![]() What’s more, the subject matter ditched established lyrical archetypes of the wronged or adoring woman for the cool new perspective of an independent young female. What set Yūming’s music apart was the combination of Western pop-style chord progressions and arrangements with beguiling lyrics shot through with a youthful sensibility, while a deft smattering of foreign words like “rouge,” “freeway,” “Milky Way,” “cobalt,” “station,” and “blizzard” only served to heighten the aura of stylish modernity. A further contemporary edge was provided by the deft interplay of a backing band consisting of Hosono Haruomi (bass), Suzuki Shigeru (guitar), Hayashi Tatsuo (drums), and future husband Matsutōya Masataka (keys), collectively known at the time as Caramel Mama (later to evolve into the pioneering exotica unit Tin Pan Alley). In stark contrast to the ponderous, brooding tone of the aforementioned hits of the day, the music of Yūming-as her fans came to affectionately call her-was sophisticated and evocative of modern city life, with a light, crisp quality influenced by her love of classical music (underpinned by piano lessons from the age of six) and Western artists such as Procul Harum and Françoise Hardy. ![]() In 1973, a year when the pop charts were still dominated by enka ballad-tinged kayōkyoku (popular songs) like Chiaki Naomi’s “Kassai” (Applause) and folk songs like “Kandagawa” (Kanda River) by the group Kaguyahime, Arai Yumi released her debut album Hikōkigumo (Vapor Trails). Despite her own reservations, having only just enrolled at Tokyo’s Tama University of the Arts, her first named appearance as a solo artist came the following year with the self-penned single “Henji wa iranai” (No Need to Write Back), produced after prompting from Murai Kunihiko, a legendary composer in his own right and founder of the influential label Alpha Records. (Figures represent domestic Japanese sales/chart performance Source: Oricon Inc.)īorn Arai Yumi in Hachiōji, Tokyo, in 1954, she made her songwriting debut in 1971 at the age of just 17, with a credit for Kahashi Katsumi’s “Ai wa totsuzen ni” (Love Comes Suddenly). Top 10 albums (excluding compilations): 39 (every single album released under own name).Consecutive Number 1 albums: 17 (from Sakuban Oaishimashō to Cowgirl Dreamin’ ) 1st place. ![]()
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