[Bright & thrilling]
No.176 "Simple Love" by Junko Ōhashi
Hi. Today's song is "Simple Love" by "Junko Ōhashi".
This is a bright, festive, and thrilling pop song performed by a legendary super vocalist, "Junko Ōhashi".
If you like, please listen.
In winter, our choice of songs tend to be gentle & moderated, since we spend more time indoors.
So, we selected a particularly dynamic & uplifting tune this time from "Junko Ōhashi"'s vibrant song line up, though the season might be still a bit early for this song...
We wish this would inspire your spirit.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Simple Love |
|---|---|
| Artist | Junko Ōhashi |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | UPCY-6529 |
| Track No. | 1 |
| Duration | 3:44 |
| Released | 1977 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Takashi Matsumoto Lyricist
"Takashi Matsumoto" is a lyricist, and a former member of a legendary rock band "Happy end" active since 1968.
He has written quite a few songs since he set to work as a lyricist, and many of them became super hit.
Then, he has been recognized as one of the most competent, and successful lyricist in the Japanese popular music scene.
(* "Kaze-machi" is an imaginary place where "Matsumoto" once lived. But it may be somewhere in the '50-60s Tokyo.)
Early times
"Takashi Matsumoto" began his music career in 1968 as a drummer of a rock band "April fool".
A unique psychedelic rock band, "April fool" didn't last long, and broke up in 1969.
"Matsumoto", and a band mate "Haruomi Hosono" began to look for new members to form a new band, and succeeded to recruit 2 other capable members, namely "Ei-ichi Ōtaki", and "Shigeru Suzuki".
And soon in 1969, 4 of them formed an edgy new rock band, "Happy end", which is often called as a legend now a days.
"Happy end" left 4 unique albums in its 3 years plus active period.
And on the new year's eve of 1972, the band declared its break-up.
After a bit of trial and error, "Matsumoto" made up his mind work professionally as a lyricist.
And offered his first creation, "Pocket ippai-no himitsu" (A pocketful secret) to a top idol star, "Agnes Chan" in 1974.
Great achievement
Since then, "Takashi Matsumoto" has written more than 2000 lyrics, including timeless masterpieces like, "Momen-no handkerchief" (A cotton handkerchief, 1975) ,"Ruby-no yubiwa" (A ruby ring, 1981), "Akai sweet pea" (Red sweet pea, 1982), or "Glass-no shōnen" (A boy like made of glass, 1997).
His contribution to the Japanese popular music scene is enormous, and has been respected as one of the most prominent, and influential lyricist.
For more details on his great achievement, please have a look at the references linked below, since we believe they would provide clearer overview for you.
Thank you.
Video clip
Finally, here is a "Takashi Matsumoto" 's 1985 song, "Ginga Tetsudō-no yoru" (Night on the Galactic Railroad), covered by "Angelica" in 2016.
Just for your information, the composer was "Matsumoto" 's band mate, "Haruomi Hosono".
This song was written originally for an animation movie of the same title (Night on the Galactic Railroad), which was produced in 1985 to celebrate the centenary of "Kenji Miyazawa", who was the author of "Night on the Galactic Railroad", which is Japan's most well known fantasy novel for juvenile.
"Haruomi Hosono" was named as a music director for this film, and requested "Matsumoto" to write a lyrics.
The original singer of this song was "Kaori Nakahara". She was an idol star & voice actor in the mid '80s.
The singer performing on this video is "Angelica".
She is an actor, model, singer, songwriter, TV character, radio personality, and writer active since around 2000.
Her singing is fairly natural, and her voice is somewhat healing.
If you like, please listen.
Ken Satoh Composer & Arranger
"Ken Satō" is a keyboardist, composer, arranger, and used to be a leader of a "Minoya central station" active since the early '70s.
As a leader of "Junko Ōhashi" 's backing band, "Satō" has written a long list of excellent melody for "Ōhashi", and supported her career as a pop singer.
Early times
"Satō" first met with "Junko Ōhashi" in 1973, when "Ōhashi" began to work as a part-timer at the Light Music section of "Yamaha music foundation", where "Satō" was also working for.
In 1974, "Junko Ōhashi" made a lucky debut as a solo singer by the support from a record company.
The debut itself was a great thing for her. But "Ōhashi" was wishing to perform as a vocalist of a band, rather than a solo singer.
"Ōhashi" continuously & eagerly appealed her desire to the management, if she could have a band performing songs together.
Finally, her wish became reality in 1976.
A colleague "Ken Satō" gathered 7 skillful musicians, and teamed up a excellent pop group, "Minoya Central Station".
Since then, "Satō" began to provide a rock steady support for "Junko Ōhashi".
"Minoya central station"
"Junko Ōhashi & Minoya Central Station" began to produce amazing quality pop songs in very high pace.
And quickly became one of the most pop & stylish band in the late '70s.'
Then in 1979, "Junko Ōhashi" & "Ken Satō" got married.
As a composer
Since then, "Satō" is powerfully supporting "Junko Ōhashi"'s music by writing quite a few of melodies for her. '
And not only for "Ōhashi", but for many of other artists, "Satō" has been offering excellent melodies & song arrangements even now.
-
(Ref: markrock.hatenablog.com,
Ken Satō)🇯🇵
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Festive & thrilling
This is a light &am; bright, thrilling pop song in 16 beat rhythm.
Festive
The bass, drums, electric piano, electric guitar, and synthesizer begin a fast and thrilling introduction, then the brass section, strings and percussion join, and the ensemble becomes festive.
Bright & dynamic vocal of "Junko Ōhashi" shows a substantial presence throughout the song.
An impressive guitar solo in the bridge, and a beautiful harmony of the chorus section seem to be another listening points.
Musicians
The musicians showing fine performance on this song are as follows.
- E.Guitar・Slide Guitar Solo・Cowbell
- discogs.com
- E.Guitar
- Daisuke Takimoto
- Rhodes E. Piano・Piano・Mini Moog
- Kenjirō Oda
- Bass
- Ikujirō Fukuda
- Drums
- Kazuaki Misago
- Congas
- Noboru Takasugi
- Chorus
- Kayoko Ishū, Michiko Ogata, Kayoko Wada
- Horns & Strings
- Shin-Ongaku-Kyokai
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Junko ŌhashiAmazing power of voice
"Junko Ōhashi" is a pop singer, and radio personality active since 1974.
She is well known by her excellent singing & overwhelming power of vocal, and has been regarded as one of the best vocalists in the modern J-pop history.
"Ōhashi" debuted in 1974 with a single, "Kagi ha kaeshite" (Return the room key please). Since then, 38 singles, and 28 original, 1 live, and 8 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Junko Ōhashi)
Early times
"Junko Ōhashi" in the northern island of Hokkaidō in 1952.
She started a band activity in a college, and began to sing rock, or hard rock as a lead vocal.
After graduated from college, she decided to move to Tokyo to seek for opportunities to become a professional singer.
Luckily, she got a job at the office of "Yamaha music foundation", and began to work as a part-time staff member.
In the Yamaha office (LM section), there were so many talented music people like, "Mitsuo Hagita", or "Motoki Funayama", and she was greatly influenced by them.
Soon, she formed a pop band and began to perform in the various stages.
Before too long, she had a chance to audition for debuting.
She successfully passed the audition, and debuted from Nippon Phonogram in 1974, with her first single, "Kagi ha kaeshite" (Return the room key please).
Simple Love
In 1976, a legendary instrumental group, "Minoya central station" was teamed up as an exclusive backing band for "Junko Ōhashi" by 7 skillful musicians.
The leader of the band was "Ken Satō", known as a talented composer, and became a partner to "Junko Ōhashi" later.
In 1977, "Satō" wrote a brilliant pop song, "Simple Love" for "Junko Ōhashi", by collaborating with a very competent lyricist, "Takashi Matsumoto".
This song actually extracted maximum power of "Junko Ōhashi"'s the amazing vocal.
Naturally, it became a smash hit, and the name of "Junko Ōhashi" become known.
Tasogare my love
In 1978, "Ōhashi" released a main stream type pop song, "Tasogare my love" ("My love in twilight", or "The twilight zone").
The creators of the song were "Yū Aku" & "Kyōhei Tsutsumi". Both were the most prominent song writers in the main stream popular music scene, and the song became the most appealing, and a bit emotional pop tune.
The combination of such melody and "Junko Ōhashi"'s vocal was almost promising.
The song became a big hit, and "Junko Ōhashi" received a "Japan Record Award, Singer award" on the new year's eve of that year.
And this tune is still popular, and has been a signature song for her.
Hit songs
Since then, "Junko Ōhashi" released hit songs next by next. Among them, "Safari night" (1978), "Beautiful me" (1979), "Silhouette Romance" (1981), "Natsu-onna Sonia" (Summer girl Sonia, 1983), and "Ai-ha toki-wo koete" (Love transcends time) are well known, popular tunes.
Thanks to these hit songs, "Junko Ōhashi" established her name as one of the top vocalist.
Live performance
While she was enjoying the pinnacle of her popularity, she was, on the on the other hand, feeling gaps between her hit songs and the music she was wishing to do.
She decided to take a break for few years. And began to experience music in overseas.
After returned, she set to focus more on live stages.
She almost fixed the core members of her backing band, and has been creating round & well matured live performances.
It seems there aren't any changes on her such policy even now.
Recent
Since 2007, "Junko Ōhashi" has started to released cover albums under the title of "Terra" series.
According to her, she re-discovered the beauty of the standard songs in a real sense, after she experienced more than 30 years as a singer.
We were long awaiting the "Terra" series album, after she released "Terra 2" in 2009.
But the last year, in 2019, "Ōhashi" finally released "Terra 3" to celebrate her 45 years anniversary.
-
(Ref: junko-ohashi.com,
info)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: hp2009.heteml.jp,
junko_ohashi profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip of a "Junko Ōhashi" 's 1992 hit song, "Ai-ha toki-wo koete" (Love transcends time).
It is a dramatic love ballad, and has been a standard number for a marriage ceremony for a long time.
A slow & glorious ballad like this is particularly shining when a singer with an overwhelming power and presence in vocal, like "Junko Ōhashi", sings.
If you like, please listen.
Music Samples
1
(試聴する)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
Apple Music(jp)
1
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | シンプル・ラブ(Simple Love) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 大橋純子(Junko Ōhashi) |
| Album Title | RAINBOW |
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