[Lyrical & elegant]
No.241 "Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki" by Chie Yokoyama
Hi. The song we would like to introduce to you today is, "Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki" (Sure I love you forever) by "Chie Yokoyama".
Lyrical, and elegant pop ballad "Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki" (Sure I love you forever) is a song released in 1993 as the fourth single CD of an idol-star turned singer, "Chie Yokoyama".
"Chie Yokoyama" is primarily well known as a member of a parody Pop duo, "Yamada Katsutenai Wink"
Indeed we very much hovered between this song and her other nice pop tune, "X-boy ni Kiwo-tsukete" on selecting which to post.
But after consideration of seasonality or etc, we chose today's.
So, in Youtube section in section 6, we would like to put links for both songs.
Lastly, in case you are fascinated with her songs, we would like to recommend you to check her best album "My Cole! Lite Chie Yokoyama & Yamada Katsutenai WINK" first of all anyway. Because it covers the most of her songs released in her career.
Positively, we think this album might be of interest not only for idol pops fans, but also light & mellow fans. (Not extremely, but reasonably.)
Due to unavailability in big shops like "Amazon" or "Apple", we could not put an advertise in this article.
But the album is still available in digital format at the shops like this one, or this one.
If you like please have a look at those shops. (Needless to say, we get nothing from them. Don't worry.)
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 | Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki(Sure I love you forever) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Chie Yokoyama |
| Album Title | MyColle Lite. Chie Yokoyama & Yamada Katsutenai Wink |
| Catalog Number | PCCS-00121 |
| Track No. | 9 |
| Duration | 3:38 |
| Released | 2010 |
| Publisher | Pony Canyon |
| Lyricist | Shōko Ōmori |
| Composer | Mioko Yamaguchi |
| Arranger | Etsuko Yamakawa |
About the creators
Shōko Ōmori Lyricist
"Shōko Ōmori" is a lyricist, and manicurist active since 1990.
She is known as a songwriter for a popular TV anime series "Kei-on", or "Pre-cure", and also praised as a lyricist for various J-pop songs.
Interestingly, she is also a sought-after manicurist, and running her own salon by herself.
References
For more details on "Shōko Ōmori", please have a look at the references linked below.
Mioko Yamaguchi Composer
"Mioko Yamaguchi" is a singer-songwriter, and composer active since 1980.
She is known as one of the pioneer of an electronic ambient pops in Japan, and her 3rd album "Tsukihime" is still praising as one of the epoch making albums in the '80s.
References
For more details on "Mioko Yamaguchi", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: yamaguchimioko.jp,
profile)🇯🇵
Etsuko Yamakawa Arranger
"Etsuko Yamakawa" is an arranger, composer, and was once a member of a legendary pop duo "Tohoku Shinkansen".
"Yamakawa" is one of the most well known composers and arrangers in Japanese popular music scene, and particularly popular among light & mellow fans because of her stylish, smooth, and almost artistic song arrangement.
References
For more details on "Etsuko Yamakawa", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: www.etsu-style.tv,
profile)🇯🇵
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Some notes on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Acoustic & elegant
This song seems to be an acoustic, and elegant vocal ballad in a sedate rhythm.
Gentle & graceful
The harpsichord, drums, bass, electronic organ, strings, and electric guitar begin a gentle, and elegant introduction, and main part starts.
In the main section, a flowing arpeggio played by the electric guitar lightly accompanies with vocal of "Chie Yokoyama", and support her to sing a melodious ballad.
And in the bridge, an impressive, and graceful passage is performed by pizzicato strings.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Chie YokoyamaYamada Katsutenai Wink
"Chie Yokoyama" was a singer and actor active from 1989 until 2010, the year she announced her retirement from the industry on her farewell concert.
Above all else, she is perhaps a familiar figure to the people as a member of an in-program special parody pop group, "Yamada Katsutenai Wink" which was active in the early '90s.
Chie Yokoyama debuted in 1990 with a single, "'T’intersection". Since then, 10 singles, and 1 original, 1 live, and 1 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Chie Yokoyama)
Early times
There are not much references about the early times of "Chie Yokoyama", but she was born in the west side of Japan in 1973 to an average family.
And grown in there until her high-school age.
But in 1989, when "Yokoyama" was a high-school student, she saw a call for entries for a talent scout video audition in a popular TV program.
The audition was a little unique because it was exclusively looking for a look-alike of a famous cute idol star, "Sachiko Suzuki" for a special purpose.
Nevertheless, "Yokoyama" entered the audition by sending a video, and very luckily, she became a champion.
She was soon recruited by the TV broadcaster & a talent agency. And started a career as an "idol star alike" in Tokyo.
Yamada Katsutenai Wink
In the late 80s, a prevailing comedian & impressionist "Kuniko Yamada" was hosting a high-rating TV variety show "Kuni-chan no Yamada-katsutenai TV" (Kuni-chan's "like never before" TV. "Kuni-chan" is a nickname for "Kuniko Yamada", and "Yamada-katsutenai" is a spoof of a Japanese sentence "Iamada-katsutenai" which means "like never before, or unprecedented".)
In the program, there was a section called "Kuni-chan no monomane best 10" (Kuni-chan's best 10 by parodying singers.)
In this section, "Kuniko Yamada" was doing the impressions of many pop singers.
But among them, her imitation of an idol star "Shōko Aida", a member of a sought-after Pop-duo "Wink", was particularly impressive, and often drew cheers from audience.
Naturally, people began to say that "we need to have someone to undertake a role of 'Sachiko Suzuki', the other member of 'Wink'. Then, 'Kuniko Yamada' can form a duo to perform a perfect parody of the pop-duo 'Wink'".
In the atmosphere, a new talent discovery project was started in the TV program under the name of "Seek Sachiko from all over Japan" project in video audition style.
Around that time, a high-school student "Chie Yokoyama" had come to know the news, and sent a video to the broadcaster as an entry.
Her video passed the preliminary screening, and advanced to the final round.
And luckily, she won first place.
In a little while, "Kuniko Yamada" & "Chie Yokoyama" formed a new group to parody a popular idol-pop duo "Wink".
And they named the group, "Yamada Katsutenai Wink" (Yamada's 'like never before' Wink).
Smash hit
In 1990, a new group, "Yamada Katsutenai Wink" began to perform as an in-program special team to parody a very popular idol-Pop duo "Wink".
But on the other hand, "Yamada Katsutenai Wink" also launched their first original single CD, "'T'-intersection anatani modorenai" (T-intersection cannot go back to friends).
And started also as a real pop duo, not just a parody group.
"Yamada" and "Yokoyama" continued to appear on TV as a team, and at the same time, they released their second single CD "Sayonara-dakedo Sayonara-jyanai" (Good-bye, but it is not a Good-bye) in February 1991.
"Sayonara..." was a song singing a sentiment of young women graduating from high-school or college.
And quite unexpectedly, it became a smash hit. The song has been still popular as one of the standard songs for graduating season.
Solo activity
On the other hand, "Chie Yokoyama" gradually started solo activity as a singer.
Before too long, in June 1991, "Chie Yokoyama" launched her first solo single, "Happy Birthday" from Pony Canyon records.
Gorgeously, the song was written by a leading hit maker "Amii Ozaki".
Pure, shiny, mellow, and "Amii-like" pop song "Happy Birthday" was accepted very well, and became a surprising smash hit.
A trusted music chart "Oricon" also ranked this song in second place o their weekly hit charts of popular song.
Following the result, "Yokoyama" quickly released her second single, "For you".
This was also a song of "Amii Ozaki", though it was a cover of her 1979 hit song.
Around this timing, "Yokoyama" began to prepare for launching her first album.
The end of the TV Variety show
Like that way, the pair was enjoying popularity.
But the vivid days of the group came to an end in March 1992, since the TV variety show itself was decided to discontinue at once.
"Yamada" simply returned to her busy life as a comedian.
But for "Yokohama", this was a fork in the road to choose a path as an entertainer.
However eventually, she took a decision to continue to be a singer for keeping on singing.
As a solo singer
In April 1992, soon after she became a complete solo, "Chie Yokoyama" released her 3rd single, "X-boy ni kiwo tsukete" (Mind the X-boy), which was also provided by "Amii-Ozaki" exclusively for "Yokoyama".
The song was really lovely, sunny, and stylish, but was still right in the middle of idol pops.
And congratulated her start as a solo singer.
At the same time, she was consistently preparing for launching her debut album.
And in June 1992, "Yokoyama" finally released her debut album "Bloomin'".
The album contained 10 songs. They were consisted of newly recorded songs & and the past released singles of "Yokoyama", and a some repertories from "Yamada Katsutenai Wink"
All the songs were very well designed to impress the singer.
Good album "Bloomin'"
In one word, her 1st album "Bloomin'" was marvellous.
We think the album is worth to listen to, even though it is just a debut album of a newbie idol star.
The most of the songs were written by promising songwriters like "Amii Ozaki" and "Ken Takahashi".
So, the songs are not just high quality Pops, but also carefully designed for "Yokoyama", an idol star.
And other notable point is its excellent backing sound.
Unusual as an album of a debuting idol star, a dozen of first-call musicians in light & mellow category were joined, and performing perfectly vivid, dynamic and smooth backing music for supporting the singer.
Such luxury is perhaps not possible any more in Japanese popular music scene.
And one more noticeable charm is a good singing of "Yokoyama".
Namely, her singing as a whole still remains in the idol star level. But she can keep accurate pitch and rhythm, and it makes songs very much listenable.
Honestly speaking, it is true that some idol stars cannot sing in tune.
But contrastingly, it is not applicable for "Yokoyama", since she sings nicely.
Perhaps "Yokoyama" did not have enough time for vocal lessons, but she had some talent for singing.
That might explain why her singing sounds immature or untrained, but comfortable enough to listen to.
Retiring
"Yokoyama" released two more single CDs (including the one we are introducing today) by the end of 1993.
Then, she shifted her main area to acting.
She continued to be a singer and actor until 2011.
And she also got married and had children in this period.
But in 2011, she held a farewell concert in Tokyo. And put a period to her career as an entertainer.
Recent
According to her personal blog, she seems to be enjoying a life as a mum for her two children.
Thanks to one of her hit songs, "Sayonara-dakedo Sayonara-jyanai" which she sang in 1991 as "Yamada katsutenai Wink", she seems to be receiving offers occasionary to appear on TV.
But "Kuniko Yamada", the other member of duo, comments that "Yokoyama" prefers not to appear on TV, since she is enjoying her private life.
We wish we can see them some day.
References
For more details about "Chie Yokoyama", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: yokochie.cocolog-nifty.com,
blog)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's song "Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki" by "Chie Yokoyama".
Fortunately, a music video seems has been uploaded as "Chie Yokoyama - Topic" with permission.
So, if you like, please listen to.
And as mentioned in "Greeting" section, we would like to bring up a pop song "X-boy ni kiwo-tsukete", the other one we hovered on when selecting today's song.
This is a joyful tune as if you are walking down a street on a sunny day.
If you like, please also listen to.
Music Samples
2
(試聴する)
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | きっとずっと君が好き(Kitto Zutto Kimi ga suki) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 横山知枝(Chie Yokoyama) |
| Album Title | Myこれ!Lite 横山知枝_やまだかつてないWINK(MyColle Lite. Chie Yokoyama & Yamada Katsutenai Wink) |
Comments