[Light & moderated]
No.196 "Vacances in Snow" by Miyoko Yoshimoto
Hi. Today's song is "Vacance in Snow - free-style de koi shitara" (Vacation in snow - fall in love in "free-style") by "Miyoko Yoshimoto".
(Japanese people uses the word "Vacance" to mean a bit luxury holiday, including travel to overseas.)
This is a light & comfortably rhythmic pop song, singing a love on a ski resort.
The singer is "Miyoko Yoshimoto". She was a popular young idol star in the '80s, and still being active as an actor, or a TV character.
If you like, please listen.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Vacance in Snow - free-style de koi shitara |
|---|---|
| Artist | Miyoko Yoshimoto |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | TECH-22446 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 5:26 |
| Released | 1988 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yumi Yoshimoto Lyricist
"Yumi Yoshimoto" is a prominent lyricist in popular music active since 1984.
"Yoshimoto" is particularly well known with her full support for a Pop-singer "Anri" throughout the most important period for her, and helped "Anri" to become a top singer.
Or, an "Ayaka Hirahara"'s debut & hit song, "Jupiter", which "Yoshimoto" wrote a lyrics for her in 2003, is also a notable work of her.
Short Bio.
"Yumi Yoshimoto" started her business career as an office worker at an advertising agency, after graduating from university.
In the office, she was assigned to a record marketing section. And during the time she was working there, someone found her talent for writing, and recommended her to be a lyricist.
Since then, she started a self-learning on lyrics writing, and within a couple of years, "Yoshimoto" debuted as a professional lyricist, by writing 2 songs for an idol star's album in 1984.
Sought-after lyricist
Actually in Japan, the '80s was a decade when some hundreds of shining idol stars & pop singers were debuted.
In such time background, "Yumi Yoshimoto" quickly established her name by writing dozens of hit songs, and became one of the most popular lyricist in popular music sector.
"Yumi Yoshimoto" has written more than a thousand of songs for various artists, but among others, her contribution to the singers like, "Anri", "Nahoko Kawai", or "Tatsuhiko Yamamoto" are particularly notable.
Or in 2003, "Yoshimoto" wrote an impressive lyrics titled "Jupiter", for a newly debuting singer "Ayaka Hirahara"'s first song.
"Jupiter" was a kind of tribute song to "Gustav Holst", but an exclusive lyrics was written by "Yumi Yoshimoto".
The debuting singer "Ayaka Hirahara" proposed to sing this as her debut song, since she had a personal attachment to this melody.
"Jupiter" became a sleeper hit, and sold a million disks after 3 years from its release in 2003.
For "Ayaka Hirahara", it turn out to be a memorable debut song, and "Yoshimoto" gained a new honor by this.
Recent
"Yumi Yoshimoto" has been active not only as a lyricist, but also as an essayist, or an author.
Since 2014, she began to serve as a visiting professor in few universities.
By the way, we have written just a little about her on our earlier post No.144, linked below.
If you like, please also have a look.
-
(Ref: www.yoshimotoyumi.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a nice pop song "Kohola Tail" (Whale tail) from a popular singer "Anri"'s 16th album "Moana Lani", released in 1992.
As usual, "Yumi Yoshimoto" wrote almost all lyrics of this album.
So, in a sense, "Anri" had been an excellent presenter of "Yumi Yoshimoto"'s world.
If you like, please listen.
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto Composer
"Tatsuhiko Yamamoto" is a singer, song-writer, and composer active since 1974.
Because of his stylish Pop sound, and dandy & classy atmosphere, people often called him a "prince of City Pop".
In urban pop category, he is one of the pioneering singer-songwriter, and earliest creator.
As a proof of his long career, "Yamamoto" has released surprising 36 albums including live & sound track, and NOT including the best albums.
Actually, 36 is an amazing number, since the only artist released more than him are only,
- "Seiko Matsuda" (60 albums), and
- "Yumi Matsutōya" (41 albums)
as long as we know. (Not very sure. Maybe updating.)
The artist like B'z, who has been a champion in total number of albums sold, has released 21 original albums so far.
Short bio.
"Tatsuhiko Yamamoto" started his career in 1974 as a member of a backing band to a popular folk-rock singer, "Hiroshi Kamayatsu"
In 1978, "Yamamoto" finally debuted as a solo singer, by releasing his first single, "Sudden wind".
Since debut, "Yamamoto" has been constantly releasing very stylish urban-pop albums without wavering in music style.
And because of his such "in a sense" stoic attitude, and his dandy & classy atmosphere, people began to call him in a nick name introduced in the above.
As a composer
Since the early time, "Yamamoto" has been offering his music to various artists in popular music.
The number of songs he offered has not been that many, but each of them are quality pieces.
Today's song, "Vacance in Snow -free style de koi shitara-", wrote for "Miyoko Yoshimoto" is also one of them.
Recent
"Yamamoto" has been still quite active, and aggressively holding piano trio concert in various venues.
In 2018, he cerebrated 40 years anniversary of his debut.
By the way, we have written just a little about him on our earlier post No.77, linked below.
If you like, please also have a look.
-
(Ref: www.tatsuhiko-yamamoto.jp/,
profile, blog)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce one of "Yamamoto"'s popular acoustic piece, "Yoru-no piano" (The piano in the night).
"Yamamoto" is singing a beautiful Pop ballad accompanying himself on the piano.
"Yoru-no piano" was first released in 1981 as one of the song in his 3rd album, "Poker face".
Somewhere down the line, "Yamamoto" began to sing this as a closing song of his concert, and it seems he is still keeping that custom.
So, in a sense, it is one of the most well known song of him, at least by fans.
If you like, please listen.
Shingo Kobayashi Arranger
"Shingo Kobayashi" was a composer, arranger, keyboardist, and music producer active from the early '80s to 2020.
He had collaborated with various musicians as a keyboardist, or music producer, but his continuous support for the musicians like, "Toshiki Kadomatsu", "Miyuki Nakajima", or "Ayumi Hamasaki" were well known.
Or, his arrangement work for a 1990s award winning big hit song, "Ai-ha katsu" (Love will win) by KAN is also widely known.
Short bio.
"Shingo Kobayashi" started his professional career as a keyboardist of a backing band to a notable Pop-singer "Amii Ozaki", in around the early '80s.
Almost at the same time, he started working as a music arranger. And thanks to the high quality of his works, "Kobayashi" quickly became a popular arranger in popular music sector.
In 1990, "Shingo Kobayashi" took part in a Pop-singer "KAN"'s 5th album as an arranger.
One of the track titled "Ai-ha katsu" (Love will win) was later released as a single CD. Since then, it quickly became a boom, and sold more than 2 million disks.
By this success, this song and "KAN" received "The 33rd Japan record award grand prix", and "Shingo Kobayashi" also gained a great honor.
Works with stars
At about the same time, "Kobayashi" began to extend his field of music.
He began to take part in an album production of "Toshiki Kadomatsu" from th early '90s.
In the late '90s, he also started a collaboration with a notable Pop-singer "Miyuki Nakajima".
And in almost same timing, he took up duties as a music director to a popular singer "Ayumi Hamasaki".
Trusted arranger
Like this way, he continued to work until recent, as one of the most trusted music arranger in popular music scene in Japan.
-
(Ref: yoshihiko-chino.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
At the end of the section, we would like to introduce a music video of an acoustic piano instrumental played by "Yoshihiro Tomonari".
The performer "Yoshihiro Tomonari" is a fellow musician of "Shingo Kobayashi" at their acoustic piano duo, "Mao chica".
And the composer of this instrumental piece is "Shingo Kobayashi".
If you like, please listen.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Light & moderated
This is a light & natural pop song in moderated 8-beat rhythm.
Seemingly, "Miyoko Yoshimoto" was trying to sing as flat as possible in this album, or with minimum emotions in other word.
We felt her effort matched well with this refined & high quality backing sounds of the album.
Rhythmic
The drums, bass, synthesizer, electric guitar, keyboards, and percussions begin a light & rhythmic introduction.
In the main part, an excellent session chorus team also join, and support the main vocal elegantly.
In the bridge, a master saxophonist Jake.H.Conception's alt sax plays a brilliant ad-rib solo.
Players
The participated musicians on this track are as follows.
- Drums
- Nobuo Eguchi
- Electric Bass
- Hideki Matsubara
- E.Guitar
- Takayuki Hijikata
- Keyboards
- Shingo Kobayashi
- Synthesizer
- Akira Koizumi
- Chorus
- Junko Hirotani
- Kiyoshi Hiyama
- Yasuhiro Kido
- Alt Sax
- Jake H Concepcion
All of them are "First-call" musicians. Just great.
And there are apparent sound of percussions in the track, but we couldn't find the name(s) of the player(s).
Hidden gem
Thanks to a participation of the first class musicians like the above, this album "Miss Lonely Hearts" became an enjoyable one particularly for fans of Light & mellow Pops.
So, some people affectionately call this album a "Hidden Gem".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Miyoko YoshimotoMicchon
"Miyoko Yoshimoto" is a singer, actress, and TV character active since 1984.
"Yoshimoto" is a known idol star debuted in 1985, which was one of the most competitive year for idol stars.
She has been popular by people with her cute looks, and friendly atmosphere.
By the way, "Micchon" is her nickname, given by her office when she was debuting.
At first, "Yoshimoto" felt foreign to this name according to some interview articles. But soon, the new nickname became popular, and many people (we mean relatively older generations...) can recognize her with this nickname now a days.
"Miyoko Yoshimoto" debuted in 1985 with a single, "Shiroi Basket shoes" (White Basket shoes). Since then, 19 singles, and 10 original, 1 live, and 4 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Miyoko Yoshimoto)
Early times
Like many girls in the late '70s, "Miyoko Yoshimoto" was also fascinated in working in the entertainment world.
In 1983, when she was 14, "Yoshimoto" entered a local, but fairly acclaimed talent scout audition. And what a surprise, she became a finalist.
After only a few days of the contest, a record company contacted to her, and offered a record debut in Tokyo.
In 1984, "Yoshimoto" moved up to Tokyo, and began to receive lessons.
And in March 1985, "Yoshimoto" debuted with her first single, "Shiroi Basket shoes" (White basket shoes).
As an idol star
1985 was a well known competitive year for young idol, stars, since more than a dozen of unique & talented newbies, like "Minako Honda", "Miho Morikawa", "Miho Nakayama", "Yoko Minamino", "Yui Asaka", and "Yuki Saitō", were debuted one after another.
Additionally, the first in such big group of idol stars, called "O-Nyanko club", which had 52 members in total, are also formed in 1985, and began to change the definition of idol stars.
Even in such excitingly combative environment, "Miyoko Yoshimoto" established her position unexpectedly smoothly, without competing too much with anyone.
Since it was not her intention to be a super singer like "Minako Honda", or to be an excellent actor like Yuki Saitō neither.
And thanks to her open & friendly personality, she attracted a lot of core fans, and seemingly, it helped her to set up her place.
Singing
Like many young female idol stars, her debut song "Shiroi Basket shoes" (White basket shoes) was a cute & twinkling Pop-song which suit for a girl in sweet sixteen.
Her singing was not an extreme like "Akina Nakamori", but well above average among newbies.
Soon, a team of ardent fans was formed, and began to shout her name in deep, rough, but warm voices at her concerts.
In 1987, "Yoshimoto" released a lively Pop-funk, "Vanity night", written by "Masami Tozawa" & "Toshinobu Kubota", as her 9th single.
This little aggressive funky tune matched well with "Yoshimoto"'s boyish character, and it became the best hit song of her.
And in 1988, she released a little moist, melodious, but stylish Pop-ballad, "Sakana haneta" (A fish leaped out) written by a known song writer, "Ryō Aska".
Since this song, "Yoshimoto" switched her song line up to this line.
We wanted her to continue singing this line of songs, but it seems she decided to concentrate more on acting than singing, after released her final studio album "MY" in 1990.
Acting
In 1990, "Miyoko Yoshimoto" was invited, and took a role in play in live theater for almost the first time in her life.
(She was occasionally appearing on TV drama series as an idol star, but not so seriously.)
The title of the play was "Okuni", which was a musical introducing a life of a historical figure "Izumo-no Okuni", who has been regarded as the originator of the Japanese traditional play "Kabuki".
In the beginning, "Yoshimoto" was feeling nervous since she had no previous experience of play. But thanks to the supports from fellow actors, she soon got the hang of it, and showed a good performance.
"Yoshimoto" was given the "28th Golden Arrow Award, new comer award (Play)" for her good play, and contribution for creating a topic.
Since then, "Yoshimoto" clearly began to focus on acting, and gradually increased her appearance on TV drama series.
From around 2000, her exposure on TV media has been expanded further, and being one of the regular faces on TV series, and varieties.
Recent
"Yoshimoto" cerebrated the 35 years anniversary of her debut in 2019.
And, saying she is wondering to start singing again from now.
-
(Ref: yoshihiko-chino.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce an interview video of "Miyoko Yoshimoto", filmed in the occasion of a joint interview to the casts of a "Remote" TV drama series, "Detective Mariko Takizawa", since there aren't any official music video related to "Yoshimoto"
So, please just look at the latest "Yoshimoto", though half of her face is covered with a white sanitary mask, due to a pandemic.
A person wearing beige cardigan, and appearing second is Yoshimoto.
There aren't a system like VEVO in Japan at the moment, and therefore, music videos of the idol stars in the '80s' are almost not publicly available, at least officially.
But we are quite optimistic, it will change some day in not-so-distant future.
If you like, please listen.
Music Samples
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | バカンス IN SNOW -フリースタイルで恋したら-(Vacance in Snow- free-style de koi shitara) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 芳本美代子(Miyoko Yoshimoto) |
| Album Title | Miss Lonely Hearts |
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