[Song Review #147] "Suki-ni Nattara Kirin lemon" by Eri Sakatomo
Hi. Today's song is "Suki-ni nattara Kirin Lemon" (Have some Kirin Lemon if you have had a crush on) by "Sakatomo Eri".
This song was a theme music for a popular Lemonade Brand, "Kirin Lemon"s TV commercial in 1996, sang by a unique singer & actor "Sakatomo Eri" (Rie Tomosaka).
It is a relaxing, and acoustic pop song in a walking rhythm.
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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Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Suki-ni nattara Kirin Lemon |
|---|---|
| Artist | Eri Sakatomo |
| Album Title | Sakasama |
| Catalog Number | TOCT-10160 |
| Track No. | 7 |
| Duration | 4:22 |
| Released | 1997 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Rie TomosakaLyricist
"Rie Tomosaka" is the original name of today's singer "Sakatomo Eri".
"Tomosaka" has sometimes used one of her alias "Sakatomo Eri" on the several recording occasions.
So, we would like to come back to her later in "About the artist" section.
Exception
"Tomosaka" does not usually write the lyrics for her songs, because they are supposed to be provided by the professionals.
But a song like this might have been an exception, since an everyday conversation of young women is preferred for this.
M Rie, Toriro MikiComposer
The composers of this song are "Torirō Miki" & M Rie (Rie Miyajima) .
It doesn't mean the 2 composers were collaborated on this.
Short, but impressive main phrase, which is in the last 10 seconds of the song, was written by a historic popular music composer, "Torirō Miki" in 1961.
And "M.Rie" wrote a nice additional melody on to this, and made it into a fine pop tune.
So, on this section, we would like to introduce M.Rie anyway, since M.Rie is one of the main composer to "Rie Tomosaka".
For "Toriro Miki", we would like to seek for another opportunity in the future.
M.Rie
Having said that, there aren't much information about M.Rie (Rie Miyajima) even she has written quite a few songs for various artists.
In aound 1985, a popular singer "Naoko Kawai", who was a top idol star at that time, had been having her own backing band "Natural & Milk" for live stages.
This backing band can be split into 2 parts. "Natural" part was a 6-piece instrumental team, and "Milk" part was 2-piece female chorus unit.
And the membeers of the chorus unit "Milk" was M.Rie (Milk Rie, Rie Miyajima) and her elder sister "Ritsuko Miyajima".
The sisters named their unit "Milk".
composers
Sometime later, both of Miyajima sisters turned to composers.
Since then, they have written many songs for the various artists.
In case of M.Rie (Rie Miyajima), she has written quite a few melodies to a few of, mainly female singers, like "Miho Nakayama", "Yui Horie", "Mami Kingetsu", "Mika Arisaka", "Nami Hirai", "Rie Tomosaka" and so on, since the early '90s.
That is all for the moment. We would like to add more information if we find anything new.
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
Slow swinging pops
This is a relaxing slow swinging pop song in a simple rhythm in a moderated speed.
Sunny & acoustic
The introduction begins with a beautiful chorus by "Junko Hirotani", "Yasuhiro Kido", and "Kiyoshi Hiyama". Then the drums, bass, acoustic guitar, keyboard, and strings, and its pizzicato play joins.
A crisp slamming sound of the acoustic guitar creates a joyful swinging rhythm, and supports natural vocal of "Eri Sakatomo".
Elegant sound of the accordion is heard throughout the music. It's been played by a masterly accordionist "COBA".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Sakatomo EriHanako-san
"Sakatomo Eri" is actually an alias, or almost a joke name made by reading her name "Rie Tomosaka" reversely.
Then, we would like to call her in stanfard name "Rie Tomosaka", since she is called so usually.
"Rie Tomosaka" is an actor, singer, model, and essayist active since 1992.
A popular actor, and frequently appearing on TV drama series, varieties, movies and theaters.
"Tomosaka" began her career as an actor in 1992. As a singer, she debuted in 1996 with a single "Escalation". Since then, 12 singles, and 4 original, 1 live, and 3 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Sakatomo Eri)
Early times
"Tomosaka" started her entertainment career by appearing on a TV commercial at 12 years old.
Soon after that, she became a cast member on a TV drama series, and acted as a school girl, which she did well.
In 1995, she played the heroine in a popular detective drama series, "Kinda-ichi shōnen-no jikenbo" (The case file of the boy Kinda-ichi)
This became a remarkable hit series, and it pushed "Tomosaka" up to a popular actor's position.
As a singer
In 1996, "Tomosaka" debuted as a singer with a single "Escalation".
Luckily, it was adopted as a song for a TV commercial, then sold well, and became a smash hit.
And quite quickly, she was chosen for the campaign girl for a long selling beverage brand, "Kirin Lemon", and also sang a unique theme music for a TV commercial of this soft drink.
That is the song for today.
Kirin Lemon
"Kirin Lemon" is one of the oldest beverage brand in Japan, which has been marketed since 1928.
It is a sweetened and carbonated clear lemonade, or lemon-lime soda, like Sprite, or 7 up. (but slightly more lemony.)
One of the standard cold drink for summer.
Since "Kirin Lemon" is a popular, and long-selling brand, its short and unique jingle for advertising is very popular. And quite a few of Japanese people can sing the song.
And a cute promotion model, appearing on the advertising, is also a "talked-about" subject in the town.
"Tomosaka" appeared on this TV commercial as a high school student from 1996 to 1997. And sang a specially composed and arranged theme song.
And added a unique new page on its history.
"Tomosaka" released 11 singles and 3 original album until the year 2000.
Then, she temporarily stopped singing, and concentrated on the actor's job.
Popular actor
"Rie Tomosaka" has appeared on more than 80 of TV drama series, 24 movies, 10 theaters, 36 TV commercials, and a long list of TV varieties since she was debuted in 1992, according to Wikipedia.
Even for the prestigious TV drama series like "Taiga drama", or "Asa-dra", she has been selected as a cast member. Twice for "Taiga", and 3 times for "Asa-dra".
So, it seems that she has been building her career smoothly since beginning.
Among them, "Locker-no Hanako-san" (Hanako-san in the locker, 2002 and 2003) was an enjoyable TV drama series she starred.
Hanako-san
In Japan, there is a famous urban legend called "Toilet no Hanako-san" (Miss Hanako in the lavatory).
She is just like "Moaning Myrtle" in the Harry Potter series.
So basically, "Hanako-san in the lavatory" is a scary phantom in the legend. But "Hanako-san" in this drama series was a powerful, fashionable, and friendly ghost to the female staff in the office.
In the drama, "Hanako-san" often gives smart advices to the women, or help them from a sexual harassment by the mail bosses.
We felt "Tomosaka" was perfect for the role of "Hanako-san". If you have a chance, please have a look.
Recent
She has been constantly busy for movies, theaters, and TV series.
Even in the recent 2 years, she has appeared on 4 TV dramas series, and 3 movies as a major player.
We know she is so busy, but wish if she could share a bit of time for music again.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Rie Tomosaka)
(Ref: nhk.or.jp,
Rie Tomosaka biography)🇯🇵
(Ref: cinemacafe.net,
Rie Tomosaka interview, 16.08.2012)🇯🇵
(Ref: croissant-online.jp,
Rie Tomosaka interview, 04.12.2015)🇯🇵
(Ref: entertainmentstation.jp,
Rie Tomosaka interview, 06.04.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: woman.excite.co.jp,
Rie Tomosaka interview, 31.08.2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: cinematoday.jp,
Rie Tomosaka interview, 05.08.2010)🇯🇵
(Ref: toranet.jp,
Rie Tomosaka interview)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip for today's song "Suki-ni nattara Kirin Lemon, mou-hitotsuno-serifu-ver." (Have some Kirin Lemon if you've had a crush, another dialogue version.)
This video clip is the one, auto-generated and posted by Youtube as a "Topic".
We were wondering if it is a legit service or not. But as far as this song is concerned, it seems it's been properly licensed.
So, it should be all right to post this video clip.
If you like, please listen to.
* "Suki-ni nattara Kirin Lemon" by "Sakatomo Eri"
Music Samples
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 好きになったらキリンレモン~もうひとつのせりふヴァージョン(Suki-ni nattara Kirin Lemon) |
|---|---|
| Artist | さかともえり(Eri Sakatomo) |
| Album Title | さかさま(Sakasama) |
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