[Airy & elegant]
No.157 "Nuance shimasho" by Miyuki Kohsaka
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- Nuance shimasho
Hi. Today's song is "Nuance shimasho" (Shall we talk in a more nuanced way?) by "Miyuki Kōsaka".
This is an airy, and elegant pop song, performed by "Miyuki Kōsaka" who was one of the leading idol star in the '80s.
If you like, please listen.
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1.Song data
| Title | Nuance shimasho (Shall we talk in a more nuanced way?) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miyuki Kōsaka |
| Album Title | Jet lag |
| Catalog Number | UPCY-6780 |
| Track No. | 10 |
| Duration | 4:00 |
| Released | 1984 |
| Publisher | Polydor |
| Lyricist | Taeko Ohnuki |
| Composer | EPO |
| Arranger | Nobuyuki Shimizu |
- About the creators
Taeko OhnukiLyricist
"Taeko Ohnuki" (or Ōnuki) is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, lyricist, and composer active since 1971.
She is regarded as one of the pioneering artists in the modern J-pop, who lead the scene softly, but powerfully.
Early days
"Taeko Ohnuki" started her music career in 1971 by joining a folk group as the 3rd member.
Before too long, she left the group since the direction of the group did not match with her intention.
In 1972, "Ohnuki" began to have sessions with talented then-amateur musicians like "Tatsuro Yamashita".
And finally in 1973, "Ohnuki" teamed up a legendary pop rock group, "Sugar Babe" with 4 other members including "Tatsuro Yamashita", and "Kunio Muramatsu".
The music of "Sugar Babe" was revolutionary new, and attracted the advanced fans. But anyway, it seemed they were way ahead of the time. to catch neutral fans those days.
The band broke up in 1976, after released only one album in the previous year.
As a Solo singer
In 1976, "Ohnuki" debuted as a solo singer with her first album "Grey skies".
This new album was again very modern, and excellent one.
Through this album, she successfully presented the style of the music she was wishing to do.
She continued to release fine albums, and gained popularity little by little.
In 1980, "Ohnuki" released a challenging new album "Romantique", which had a slightly shadowy, but brand new European taste, as her 4th.
Also thanks to the participated excellent musicians, the album achieved an incredible quality, and supported by wide range of fans.
By success of this album, she entered the spotlight.
"Ohnuki" took this line for 2 more albums, and they attained a good results.
These 3 albums are often called "European trilogy", but "Ohnuki" established her name & own music world through this series.
Afterwards
"Ohnuki" is constantly releasing impressive, and creative albums to date.
And is always bringing a fresh surprise to the fans.
On the other hand, she has been showing a greater presence also as a songwriter particularly since the 80s.
Quite a few of popular singers have recorded "Ohnuki"s songs on their albums.
After 2010, "Ohnuki" is more focusing on live performance than before.
According to an interview, she had been feeling that she was not very good at singing in front of the audience.
But in 2010, "Ohnuki" and "Ryūichi Sakamto" held an ultimately simple, Acoustic Piano & vocal concert in the big hall.
"Ohnuki" faced the maximum pressure she had never come across. But through this experience, she overcame a hurdle, and now, she is feeling great deal easier to sing.
That is perhaps why she is putting more energy on the live stages recently.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Taeko Ohnuki)
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Sugar Babe)
Video clip
Finally, this is a short digest video of a "Taeko Ohnuki"'s DVD titled "TAEKO ONUKI meets AKIRA SENJU, Symphonic Concert 2016", released in 2017.
The 2016 was the 40th anniversary year for "Ohnuki", and she held a special concert collaborated with a symphonic orchestra, which was conducted by a famed composer "Akira Senju".
"Ohnuki"'s melody is elegant, and has the essence of Classical music in general. So, they often match well with strings, or a symphonic sound.
If you like, please listen.
EPOComposer
Coincidently, we are posting "EPO"'s song for the second time in a row.'
We are usually choosing a song based on the image of the lyrics, if it fits with the season.
But, it occasionally happens, that the song of the same creator continues.
So, if you don't mind, please check the article about "EPO" in the last post from the link in below?
Thank you.
Nobuyuki ShimizuArranger
"Nobuyuki Shimizu" is a keyboardist, guitarist, composer, and arranger active since 1976.
Interestingly, "Shimizu" and "EPO" went to the same high school, and they know each other from then on. ("Shimizu" was 1 year older than her.)
Early days
"Nobuyuki Shimizu" started his professional career in 1976 by joining a short lived, but legendary pop group, "Kinokuni-ya band" when he was 17.
After the band broke up in 1977, "Shimizu" joined several bands for a short time, as well as working as a studio musician.
In 1980, "Shimizu" took part in a production of "EPO"'s debut album "Down Town" as an arranger, and did half an album.
And this also became a debut for "Shimizu" as a professional arranger.
Hit song maker
EPO's debut song, "Down Town" (same title with the album) was selected as an ending theme for a popular TV variety series, and became a smash hit.
And thanks to this, "Shimizu" drew attention from professionals.
In 1983, he again arranged EPO's new single "U·fu·fu·fu" (a sound of woman's mysterious smile), and it became a big hit.
Then in 1984, "Shimizu" arranged a song for "Mari Iijima" titled, "Ai Oboete-masuka" (Do You Remember Love?), which was used as a theme music for a popular animated movie, "Macross, Do You Remember Love?"
This also caught on so much, and "Shimizu" established his name as a talented arranger.
Afterwards
Since then, "Shimizu" has arranged hundreds of songs and successfully released dozens of hit songs.
In 2015, he celebrated the 35 years anniversary as an arranger.
(Ref: Wikipedia, Nobuyuki Shimizu)
(Ref: mnavi.roland.jp,
Shimizu & Matsutake interview, 2011)🇯🇵
(Ref: spice.eplus.jp,
Nobuyuki Shimizu interview, 18-07-2019)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, we would like to introduce a music clip of "Nobuyuki Shimizu", titled "Owaranai uta" (The endless song) released in 2015.
Many of the leading singers of J-pop, who all once collaborated with "Shimizu" on their album production, participated in the video. And sang a song phrase by phrase in turns.
The singers are, (from the beginning)
- The 1st verse
- Takako Okamura
- Yumi Tanimura
- Taeko Ohnuki
- EPO
- Misato Watanabe
- Mayu Watanabe (ex: AKB48)
- Rinko Urashima
- The 2nd verse
- Satoshi Ikeda
- Keizō Nakanishi
- Yasuhiro Abe
- Jun'ichi Inagaki
- Kaoru Kurosawa (The Gospellers)
- Tetsuya Murakami (The Gospellers)
- Sunmyu
- (Ayana Kinoshita)
- (Sena Niihara)
- (Mami Noda)
- Masayuki Suzuki
- Nona Iwamura (Percussions)
- Yoshiyuki Sahashi (Acoustic Guitar)
- Hideki Matsubara (Electric Bass)
- Shu'ichi 'Ponta' Murakami (Drums)
- Toshiyuki Mori (Acoustic Piano)
- Nobuyuki Shimizu (Electronic Piano)
and musicians are,
It's a beautiful slow ballad.
If you like, please listen.
Cover art today
- Sound impressions
Airy & elegant
This is a light, airy, but like an old Chinese music like elegant pop song, on the electro pop style arrangement.
Electro Chinese
The drums, synthesizer, xylophone, Glockenspiel, and chorus begin an elegant & flowing, old Chinese song introduction.
In the main part, a funky bass line synthesizer joins, and the sound becomes like an Electro pop. And a heavy use of polyphonic synthesizer also accentuates that.
A pure, and clear high pitch voice of "Miyuki Kōsaka", is just like an ancient Chinese angel's singing. And a rich female chorus adds a luxury atmosphere.
- Reference
- About the artist
Miyuki KōsakaLovely voice
"Miyuki Kōsaka" is a singer, actor, idol star, model, and a TV character active since 1966.
As a singer, "Kōsaka" debuted in 1977 with a single "Ai-no mebae" (Budding Love). Since then, 21 singles, and 12 original plus 3 best albums, and 1 CD-box have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miyuki Kōsaka)
Early time
"Miyuki Kōsaka" started her career as a model when she was three years old.
After she started school, became a front cover model for a suite of monthly magazines for children.
Those magazines were so popular, and quite a few of children were reading them. Then, "Miyuki Kōsaka" became a well-known face by children of the same generation.
In 1975, "Miyuki Kōsaka" selected as an assistant for a newly started, and rising TV comedy variety, hosted by a popular comedian "Kin'ichi Hagimoto".
Her cute smile charmed a lot of boys & young men. And it also relaxed the rest of the people.
"Kōsaka" quickly became popular, and in 1977, she released her first single "Ai-no mebae" (Budding Love) from Polydor record, and started her career as a singer.
TV character & actor
"Kōsaka" had soon come to appear various TV program regularly. And in 1978, she finally acted in a TV drama series for the first time in life.
And by the beginning of the 80s, "Kōsaka" had been one of the top idol star, and a TV character.
Excellent singer
Also as a singer, "Kōsaka" showed excellent performances since debut.
"Kōsaka" has a clear high-pitched voice, and skills to sing smoothly. It has been attracting a lot of fans since early days.
A prominent example of that would be "Nuance shimasho" (Shall we talk in a more nuanced way?), which is her biggest hit song so far, and we are introducing today.
She has released 21 singles, and 12 studio albums so far. And the quality of the albums are also fine, since quite a few of leading creators had participated in the production of her albums.
It might be a notable achievement as a singer in the J-pop.
Marriage
In 1994, she got married with a popular comedian for the second time.
The couple was blessed with 2 children, then "Kōsaka" began to control her appearance on TV, to spend more time for child raising.
Recent
After her children were grown up, "Kōsaka" has come back on TV, and appearing on the various TV varieties as a commentator.
Actually, the idols stars of the '80s like her are quite popular in the current TV entertainment. Because they can speak in clearer language than before, since they are all adult women.
We wish they continue to be there as long as they can.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miyuki Kōsaka)
(Ref: stepon.co.jp,
Miyuki Kōsaka interview, 25-07-2012)🇯🇵
(Ref: jisin.jp,
Miyuki Kōsaka interview, 20-12-2018)🇯🇵
(Ref: allabout.co.jp,
Miyuki Kōsaka interview, 12-08-2008)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip of a recent live stage of "Miyuki Kōsaka", collaborated with a 5-piece(now) girl's pop group "Sunmyu", at a special music event held in Tokyo in 2016.
The song performed on the stage was "Kōsaka"'s 1980 hit song "Kirari" (twinkling). A singer in the center, and wearing black dress is "Kōsaka".
"Sunmyu" is a all-girl pop group formed in 2013, by an entertainment agency, "Sun music".
As a concept, the group is recreating an idol pop music in the style of the '80s. And trying to attract middle-aged music fans as well as young fans.
If you like, please listen.
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.10.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD :
Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
(You can still listen this song by clicking the banner. Please select track No.1 once the page is open.)
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | ニュアンスしましょ (Nuance shimasho) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 香坂みゆき (Miyuki Kōsaka) |
| Album Title | Jet lag |
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