[Song Review #209] "Kiss in the dark" by AMAZONS
A happy new year 2022.
Hi. We hope you had a great new year.
This is the first post for the new year. And today's song is a cheerful, and lively pop song "Kiss in the dark" performed by "AMAZONS".
"AMAZONS" is a 3-piece female Pop chorus group formed in 1985, and their funky & soulful chorus work has been attracting the listeners.
If you like, please listen to.
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 | Kiss in the dark |
|---|---|
| Artist | AMAZONS |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | CSCL-1100 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 4:20 |
| Released | 1990 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yukinojō Mori Lyricist
"Yukinojō Mori" is a lyricist, poet, and composer active since the mid '70s.
He is one of the most prominent lyricist in Japanese popular music scene, and has written more than 2500 lyrics for both Pop song category and Anime music category.
Short bio.
"Yukinojō Mori" was already active in music when he was a college student in the early 70s.
In 1976, "Mori" wrote a lyrics titled "Bye-no Bye-no Bye" for a very popular comic band, "The Drifters", as his debut song.
This became a reasonable hit song, and "Mori" got off to a smooth start as a professional lyricist.
Lead the scene
After that, "Mori" quickly became a popular lyricist, and wrote dozens of big hit songs like,
- Hi-Hi-Hi
- (1977)
- Teruhiko Aoi
- Climax Go-issho-ni
- (Go together to the climax, 1984)
- Anmitsu Hime (Kyōko Koizumi)
- Kanashimi-yo Kon'nichihwa
- (Hello my sadness, 1986)
- Yuki Saitō
- 100% So-kamone
- (100% It might be, 1982)]
- Shibugaki-tai
- Nai・Nai 16
- (Not Not 16, 1982)
- Shibugaki-tai
- Kimi-tachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane
- (You girls are just like Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, 1984)
- Meiko Nakahara
- CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
- (Dragon Ball Z opening theme, 1989)
- Hironobu Kageyama
- Ganmo Doki!
- (Gu Gu Ganmo, Opening theme, 1984)
- Susie Matsubara (Miki Matsubara)
in just 10-15 years time.
(For more precise list of his hit songs, please have a look at the Wikipedia page about him.)
And already in the late 80s, he was one of the notable lyricist in the scene.
Work with "Rock"
After the '90s, "Mori" began to work with the leading rock musicians like, "Sadistic Mika Band", "Tomoyasu Hotei", "Kyōsuke Himuro", "Yukihiro Takahashi" or "Λucifer", and supporting them to experiment new way of expression in rock.
Like that, he is still enthusiastically pursuing the possibility of phrasing in lyrics even now.
References
For more details about "Mori", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: www.mori-yukinojo.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Tetsuya Tsujihata Composer
"Tetsuya Tsujihata" is a composer, music producer, and a member of a 3-piece experimental Pop-rock band "Picasso" active since 1984.
"Tsujihata" is writing music for various Pop singers since the early '80s.'
He is also active as a vocalist, and guitarist of his band "Picasso" from 1984 until now.
Short Bio
"Tetsuya Tsujihata" started his music career by debuting as a member of a 3-piece experimental rock band "Picasso" in 1984.
Since then, "Picasso" has released 14 singles, 7 original albums, and 6 best albums until now.
As a composer
"Tetsuya Tsujihata" is also active as a composer, arranger, and music producer.
He has written many songs for various singers like, "Etsuko Sai", "Tomomi Nishimura", "Seiko Matsuda", "Eriko Tamura", "Hikaru Genji", "Mina Ganaha", "Kay Ishiguro",or "Hiroko Yakushimaru", so far.
Reference
For more details about "Tetsuya Tsujihata", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: moment.gr.jp,
Tetsuya Tsujihata interview)🇯🇵
Shirō Sagisu Arranger
"Shirō Sagisu" is a composer, arranger, music producer, and a chair person of a reputed movie production company "P-production", which he inherited from his father who was the founder of the company.
He is a known active, and productive music arranger, not only in the popular music scene but also in Anime & film music fields.
"Sagisu" is also famous as a music director for popular anime, or movie series like, "Neon Genesis EVANGELION", "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II", or "Shin Godzilla".
Short Bio
According to some references, "Shirō Sagisu" started his music career in 1978, by joining a recording of a debut album being released by a pop instrumental band "The Square", as an arranger.
In 1981, for the first time in his life, "Sagisu" arranged a pretty pop song, "Sentimental journey" for a newly debuting idol star, "Iyo Matsumoto".
This became a surprising hit song as a debut song of a fresh idol star.
Since then, "Sagisu" suddenly began to receive many job offers.
"Sagisu" composed, or arranged a large number of songs for a wide range of singers, or idol stars, and quite a few of them became his songs.
And naturally, he quickly established his name as a trusted composer & arranger in popular music scene.
Film, and Anime music
On the other hand, "Sagisu" also began to write incidental music for TV anime series in the early '80s'.
He has involved in many anime series, but a notable series among earliest ones might be "Fushigi-no umi-no Nadia" (Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water).
This was a popular anime series directed by a talented creator "Hideaki An'no".
The partnership between "Sagisu" and "An'no" was formed through this series, and it drove them for working together also in "An'no"s Anime, or film series like, "Neon Genesis EVANGELION", or "Shin Godzilla".
And because of excellent works of "Sagisu" on these anime series, he is now regarded as one of the top music creator also in Anime category.
References
For more information about "Shirō Sagisu", please check the references below.
-
(Ref: www.ro-jam.com,
info)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip titled "Meimoku-no kanata" (Beyond the contemplation with eyes closed) performed by a little mysterious singer-songwriter "Nagi Yanagi" (or Yanaginagi).
The melody and arrangement of this song is works of "Shiro Sagisu".
And we felt they were a kind of typical sound of him.
If you like, please listen to.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Funky & stylish
This is a funky & lively pop song in a moderated fast 8 beat rhythm.
Cheerful & stylish
The drums, bass (synthe?), percussions, acoustic piano, synthesizer, and a team of 4 trumpets begin a funky & cheerful introduction.
In the main part, electric organ, electric guitar, and backing vocal also join, and support the main vocal by "Yūko Ōtaki".
In the bridge, bright sound of horn section and a skilful & thrilling chorus work creates an amazing ensemble, and showing us a true power of "AMAZONS".
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
AMAZONS Funky chorus group
"AMAZONS" is a 3-piece female chorus group formed in 1985 by 3 solo singers, namely "Yūko Ōtaki", "Kumi Saitō", and "Tomoko Yoshikawa".
"AMAZONS" is famous as a chorus team performing on the live stages of various leading musicians, like, "Masayoshi Takanaka", "Fumiya Fujii", "Yumi Matsutōya", "Toshinobu Kubota", "Shikao Suga", "Toshinori Yonekura", or "Mie" (ex-Pink Lady).
In parallel, the group is also active for their music activity as an independent chorus unit.
AMAZONS debuted in 1987 with a single, "GLORIOUS GLAMOUROUS". Since then, 12 singles, and 8 original, and 1 best albums have been released until now.
Early times
Before teaming up a chorus group, members were all independent solo singers in their own field.
Based on the information from available references, it seems that all the members of AMAZONS started their music career sometime from the late '70s to the early '80s.
Members
- Tomoko Yoshikawa
-
"Tomoko Yoshikawa" (Toko, Left on the above cover art) was an amateur musician based in her home town Ōsaka at the point of early '80s.
In 1982(or 83), she decided to move to Tokyo to be a professional. Luckily, "Toko" had an acquaintance in music industry, and that person provided her an opportunity to start working as a singer.
"Toko" began to sing as a backing vocalist to a blues singer "Masaki Ueda" who's signature song "Kanashii iro-yane" was massively popular at that time.
After a while, "Toko" moved to a Jazz singer "Marlene"'s group also as a backing chorus.
And in there, she came to know "Kumi Saitō" who became a member of "AMAZONS" later together with "Toko".
- Kumi Saitō
-
"Kumi Saitō" (Kumi, Right) started her music career in around 1980, (presumably) by joining a 4-membered female chorus group "Maxim" after graduating from a music school. "Maxim" was an almost exclusive backing chorus team to a top idol star "Naoko Kawai".
After the broke up of "Maxim", she moved to a popular singer "Mariko Takahashi"'s backing band "Henry band" as a chorus member in 1982.
In parallel, "Kumi Saitō" also performed as a backing vocalist at Jazz singer "Marlene"'s concert.
And through this opportunity, "Kumi Saitō" came to know "Tomoko Yoshikawa" who later became a member of "AMAZONS", like "Kumi Saitō".
- Yūko Ōtaki
-
"Yūko Ōtaki" (Yūko, Center) started her music career by debuting as an idol star in 1979, after she won the grand prix on multiple talent scout auditions, like "Miss Seventeen" or "CBS Sony Love idol attack" in 1978 and 1979 respectively.
"Yūko" spent 2-3 years as an idol star in main stream popular music scene. Actually, Yūko was singing pretty nice song even in an idol star position at that time. But she gradually changed her direction to even more professional singing, since her original intention joined music world was to be a really authentic & powerful singer like "Junko Ōhashi" or, "Chaka Khan".
One day, a friend of her gave a call to "Yūko", and asked if she was interested in singing as a backing vocalist to a Jazz singer "Marlene".
"Yūko" then met with "Toko" and "Kumi" who later form a chorus group "AMAZONS" together with "Yūko".
Teaming up & debut
By curious coincidence, talented 3 vocalists were gathered under Marlene's group as members of backing chorus.
Instead of self-introductions between each other, "Toko", "Kumi" & "Yūko" sang a Marlene's pop tune "Amazon Queen" (from Marlene's 7th album BE-BOP, 1985) for sound check.
After finished singing, 3 of them were amazed, and even moved by the quality of the harmony they just performed.
The members hit it off right away, and agreed to team up a new chorus group with 3 of them.
And in thanks for Marlene's song "Amazon Queen" which played Cupid, they named their group name, "AMAZONS".
High level performance & funky harmony of "AMAZONS" soon came to be recognized by the people in the music industry.
And finally in 1987, "AMAZONS" debuted with a single "GLORIOUS GLAMOUROUS" released from CBS Sony.
Collaborating with various musicians
It looks that "AMAZONS" holds equal, or even more identity and pride against themselves performing as a backing chorus team to various musicians.
Since, the musicians are aware that the quality of their live performances change dramatically by asking "AMAZONS" to join as a chorus team for their concert tour.
"AMAZONS" also seems to be confident with their fine and unique ensemble.
"AMAZONS" has collaborated with top musicians, like, "Masayoshi Takanaka", "Fumiya Fujii", "Yumi Matsutōya", "Toshinobu Kubota", "Koji Tamaki", "Kome Kome Club", "Shikao Suga", "Toshinori Yonekura", "Chage", or "Mie" (ex-Pink Lady), since founded.
And those music artists are still working together with "AMAZONS", perhaps because of the performance of "AMAZONS" like no other.
As AMAZONS
On the other hand, "AMAZONS" has been releasing their albums in their own pace until now.
Soon after they released their first single "GLORIOUS GLAMOUROUS" in 1987, "AMAZONS" launched their funky first album "Nisemono Tengoku" (Counterfeits Heaven) in 1988.
And in 1990, they released funky & pop album "SOME LIKE IT HOT" which we are introducing today, and contains today's track "KISS IN THE DARK".
And their latest album is "Fantastic30", which was released to celebrate 30th anniversary of the foundation of "AMAZONS".
The members of AMAZONS are introducing their discography on their Youtube channel. (Youtube.com, AMAZONS Discography)
If you like, please have a look.
Tradition of female vocal trio
In Japanese popular music scene, there was a tradition of highly skilled female vocal harmony trio started from "Three Graces" in the 1960s.
In the '70s, a "Singers three" became popular as a female chorus group. A member of the group, "Kayoko Ishū" experienced popularity with her excellent singing performance in Anime or CM songs.
In the '80s, an Okinawan chorus group, Apples (later EVE) formed by sisters, began to shine by their beautiful chorus work.
They say that EVE has participated in more than 2000 recordings of various songs as backing vocals, or main chorus.
EVE also became popular as TV characters, since they were cast members of a popular music variety show, "Kon'ya-ha saikō" (WHAT A FANTASTIC NIGHT!) in the late 80s.
Then, the vocal trio inherited this curious tradition in the '90s was "AMAZONS", we believe.
We are wondering there seems to be no such professional female chorus group after "AMAZONS", and looking forward to see new high potential group soon.
Recent
As same as any music groups in the world, "AMAZONS" activities have also been affected by the pandemic, and "AMAZONS" had to cancel a few of their recent live stages of these 2 years, including their 35 years anniversary concert in 2021.
On the other hand, "AMAZONS" started their Youtube Chanel, AMAZONS in 2018, since then, they are posting videos of their interesting talks, or the reports of their live stages quite frequently, and warmly entertaining fans.
We hope the precious chorus group like "AMAZONS" would continue their activities as long as possible.
References
For more details about "AMAZONS", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: amazons.tobiiro.jp,
profile)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: amazons20.jugem.jp,
blog)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: sonymusic.co.jp,
amazons profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's song "Kiss in the dark" by AMAZONS.
Thanks to Sony music Japan, a precious promotion video of this song filmed in 1991 has been uploaded on Youtube.
It is a nice music video reflecting the atmosphere of the early'90s.
And reminds us our life of that time.
If you like, please listen.
✩ Cigarette (Chocolate) ✩
In this music video, there are few cuts look like kids are smoking cigarettes.
But it is just an stage effect, and cigarettes like stuff are actually cigarette Chocolates, though it might not be allowed now a days.
Anyway, this is an information for just in case if anyone wonder.
Thank you for your attention.
Music Samples
4
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (track.4)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | KISS IN THE DARK |
|---|---|
| Artist | AMAZONS |
| Album Title | お熱いのがお好き(O-atsuino ga o-suki) |
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