[Song Review #197] "Let's get together" by Harumi Tsuyuzaki
Hi. Today's song is "Let's get together" by "Harumi Tsuyuzaki".
This rhythmic & touch floaty Pop tune has been selected from "Believe Yourself", the 5th album of an R&B singer "Harumi Tsuyuzaki", released in 1998.
"Harumi Tsuyuzaki" (Or Lyrico) is a popular singer in R&B arena, and approved by many music fans as an excellent vocalist in Japanese popular music scene.
If you like, please listen.
Links to the music shops, offering song samples, are located on the bottom of this page.
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Cover art today
Song data
| Title | Let's get together |
|---|---|
| Artist | Harumi Tsuyuzaki |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | TKCA-71430 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 3:39 |
| Released | 1998 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Shōko Fujibayashi Lyricist
"Shōko Fujibayashi" is a popular song lyricist active since 1995.
She is not only well known by many vivid lyrics she has written for for Popular Music, but also admired by her devotion on writing theme songs for TV Anime series, or SF Hero drama series for juveniles.
Debut
Since childhood, "Fujibayashi" had been curious about a fashionable entertainment scene, where twinkling cute idol stars, or cool rock singers were attractively performing.
After graduating from college, she acquainted with an active professional lyricist by chance. And at the recommendation of the person, she began to write a lyrics.
And in 1995, after experienced a bit of writing training , "Fujibayashi" debuted as a professional lyricist with her first song "Wonderful Bravo!" wrote for a Pop singer, "Hitomi Mieno".
Since then, "Fujibayashi" quickly became one of the most popular lyricists in Japan's popular music scene, and had written more than 1000 songs for dozens of artists, like BoA, Tōhō Shinki, Namie Amuro, T-ARA, or Nana Mizuki, since debut.
"Masked rider" & "Ranger" series
"Fujibayashi" is also famous for a mountain of her works for a wide range of TV anime & drama series, like,
- Kaiketsu Zorori (A palody anime of "The Mark of Zorro")
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
- DokiDoki! PreCure ("Happy Go Lucky", by Tomoyo Kurosawa)
- One Piece
[We are!(1999), We Go(2011)]
etc, etc.
Among them, her long time supports for "Masked rider" series & "Ranger" series (or Super Sentai series), by writing catchy & impressive theme songs, are particularly remarkable, and have been well-known.
"Masked rider series" & "Super Sentai series" are long popular TV SF Hero action series for school kids generation.
Both series started broadcasting in the early '70s, so even our writer "Satsuma" also got into them, when he was a schoolboy.
"Fujibayashi" has written theme music for "Ranger" series in almost every two years since 1996. And for the "Masked rider" series, she has been writing all theme songs for every individual series since 2000 (30 series in total, including 10 theater versions) until now.
Because, her songs are so rhythmic, encouraging, and inspiring, as if the heroes are talking their true hearts to each audience.
It seems that "Fujibayashi" is an unrivaled lyricist in this category at the moment.
Recent
"Fujibayashi" is fully active at the moment.
In 2020, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her professional career, though it seems that there weren't any particular event held.
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of a heroic Pop song "Shōnen-yo" (Boy!), which was released in 2005 as a closing theme for an SF HERO series, "Kamen rider Hibiki".
The performer is an acclaimed Pop singer, "Akira Fuse". ([fuse], not [fjúːz].)
The lyrics was written by "Shōko Fujibayashi".
Actually, we were amazed at an outstanding quality of this song. Since it was a truly authentic operatic ballad, gorgeously accompanied by a full orchestra.
This might not be a typical theme song for SF HERO series for kids. But we can feel the spirits of the creators who wished to provide a best quality song for juveniles with infinite potentials. (too much?)
In fact, this song became another hit song for a master vocalist "Akira Fuse", and in 2005, he was invited as a performer for a prestigious year end music program, "Kōhaku Uta Gassen" aired by NHK.
If you like, please listen.
Anders Bagge Composer & Arranger
"A. Bagge", "BAG", or "Anders Bagge" is a Swedish composer, arranger, lyricist, music producer, and TV character active since around the mid '80s.
In Japan, he has produced, or wrote songs for the singers like, "Nana Tanimura", "Kumi Koda", or "Harumi Tsuyuzaki".
For more info.
Luckily, there are well summarized references on the inter-net, and had been linked in below.
Please check with them for more details about him, since we reckon that it would be the best option.
Thank you.
Video clip
Many video clips, related to "Anders Bagge" have been uploaded, and available on Youtube.
If you like, please go direct to Youtube, or by clicking here, and search his name on there.
Among them, we selected a short video which looks like it has been produced for introducing him.
The uploader seems to be an organization introducing experts of various fields as lecturers to the customer up on request. And "Anders Bagge" might also be one of the lecturers.
If you like, please listen.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Rhythmic & floaty
This is an airy, rhythmic, and floaty Pops song, just like stylish American Pops of the '80s.
Like a cocoon
The electronic piano, electric guitar, string synth. triangle, and backing chorus begin a thrilling introduction, and the bass, drums (sequencer?), side guitar, and brass section also join.
In the main part, floaty sound of the electronic keyboard wraps the main vocal like a cocoon around it.
In the bridge, "Tsuyuzaki" presents a soulful vocal ad lib performed in her smooth & high-pitched voice.
Players
It sounds like there might have been 4-5 musicians in the backing band for recording this song.
But we have found following 3 names only so far.
- Programming：BAG
- Guitar：Anders Barren
- Background Vocal：Joss
We would like to update the list if we find more information.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Harumi TsuyuzakiSoul Diva
"Harumi Tsuyuzaki" (Or Lyrico) is a singer, lyricist, & composer active since 1995.
She is a known vocalist in Soul, R&B category, but also popular in Dance pop, or Club music scene.
"Tsuyuzaki" debuted in 1995 with a single, "TIME". Since then, 22 singles, and 15 original, 1 live, and 3 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Harumi Tsuyuzaki)
Early times
According to Wikipedia, "Harumi Tsuyuzaki" was born in the mid '70s to a parents lived in Kawasaki, near Tokyo.
Her parents are both music understanding people, and thanks to them, "Tsuyuzaki" was grown up in music rich environment.
When "Tsuyuzaki" was 16, she had an opportunity to watch a musical, "Mama, I Want to Sing!", which portrayed the life of an African-American R&B singer, "Doris Troy".
"Tsuyuzaki" was deeply moved by the gospel music performed in the musical. And then, "Tsuyuzaki" set her mind on becoming a R&B singer in the future.
She went on to a reputed music school after graduating from high school, and began to learn singing as a vocalist.
After finished the music school, she become a member of a gospel choir, "Yuka Kamebuchi & The Voices of Japan", lead by a notable Japanese gospel singer, "Yuka Kamebuchi".
"Tsuyuzaki" continued to study gospel singing, while she was with "Kamebuchi" for a few years as a member of her choir.
And in the meantime, luckily in 1995, she debuted as a Pop singer "Harumi Tsuyuzaki", with her first single "TIME".
Power of expression
Soon after debuted, "Tsuyuzaki" released her first album, "Harumi Tsuyuzaki".
It was a well made, and stylish Pop album, with moderated taste of R&B, and "Tsuyuzaki" quickly began to attract attention from trend-conscious music fans.
She gradually put more weight on soulful ballad type songs on her 2nd & 3rd albums, and demonstrated power of her vocal, and ability of expression.
Lyrico
In 2001, "Tsuyuzaki" switched her stage name to "Lyrico", and released the first album "Tender Lights" as "Lyrico".
It was a more slow ballads oriented album, and was indicating her new direction under new stage name.
In September 2002, "Lyrico" released a dramatic ballad "Kiseki-no hana" (A flower of miracle).
This excellent track was selected as a closing theme for a popular TV documentary program, and naturally became a smash hit.
The song is still quite popular, and "Lyrico" (now backed to "Tsuyuzaki" again though) is frequently singing this on her live stages even now.
By success of this song, "Lyrico" or "Tsuyuzaki" established her name as an R&B singer.
Excellent singer
Historically, quite a few of very good male & female vocalists have emerged from R&B category.
For example, "Minako Yoshida", "Mari Kaneko", or "MISIA" are the impressive names of the female R&B singers, for the generation like us.
But as long as we have listened, "Harumi Tsuyuzaki" is equally great, or even better in terms of the smooth & elastic nature of her vocal.
So it is often more cracking when she performs modern & stylish type R&B, which are like the lively American Dance Pops of the "80s, or the "90s.
According to some interviews, "Tsuyuzaki" has been influenced by those music, since she was a teenager
So, it might be a naturally enjoyable thing for her to perform music like those.
Collaborate with Hiroko Kokubu
Since the early period of her career, "Tsuyuzaki" has been collaborating with various talented musicians in Jazz, instrumental field, like, "Chikuzen Satō", "Satoru Shionoya", "Takeshi Senoo", "Yūji Toriyama", or "Hiroko Kokubu".
For example, "Chikuzen Satō" (SING LIKE TALKING), is the person spotted her talent prior to her debut, or "Yūji Toriyama" (Guitarist, a member of a Fusion band "PYRAMID") is supporting her as a music producer & guitarist.
Among them, "Tsuyuzaki" and "Hiroko Kokubu", a popular Jazz Fusion pianist, has been working together closely as a unit called, "Hiroko Kokubu" with "Harumi Tsuyuzaki". (Because "Kokubu" is bit elder than "Tsuyuzaki".)
At least in 2003, "Tsuyuzaki" participated in "Hiroko Kokubu"'s piano concert as a guest vocalist. Since then, they are actively collaborating each other.'
Additionally, "Tsuyuzaki" is learning the piano from "Kokubu", since "Tsuyuzaki" often sings with the piano accompaniment by herself, and "Hiroko Kokubu" is a known expert pianist in Jazz Fusion category.
It seems "Tsuyuzaki" & "Kokubu" are getting along pretty well, and joining up frequently.
Recent
In 2015, "Tsuyuzaki" released her first a-cappella album "One voice" in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of her debut.
And in 2020, she cerebrated her 25th years anniversary.
Not just holding solo, or joint concerts regularly, but she appeared in a musical in that year for the first time in her life.
The title of that popular musical was "Frankenstein", and she acted key characters "Ellen" & "Eva".
-
(Ref: www.harumitsuyuzaki.com,
Bio)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a live clip of "Harumi Tsuyuzaki"'s concert "Now Playing Meeting", which was originally broadcasted as a free program on her channel, at an on-line live video streaming service "Ustream" in 2011.
We are a bit surprised since the live stage was held in April 2011, because a lot of such events had been postponed, or suspended in this period, due to the Tōhoku earthquake, which struck northern part of Japan a month prior to the event.
But on the other hand, quite a few of music artists had been planning to perform something as music volunteers, so, we imagine this concert was also a part of such attempts.
(Indeed, music volunteers were much welcomed and appreciated by the people affected at that time, even the artist themselves were not certain at first, if the music volunteer could really be a help for the people affected by the disaster.)
The quality of the concert was great and really enjoyable.
If you like, please have a look.
Music Samples
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Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Let's get together |
|---|---|
| Artist | 露崎春女(Harumi Tsuyuzaki) |
| Album Title | Believe Yourself |
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