[Calm & alluring]
No.152 "Kare-no Bōshi" by Junko Sakurada
Hi. Today's song is "Kare-no Bōshi" (His hat) by "Junko Sakurada".
This is a slow Bossa Nova song with secret, and alluring atmosphere.
In a sense, this is a typical adult music of the '70s.
If you like, please listen to.
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 | Kare-no Bōshi |
|---|---|
| Artist | Junko Sakurada |
| Album Title | Atsui kokoro-no shōtai-jō |
| Catalog Number | VICL-62519 |
| Track No. | 5 |
| Duration | 4:13 |
| Released | 1976 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yū AkuLyricist
"Yū Aku", which was his pen name meant a "bad company", was a legendary lyricist, scenario writer, author, and poet active from 1964 to 2007.
One of the most notable, and revered lyricist in the modern Japanese popular music history.
Early times
"Yū Aku" started his career in 1959 by becoming a creator at an advertising agency.
He then experienced a TV writer's job for few years. And in 1967, he debuted as a professional lyricist by writing a song for a popular pop-rock group "The Mops. The song title was, "Asa-made mate-nai" (Can't wait until the morning).
Since then, he continued to write a few of lyrics to the various bands in then popular GS(Group sounds) scene.
Establishing a career
In the early '70s, "Aku"s main ground had already been moved from GS to the main stream pop music sector.
In 1970, one of his song, titled "Shiroi cho-no samba" (White butterfly's Samba, or Butterfly Samba) became a super hit.
This song was offered for a popular singer "Kayoko Moriyama", who was the most flourish in the '60s.
But due to the uniqueness of the lyrics, this song gained an amazing popularity, and sold almost half a million (0.475 million) disks, which was surprising enough at that time.
By this success, "Kayoko Moriyama" was selected as a performer for a prestigious year end music program "Kōhaku uta gassen" on the year, and "Yū Aku" was recognized as a capable lyricist.
Star Tanjō
In 1971, "Aku", and a chief producer of a TV station discussed, and started a new talent scout audition variety titled "Star Tanjō". (A star is born)
The program was aiming at discovering new pop stars from all over Japan, through the public auditions on TV.
There were basically 3 steps before an applicant become a new star.
Firstly, the applicants need to pass 1st and 2nd stage examination, then qualified for a final stage.
Secondary, those 5 to 7 finalists perform in front of public audience, judges, and TV cameras. If the participants achieve a passing score, they were entitled to participate the scouting stage.
And finally at the scouting stage, the candidates sing in front of the recruiters from record companies and the public audience.
After all the candidates finished their performances, the host will call them one by one, and ask recruiters about their intention for that person.
And if any recruiters raise their hands, the candidate is going to be debuted from the record company of the scouted recruiter.
Significant number of people were participated, and many stars were born.
And quite a few of them became super stars representing the J-pop of the '70s.
"Aku" provided so many lyrics for the excellent singers debuted from the program.
In fact, it generated synergy, and was beneficial for both "Aku" and the stars.
For the name of the notable singers, please check here.
Great lyricist
Since then, "Aku" wrote a remarkable number of lyrics, and they say it reaches 5000.
And quite a few of them became historic hit songs, and the number of prestigious awards he earned is entirely outstanding.
From any point of view, he was a monster lyricist.
Please check with "Yū Aku"'s Wikipedia page, since what we introduced here is a little too minimum.
(Ref: music-calendar.jp,
Yū Aku. 07-02-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: music-calendar.jp,
Uchū Senkan Yamato. 10-09-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: ntvm.co.jp,
Yū Aku interview.)🇯🇵
(Ref: middle-edge.jp,
Tarō Fukada interview, 31-07-2019.)🇯🇵
(Ref: toyokeizai.net,
About Yū Aku, 01-05-2008.)🇯🇵
(Ref: tapthepop.net,
Thanks beatles, Yū Aku, 31-07-2016.)🇯🇵
(Ref: mizunoyoshiki.com,
Collumn, about Yū Aku, 24-10-2017.)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is a music clip of 2011 pop song, "Itsuka sonoki-ni nattara" (If I feel up to it, some day), performed by "Colombia rose, the 3rd" (Mina Nomura).
The lyrics of this song is a creation of "Yū Aku".
After lyricist "Yū Aku" passed away in 2007, quite a few of unpublished works were discovered by the relatives.
Some of them were offered to the close music partners of "Aku", then nice melodies and arrangements were given, and finally released as a pop song.
"Colombia rose, III (Now, Mina Nomura)"s this song is one of them, but particularly nice one as long as we have listened.
And her excellent singing, and beautiful voice are making this song even nicer.
If you like, please have a look.
* "Itsuka sonoki-ni nattara" by "Colombia rose, III"
Tadao Ino-ueComposer & Arrabger
"Tadao Ino'ue", or "Daisuke Ino'ue" was a composer, arranger, singer-songwriter, saxophonest, and a former member of a '60s prominent pop group, "Blue comets".
Early times
"Tadao Ino'ue" started his professional career in 1963, by joining a popular band, "Blue comets" as a lead vocal, flutist, and a sax player.
From the mid '60s to the early 70s, there was a huge band boom in Japan, which was triggered by a historic Japan visit of the Beatles in 1966. And this movement was called "GS boom". (GS stands for "Group sounds", =Japanese English.)
They say more than 100 bands were debuted in "Group sounds" category, and 10 of them formed a top group.
Among them, "Blue comets" was a lot skillful, and very popular band. And "Tadao Ino-ue" performed outstandingly as a lead vocal, and composer of the group.
Although, "Blue comets" was such a popular band, it had a total reform in 1972, and few comre members including "Ino-ue" left the band.
Talented composer
Since then, "Ino-ue" came to be a singer-songwriter, and began to release his own albums.
At the same time, he also started to provide melodies to the various artists.
Actually, the music he composes are quite popular, and a lot of singers are recorded his melody, and quite a few of them became hit songs.
Some notable artists, and song titles are,
- Finger 5
- Koi-no dial 6700
- Gakuen Tengoku
- Yūko Ōtomo & Yuki Katsuragi
- Bohemian
- Hiromi Gō
- 2-oku 4-senman-no hitomi
- Anri
- Kimama-ni refelection
- Anmitsu-hime (Kyōko Koizumi)
- Climax go-issho-ni
- BORO
- Negresco Hotel
- Yui Asaka
- Hitomi-ni storm
- Shibugaki-tai
- Nai・Nai 16
- 100%…So-kamone
- RATS & STAR
- Runaway
- Me-gumi-no hito
They are all well known hit songs mainly from the '80s line-up.
More information
We have posted a "Tadao Ino-ue"'s song some time ago in our post No.115, and written a slightly longer introduction about him in "About the artist" section.
So, please also check the mentioned article, if you are interested. The link is placed in below.
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Secret & intimate
This seems to be an alluring slow Bossa Nova in private, and intimate mood.
Alluring
The triangle, Cabasa, electric piano, female chorus, bass, drums, and an alluring sound of flute start quiet introduction with a secret, and adult atmosphere in slow Bossa Nova rhythm.
In the main melody, "Junko Sakurada"'s soft, but intimate vocal attracts the listeners.
From beginning to the end, the flute, acoustic guitar, and electronic piano performs excellent solo play simultaneously, and they are making this song very attractive.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Junko SakuradaBlue bird
"Junko Sakurada" is a singer, and actor active since 1973.
One of the most notable idol star in the J-pop history, and she was particularly prominent in the main stream pop music of the '70s.
But after the 80s, she switched her main area to acting, and showed remarkable performances on the drama series, theaters, and movies.
"Sakurada" debuted in 1973 with a single, "Tenshi-mo yume-miru" (An angel also dreams). Since then, 38 singles, and 20 original, 7 live, 16 best albums and 5 CD-Boxes have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Junko Sakurada)
Early times
Before entering a talent scout audition of a popular TV program called "Star Tanjō" (A star is born), "Sakurada" was just an ordinary middle school student.
One day in 1971, a challenger "Masako Mori", who was same age as "Sakurada", also entered on this program, and won the race. And "Mori was entitled to debut as a professional singer as a reward.
"Sakurada" was shocked since even a girl of her age can win the competition, and become a professional singer.
"Sakurada" quickly applied for a local qualifying round of the audition. She won both local preliminary, and final contest with a record high score.
And in 1973, "Sakurada" debuted as a new idol star with a single "Tenshi-mo yume-miru" (An angel dreams too).
Star Tanjō
In the early '70s, a few of talent scout audition were being broadcasted on the TV as programs.
All the shows were quite popular at that time. But the program called "Star Tanjō" (A star is born) was perhaps the most influential one, in terms of the number of participants, and the number of the stars debuted from the program.
A talent scout audition program, "Star Tanjō" was originally planned by a TV broadcaster, and a lyricist "Yū Aku".
It was first on-aired in 1971, and lasted until 1983.
More than 200 thousand were competed in total, and 94 new stars were debuted from the program.
Some notable names of the winners, and their debut years are,
- Masako Mori(1972)
- Junko Sakurada(1973)
- Momoe Yamaguchi(1973)
- Sakiko Itō(1974)
- Nagisa Katahira(1975)
- Hiromi Iwasaki(1975)
- Kenji Niinuma(1976)
- Yukiko Shimizu(1977)
- Pink Lady(1976)
- Mako Ishino(1978)
- Yūko Kanai(1978)
- Yoshie Kashiwabara(1980)
- Kyōko Koizumi(1982)
- Akina Nakamori(1982)
- Takako Ohta(1983)
All of them are singers made history in the J-pop, or entertainment business.
Hana-no Chu-san trio
"Junko Sakurada" quickly gained a huge popularity, and became a top idol star.
At the same time, the early champions of "Star Tanjō", namely "Masako Mori", "Junko Sakurada", and "Momoe Yamaguchi", were often regarded, and treated as a trio, since they were same ages by coincidence.
Shortly, people began to call them "Hana-no Chu-san trio", which means a trio of the sweet girls in the ninth grade. (The third grade, middle school.)
The activity of the members were increased even more by handled as a group.
The trio was lasted until 1977, and finished when the members were graduated from their respective high schools.
Top idol star
"Sakurada" smoothly started her career as an idols star, and she attained a smash hit already on her 3rd single, "Watashi-no aoi-tori" (My blue bird) released in in 1973.
Thanks to this hit, she earned 2 prestigious awards, namely the "15th Japan Record Awards, Best New Artist award" (1973), and "The Japan Music Awards, Best New Artist award" (1973), at the same time.
After the event, "Sakurada" became a regular member on the hit chart.
Since debut in 1973, the most of "Yū Aku"'s songs were provided by the lyricist "Yū Aku".
So, the early hit songs of "Sakurada", and the basic image of her song world can be said as "Aku"'s contribution.
But in 1977, "Sakurada" was offered a new taste song "Shiawase shibai" (A play of being happy) from a talented singer-songwriter, "Miyuki Nakajima".
"Miyuki Nakajima" is very good at writing reflective songs. And this new song was also the one in that type.
Actually, this song unveiled a new charm of "Sakurada". It became another smash hit for her, and opened a new horizon.
"Sakurada" continued to release tasteful albums until 1983. But because of the increase of actor's job, she stopped releasing music albums until 2018, and concentrated on acting.
Actor
"Sakurada" is a popular singer since debut, but at the same time, she was constantly appearing on the movies, or TV dramas as an actor.
In the early time of career, her role was like the icing on the cake, since she was a top idol star. But the roles assigned for "Sakurada" became more serious and important little by little, since the people around her began to notice her talent for acting.
A major mile stone of her as an actor, was perhaps a 1980 musical, "Annie Get Your Gun".
She played the leading role "Annie", and showed a notably fine performance. As a result, an "Arts Festival Excellence Awards of Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs", was given for her.
Since then, she began to share more energy on acting.
From 1980, the number of movies, or TV drama series, which "Sakurada" appears were jumped up.
"Sakurada" also showed an excellent performance on a long running theater, "Sasame-yuki" (The Makioka Sisters), or "On-na-zaka", based on the "Fumiko Enchi"s 1957 novel of the same title.
"Sakurada" was given a prestigious "Kazuo Kikuta theater awards" twice in 1983 and 1987, for each of her performances on the above two theaters.
Marriage, semi-retire, and...
In 1992, it was a little sudden, but she married with a gentleman from outside of the entertainment industry.
There was a little bit of controversy on her marriage for some reasons.
But anyway, "Sakurada" almost completely stopped her activities, and left from the spotlight.
She had kept silent, and concentrated on child raising until 2013.
In 2013, actually it was the 40 years anniversary of "Junko Sakurada", she broke a silence, and released a memorial CD+DVD box, "Thanks 40, Aoi-tori-tachi-he" (To the blue birds).
And in 2018, she released a new album "My idology" (My philosophy as an idol star - maybe) for the first time in 35 years for celebrating her 45 years anniversary.
She also released a best album, "Thanks 45, Shiawase-no aoi-tori" (The blurbirds of happiness) in the same year.
Blue bird
"Aoi-tori"(Blue bird, or bluebirds) is a phrase often used as a symbol of "Sakurada", but it might be coming from her first hit song, "Watashi-no aoi-tori" (My blue bird) released in 1973.
The most of the older generation can still sing this song, and they usually remember "Sakurada", when they've heard this phrase.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Junko Sakurada)
(Ref: sakuradajunko.web.fc2.com,
Junko Sakurada album list)🇯🇵
(Ref: asagei.com,
Junko & Momoe)🇯🇵
(Ref: kayopops.jp,
masakojunkomomoe)🇯🇵
(Ref: music-calendar.jp,
Junko Sakurada. 03-02-2016)🇯🇵
(Ref: nikkan-gendai.com,
Masako Mori & Chūsan trio. 27-03-2019)🇯🇵
(Ref: nsknet.or.jp
My Pure Lady, Junko Sakurada)🇯🇵
Video clip
Because "Sakurada" has kept quiet for a long time, there aren't many official video clip we can post.
But we found a promotion video of "Hana-no Kō-ni trio" which "Sakurada" belonged to in 1975.
The video is introducing a "Hana-no Kō-ni trio"'s 1975 movie, "Hatsukoi Jidai" (A season for the 1st love).
A long hair girl wearing blue clothes is "Junko Sakurada".
If you like, please have a look.
* "Masako, Junko, Momoe Memorial Box" by "Hori-pro"
Music Samples
5
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
5
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 彼の帽子(Kare-no Bōshi) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 桜田淳子(Junko Sakurada) |
| Album Title | 熱い心の招待状(Atsui kokoro-no shōtai-jō) |
Comments