[Cool & vibrant]
No.153 "Who are you?" by Fujimaru Yoshino
Hi. Today's song is "Who Are You?" by "Fujimaru Yoshino".
It is a cool and jazzy duet song, set in a summer beach resort.
If you like, please listen to.
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Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Who Are You? |
|---|---|
| Artist | Fujimaru Yoshino |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | RATCD-4337 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 5:22 |
| Released | 1982 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
- About the creators
Kazuko KobayashiLyricist
"Kazuko Kobayashi" is a lyricist active since 1978.
Early times
"Kazuko Kobayashi" was an ordinary college student, before showing her creative works to a person working in music industry.
The person read a writing of "Kobayashi", and suggested her to write a lyrics, and also introduced a music producer the person knew.
The music producer introduced was just promoting an idol star of 18 years old, and looking for a lyricist of the same generation to her..
Because, the producer was thinking, that such a lyricist might be able to write lyrics, which would fit for the idol star more naturally.
The producer requested "Kobayashi" to write lyrics for the said idol star, "Kumiko Ohba".
"Kobayashi" responded for this, and wrote a good song titled "et cetera".
Luckily, it became a smash hit, and memorized as the first hit song for "Kumiko Ohba".
"Kobayashi" naturally received a repeat order. And this time, she wrote 2 songs for her.
The songs, namely "Disco dream" (1978) & "Spring Samba" (1979), were actually quite nice, and both became smash hits again.
And glad to say, that the latter one (Spring...) turned out to be the biggest hit song of "Kumiko Ohba".
By these achievement, "Kobayashi" was recognized as a capable new lyricist. Since then, she has been constantly writing, and offering lyrics to the various singers.
Steady hit maker
Among them, "Kobayashi"'s contribution to "Tohsihiko Tahara", who was one of the most popular male idol star in the '80s, might be worth noting.
"Tahara" had been a popular young actor, but he also debuted as a singe in 1980.
His debut song, "Aishū Date" (A wistful date, or New York city Nights by Leif Garrett), was a cover of a foreign hit song, then a suitable Japanese lyrics was needed.
This job finally came straight to "Kobayashi"s place, and she wrote excellent lyrics for him.
It quickly topped the chart, and became a smash hit.
Actually, "Aishū Date" is the biggest single hit of "Tahara", and it is still a very well known hit song of him.
"Kobayashi" continued to write good lyrics to "Tahara", and supported him to launch hit songs one after another.
"Kobayashi" successfully established her name by her powerful & continuous support for "Tahara".
"Yoshino", "Saijō, & "Kobayashi"
The lyricist "Kobayashi" and composer "Yoshino" seems to be knowing each other before working together on "Yoshino"s this album.
"Hideki Saijō" was a great pop star particularly shining from the '70s to the '80s, and "Kobayashi" was writing some lyrics for him mainly in the '70s.'
Coincidently, "Fujimaru Yoshino" had been a leader of the backing band exclusive to "Saijō", then he was often composing melodies to those lyrics of "Kobayashi".
So perhaps, that was why "Yoshino" asked "Kobayashi" to write a lyrics for his solo album, since "Yoshino" had understood "Kobayashi"s capability well.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of a self-accompanied piano pop duo, "Cousin"'s 2008 song, "Kimi-no koe" (Your voice).
"Kazuko Kobayashi" has contributed a lyric for this song.
It is a Samba like, slight brave, but very gentle nice song.
If you like, please listen.
This song was created as an official support song for Blind soccer (Blind Football, or Paralympic football).
Blind soccer is a football, but uses a little larger special ball which a few of tinkling bells are enclosed. Players are all visually impaired, so, they catch the position of the ball from the jingle of the bells. Otherwise, it is basically a football in a half pitch. (or futsal)
So, it is a sport has both delicate and dynamic aspects.
Naturally, Blind football is not extremely aggressive like normal one. But it is still a football. Players often get excited, and the game becomes surprisingly combative.
So, the creators seems to be trying to reflect such delicate and dynamic aspects of Blind soccer into this song, just an impression though.
* "Kimi-no koe" by "Cousin"
Fujimaru YoshinoComposer
A composer "Fujimaru Yoshino" is the singer of this song.
So, we would like to come back to him later in "About the artist" section.
Naoki Watanabe & Fujimaru YoshinoArranger
2 musicians, namely "Naoki Watanabe" & "Fujimaru Yoshino" are credited as arrangers.
But we would like to introduce Naoki Watanabe at here, since Fujimaru Yoshino would be presented in "About the artist" section later.
"Naoki Watanabe" is a bassist, composer, and arranger active since 1972.
Early times
"Watanabe" started his music career in 1972, by joining a backing band "Friends", which was exclusive to a '70s pop-singer "Sachio Itami".
"Watanabe" then move from band to band, like "Yoshimaru Band", MMP (Music Mates players = backing band to Candies), and in 1979, he teamed up a sensational brass-rock, Fusion band "SPECTRUM" with his peer, "Ichiro Nitta".
After "SPECTRUM"
Actually, the performance of "SPECTRUM" was brand new and superb. The band quickly gained popularity, and become a top group in the Fusion boom of the early '80s.
But already in 1981, the band broke up.
In 1982, "Watanabe" again tagged with "Yoshino" and teamed up a Rock, Adult contemporary band, "AB's" with 3 other expert musicians.
"AB's" was creating an excellent music, but their first period came to an end, and broke up in 1985.
Since then, he concentrated on working as a studio musician. And at the same time, he released few solo albums in this period.
In 2003, "AB's" was finally reunited, and "Watanabe" took part in as a bassist.
But it seems he has left from the group recently.
Video clip
Finally, here is a small Advertising video of a DVD-Box set, featuring a '70s super pop group "Candies".
"Candies" was a very popular pop group teamed up by 3 young women. But the group broke up in 1978. And, the legendary final concert was held on the 14th April 1978.
On this concert, "Naoki Watanabe"s band "MMP" (Music Mates players), and "Ichiro Nitta"'s band "Horn Spectrum (parent band to SPECTRUM)" formed a team, and performed as a backing band for Candies.
We can't see "Watanabe" on this video, but can get some idea about the quality of music they were playing.
If you like, please listen.
* "Candies memories" (DVD-set ad) by "Sony Music"
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Stylish duet song
This seems to be a rhythmic, and stylish duet song in urban taste.
It might be a kind of an Adult contemporary music.
Cool & soulful
A strumming of the electric guitar, clapping, drums, percussions, and the bass start a tight and bouncy introduction, then the keyboard, synthesizer, and the Jazzy alto saxophone joins.
In the main melody, "Fujimaru Yoshino"s cool vocal takes a lead until halfway, then "Haruko Kuwana"'s soulful vocal takes over.
In the bridge, a short, but excellent saxophone solo appears. The player was a mastery saxophonist, "Jake H. Concepcion".
Haruko Kuwana
The duetting vocalist, singing in a punchy soulful voice, is a popular pop-rock vocalist "Haruko Kuwana".
"Haruko Kuwana" is a singer-songwriter debuted in 1978.
Since debut, or even before the debut, her powerful, bright, and clear vocal was famous among the professionals in popular music scene.
In 2018, she has just celebrated her 40 years anniversary, and her debut album "Million Stars", which has been very popular, was reproduce in brand-new vinyl disk format.
She is still pretty active, and holding live stages in all over Japan.
If you have a chance, please join.
Just for your information, an elder brother of "Haruko Kuwana" was a popular rock star, "Masahiro Kuwana", who already departed in 2012.
- Reference
- About the artist
Fujimaru YoshinoThe leader of SHŌGUN
"Fujimaru Yoshino" is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and music producer active since 1970.
"Yoshino" is well-known as a leader of a rock band "SHŌGUN", which was very popular in the late '70s.
And his excellent guitar play has been making a lot of music fans happy for a long time.
"Yoshino"s first leader album "BGM" was released from his band, "Fujimaru band" in 1977. Since then, 11 singles, and 14 original, 1 DVD live, and 4 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Fujimaru Yoshino)
Early days
"Fujimaru Yoshino" started learning the Violin when he was three. But it seemed that was not an exciting time for a small boy.
After entering a college, "Yoshino" joined a light music circle. Since then he began to play the guitar for the first time in his life.
"Yoshino" mastered the guitar technique at a blistering pace, and soon caught up with the guitarists in semi-professional level.
"Yoshino" formed an amateur rock band, and performing in various places like music restaurants.
One day in 1972, the now famed drummer "Hiro Tsunoda", who was already active in a professional field, asked "Yoshino" to join "Hiro"'s new band as a guitarist.
"Yoshino" decided to go professional. He dropped out of the college, and participated in "Hiro"'s new band "Captain Hero & The Space Band".
And this turned out to be a start of his career in music.
Joe Yamanaka band
"Yoshino" was expecting to play rock-driven tunes at "The Space Band", but what "Hiro" was intending to, was basically a pop music.
"Yoshino" stayed in "Hiro"'s band for 1 year. Then, left from the band to seek for his music.
In 1973, "Yoshino" formed a short lived session bands with musicians like "Joe Yamanaka" or "Tetsu Yamauchi". Just for your information but, "Tetsu" was a bassist of a British rock band "Faces", which a rock star "Rod Stewart" used to belong to.
Fujimaru Band
In 1974, "Joe Yamanaka band" performed as an opening act for a popular British rock band "Rod Stewart & The Faces", on their first Japan tour in Tokyo. And "Yoshino" showed his performance as a guitarist of "Joe Yamanaka band".
Coincidently, a super popular pop star, "Hideki Saijo" was attending the concert as an audience.
"Hideki" was very impressed by Yoshino's fine, and spirited guitar play. And in another day, "Hideki" requested "Yoshino" to join him, and form an exclusive backing band to "Hideki Saijo".
"Yoshino" accepted a request, then teamed up a band with 3 other members, and began to play for "Hideki". The band called themselves as "Fujimaru Band".
One Line Band
After serving as a leader of "Hideki"'s backing band for 5 years, "Yoshino" left from the team amicably in 1978.
Shortly, "Yoshino" teamed up a new rock band with 4 other expert session musicians, and named it as "One Line Band".
And this group subsequently became a notable rock band, "SHŌGUN".
SHŌGUN
In 1978, the same year, "One Line Band" released their 1st, and the last album "Yellow Magic".
Curiously, a music producer in a broadcaster was impressed by this album, and found this band interesting.
She contacted "One Line Band", and requested them to create, and play a soundtrack for a newly starting TV drama series.
By request from the producer, they welcomed a mew member "Casey Rankin" as a guitarist, vocalist and composer. And changes the band name from "One Line Band" to "SHŌGUN".
Actually, the producer discovered "SHŌGUN" had an eagle-eye.
Cool, but sunny rock sound of "SHŌGUN" matched well with the comical & thrilling drama series. They interacted with each other, and pushed up their popularities.
The main theme of the drama became very popular, and its single record sold more than half a million.
The broadcaster started another drama series, but similar concept.
"SHŌGUN" was put in charge of writing film scores again, and successfully launched a hit song.
By these series of successes, "SHŌGUN" became well known as an creative, and powerful rock band.
Crash stop
"SHŌGUN" was however, only lasted for 2 years. In 1980, they stopped band activities, until they came back and restarted the band in 1997.
AB'S
While "SHŌGUN" was inactive, "Yoshino" formed a new band with 4 other members, who were all well known super players.
At this band, "Yoshino" seemed to be hoping to play more Adult contemporary style rock.
AB'S released 4 albums until 1988. But the band also stopped its activity on this year.
The band was restarted in 2003 by the original members. Since then, the band is keeping their own pace, to avoid the members become too busy.
Recent
"Yoshino" seems to be having busy days even now.
Not just holding his own, or joint lives frequently in various venue, but he is also actively participating many sessions.
In parallel, he is promoting a few of attractive singers as a music producer now a days.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Fujimaru Yoshino)
(Ref: okmusic.jp,
Shōgun, Rotation, 03-10-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: Yoshino Fujimaru on the web,
Fujimaru Yoshino, biography)🇯🇵
(Ref: t-walkers.com, PDF file
SHOGUN-Fujimaru-Yoshino-Interview.pdf)🇯🇵
(Ref: bongengan,
Fujimaru Yoshino, 13-02-2011)🇯🇵
(Ref: post.tv-asahi.co.jp,
Naomi Hase, 11-09-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: music-calendar.jp,
Hiro Tsunoda, 01-08-2016)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, we would like to post a trailer video of "Fujimaru Yoshino"s latest solo album "What's up?" released in 2018.
This aspiring new album was released for celebrating "Yoshino"'s 45 years anniversary in music. Actually, it is hard to believe, but this is Yoshino"'s 5th solo album in that long period of time.
All the songs are cool, dandy and stylish, and still perfectly a "Fujimaru" sound. If you like please listen to.
The poster of this video, namely "Kumi Hara" is "Yoshino"'s partner in life.
And each songs seem to be properly licensed by "Yoshino"'s talent agency. So, should be all right.
* "What's up?" trailer video by "Fujimaru Yoshino"
Music Samples
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Amazon JP(en)
Tower records online
hmv.co.jp
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Who are you |
|---|---|
| Artist | 芳野藤丸(Fujimaru Yoshino) |
| Album Title | YOSHINO FUJIMARU |
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