[Swing pop]
No.145 "Tenki-ame" by Kiroro
Hi. Today's song is "Tenki-ame" (Sunshower) by "Kiroro".
This might not be a mellow tune, but comfortably swinging nice pop song.
Since "Kiroro" is basically an orthodox Piano folk-pop duo, rather than a unit performing stylish "Urban-pop". So, a swing-pop like this is rare in their line-up.
If you like, please listen to.
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Song data
| Title | Tenki-ame |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kiroro |
| Album Title | Nanairo |
| Catalog Number | VICL-60600 |
| Track No. | 6 |
| Duration | 4:45 |
| Released | 2000 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Chiharu TamashiroLyricist&composer
"Chiharu Tamashiro" is the lyricist&composer, and one of the a vocalists of this song as well.
"Tamashiro" is writing the lyrics and melodies mostly for her duo "Kiroro".
So, we would like to come back to her later in the "About the artist" section.
Tōru ShigemiArranger
"Tōru Shigemi" is an arranger, keyboardist, and composer active since around 1979.
He's been an arranger to a pop duo "Kiroro" since debut. And the band master to a pop singer MISIA.
As a keyboardist, he used to be a core member to Tatsuro Yamashita, and a present member to a super fusion group "Nobu Caine".
Not only these, he is actively working with many various musicians.
Early days
"Shigemi" began to learn the piano when he was 4 years old.
At high school, he formed an amateur band, and was playing southern rock, or Latin rock.
After entering a University, he auditioned a keyboardist of a backing band to a certain musician, and passed.
And this became a beginning of his professional career.
Indispensable player
Since then, he has participated in various musicians like "Chage & Aska", "Miyuki Nakajima", or "Tatsuro Yamashita" as a keyboardist of their backing band.
And showed excellent performances, which were enough to become an indispensable keyboard player for them later.
In parallel, he has taken part in the production of the albums for the artists like, "Masaharu Fukuyama", "Kiroro", "KinKi Kids" or "MISIA", as an arranger.
"Shigemi" provided quality arrangements for those artist, and earned a good reputation for his works.
As a keyboardist, he has been a member of a super instrumental band "Nobu Caine" since sometime in the '90s.
As a solo artist, he has released 3 instrumental albums to date.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Tōru Shigemi)
(Ref: mc-club.ne.jp,
Tōru Shigemi interview)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is a trailer of "Shigemi"'s latest album, "Melodies & Tales" released in 2018.
From beginning to the end, it is a package of melodious, and beautiful piano instrumentals.
If you like, please listen.
* "Melodies & Tales" by "Tōru Shigemi"
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Swinging pop
It is a light, swinging pop song, but a Jazzy soulful passage appears in the chorus part.
Swing & soul
The acoustic piano, keyboard, bass, drums, and a finger-snapping beat begin a rhythmic, and swinging introduction, then the main part gets going.
In the main melody, the acoustic guitar also joins. "Tamashiro"s clear vocal, and "Kinjo"'s gentle chorus lead the part.
In B-melo (chorus), the melody changes into Jazzy soulful tone, and "Tamashiro"'s vocal becomes more dynamic.
About the artist
KiroroNatural & unpretentious pop duo
"Kiroro" is a well received pop-folk duo active since 1995.
The group is consisting of a main vocalist & songwriter "Chiharu Tamashiro", and a pianist, vocalist & songwriter, "Ayano Kinjō".
The harmony of "Tamashiro"'s dynamic vocal, and "Kinjō"'s elegant piano accompaniment is a distinctive feature of "Kiroro".
A major debut of Kiroro was in 1998, with a single "Nagai aida" (For a long time). Since then, 18 singles, and 9 original, plus 4 best albums have been released until now.
Early days
"Chiharu Tamashiro", and "Ayano Kinjō" first met each other when both of them were junior high school students, according to Wikipedia.
They entered a same local high school in Okinawa.
"Tamashiro" was good at writing lyrics and melodies from school days.
One day, she was singing some of her original songs at the school music room, with no accompaniment.
Unexpectedly, "Kinjō" came into the room, and began to play the "electone" (Electronic organ) for accompanying for "Tamashiro"s singing.
"Kinjo" was only curious, and played the electone just for fun. But this small event later developed into a pop duo with 2 members.
They named the group "Kiroro", and began to perform as an amateur.
(We have introduced where the name "Kiroro" come from in the later section. If you like, please have a look.)
After graduating from high school, "Tamashiro" & "Kinjō" both went to their respective colleges.
Though the colleges weren't close by, "Kiroro" continued music activities by utilizing holidays. And began to release their single CD to the local market of Okinawa from an Indies label.
Their CDs got a favorable response from local fans, and recorded an unusual number of sales as an Indies CD.
In 1997, a director of a major record company in Tokyo finally came to visit them, and offered the debut from their label.
Then in January 1998, "Kiroro" achieved a major debut with a single "Nagai aida" (For a long time).
A million seller
Their first single "Nagai aida" became a sleeper hit, and sold 1.4 million copies in 6 months time after release.
Thanks to this big hit, "Kiroro" was selected as a performer for a prestigious year end music program "Kō-haku" in 1999.
And the name of "Kiroro" became well-known among the people.
International
In June 1998, while their 1st single was still in the chart, "Kiroro" released their 2nd single, "Mirai-he" (For the future).
This also became another smash hit. But what special for this song was, it became popular in throughout Asia, but particularly in Brunei, and Malaysia.
It seems there weren't any specific promotions, so, it is unknown why this song has been accepted so well.
But according to a few of articles, "Kiroro"'s "Mirai-he" is the most well known Japanese pop song in Brunei & Malaysia now.
In Japan as well. It's been 20 years since this song was released. And the song became a standard number for graduation ceremony, and appears in a school textbook of music.
Best friend
"Kiroro" continued to release nice pop songs constantly.
And in 2001, they have released the 10th single "Best friend".
"Best friend"(2001)
by "Kiroro"
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select track No.10 once the page is open.)
This song was selected as the main theme for the Japan's one of the most famous & popular drama series "Asa-dora".
Naturally, it became a hit song. And "Kiroro" truly became a national class pop duo.
Marriage & Child-rearing
On the other hand, the main vocal "Tamashiro" was feeling discomfort on vocal cords in those times. So, they began to reduce speed of their activities.
But otherwise, "Kiroro" continued their performance as same as before.
In 2005, "Tamashiro" & "Kinjō" both got married one after another.
Since then, the members had a blessed event next by next alternatively, and both became a mother of 3 children by 2011.
Then, "Tamashiro" & "Kinjō" concentrated on child-rearing for a while until 2015.
Restart
In 2015, "Kiroro" restarted their activities by creating a special unit "Sango" with "Izumi Nakasone" of "HY", to perform a special song for the 70 years anniversary of WW2.
And in 2018, "Kiroro" celebrated their 20 years anniversary, by releasing a new album "Ai-haberu" (Beautiful Butterfly, Okinawan), and holding concert tours in all over Japan.
It seems they have now stepped up the level of their activities.
We are looking forward to see the new phase of "Kiroro".
About "Nanairo"
By the way, today's album "Nanairo" (7 colors, or many colors) was released in 2000.
As mentioned earlier, "Kiroro" is basically a traditional style folk duo.
They are singing young women's feelings & thoughts in honest and straightforward expression, with an natural and orthodox melody.
Conversely, all the songs on this album were arranged more stylishly.
As a result, this album successfully brought out new charms of "Kiroro".
But on the other hand, it caused some discussion among existing fans, because it was not their taste.
About the name of "Kiroro"
According to Wikipedia, the group name "Kiroro" came from Ainuic (Ainu languages) words "Kiroru" (well-beaten path, but broad), and "Kiroro-an" (robust, healthy).
"Tamashiro" of "Kiroro" learned these words when she visited Japan's northern island "Hokkaido", where this endangered Ainu language is still scarcely spoken.
(Ref: trendnews.yahoo.co.jp,
Interview to Kiroro, 23.01.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: ryukyushimpo.jp,
Interview to Kiroro, 08.03.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: news.ameba.jp,
Interview to Kiroro, 10.03.2016)🇯🇵
(Ref: musicman-net.com,
Kiroro free live,29.01.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: walkerplus.com,
Kiroro Best Friend,22.02.2016)🇯🇵
(Ref: fujitv.co.jp,
Guest Kiroro, Dōmoto Kyōdai)🇯🇵
(Ref: hfm.jp,
Shokutaku Ongaku, Kiroro, 28.11.2011)🇯🇵
(Ref: yun-taku-nana-iro.net,
Kiroro Indies)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of Kiroro's song "Ikite-koso" (Live through. Only in doing so...) released in 2005.
This song was used for an opening theme of a popular TV Anine series, "Mushiking, The King of Beetles" on-aired from 2005 to 2006.
The song is certainly a "Kiroro"'s in terms of melody and lyrics. But it sounds to our ears a lot more advanced and matured compared with their early numbers.
If you like, please listen.
* "Ikite-koso" by "Kiroro"
Music Samples
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 天気雨(Tenki-ame) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kiroro |
| Album Title | 七色(Nanairo) |
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