[Bossa Ballad]
No.144 "Ai-ga hajimaru toki" by Naoko Kawai
Hi. Today's song is "Ai-ga hajimaru toki" (A moment that love begins) by "Naoko Kawai".
This is a melodious Bossa ballad. And, the singer is "Naoko Kawai", who is one of the top idol star of the '80s.
She has been famous for her fine singing performance. This song would be a good example for that.
If you like, please listen to.
Some links to the music shops offering song samples are located on the bottom of this page.
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Song data
| Title | Ai-ga hajimaru toki |
|---|---|
| Artist | Naoko Kawai |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | CORR- 10160 |
| Track No. | 7 |
| Duration | 3:47 |
| Released | 1993 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yumi YoshimotoLyricist
"Yumi Yoshimoto" is a lyricist, novelist, and essayist active since 1984.
She has written more than a thousand of lyrics to several dozens of artists to date.
In the recent past, a lyric titled "Jupiter" for "Ayaka Hirahara" is well known.
Early days
"Yoshimoto" was working for a public relations firm before becoming a lyricist.
But she decided to send a job application to that company, because of a recommendation from a fortune-teller, according to an interview article to her.
In the office, "Yoshimoto" met with a colleague who later became a famous lyricist.
He said to her. "I think you are cut out for lyricist. Because you are unique."
"Yoshimoto" was really encouraged by his words. And decided to be a lyricist.
From that day, she concentrated on learning writing for 2 years.
Then in 1984, she offered 2 lyrics for an idol star, "Yasuko Kuwata", and debuted as a professional writer.
(So many different names appear on the above Google translate page of "Yasuko Kuwata", but "Yasuko Kuwata" is the correct name.)
Popular lyricist
"Elegant" might be a good word to represent Yoshimoto's lyrics.
She quickly became a popular lyricist, and wrote hundreds of songs to the various artists.
"Yoshimoto" offered quite a few lyrics to the singers like "Naoko Kawai", or "Anri.
And, especially for "Kawai", "Yoshimoto" became a main writer for her from 1986, after "Masao Urino", who was in that position before, had her take over the job.
Jupiter
In 2003, a talented singer-songwriter,(and saxophonist) "Ayaka Hirahara" debuted with a beautiful message song titled "Jupiter".
As the title is telling, the melody of this song comes from Gustav Holst's famous symphony, "The planets".
And, "Yumi Yoshimoto" wrote a moving lyrics to this melody.
According to Wikipedia, this unique attempt was the idea of "Ayaka Hirahara" herself.
"Jupiter" turned out to be a sleeper hit. It gradually became popular, and achieved a million seller on 3 years after release.
Thanks to this hit, "Ayaka Hirahara" got off to a good start, and for "Yoshimoto", it became a signature song.
Recent
As a lyricist and essayist, she is having a busy days.
Nonetheless, she's begun to lecture on writing at the college since 2014.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Yumi Yoshimoto)
(Ref: uta-net.com, Yumi Yoshimoto)🇯🇵
(Ref: wotopi.jp,
Yumi Yoshimoto interview)🇯🇵
(Ref: smakon.jp,
Yumi Yoshimoto interview, 17.06.2017)🇯🇵
(Ref: sugoihito.or.jp,
Yumi Yoshimoto interview, 20-11-2012)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of "Kaleidoscope", a pop song performed by "Seira Kagami".
"Kagami" is a singer, fashion model, and TV character active since 2000. And "Kaleido..." was her debut song in 2007.
"Yoshimoto" offered the lyrics for this song.
And the composer is a popular singer-songwriter, "Anri".
"Kaleido..." was also used as a theme music for an Anime series, "Neuro, Supernatural Detective".
If you like, please listen.
* "Kaleidoscope" by "Seira Kagami"
Tsunehiro IzumiComposer
"Tsunehiro Izumi" is a composer, and arranger active since 1971.
He has composed hundreds of songs for various J-pop artists since 1974.
But his energetic support for a pop group, "Omega tribe", Momoko Kikuchi's rock band, "RA MU", or an idol star "Kumiko Ohba" are well known.
Early days
"Tsunehiro Izumi" debut in 1971 as a member of a unique folk duo "Crincum-crancum".
He then joined a popular folk group "Norihiko Hashida & Endless" for a short time. Then debuted as a composer in 1974, by offering a song titled "Kurai Nagisa" (The beach in the dark) performed by "The blue".
Since then, he quickly became a popular composer & arranger, and has written many songs for idol stars in the J-pop, particularly in the '70s & '80s.
"Omega tribe" & "RA MU"
In 1983, a pop music project called "Omega tribe" featuring a vocalist "Kiyotaka Sugiyama" and his group, was started by a task team.
This campaign lasted until 1994, and "Izumi" participated in as a composer since its beginning to the end. And provided many songs for the operation.
"Omega tribe" achieved remarkable success throughout its active period. And one of their biggest hit song, "Kimi-ha 1000%" (You are 1000%) in 1986 was a composition of "Izumi".
In 1988, "Izumi" also participated in a rock band called "RA MU" featuring a prominent idol star "Momoko Kikuchi", and wrote songs for them.
"RA MU"'s biggest hit song "Ai-ha kokoro-no shigoto-desu" (Love is a job for the mind) was released in 1988.
And the composer was also "Izumi".
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Tsunehiro Izumi)
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Yūji Ochi)
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Norihiko Hashida)
(Ref: blogs.yahoo.co.jp/liferockfolkbulesjazz/,
Shoe belts, Crincum crancum)🇯🇵
Akira NishihiraArranger
"Akira Nishihira" (akira_n, a.k.a) is a keyboardist, composer, arranger, lecturer of a music college, active since 1980.
Early days
"Nishihira" started his music career by becoming a keyboardist of a rock group "Exotics" (formerly "Always") in 1980, which was a backing band to a prominent pop star "Kenji Sawada".
"Exotics" powerfully supported "Sawada"'s music.
And they broke up in 1984.
Remarkable performance
Since then, "Nishihira" began to act as an independent arranger, composer, or musician. And has been involving the albums of hundred of different artists in Japanese pop music scene.
Among them, "Off course", "Kōji Kikkawa", "Akina Nakamori", "Kyosuke Himuro", "L'Arc-en-Ciel", "Yukako Hayase", and "Hikaru Utada" might be the notable names he took part in so far.
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Melodious Ballad
This is a sweet-sounding tender ballad, in a slow Bossa Nova rhythm.
It is just like a vocal Jazz with a piano quartet.
Acoustic & sweet
The acoustic piano and classical guitar start off playing an impressive introduction, then the double bass, drums, and percussions join and begin main theme.
In the main melody, the electronic organ and female chorus join, and add some richness to the song.
In a elegant, and relaxing harmony, Naoko Kawai's pure & clear vocal sounds beautifully.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Naoko KawaiCanary girl
"Naoko Kawai" is an idol star, singer-songwriter, actor and keyboardist active since 1980.
She is one of the top idol star in the '80s, right along with "Seiko Matsuda" or "Yoshie Kashiwabara", who are the fellow idol stars debuted in the same year.
"Kawai" debuted in 1980 with single "Ōkina mori-no chiisana o-uchi"(Small cottage in the big forest). Since then, 36 singles, and 21 original, 4 live, and 26 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Naoko Kawai)
Early days
"Naoko Kawai" went about learning the piano when she entered an elementary school.
She belonged to a folk song circle at a middle school, and began to send an application form for some talent contest.
After entering a high school, she auditioned a talent scouting event held by a large entertainment agency.
Luckily, she survived a preliminary round in the region. And eventually, she became a champion in the final heat of the contest, held in Tokyo in March 1980.
Soon after the victory, "Kawai" was invited to Tokyo to start music lessons to be a singer, and idol star.
And June 1980, she finally debuted as an idol star, with her first single "Ōkina mori-no chiisana o-uchi"(Small cottage in the big forest).
Younger sister of "Hideki"
In the '80s, it was a standard manner, that the entertainment agencies provide a unique and simple catch phrase to each of newly debuting idol stars.
In case of "Naoko Kawai", "Canary girl" was the official catch phrase tailored for her by the entertainment agency.
Obviously, it was trying to communicate her beautiful voice and excellent singing skills to us.
But interestingly, she is far more well known by the other nickname, "Younger sister of Hideki".
Because "Kawai" was a champion of "Younger sister of Hideki" contest, and "Hideki", namely "Hideki Saijō" was one of the most prominent pop star at that time.
Therefore, "Younger sister of Hideki" was a very impressive phrase for us, and it has been used more often by the mass media as well.
That may be why.
Top idol star
The early '80s was one of the most gorgeous and bustling time for the entertainment businesses, since so many shining idol stars were debuted in this period.
Adversely, it was a very competitive situation for the idol stars, and only the limited members, may be less than 10%, could continue for 3 years.
Fortunately, she quickly gained popularity, and earned multiple new face awards on the 1st year.
In the next year, her 5th single, "Smile for me" became a smash hit.
Thanks to this, she was selected as a participant for "Ko-haku", which is a statusy TV music program, on-aired specially on the night of the New Year's Eve, by the national broadcaster NHK.
She was also presented a "Japan Record Award, Golden idol award" by Japan Composer's Association.
Through these notable achievement, she was recognized as one of the top idol star.
Since then, she maintained her presence in the music scene until she took a break in 1997, for child-rearing.
Singer-songwriter
Back in 1984, unlike an ordinary idol star, she began to participate in a production of her album side as well, rather than just sing a song as a vocalist.
Usually, idol stars do not care for production side works. They primarily concentrate on singing, and that is their most important job.
But, it seems "Kawai" had had a wish to perform her own music more, than continue to be an idol star.
And, actually her talent on music was high enough to carry on as a singer-songwriter.
In 1985, she released her original song by adding it into her best album, first time in life.
Then in 1986, she finally released an original album "Scarlet", which all the compositions were done by herself.
From this point, she began to create her albums more freely.
And she finally became one of the 2 producers on today's album "engagement" in 1993.
Marriage and child-rearing
As a singer, she switched from an idol star to a singer-songwriter, but she continued to be a TV character.
She was however stopped appearing in public, after she got married, and had a child in 1997.
Recent
Since then, she kept quiet until she released a piano instrumental album "Nahoko, Oto" in 2006.
From here on, she is occasionally making the brief comments, on magazines or newspapers.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Naoko Kawai)
(Ref: gqjapan.jp,
Challenge of Naoko Kawai (first part), 10.09.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: ntvm.co.jp,
Interview, Masao Urino)🇯🇵
(Ref: mutant-s.com,
Naoko Kawai, Scarlet.26.10.2013)🇯🇵
(Ref: wagamamakorin.client.jp,
Naoko Kawai Album review 82-87)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is a digest of "Naoko Kawai"'s live videos, originally released in the '80s.
Quite a few of live, and image videos of "Kawai"s were released in the 80s, since she was a top idol star.
Those video softs were released in VHS, (or β-matic) format. But the essential equipment, video cassette players have been virtually disappeared from the market place already.
Therefore, the record company reprinted those precious "Kawai"'s live videos in DVD format in 2012.
6 videos are reproduced, and being on sale at the moment.
She is showing very energetic, and lively performances on the video. Since these were filmed when she was a top idol star, before switching to a music oriented singer.
So, you can see a big difference between the songs in this video, and today's song, Ai-ga hajimaru toki (A monent that love begins).
It is telling how dramatic her change was.
If you like, please listen.
* "Concert digest" by "Naoko Kawai"
Music Samples
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music.oricon.co.jp
recochoku.jp
mora.jp
Apple Music(jp)
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 愛がはじまるとき(Ai-ga hajimaru toki) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 河合奈保子(Naoko Kawai) |
| Album Title | engagement |
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