[Song Review #164] "Ano sora-no mukou-gawa-he" by Junk Fujiyama
Hi. Today's song is "Ano sora-no mukou-gawa-he" (Somewhere beyond the sky) by "Junk Fujiyama".
It's a bright & joyful nice pop song performed by a new generation urban-pop hero, "Junk Fujiyama".
If you like, please listen.
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Song data
| Title | Ano sora-no mukou-gawa-he |
|---|---|
| Artist | Junk Fujiyama |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | VICL-63992 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 5:20 |
| Released | 2013 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Naofumi Fujiki Lyricist
"Naofumi Fujiki" is another name of "Junk Fujiyama", therefore they are same person.
So, we would like to come back to him later in "About the artist" section.
Ryūta Sakamoto Composer
"Ryūta Sakamoto" is a bassist, guitarist, DJ, composer, arranger, and music producer active since 1985.
Early times
According to the biography on "Sakamoto"'s website, he began to play the drums when he was 10.
In middle school. he touched the bass, which eventually led him to be a bassist.
At seventeen, he left his hometown, and began to join the various bands in an unfamiliar town in southern island Kyūshū.
And in 1985 when he was 21, "Sakamoto" returned to Tokyo, and started his career as a professional musician.
Band master
Since then, "Sakamoto" is actively supporting many artists, like "Hikaru Nishida", "V6", or "Hitomi Yaida", as a recording, and tour bassist.
Around 2000, he began to be a band master for the musicians like "Nana Mizuki", "Shikao Suga", or "Keizō Nakanaishi", and supporting the tours of them.
As a music producer, he's been taking part in the groups, or musicians like, "Fire horns", Junk Fujiyama", and often provided melodies, or song arrangement.
Own activities
In 2008, "Sakamoto" released his first solo album, "Kool maD Groove" for the first time in his career.
In 2015, he formed a Crossover, and Fusion style band, "Spicy Kickin'" with 3 other members, and released an album from a known major label, "Electric bird".
And he is also performing in a different unit "Dos Luna", which he has teamed up with a guitarist, "Ryō Ogihara", and performing a little hard Jazz rock, by inviting a variety of drummers for each session.
-
(Ref: ryutasakamoto.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a live clip of "Ryuta Sakamoto", which he participated in a live by "Junk Fujiyama".
"Sokubaku" ("under restraint") is the song title played on this video, and it is one of "Junk Fujiyama"'s song.
The recording level is a bit high, so please adjust the volume if necessary.
If you like, please listen.
* "Sokubaku Live version" by "Ryūta Sakamoto"
Yoshihiko Chino Arranger
"Yoshihiko Chino" is a guitarist, composer, and arranger active since 1996.
Short Bio.
According to his website, he was inspired for foreign pops by "Billy Joel".
In the third grade at a middle school, he began to play the guitar, and already became an instructor when he was a college student.
In 1996, he moved to Tokyo, and started his career as a professional musician.
As a guitarist
Since then, he has been taking part in recordings, or tours of the various musicians as a guitarist.
He is also active as a composer or arranger, and offering music for a variety of musicians, like "Yui Aragaki", "Chihiro Yonekura" and so on.
Among them, his involvements are notable in the groups belongs to an entertainment agency, "Johnny & Associates", namely "Tegomass", "SMAP", "Kinki Kids" etc.
-
(Ref: yoshihiko-chino.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a live clip of "Yoshihiko Chino", when he was playing the guitar on a "Junk Fujiyama"'s in-store live at "Tower record Shinjuku" in 2010.
The drummer playing together is a known drum master, "Shūichi 'ponta' Murakami".
If you like, please listen.
* "Junk Fujiyama in-store live" by "Yoshihiko Chino"
Cover art today
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Sound impression
This is a bright, sunny, and joyful pop song in an active & lively 16-beats rhythm.
Expansive
The electric guitar, electronic piano, and percussion begin a controlled, but thrilling introduction, then the drums, bass, strings, and brass section join, and play a festive main melody.
In the main part, an active rhythm & expansive sound create a resort atmosphere.
"Junk Fujiyama"'s heartening high-pitched voice is attractive.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Junk FujiyamaFresh & energizing
"Junk Fujiyama" is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist active since 2009.
A unique, and high-quality urban-pop creator of a new generation.
"Fujiyama" debuted in 2009 with his first album, "A color". Since then, 12 singles, and 6 original, plus 2 live albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Junk Fujiyama)
Early times
According to Wikipedia, "Fujiyama" was a music lover already in his childhood.
In the middle school, he first encountered with the music of "Tatsurō Yamashita", then he was deep into the "Tatsurō" sound.
"Fujiyama" also listened, and learned the roots music of "Tatsurō" which might be the '60s American pops, or a variety of "a cappella".
Perhaps, such experience cultivated his unique sense for pop music.
Actually, he was a rare guy in his generation born in the '80s, since the most popular songs for his generation might be, Dance pop, hip-hop, or Idol group pops.
"Fujiyama" continued music activities as an amateur throughout junior and high school period.
In a college, he formed a semi-professional band, "Hayaoki X" with 4 other members, and started in-house & street lives.
But the group was disbanded in 2005. Since then he set out a solo career.
There was a bit of tough time according to some interviews, but in 2009, he debut as "Junk Fujiyama" with his first album "A color" released from Indies.
Is this a dream?
It seems he had a very lucky chance to hand his first album to one of the most revered musician, and a super drummer, "Shūichi 'ponta' Murakami".
"Murakami" liked "Fujiyama"'s attractive vocal, and later called him up. In the later meeting, Murakami said to "Fujiyama" that "The music like you are doing has to be backed by the first class musicians. Let me assemble them, so, you sing!".
It was a almost unbelievable development, but since then, "Kiyotusgu Amano" (G), "Akira Okazawa" (Bs), "Hideki Maatsubara" (Bs), "Yūsuke Miyazaki" (KB), "Masato Honma" (sax), "Shūichi 'ponta' Murakami" (Dr) etc, like top musicians were joined, and backed him on his memorable solo live at Blues Alley Japan (Meguro) in 2009.
This concert was recorded, and released as "Fujiyama"'s 2nd album, "JUNKTIME" in 2010, and gathered an attention from music fans.
At the same time, "Fujiyama" released an impressive pop track, "Morning Kiss" as his first single record.
"Morning Kiss" gradually became popular through the music programs on radio.
And "Junk Fujiyama" slowly came under the spot-light.
New Hero
"Fujiyama"'s brand new "soulful city-pop" style music first attracted the music fans in his 40s or 50s, since they have experienced '80s pop music in real time, and already familiar with the sound.
In 2012, one of his song titled, "Ano sora-no mukou-gawa-he" (Somewhere beyond the sky), which we are introducing today, was selected for a theme music for a TV commercial.
Afterwards, "Fujiyama"'s music was also accepted by the younger generations who haven't heard the music like that before.
Since then, he has been a leading artist in a new generation city-pop.
Recent
In 2018, "Fujiyama" released a Jazz cover album, "Romantic songs -My foolish heart-" for the first time in his career.
And held a memorial live in Tokyo in November 2018.
In this year 2019, "Fujiyama" is celebrating his 10th anniversary since debut.
And he is going to have an anniversary live in December at Blues Alley Japan (Meguro), with gorgeous support musicians including "Shūichi 'ponta' Murakami".
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of "Fujiyama"'s song, "Bokudake-no sunshine" (My only sunshine) released in 2017.
It's a lively, joyful, but slightly moist nice pop song, and might be perfect for summer. (sorry.)
The lyricist is "Naofumi Fujiki" (Junk Fujiyama), and the music is composed, and arranged by "Tatsuki Kamiya".
If you like, please listen.
* "Bokudake-no Sunshine" by "Junk Fujiyama"
Music Samples
1
(試聴する)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
3
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | あの空の向こうがわへ(Long V.)(Ano sora-no mukou-gawa-he) |
|---|---|
| Artist | ジャンクフジヤマ (Junk Fujiyama) |
| Album Title | JUNK SCAPE |
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