[Relaxing hip-hop]
No.158 "Saigo-no ai-de" by Hiromi Iwasaki
Hi. Are you guys watching Rugby? (This article was posted during Rugby World Cup 2019, initially.)
Today's song is "Saigo-no ai-de" (With my last piece of love for you) by "Hiromi Iwasaki".
This song is a unique combination of laid-back Hip-hop & crystal clear vocal of a top singer "Hiromi Iwasaki".
If you like, please listen.
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.
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Thank you.
Song data
| Title | Saigo-no ai-de |
|---|---|
| Artist | Hiromi Iwasaki |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | NCS-70004 |
| Track No. | 8 |
| Duration | 5:28 |
| Released | 1997 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Toshiki KadomatsuLyricist
"Toshiki Kadomatsu" is a singer-songwriter, music producer, guitarist, radio personality active since 1981.
He has been a notable figure since the '80s, in the urban-pop, dance-pop and R&B categories.
Leading creator
As a talented music creator, "Toshiki Kadomatsu" had released fine urban-pop, or fusion instrumental albums in the first half of the '80s, and quickly established a solid "Kadomatsu" world in the J-pop.
On the other hand, he pro-actively involved in producing singers by offering a lot of his fine songs, and made them into hit songs through those performers.
In the latter half of the '80s, "Kadomatsu" began to shift the position of his music style from urban pop to the latest Dance-pop, or Funk which was popular in the United States at that time.
From around 2000 and onward, "Kadomatsu" seems to be reviewing, and integrating the music he had pursued for a long time.
Shower of Love
Today's album, "Shower of Love" is a unique one for "Hiromi Iwasaki", since this album is featuring Funk or R&B.
Because "Iwasaki" is an ace singer in the main stream J-pop, then, she had been singing orthodox, and decent pop music mostly. So, Funk and Adult contemporary album like this is rare.
But from 1995 to 1997, she released 2 studio albums in R&B, or Adult contemporary style. The first one was "Full Circle" (1995), and the second one was today's album "Shower of Love".
For both albums, LA keyboardist "Cat Gray" had participated.
Regarding the song for today, it seems that "Kadomatsu" just provided a Japanese lyrics for "Jane Child" & Cat Gray's song. (or possibly asked her to compose a new melody) then, he wrote a fine, little sentimental Japanese lyrics especially for "Iwasaki".
Anyway, it is one of the good track in this album.
For more information
We have posted a song of "Kadomatsu" several weeks ago, and wrote slight more about him.
So, if you like, please have a look at the page linked in below, since there is a bit more detailed bio of him.
Jane ChildComposer
Jane Child, is a Canadian singer, songwriter. and music producer active since 1989.
Early days
According to Wikipedia, "Child" was born in a music family in 1967, and has grown up with music by support of her parents, who both are classical musicians.
When she was 15, started her career as a professional musician, by joining a tour band as a keyboardist & vocalist.
After engaged herself in several music related jobs, she debuted from Warner Bros. Records in 1989, with her first album "Jane Child".
Big hit
In 1990, one of the track titled, "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" was released as the second single from the first album.
This song rapidly climbed up the chart, and took second place on Billboard Hot 100.
It also became a smash hit in Canada and the UK. By this song, she established her name in contemporary R&B scene.
Recent
"Child" continued to create music in her own R&B style until 2004.
But in 2004 the same year, she married with "Cat Gray", who is a musical director since 2011, on a popular TV variety, "Let's Make a Deal", which was revived in 2009, and has been broadcasted in the Unites States at the moment.
Video clip
Lastly, here is a music clip of her 1990 hit song, "Don't Wanna Fall in Love".
This nice track of R&B, or dance-pop was ranked second on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990. And its single CD was certified gold by the RIAA.
If you like, please listen.
* "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" by "Jane Child"
Cat GrayArranger
Cat Gray is an American keyboardist, composer, arranger. and used to be a member of pop-funk band "13Cats".
He is known as a music directer of a popular TV variety, "Let's Make a Deal" since 2011.
Career
According to an introduction about him on CBS site, he started music when he was very young.
He began to play the drums at 12 years old. And attained a regular position in a few of leading marching bands in the US.
(Perhaps) As a keyboardist, "Gray" has participated on recording, or tours of a lot of prominent American musicains, like, James Brown, Prince, Sheila E, Stevie Nicks, Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, Sly Stone, and Zakir Hussein.
He has also performed lives with many other big names so far.
In 2004, Gray married with a Canadian R&B singer "Jane Child", who is known by her 1990 big hit, "Don't Wanna Fall in Love".
Since 2011, he is appearing on a popular American TV variety, "Let's Make a Deal", as a music directer, and keyboardist, and showing excellent improvisations by using a sampler, rhythm box, and the synthesizers.
Video clip
Finally, here is a video clip introducing Cat Gray as part of a TV or on-line program, "Pensado's Place".
On this video, Cat Gray appears at around 12 minutes, and explains about his musical equipments, and how he is performing in "Let's Make a Deal".
Then, his colleague Brian Teed, who is a Sound Effects playback engeneer, also appears, and talks about how they are working together in the program.
If you like, please have a look.
* "Cat Gray" by "Pensado's Place"
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Relaxing hip-hop
This seems to be a relaxing hip hop, or moderated contemporary R&B.
Unique harmony
The programmed(?) synthe Bass, and manually played drums, and multiple synthesizers create typical, but relaxed hip-hop sound for the introduction.
In the main melody, clear, natural, and decent vocal of "Hiromi Iwasaki" goes up, and generate unique harmony with this laid back hip-hop sound.
It is a interesting experience to listen a combination of Funky R&B and upright vocal.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Hiromi IwasakiTrue super singer
"Hiromi Iwasaki" is a Japanese singer active since 1975.
She is one of the most prominent singer in the main stream J-pop, and famous with her extraordinary good singing.
Hiromi Iwasaki debuted in 1975 with a single record "Duet". Since then, 68 singles, and 29 original, 16 cover, 13 live, and 33 best albums, plus 4 box-set, and 11 DVDs (incl. VHS videos) have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Hiromi Iwasaki)
Early times
"Hiromi Iwasaki" was born in Tokyo as the second daughter of three sisters.
She started to learn singing when she became a second grade student at an elementary school, and joined a children's choir.
After entering middle school, she began to study under a prominent Soprano soloist, "Toshi Matsuda" to focus more on singing as a future profession.
Star Tanjō
In 1974, she entered in a very popular talent scout audition TV "Star Tanjō (A star is born).
In the early '70s, TV media began to occupy the center position of home entertainment.
A lot of glamorous singers or, celebrities appeared on the various program, and had been attracting a public audience.
Under such background, TV media launched a few of talent scout audition program for providing a systematic route to be a singer, and also aiming at broadcasting a drama of "A star is born".
These TV shows, particularly "Star Tanjō" became very popular, and attracted a lot of audiences.
Hundreds of thousands of young people auditioned the program, and quitea few of brilliant singers, like Masako Mori, Junko Sakurada, Momoe Yamaguchi, Akina Nakamori, Kyōko Koizumi, Hiromi Iwasaki, and so on, were debuted through the program.
For more details about the program, please have a look at the Japanese version of Wikipedia, or the related article in our past post.
"Hiromi Iwasaki" won the preliminary round. and reached the final.
She won first prize also in the final contest, and received contract offers from various entertainment agencies.
Eventually, she contracted with a reputed office, and a record company.
And in 1975, "Iwasaki" debuted with her first single "Duet".
Duet
(1975)
[Digital music]
Big hits
"Iwasaki" quickly gained in popularity after she released the first song.
In 1975, the same year, she released the second single, "Romance".
This became a big hit, and sold 0.8 million disks. (We were expecting it would have been more than a million, since she was appearing on TV, and singing this song 3-4 times a day everyday during peak period, just an impression though.)
Thanks to this hit, she was given,
- Japan Record Awards, New Artist Award
- Japan Music Awards, Excellent New Artist Award
- Japan Cable Awards, Excellent New Artist Award
These were actually the biggest music awards which the newly debuted pop singer could hope in the '70s.
"Iwasaki"'s name quickly spread all over Japan, through this hit song.
Become a big name
Since then, she continued to release hit songs.
The following is just a selection of her big, or smash hits.
- Sentimental (1975)
- Mirai (1976)
- Shi-shuu-ki (1977)
- Cinderella Honeymoon (1978)
- Natsu-ni dakarete (1979)
(Embraced by summer) - Mangekyō (1975)
(Kaleidoscope) - Sumire-iro no namida (1981)
(Purple tears) - Madonna-tachi no lullaby (1982)
(Lullabies of Madonnas) - Kesshin (1985)
(Decision)
Here are samples of the above songs.
"Digital Collezo (Best, 2013)
by "Hiromi Iwasaki"
Whatever song she sings, it sounds dramatic and beautiful.
"Iwasaki" established her name as an excellent singer, and has been one of the pillar in the main stream J-pop.
Recent
Like everyone, she experienced some up and down in private.
But "Iwasaki" has been active as a singer, that there was just few years break in the early '90s.
She is still constantly releasing albums, (any kind of), at almost once a year pace, which is rare among the long-serving big names.
In 2015, "Iwasaki" celebrated 40 years anniversary, and released a memorial self cover album titled, "MY SONGS".
In 2018, she released a unique album "PRESENT for you for me" as her 29th studio album, which the great song-writers are wrote songs for her setting "Present" as an album concept.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Hiromi Iwasaki)
(Ref: Wikipedia-JP, Hiromi Iwasaki)🇯🇵
(Ref: jpma-jazz.or.jp, Hiromi Iwasaki interview)🇯🇵
(Ref: kansai.pia.co.jp, Hiromi Iwasaki interview)🇯🇵
(Ref: jp.yamaha.com,
Hiromi Iwasaki interview 05-11-2017)🇯🇵
(Ref: popleta.goo.ne.jp,
Hiromi Iwasaki interview 22-02-2019)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, this is a music clip of "Hiromi Iwasaki"'s song, "Hikari-no kiseki" (Trace of Light), released in 2015.
This new single CD has been released as a part of the celebration for 40 years anniversary of her debut.
"Iwasaki" has added to the charm of her singing, after 40 years from the release of her first single.
If you like, please listen.
* "Hikari-no kiseki"by "Hiromi Iwasaki"
Music Samples
8
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
Tower records online
(Sample available, but No CD)
Tower records online
(No sample, but Selling CDs)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 最後の愛で(Saigo-no ai-de) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 岩崎宏美(Hiromi Iwasaki) |
| Album Title | Shower Of Love |
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