[Rhythmic & breezy]
No.179 "Angel Soul" by Miho Nakayama
Hi. Now, we wish all of you stay safe, and would like to pray for the quick recoveries of the people affected by the new virus.
Then, Today's song is "Angel Soul" by "Miho Nakayama".
We were planning to post her song "March Color" from the same album, but changed our mind to post this one, since it is more lively & encouraging.
"Angel Soul" is a light, sunny & rhythmic pop rock, or urban pop, and might go well with skiing or driving.
The performer "Miho Nakayama" used to be a super popular idol star, but she is also well known as a singer for light & mellow pops.
If you like, please listen.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with " ▼ " marks in each section, so please click it to read.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Angel Soul |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miho Nakayama |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | KICS-3279 |
| Track No. | 2 |
| Duration | 5:17 |
| Released | 1997 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Miho Nakayama Lyricist
The lyricist "Miho Nakayama" is also a songer of this track.
We would like to come back to her later in the "About the artist" section.
Shin'ya Naitō Compose & Arranger
"Shin'ya Naitō" is a composer, arranger, lyricist, programmer, and a member of the two music groups. (Kazsin & Largo)
It seems he is primarily a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) programmer, and creating music by the sequencer & synthesizer.
Because, some reference is introducing that "Naitō"'s instrument is a Mac Pro & Digital Performer. (He might play some musical instruments as well though.)
Early days
"Shin'ya Naitō" started his career by writing a theme music for a TV drama series in 1988.
Since then, he has composed, or arranged hundreds of popular music & commercial jingles to many artists, or advertisers, including "Hiroko Kasahara", "Yumi Kakazu", "Wota-Ko", or "Miho Nakayama".
Instrumental music
In 2000, "Shin'ya Naitō" and a sound effect designer, "Kazuhiro Ishikawa" teamed up a new unit "KAZSIN" which specialized for creating energetic instrumental melodies, or promoting other artists.
The group has released quite a few of impressive melodies to the various performers.
Among them, one of their 2012 instrumental music, "Move on", which was designed for Wind orchestra, was selected as a jingle in a popular TV news variety show.
The song was also became popular among the brass bands in Japan, and it has been a popular standard now a days.
Capriccio Music Records
In 2015, "Shin'ya Naitō" contacted with a newly founded independent record company, "Capriccio Music Records", as an artist.
His commitment to "Capriccio Music" soon deepened, and "Naitō" began to write quite a few melodies to the artists in "Capriccio"
Finally in 2019, "Naitō" became a label producer of "Capriccio Music", and he is producing the various artists actively.
Video clip
Lastly, here is a music clip a 1997 pop song "1/100 demo I love you" (I love you even I know only 1% of you) performed by "Kiyoko Kojima" (marron).
"Shin'ya Naitō" has been taking part in this track as an composer.
"marron" is a singer-songwriter, and voice trainer active since 1996.
She is not a splashy type of singer-songwriter, but continuously releasing preferable stylish pop melodies in her own pace.
This song is one of her earlier release, and therefore, it is a little bit vibrant.
If you like, please listen.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Rhythmic & breezy
This is a light, sunny & rhythmic pop song, in comfortable mid-high tempo.
The rhythm section, namely the drums, seems to be created by programming by the arranger, "Shin'ya Naitō".
Even it is a sound by DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), it's maturity is pretty high. And proving "Naitō"'s skill for creating sequences.
Free and easy
The drums, bass, acoustic piano, electric guitar, string synth, and horn section begin a free and easy introduction.
In the main melody, much relaxed vocal of "Miho Nakayama" sings bouncy phrase lightly & freely, accompanied by a groovy bassline.
An elegant backing chorus is enfolding main vocal gently, and it's singers were a super professional "Junko Hirotani", and "Shin'ya Naitō".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Miho NakayamaAn eternal cutie
"Miho Nakayama" is an actor, singer, lyricist, and used to be an idol star & model active since 1982.
As a top idol star of the mid '80s, "Nakayama" is very well known, and still popular among the fans.
She has done a lot of remarkable works also as a film star.
"Miho Nakayama" debuted in 1985 with a single, "C". Since then, 43 singles, and 22 original, 3 live, and 22 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Miho Nakayama)
Early times
In a sense, "Nakayama" was a typical school girl longed to be an idol star in the future, and actively auditioning for various movies or theater groups.
In 1982, when she was a middle school student, "Nakayama" was picked up off the street by a recruiter of an entertainment agency.
And soon, she debuted as a campaign model on a popular girl's comic "Hana to yume".
Drama debut
In 1985, "Nakayama" was selected as a as a main cast member for a TV drama series. And acted as a middle school student in a comedy for teens.
Despite no previous experience, or training in acting, "Nakayama" performed the role extremely well, and she became instantly famous as a new star.
Record debut
After gained momentum from the drama success, "Nakayama" released her first single "C" in June the same year, and also started her career as a singer.
Very fortunately, "Nakayama" won the "Best New Artist Awards" of the "27th Japan Record Awards" with this her debut song in 1985.
And already in 1986, she became overwhelmingly popular among public audiences, even she had many powerful revivals around her.
Actually, people often recall it as one the most competitive races to become a champion of the idol stars.
Top idol star
Since then, she quickly became a top idol star.
Whatever TV dramas she appeared, they became wildly popular.
Whatever single CDs she release, they always topped the chart.
"Nakayama" had been in such super idol star's position for more than 3 years.
As a professional
Generally, the peak season for the young idols stars cannot last so long.
They need to remodel themselves into more adult, and full-fledged actors, or singers, or entertainers if they wish to continue the career.
In this sense, "Miho Nakayama" did her career makeover very well.
As an actor, she is still one of the most popular actors in her generation.
And as a singer, she started to switch her music style relatively early, from catchy idols song type to more authentic pop singer type, by having the support from various notable song writers.
Thanks to those effort, "Nakayama" succeeded to establish her name as a pop singer, rather than an idols star, at early stage of her career.
That may be why, she is still able to release new album in 2019.
Groovin' Blue
Groovin' Blue is "Miho Nakayama"'s 19th studio album released in 1997.
This was the last but two original album, until she released a new album "Neuf Neuf" in 2019 for the first time in 2 decades.
On this album, "Nakayama" conducted herself, as if she had been granted full-control for recording.
She wrote all the lyrics by herself, and drove sound to the groovy direction where she seemed to be good at.
So, from the light & mellow fans point of view, "Groovin' Blue" is one of the best in a string of her albums.
Recent
"Nakayama" had been taking a break until around 2010, after she married in 2002.
Aound 2010, she began to come back by participating filming.
And in around 2015, she started singing again.
And now, she seems to be enjoying the life as a celebrity in her own pace.
Video clip
Finally, here is a music clip from "Nakayama"'s latest album "Neuf Neuf".
And, the title of the song is, "Kimi no koto" (My dear).
Her 22nd studio album, "Neuf Neuf" was released in 2019, for the first time in 20 years.
Therefore, this album has no conceptual continuity with the previous albums, but more like the beginning of a new chapter.
Having said that, this album features a few covers of her earlier signature hit songs.
So, it might be even more enjoyable if you first listen the former albums.
Back to the subject, this song "Kimi no koto" (My dear) is a little folky, but nostalgic rock-a-ballad.
A little tender song like this would shine more when it is performed by a singer with long & dramatic experiences... like "Nakayama".
If you like, please listen.
Music Samples
2
(試聴する)
Amazon JP(en)
Tower records online
itunes.com(jp) track02
2
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Angel Soul |
|---|---|
| Artist | 中山美穂(Miho Nakayama) |
| Album Title | Groovin' Blue |
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