Mieko Hirota 弘田三枝子

September 28, 2009

Mieko Hirota-1Mieko Hirota-2

Growing up listening to pops and jazz in places like Tachikawa frequented by the Occupation troops, ” Miki” (or “Mici”) sang her debut single 子供じゃないの (a cover of Helen’s Shapiro’s Don’t treat me like a child) in 1961 at age 14. By the following year, she was tapped to sing ヴァケイション (Connie Francis’ hit: Vacation) on the spectacular NHK’s (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, or Japan Broadcasting Corporation) new year’s eve celebration Kōhaku Uta Gassen and was invited back for the next four years in succession, and again in 1969, 1970 and 1971. She sang the theme song, “Leo no Uta,” for the popular Japanimation TV series Kimba the White Lion.

(子供じゃないの DON’T TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD)
先生は駄目だと 言うけれど
お出かけするときはね
マッ赤なハイヒール
私もそろそろお年頃
おしろい口紅つけたいな
するとね みんなが ステキだって言うの
たまには イカした男の子と
腕くみ二人で 行きたいわよ
コーヒーのみに
すてきな人から さそわれて
ハートがドキドキ してきたら
それはね 恋でしょ もうなんでもわかるの
隣のおじさん ステキだけど
いまでもガムを 買ってくれるから嫌い
パパやママは いつまでも私のことを
子供と思っているけれど
外をね 歩けばほら みんながふりむくの
子供じゃないのよ

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The Peanuts ピーナッツ

September 23, 2009

The Peanuts

Rock ‘n’ roll music was sweeping the world and Japan was not spared. The Peanuts was a duo comprised of two identical twin sisters, Emi and Yumi Ito. In those early days of J-pop, they sang many Japanese covers of popular hit songs from the West. They also recorded successful original compositions like “Jyonetsu no Hana (Passion Flower)”, “Koi no Bakansu (Vacation of Love)”. “Koi no Fuga (Love Fugue)” and “Sayonara wa Totsuzen Ni (Goodbye is Sudden)”. The sisters were also widely known as the Mothra Twins for featuring in the three Mothra movies where they appeared as shobijin (pixies). They retired from performance in 1975.

Peanuts-2

悲しき１６才 (HEARTACHES AT SWEET SIXTEEN)
ひとりぼっちお部屋で
夢見るわあの人
なぜか悲しいこの頃
私は１６

今日もそっとオシャレ
呼んでみても知らんフリ
それが悲しいこの頃
そんな私なの

どうすればいいんでしょう？
本当に　悲しいわ

こんな気持ち誰にも
判るはずがないのよ
パパやママも私を
ただ笑うだけ

こんな気持ち誰にも
判るはずがないのよ
パパやママも私を
ただ笑うだけ

ただ笑うだけ

HEARTACHES AT SWEET SIXTEEN (by Kathy Linden)
I’m sitting all alone and feeling blue
I’m wondering if he found somebody new
Whoever thought that I’d be going through
Heartaches at sweet sixteen
He wouldn’t speak to me at school today
He made real sure to look the other way
What did I do to him, what did I say
Oh these heartaches at sweet sixteen
Can I make him care at all
I’ll die if he doesn’t call
No matter how my parents tease and laugh
I’ll wear his ring and kiss his photograph
They just don’t understand or know the half of
Heartaches at sweet sixteen

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The Wild Ones ワイルドワンズ

September 20, 2009

The Wild Ones - 101

Made in Japan: There was Eleki and then there was Group Sounds (GS), a genre of Japanese rock music inspired by The Beatles and a fusion of Japanese kayōkyoku music and rock music. The Wild Ones led by Kase Kunihiko was one of the top GS bands. Among some very memorable hits by the band was a major hit in Japan in 1966: 思い出の渚 Omoide No Nagasi (“The beach of memories”). The Shadows would later recorded it as an instrumental hit.

The Shadows - Omoide No Nagisa
The Shadows in Japan!

(思い出の渚 OMOIDE NO NAGASI)
君を見つけた　この渚に
ひとりたたずみ　想い出す
小麦色した　可愛いい頬(ﾎﾎ)
忘れはしない　いつまでも
水面(ﾐﾅﾓ)はしる　白い船
長い黒髪　風になびかせ
波に向かって　叫んでみても
もう帰らない　あの夏の日

長いまつげの　大きな瞳が
僕を見つめて　うるんでた
このまま二人で　空の果てまで
飛んでゆきたい　夜だった
波に向かって　叫んでみても
もう帰らない　あの夏の日
あの夏の日

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