[Laid-back & peaceful]
No.247 "Lean on me" by Chika Ueda
Hi. The song we would like to introduce to you today is, "Lean on me" by "Chika Ueda".
Today's song "Lean on me" is a laid-back, and peaceful pop ballad in midnight atmosphere.
This song is selected from an album titled "I will", the 9th studio album of a unique singer-songwriter "Chika Ueda".
"Chika Ueda" was known as the lead vocal of a unique piano & string quartet group Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN".
She was also a talented composer & arranger with classical music background. And has left many excellent pop songs.
If you like, please listen to.
The picture today looks a bit gloomy, because the song is singing a sentiment of a woman whose partner or boyfriend has left home, and not yet come back, after she said or did something to hurt him.
She noticed her love to him, and waiting him almost through the night since he has left.
Because of that, we could not choose a happy type of pictures for this post. Please allow us.
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 | Lean on me |
|---|---|
| Artist | Chika Ueda |
| Album Title | I Will |
| Catalog Number | WPCL-542 |
| Track No. | 4 |
| Duration | 4:46 |
| Released | 1991 |
| Publisher | Warner Bros. Records |
| Lyricist | Chika Ueda |
| Composer | Chika Ueda |
| Arranger | David Cambell |
About the creators
Chika Ueda Lyricist& Composer
The Lyricist & composer of this song is "Chika Ueda". She was also a singer of this song.
So, We would like to come back to her in "About the artist" section later.
References
For more details on "Chika Ueda", please have a look at the references linked below.
Or. have a look at "About the artist" section.
David Cambell Arranger
David Campbell, or David Richard Campbell is a Canadian-American arranger, composer, and conductor active since 1971.
Campbell is a rare prolific musician, and has participated in nearly 900 (or more) of popular song albums or film scores as an arranger, composer, or conductor to date.
Campbell has become part of the recording team of the Japanese artists several time, and he was also invited to this album as an arranger.
Therefore, all the songs in this album were arranged by him.
References
For more details on "David Cambell", please have a look at the references linked below.
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Some notes on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Sound impression
This song seems to be a melodious, and stylish pop ballad in a slow common time.
Mid-night atmosphere
At the introduction, the electric bass plays an impressive up and down melody line. Then, the drums, Hammond organ, electric guitar, and triangle also join, and play an introduction in mid-night atmosphere.
In the main part, the ensemble plays a laid-back backing music, and support a relaxed & well controlled vocal of "Chika Ueda".
In the bridge, an excellent improvisation by the saxophone appears, and attracts the listeners.
Musicians
The musicians participated in this album are as follows.
We reckon that you guys might already noticed the stunning high quality of the backing sound in this album.
It was because of them. LA Star musicians.
- Bass
- Wilton Felder
- Michel Porcaro
- Drums
- Carlos Vega
- Guitar
- Michel Landau
- Michel Thompson
- Dean Parks
- David T.Walker
- Keyboards
- Jay Winding
- Chika Ueda
- Percussion
- Lenny Castro
- Saxophone
- Ernie Fields
- Trombone
- George Bohannon
- Trumpet
- Nolan Smith
- Chorus
- Raven Kane
- Stephani Spruill
- Carmen Twillie
- Producer
- Ryoji Nagai
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Chika UedaQueen of the piano quintet
"Chika Ueda" was a singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger, music producer, pianist, and a member of a unique piano quintet (or The piano + string quartet) pop group, "Chika Ueda +(plus) Karyōbin" active from 1978 to 2021.
During band era, namely from 1978 to 1982, her band attracted quite a few music fans who were waiting such elegant, classy, but friendly music style, since a combination of "vocal with piano-accompaniment" and "string quartet" was totally new to the Japanese popular music scene at that time.
From 1984, "Chika Ueda" started as a solo artist.
However, she was not just active as a solo singer, but also ardently wrote songs for other, mainly female, singers, and some of them became famous hit songs.
So, young music fans often recognize "Ueda" as a composer, since they have no idea about the "Karyobin" era of "Ueda".
Chika Ueda debuted as a member of a piano quintet "Chika Ueda +(plus) Karyōbin" in 1978 with a single, "Minuet". Since then, 15 singles, and 13 original, and 9 best albums have been released until now.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Chika Ueda)
Early times
Because, there is almost no information about the early time of "Chika Ueda", we would like to run through this part, and start with the timing that she began to aspire to be a professional musician when she was a music college student.
According to some references, "Chika Ueda" was born to an ordinary (perhaps) family in Tokyo in 1957.
She began to learn the piano when she was three. And she seems to have learned the piano ardently in her school days.
Then, perhaps in 1975, she successfully enrolled in a reputed music college, "Tokyo College of Music", and finally became a student majoring in piano.
Until became the 2nd grade, she was just a student dreaming to be a composer formlessly.
She already had written many songs, but all of them a meant for self singing with self-accompaniment of the piano. Then she began to think more seriously that she needed some experience of band activity to be a professional composer.
Because of that, she began to find the possible member musicians who would be happy to form an amateur band with her.
Debuting
After some twist and turns, "Ueda" was scouted as a female singer for some reason, from a newly established music agency, before she found the members of her band.
And she began to prepare for debuting as a singer-songwriter.
Because her music college prohibits students work as professional, she took a decision to drop out of the college. (She regretted this choice later though...)
In the office of the agency, a staff person suggested her if "Ueda" is interested in debuting a Piano & vocal + string quartet style.
Because "Ueda" had an ample background of classical music, and a pop group in such style was totally new to everyone, and it would attract public attention.
"Ueda" bravely accepted their suggestion. She was positively motivated at that time without reason.
In a snap, the four of young & talented string players were newly recruited, and they formed a new string quartet named "KARYŌBIN".
"Ueda" & "KARYŌBIN" then teamed up a new unique pop group "Chika Ueda" +(plus) "KARYŌBIN".
And in August 1978, "Chika Ueda" +(plus) "KARYŌBIN" was debuted with their debut single "Minuet.
By the way, one of the founder of this music agency was "Yasuo Higuchi" aka "Pico".
"Higuchi" was a member of a popular vocal & instrumental band "Sing Out" in the early '70s, and since independent, he became a famous two-way composer who can write both classic ∓ popular music.
Actually, "Higuchi" was looking for a singer to promote, and "Chika Ueda" applied for this position.
Because "Ueda" was aspiring to be a composer, and "Higuchi" was one of the composers she had admired.
She strongly wished to work under him, because she thought she could learn a lot from him.
That was why "Ueda" chose to be a singer, even dropping out of the college.
So, in this sense, "Karyōbin" was a project lead by "Higuchi".
KARYŌBIN
This is just for your information, but their band name "KARYŌBIN" is originally a famous title of a dance in "Gagaku" which is one of the Japan's oldest classical music & dance developed as a court music.
And the origin of the title "KARYŌBIN" is "KARYŌBINGA" (迦陵頻伽) which is an imaginary bird with a human upper-body appearing in Buddhism tales. And it is believed that the singing of "KARYŌBINGA" is heavenly enchanting.
So, we think it is a fine naming.
Purple monsoon
Since "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" debuted in 1978, they began to released new singles fairly regularly, in other word, once in every 4 months.
Generally speaking, an elegant classical pops style music like "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" does not usually appeal to the average audience in Japan. Because they prefers standard rock'n'roll, pops, or idol pops more, than a little stylish, posh, and classy music like theirs.
So in this sense, "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" was doing fairly well. Because seemingly, they were gaining some amount of followers which was persuasive enough to convince the management to allow the band releasing a new single.
But when the band released a chic, and elegant classical pop song, "Purple monsoon" as their fifth single in 1980, the atmosphere was changed.
The song was selected as an adversing jingle for an electric fan. (Perhaps it was a tie-up.)
"Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" also appeared on the TV advertising, and left a vivid impression on the audience.
Unusually for the song in this music category, "Purple monsoon" became an unexpected smash hit. And it gave "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" a national profile.
And thanks to this song, "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" was allowed to release their albums constantly until they break up in 1982. (or 1983)
Break up
Thanks to the smash hit in 1980, "Chika Ueda" was now allowed to compose, and arrange all the songs in the album of "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN".
And in December 1980, their 4th album "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN[4]" was released in this system.
As a result, the album took on some "Chika Ueda" color, but basically it was still a music of "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" with no doubt.
"Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" continuously sought for their sound on their 5th and 6th albums as well.
And finally on the 6th albums, they even employed guest instruments like, the harpsichord, bass, saxophone, synthesizer, or percussion to crate a new sound.
Actually, it turned out a unique & nice pop album.
However, because of many reasons (perhaps), "Chika Ueda + KARYŌBIN" broke up in 1982, after released the said 6th album "SONG".
And all 4 members of "KARYŌBIN", and "Chika Ueda" started solo career.
As a solo artist
After one year silence from the break up of "KARYŌBIN", "Chika Ueda" resumed her music career in August 1984 by releasing her first album "Classiest" as a solo artist.
Her first solo album "Classiest" was produced without any musical restrictions which was in effect in her "KARYŌBIN" period.
So in a sense, this became a more orthodox, but very good urban pop album, then the music fans like you guys might prefer it.
If you like, please listen to.
After the release of this album, "Ueda" got married, and moved her base to New york.
Inevitably, her music activity slowed down a bit for a few years, because she had a baby. But she was still writing some songs for other singers.
And in 1989, "Ueda" came back to the mainstream by releasing her 2nd album "Okite", which was a piano instrumental album, inspired by a photo book of the same title published by a nature photographer, "Mitsuaki Iwagō".
And around this timing, she began to write a surprising number of songs not only for herself but also for many other leading artists mainly young women.
In 1991, even in a busy time like that period, "Ueda" released her 3rd solo album "I will" which we are introducing to you today.
This is another nice pop album of "Ueda", and one of our favourite albums of hers. If you like, please try.
"Ueda" released three more pop albums by the end of the '90s.
Then, she began to focus on the job as a composer, after taking a bit of recharging period in the early 2000s.
Piece of my wish
Actually already in the late '70s, "Chika Ueda" had been writing songs occasionally for other artists.
But around the late '80s, her music activity as a composer came into full swing, and began to write amazing number of excellent songs for already visible, and rising young female artists at that time.
"Chika Ueda" has written songs for more than 130 singers, amazingly.
But the singer "Miki Imai" might be the most notable name among them. Becuase "Imai" is not just the pop singer received the most from "Chika Ueda", but also one of them sold a million copies in 1991.
That was "Imai"'s 7th single, "Piece of my wish".
Interestingly, "Imai" was not requested to write a song for her at the beginning.
But circa in 1988, "Imai" and her friend lyricist "Yuho Iwazato" conceived an idea to write a song together, and offer the song from their end to the most preferable artist, namely "Miki Imai".
They actually wrote a song titled "Kiiroi TV" (An Yellow TV), and took it to "Imai"'s place.
"Imai" much appreciated, and accepted their offer. Since then, "Chika Ueda", "Yuho Iwazato", and "Miki Imai" formed a team, and a significant part of songs of "Miki Imai" has been created by the tag team of "Ueda" & "Iwazato".
In fact, "Ueda" & "Iwazato" were the musicians build the music style of "Miki Imai"
Then in November 1991, "Miki Imai" released a melodious ballad pop song "Piece of my wish", wrote by "Ueda" & "Iwazato", as her 7th single.
The song was also selected as a main theme for a TV drama series which "Miki Imai" starred. And soon it became a significant hit.
Before too long, the song topped the chart for the first time in "Miki Imai"'s career, and it also became a million-seller hit song.
Since then, this has been a signature hit for "Miki Imai" together with her biggest hit song "Pride".
Even as an individual, "Chika Ueda" wrote at least 400 songs to more than 130 singers, including "Miho Nakayama", "Hiroko Yakushimaru", or "Yukari Itō" in her active period.
After 2000
In 2006, "Chika Ueda" ended the life in the US, and return to Japan.
Soon after come back, she restarted her job as a composer, but since around this time, "Ueda" gradually began to shif her main area from composition to the job as a music producer.
The year 2013 was the 35th anniversary of "Chika Ueda" as a music artist.
In this year, she brought out a lied style musical suite titled "Kumi-kyoku Makurano-sōshi" (Suite 'The Pillow Book') inspired by a Japanese historic book of essays "Makurano-sōshi", which was written in some 1000 years ago.
On this piece of work, one of Japan's leading copywriter & lyricist "Hiroshi Ichikura" provided lyrics in modern Japanese by using "Makurano-sōshi" as a base for them.
And all the music, would be served as piano accompaniment, were written by "Chika Ueda".
This musical suite were also recorded in 2013 by inviting few of Japan's top soprano vocalists.
And it was released as a CD in 2014.
In 2018, for celebrating the 40th anniversary of "Chika Ueda" launched a new box CD-set "All About KARYOBIN", which contains all songs of Karyobin recorded in 7 disks.
And she also held an "All About KARYOBIN" concert in Tokyo, by inviting a former member of "KARYOBIN", "Aska Kaneko" and 6 other members of her string group.
In this way, "Ueda" was fairy active, and pursuing her music.
But because of an illness, "Chika Ueda" passed away in September 2019. She was 64.
Since then, quite a few of her music friend sent messages of sympathy to her family.
Some of them held commemorating concerts to play some songs from her excellent music works.
References
For more details about "Chika Ueda", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: www.uedachika.com,
bio)🇯🇵
Video clip
Lastly, we would like to introduce a music clip of today's song "Lean on me" by "Chika Ueda".
Fortunately, the music video seems to have been uploaded by "Chika Ueda - Topic" with a proper permission.
So, if you like, please listen to.
In addition to that, we also would like to introduce a music clip of one of their hit songs "Purple monsoon".
This is an orthodox & elegant pop song in classical atmosphere, and might convey a part of their charm to you.
A combination of a bit formal classical sound and a little playful vocal of a young woman might be an appeal of this quintet.
If you like, please listen.
Music Samples
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Amazon JP(en)
recochoku.jp
music.apple.com
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | Lean on me |
|---|---|
| Artist | 上田知華(Chika Ueda) |
| Album Title | I Will |
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