018, for celebrating her 20 years anniversary, MISIA and team has developed a further exciting live stage namely "(20th Anniversary) THE SUPER TOUR OF MISIA" (Japanese).
If you like please join.
(Ref: natalie.mu,
MISIA, Life is going on and on)🇯🇵
(Ref: okmusic.jp,
MISIA, Mother Father Brother Sister, 02-01-2019)🇯🇵
(Ref: natalie.mu,
MISIA, MAWARE MAWARE (feat. Doudou N'Diaye Rose), 30-05-2013)🇯🇵
Video clip
We are fortunate, but MISIA could have uploaded today's song, "Hi-no ataru basho" (Place in the sun) on Youtube.
Please enjoy this fine track in full chorus, and get to know more about "MISIA".
Thank you.
* "Hi-no ataru basho (A Place in the Sun) by "MISIA"
"Tsutsumikomu-youni"
Additionally, here is a video clip of MISIA's debut song, "Tsutsumikomu-youni" (Like embracing) in 1998.
Although this is (perhaps) a first promotion video of her debut song, some core concepts of her music (like Dancers, Gospel, Children etc.) are already appearing.
We would like to introduce this song as well, because we like it. it might be of some use for you to know her music further, we suppose.
Ultra high pitch
We quickly remembered the name of "Minnie Riperton", and her song "Lovin' You" when we first heard MISIA's ultra high-pitch vocal on this song.
(Of course, there are many great pop singers like "Mariah Carey", who are good at high voice. But due to the ages of our members, "Minnie" came first.)
[Amazon.co.jp(en)] (Samples available)
In fact, Minnie Riperton's incredibly high-pitched voice in "Lovin' You" sounds like a "high-end" of human voice.
Therefore, we were really surprised when we first listened MISIA's debut song, "Tsutsumikomu-youni", and heard her exceptionally clear, high-pitch voice appearing at the beginning, and the end of the song.
Actually, we cannot see much difference between Minnie's and hers.
Amazing.
If you like, please listen.
* "Tsutsumikomu-youni" by "MISIA"
Music Samples
11
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AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
11
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 陽のあたる場所(Hi-no ataru basho) |
|---|---|
| Artist | MISIA |
| Album Title | Mother Father Brother Sister |
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