[Song Review #212] "Snow Bird" by Kaori Kishitani
Hi. The buds of plum blossoms are swelling in our place, but we still see some snow in this season.
Interestingly, on a cold winter day like today, we (at least ourselves) tend to feel a sentimental ballad like today's a lot warmer than other songs.
Then, today's song is a peaceful rock a ballad "Snow Bird" by "Kaori Kishitani".
"Kaori Kishitani" is a singer-songwriter active since 1983.
Perhaps, she is more well known as "Kaori Okui" (her maiden name), the vocalist of a popular rock band "Princess Princess" from 1983 to 1996.
"Kishitani"'s powerful, but cute vocal is popular and has a lot of fans.
If you like, please listen to.
One more song
And for just in case if you are in the mood for listening to a sunny tune as well, we also selected a brighter pop song of "Kishitani", (more precisely speaking, her former band "Princess Princess"'s) as an extra.
Actually, it is also a nice piece, and therefore we were in two minds about which to push for today.
We have prepared a link to this song, which is available through "Princess Princess"'s official channel on Youtube.
If you like, please check this one as well.
The link is located in "About the artist" section (or Section #6).
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 | Snow Bird |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kaori Kishitani |
| Album Title | The Best and More |
| Catalog Number | SECL-1503 |
| Track No. | 15 |
| Duration | 4:17 |
| Released | 2014 |
| Publisher | SME Records |
| Lyricist | Kyōko Tomita |
| Composer | Kaori Kishitani |
| Arranger | ? (no data) |
About the creators
Kyōko Tomita Lyricist
"Kyōko Tomita" is a lyricist, radio personality, and a former drummer of a popular rock band "Princess Princess", active since 1983.
She is known as a writer wrote many hit songs of "Princess Princess".
"Tomita" has been active as a radio personality, lyricist, and a lecturer of a music school at the moment.
Short Bio.
"Tomita" began to play the drums in Junior high school.
In 1983, she entered an audition for a few positions in a new female rock band, and passed.
And in 1984, she debuted as a drummer of "Akasaka Komachi" (Akasaka Beauties) which was a precursor band to "Princess princess".
In 1986, her band changed its name to "Princess princes". "Tomita" naturally remained in a same position, and actively participated in the band until its broke up in 1996.
For more details about the rock band "Princess princes", please have a look at its Wikipedia page.
After "Princess princes"
"Tomita" continued to be a musician, lyricist, and radio personality until she married, and had the first child in 2001.
She took 10 years off for raising children, and has come back to work since 2011.
For more details about her, please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: https://ameblo.jp,
Kyōko Tomita blog)🇯🇵
Kaori Kishitani Composer
The composer, "Kaori Kishitani" is also a singer of this song.
So, We would like to cover topics about her later in "About the artist" section.
? (no data) Arranger
We could not find the name of the arranger(s) for this song, but it seems natural.
Because, this is a simple Piano & vocal song, self-accompanied on acoustic piano by the singer "Kaori Kishirani" herself.
The bass, and electronic organ also take part in a bit, but it seems they were also played by the singer.
That might be why the name of the arranger is not credited, we imagine.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Gentle & encouraging
This is a calm & gentle piano ballad in a walking rhythm.
Acoustic
An ensemble of the acoustic piano, wood bass, and electronic Organ begin a quiet, and warm introduction.
In the main part, a warm and hearty vocal of "Kishitani" sings a gentle lyrics, with her self-accompaniment on piano.
A brief solo play by the electronic organ appearing in a bridge, is touch wistful, and nice.
Passion to Heal
This song seems to be written, and sung for the people who has lost something important, no matter what is it.
There is a sympathy, a word of comfort, and a message of hope in the lyrics.
That maybe why she sings this song with great passion.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Kaori KishitaniVocalist with spirit
"Kaori Kishitani" is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, essayist, former vocalist of a rock band "Princess Princess", and current vocalist of a rock band "Unlock the girls" active since 1983.
"Kaori Kishitani", or "Kaori Okui", in her maiden name, is presumably most well known as a former vocalist of a rock band "Princess Princess" (often shortened as "Puri-Puri") which was one of the most popular, and successful women's Rock group in the history of Japanese Rock music.
"Kaori Kishitani" is still quite active as a solo singer, or the vocalist of her band "Unlock the girls". And also frequently transmitting messages through her Youtube channel.
Kaori Kishitani debuted in 1984 with a single, "Hōkago Jugyō" (Lessons after school). Since then, 34 singles, and 20 original, 3 live, and 11 best albums have been released until now, (including the CDs of "Princess Princess"'s).
As a solo artist, 10 singles, 6 full albums, 3 mini albums, 1 DVD, and 1 best album have become on sale from 1994 to today.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Kaori Kishitani)
Early times
Some references says that "Kaori Kishitani" started playing the piano from childhood.
In junior high school, she began to play the bass, and drums, and naturally, teamed up few amateur bands with friends.
In 1983, while she was in high school, "Kishitani" entered an open audition for members of a newly starting women's rock band, and luckily she passed.
Before long, "Kishitani" & four other winners, who all became members of "Princess Princess" later, met each other for the first time, and all of them were told that they were going to form a new group.
And shortly after, they are debuted as a five piece girls pop band "Akasaka Komachi" (Akasaka Beauties).
Seemingly, the entertainment agency was planning to promote them as a girl's rock band as well as an idol group.
But the wish of the members were to be a popular rock band, not an idol group.
Then, a gap was developed between the office and band members on the vision about the future of the band. And perhaps because of that, "Akasaka Komachi" struggled to gain popularity.
After few years time, all members of the band decided to leave from current agency, and re-started the band activity under new agency.
And taking this opportunity, the band changed its name to "Princess Princess".
Getting popular
"Princess Princess" released their first mini album in May 1986.
Before long, the 3rd management agency offered a new contract to the band. And the band decided to change the office again in November 1986.
Luckily, the new agency allowed "Princess Princess" to pursue their style of music.
The band began to perform their live stage in various small venues. And slowly, but steadily gained popularity.
In 1988, their 3rd single "My will" was selected as an advertising jingle for a famous sporting-goods chain.
The song came under the spotlight, and "Princess Princess" was invited to an influential TV music program as a performer.
And in the same year, a rock band "Princess Princess" finally saw a concert hall in Tokyo with 2000 sheet capacity was packed with their fans, for the first time in band history.
This was really a monumental step for "Princess Princess", since it was generally recognized that the band now joined in the top group.
Triumph
The popularity of "Princess Princess" was approaching to the boiling point.
In 1989, "Princess Princess" finally achieved holding a concert at a famous "Nippon Budō-kan", an indoor arena in Tokyo which boasts a total capacity of 10,000 audience, for the first time in the history of women's band in Japan.
Since then, they have held "Budo-kan concert" every year in new year season, until the band broke up in 1996. Then the number of "Budō-kan concert" by "Princess Princess" has reached 44 times until now.
(Because, the great foreign bands like, The Beatles, Deep Purple, Carpenters, Queen, or Bob Dylan held a hugely successful concerts at this arena in the '70s.
Then, "Nippon Budō-kan" is regarded as a holy sanctuary for bands and musicians.
So, to hold a concert at here has still been a major goal for them.)
In April 1989, "Princess Princess" released a very bright, and impressive Pop-rock "Diamonds" as their 7th single record.
This song quickly rose to the top of the charts, and became a super hit song, and a million seller.
"Diamonds" has been a signature hit song of "Princess Princess", and is being loved through the generations.
By multiple huge successes in this year, "Princess Princess" became one of the top band in Japan, not as "women's rock band", but Just as "Band".
And "Princess Princess" held that position until they broke up in 1996.
For more details about "Princess Princess", please have a look at the page of Princess Princess on Wikipedia.
As a solo
In private, "Kaori Kishitani" married with a nice gentleman soon after the break-up of "Princess Princess" in 1996.
And before too long, she restarted her music activity as a solo singer.
From 2001 to 2011, she spent most of her time for child raising, since "Kishitani" and her partner were blessed with two children in this period.
In 2011, triggered by a shocking Tōhoku earthquake, "Kishitani" & former members of "Princess Princess" agreed to resume the band to raise relief money for the peoples affected by the earthquake.
After spending some time for preparation, "Princess Princess" started their band performance again from January 2012.
The band performed very much enthusiastically in front of the experienced the disaster in affected area, and cheered & encouraged them with their cheerful pop songs, and healing ballads.
At the same time, they raised a significant amount of relief money, and donated them to various groups, or organizations in Tōhoku region.
"Princess Princess" continued this charity activity until 2016.
And in March 2016, the band finalised their tentative reunification by the last concert held in Toyosu, Tokyo.
As a solo, and a new band
Seemingly, the reunite of "Princess Princess" was a good exercise for "Kaori Kishitani" to restart as a musician.
In 2014, "Kaori Kishitani" announced her come back as a solo singer in full scale.
Since then, she is actively holding live stages across Japan in band style or alone.
In 2017, "Kishitani" held a special concert to celebrate her 50th birthday.
On this concert, she collaborated with three young female musicians, namely Yuko（G), HALNA（B), and Yuumi（Dr).
Members got along very well, and agreed to form a new permanent band by four of them. Then, a new rock band "Unlock the girls" was started.
As seen above, "Kishitani" seems to be having busy days as a solo singer.
She is sunshine
What we often feel about "Kishitani" is, she looks as if she is a messenger from a solar deity.
In fact, her bright smile shines light on everyone.
Her outstandingly sunny, lively, and spirited vocal can fire up listeners.
And her cheerful personality always encourages people powerfully, and help them to generate new energy inside of themselves.
We know some people with similar character, but none of them is so natural like "Kishitani". So, they might be the natural abilities of her.
We think we are lucky, because we could see her.
References
For more details about singer "Kaori Kishitani", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: kaorikishitani.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Video clip
We have not found any video clip related to today's song "Snow Bird".
So, please listen to the samples at online music shops linked in "Music Samples" section.
Instead of that, we would like to introduce a bright & sunny pop tune of "Princess Princess", as we have referred in "Greeting section".
The song title is "THE SUMMER VACATION". It is a song from their best album "PRESENTS" released in 1994.
The songs of "Princess Princess" are Rock and roll basically, and usually quite powerful.
But this song, "THE SUMMER VACATION" is exceptionally, bright, light & sunny, then it is popular among light music fans as well.
We imagine this song might be interesting also for you.
If you like, please listen to.
Music Samples
15
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com (Track No.15)
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | スノーバード(Snow Bird) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 岸谷香(Kaori Kishitani) |
| Album Title | The Best and More |
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