[Sunny & happy]
No.201 "Lunchtime-ni ai-wo komete" by Nami Hirai
Hi. Today's song is "lunchtime-ni ai-wo komete" (A lunchtime prepared with love) by "Nami Hirai".
This is a much bright & cheerful Pop song in happy Samba rhythm.
It would fit for a sunny spring morning, especially if you are enjoying driving, or walking out side.
You might have not heard of her name often, since "Nami Hirai" released only 3 albums in roughly a quarter of a century ago.
But we suppose that for the music fans looking for stylish & luxury Japanese pops, her good songs & beautiful vocal are worth to try.
If you like, please listen.
Take a leave
By the way, it's a bit late announcement but, we would like to tentatively hold our post until this September, since our writer "Satsuma" need to share most of his time for a business project he has been involved since the last year.
Sorry for all the visitors of our site. Please allow him to take a few months leave from writing to concentrate on another piece of work.
We are expecting him to come back in early October, this year.
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 "▶" mark in each section, so please click it to see.
We are now working on improving appearances of our posts.
If you find anything odd, please kindly let us know.
Thank you.
Cover art today
Song data
| Title | lunchtime-ni ai-wo komete |
|---|---|
| Artist | Nami Hirai |
| Album Title | Cavendish no oka to kumo |
| Catalog Number | VPCB-81052 |
| Track No. | 3 |
| Duration | 5:39 |
| Released | 1994 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yoshikatsu Hirade Lyricist
"Yoshikatsu Hirade" is a lyricist active in a popular song category since 1986.
He has written a few of Pop songs for singers like "Yōko Minamino", "Miho Morikawa" or "Hiromi Goh", and also penned some theme songs for popular TV anime series like, "Kobo, the Li'l Rascal", or "Oishin-bo".
Short bio.
According to some articles on the inter-net, "Yoshikatsu Hirade" was wishing to be a singer-songwriter when he was a middle & high school student, maybe in the late '70s.
But after graduating from high school, he chose a career as an ordinary business man.
On the other hand, he was continuing creating lyrics by participating a writing circle.
And one day, a director in a music industry found his portfolio interesting. And this led him to be a professional lyricist.
After the debut
Since debut, "Hirade" has written many songs for the singers like, "Yōko Minamino", "Kazuhito Murata", "George Yanagi", "Miho Morikawa", or "Hiromi Goh".
And in the category of theme songs for TV anime series, he has written songs for popular series like, "Oishin-bo", "Shōnan Bakusō-zoku", or "Kobo, the Li'l Rascal".
Particularly "Nippon Cha! Cha! Cha!", an opening theme for "Kobo-chan", released in 1992, was a catchy & cheerful Pop song performed by "Kompeitow", and became very popular among anime fans at that time.
This is just for your information, but today's artist, "Nami Hirai" also sang an ending theme for "Kobo-chan", titled "Ashita-mo aeru" (Surely, see you tomorow, 1994).
Arata Tanimoto Composer
"Arata Tanimoto" is a popular composer active since around the late '80s.
He is known by fans on writing a lot of melodies for the idols stars of Johnny's, such as SMAP, Hikaru-Genji, Kinki-Kids, Arashi, V6 etc.
Among them, his 2004 song "Hero", wrote as a theme music for an Athene Olympic special TV program, for a male idol group Arashi, became a hit song and well known.
By the way, in some sites, his name has been pronounced as "Shin Tanimoto", but we are not very sure which is collect.
("Arata" & "Shin" are just different readings of the same Japanese letter. And both are common.)
So, we just follow the majority at here.
Short bio.
"Arata Tanimoto" is a popular composer & arranger who has written many good songs fot the male idol stars belongs to the famous "Johnny & Associates, Inc.".
"Tanimoto" also has written quite a few songs not only for the artists of Johnny's, but also for the many other artists like "Jun-ichi Inagaki", Hiromi Goh, ribbon, Shizuka Kudō, Fuyumi Abe, or Kiyoshi Maekawa.
We have searched references about him on the inter-net, but there aren't any at the moment.
So, if we find some, we would like to update his section in the future.
Thank you.
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a heartening Pop-song, "Zun-zun aruite" (Walk on and on), performed by a popular singer, "Shōko Haida".
"Zun-zun aruite" was first written in 2005 for "Okā-san to issho", a popular, and very widely known TV educational variety show for toddlers, when "Shōko Haida" was one of the main casts & singers (known as "Uta-no onē-san") of the program.
The lyricist of the song is a singer-songwriter "Fuyumi Abe", and the composer is "Arata Tanimoto".
Even the song was meant to be written for children, it isn't childish at all, but a nice raising Pop song.
If you like, please listen.
Mitsuru Kotaki Arranger
"Mitsuru Kotaki" is a keyboardist, composer, arranger, ans a member of a rock-band "Old lucky boys", active since 1981.
"Kotaki" has been participating various experimental rock groups, since debuted in 1981 as a member of a rock band "CINEMA", in which the vocalist was that "Saeko Suzuki".
He has also written a few of film scores, or theme music for anime series as well.
Short bio.
"Mitsuru Kotaki" started his professional career in 1980 as a keyboardist of a Pop-rock group "CINEMA".
Though the band "Cinema" didn't last long, and ended after released their only album in 1981, "Kotaki" began to participate in various unique rock band afterwards.
"MetroFarce", "eX", "Jun Togawa & Yapoos", "Kenji Sawada & EXOTICS", or "Chu-Ya & De+Lax" are the rock bands known with their distinctive sound, and they are also the groups that "Kotaki" played as the keyboardist.
From 1988 to 1994, "Kotaki" took part in a House & electro-pop group "Ecstasy Boys" as a keyboardist, and performed brand-new club sound.
In 1994, one of their song "Holy Spirit Dance" was recognized by a notable record producer & DJ "Mark Kamins", and was released in the US & Germany as a single CD.
Not only there but "Kotaki" has been collaborating with various musicians in different areas of the Japanese Pop music.
Recent
"Kotaki" seems to be having a full and busy life, since he still has been a member of 4-5 different band, and performing live stages regularly.
Back in 2007, all the member of "Kotaki"s original band "Cinema" were reunited, and released a new album "Cinema returns" for the first time in 26 years.
-
(Ref: www.sonymusic.co.jp,
Cinema)🇯🇵
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Happy Samba
This seems to be a bright & cheerful pop song in comfortably up-tempo samba rhythm.
Sunny & Elegant
The electric guitar, electric piano, drums, bass, conga, shaker, and the twin chorus play a smart & happy introduction.
In the main part, the rhythm section, and percussions, namely the timbales, shaker, bongo, and tambourine keep happy Samba rhythm going, and powerfully support the main vocal.
"Nami Hirai"'s pure, silky, and elegant high-pitched voice is beautiful, and it's fun to listen to.
Cavendish
The title of this album is "Cavendish-no oka to kumo (Clouds on the hills of Cavendish). Though there are no such song in this album.
When we first saw the title of this album, we almost immediately understood that the "Cavendish" as a species of Bananas, and a picture of hilly Banana estates in the blue sky with a bit of clouds, automatically came up to our minds.
But after we listened this album again recently, we realized that there is no Banana in songs at all, so "Cavendish" does not mean Bananas at least here.
Oh dear...
Musicians
The musicians participated in this song are as follows.
- E. Guitar
- Makoto Matsushita
- Keyboards
- Mitsuru Kotaki
- Drums
- Kōichi Akiyama
- Bass
- Motofumi Ogiwara
- Percussions
- Nobu Saitō
- Chorus
- Makoto Matsushita
- Yōko Takahashi
- Vocal
- Nami Hirai
Possibly, you might have noticed, but "Yōko Takahashi", the musician in the backing chorus section, is the singer sang "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", a famous theme music of a popular SF Robot Anime series, "Neon Genesis Evangelion".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Nami HiraiShining pure vocal
"Nami Hirai" is a Pop singer, and a lecturer of singing active since 1990.
Hirai is known by her pure & clear high-pitched voice, and excellent singing skill.
And an impressive Pop-ballads, "Mezame" (Awakening), which was a long used ending theme for a Popular TV variety show, is a known hit song of hers.
"Nami Hirai" debuted in 1990 with a single, "Mezame" (Awakening). Since then, 5 singles, and 3 original, 1 mini, and 1 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Nami Hirai)
Early times
According to some references on the inter-net, "Nami Hirai" entered a local, but first-class music contest, "Fukuoka music festival - Big contest", which used to be held in southern island Kyūshū, in 1983.
And, very luckily, "Hirai" won the grand prix, and the recruiters in the music industry began to pay great attention to her.
Just for your information, but a singer & idol star "Miyoko Yoshimoto" was also a contestant, and directly competed with "Hirai" in the same contest.
"Hirai" also entered in a nation wide music contest, "Star ha Kimi-da" (The star is you), hosted by TV Tokyo in 1984 representing Kyūshū region.
Sachiko Nishida
In the mid '80s, "Hirai" moved to Tokyo, and entered a proven music school, "Hirao Masaaki Music School" to prepare for debuting.
While "Hirai" was studying singing at the music school, an acclaimed Pop singer & vocalist "Sachiko Nishida", who is particularly well known by her evergreen hit song, "Coffee rumba", recognized "Hirai"'s talent, and began to support her together with Nishida's friend, and a school principal, "Masaaki Hirao".
By the way here is a sample of Sachiko Nishida's original (1961).
If you like, please check.
Coffee rumba (Tr.01)
music.apple.com
1
And here is an instrumental session of "Moliendo café" the original song of "Coffee rumba", performed by "Vicente" (father) & "Mika" (daughter) Agematsu family, using the classical guitar & Alpa.
This is also nice. If you like, just have a look.
Shitteru Tsumori
Though we don't know the background, but perhaps, "Sachiko Nishida" found "Nami Hirai" interesting as a singer, then Nishida wrote 4 lyrics for the first time in her life for "Nami Hirai"'s first album "Yume-no silhouette" (silhouette de rêve, Silhouette of a dream).
A notable singer-songwriter "Takao Kisugi" was requested to be a composer for this album, and "Kisugi" composed all the melodies of this album by himself.
Thanks to these powerful support, "Nami Hirai" finally debuted in 1990 with her first single "Mezame" (Awakening).
Luckily in 1990, her debut song "Mezame" (Awakening) was selected for an ending theme for a popular TV cultural variety show, "Shitteru Tsumori" (I think I know a few things about it, or that person...), introducing the biographies of notable public figures in history, like a photographer "Robert Capa" or physicist "Galileo Galilei".
This long-running program was set to change its ending theme once every year. But it chose "Nami Hirai"'s, but different songs again got 1991 and 1992, and supported to promote her songs.
(Actually, "Hirai" was one of the cast members of the program for a period of time.)
Lupin the 3rd
"Hirai" continuously released her 2nd album "Tenohira-no tanpen-shū" (An anthology of short stories on the palm), and 3rd album "Cavendish-no oka to kumo (Clouds on the hills of Cavendish) in 1993 and 1994 respectively.
Particularly, the 3rd album "Cavendish-no oka to kumo" contained more sunny and Pop tracks, and was indicating a future direction of her which we felt preferable.
In parallel in 1994, "Hirai" was requested to sing a main theme (or ending theme) for a special movie for TV, of a TV Anime series "Lupin the 3rd.
Since 1989, a national popular TV anime series, "Lupin the 3rd" has been making, and on-airing a special movie of a special episode with 90 minutes length, often called "Lupin III television specials", exclusive on TV almost once a year until now.
Since the beginning of "Lupin the 3rd" anime series, its very stylish, and elegant ending theme, has been written by a talented composer, "Yūji Ohno" for each series, and always sang by skillful, and charming female singers.
Because "Lupin the 3rd" had already been a very popular anime series, singing its ending a proof of good singer, and a kind of honor for the performers.
Anyway, "Nami Hirai" sang a stylish & thrilling nice ballad, "Omoide-ga anata-wo hanasa-nai" (My memory won't let you go.), as an ending theme for the 6th TV special movie of "Lupin the 3rd" series, titled "Burn, Zan-tetsu-ken", broadcasted in 1994. And the song became the icing on the cake for the special movie.
Just for your information, "Burn, Zan-tetsu-ken", the 6th special series has been keeping the record of the highest viewer rating (24.9％) in the series until now.
The sample of "Omoide-ga anata-wo hanasa-nai" (My memory won't let you go.) performed by "Nami Hirai", is available on Apple music linked below.
And please also note, "Omoide-ga anata-wo hanasa-nai" is also included in her best album "Nami Hirai Golden Best", which we are introducing later in " Music Samples" section.
music.apple.com (track.07)
7
This album is an ending theme collection of "Lupin the 3rd TV special" series, so if you like, please listen all of them.
Recent
Since the release of the 3rd album, there is no news of a new album.
In 2011, "Hirai"'s first best album, "Nami Hirai Golden Best" was released from VAP.
Thank you VAP, it was very nice. But it was a collection of her old recordings, and there were no new songs.
According to Wikipedia, "Nami Hirai" has been a teacher of singing at her old school, "Hirao Masaaki Music School".
Because, "Hirai" has not released new albums for a long time, there aren't much information about recent herself.
We would like to update here if we find any other news.
Video clip
We looked for some nice video clips related to "Nami Hirai" on the inter-net, but in our environment, we could not find suitable ones, for our site to introduce to you.
However, there are certainly some video clips about "Nami Hirai" at online video platform like Youtube, and you can reach them, (even including today's title), by searching the keywords like the name of the singer, "Nami Hirai".
If you like, please check.
We also would like to continue to look for, and introduce if we find a good video relevant to her music.
Music Samples
10
(試聴する)
Sorry, but we noticed we'd put a wrong Track Number at here and below sample links in the initial post. We have already corrected them to the right Track Number "10", (instead of 3.). Our appologies.
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(No sample)
Tower records online
Neowing.co.jp
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | ランチタイムに愛を込めて(lunchtime-ni ai-wo komete) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 平井菜水(Nami Hirai) |
| Album Title | キャヴェンディッシの丘と雲(Cavendish no oka to kumo) |
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