The great Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百恵) started out in 1973 as a 70s idol and by her late teens had successfully transitioned to an utahime, or "song princess", the Japanese equivalent of diva.
While not having many number one hits, the combination of her mature beauty, sultry voice, and mystique has captivated singers and fans alike for 30+ years.
Retiring in 1980 at the age of 20 to marry fellow actor Tomokazu Miura (三浦友和), she has never come back into public life; fans, including me, still dream of a comeback someday.
In the meantime, her two sons are in showbiz, the oldest as the lead singer of now defunct band PEAKY SALT, and the younger just starting to act in movies.
Luckily for us, she is one of the most covered artists, and her later singles have become classics in Japanese culture.
Momoe Tribute @ amazon.co.jp
1. ロックンロール・ウィドウ (ROCK 'N ROLL WIDOW) by Fujii FUMIYA (藤井フミヤ)
2. 秋桜 (akizakura/COSMOS) by Fukuyama Masaharu (福山雅治)
3. さよならの向う側 (sayonara no mukou gawa) [Other Side of Goodbye] by Tsunku (つんく♂)
4. パールカラーにゆれて (PEARL COLOR ni yurete) [Flickering in Pearl Color] by Sowelu
5. 愛染橋 (aizen-bashi) [Aizen Bridge] by Nakamori Akina (中森明菜)
6. ひと夏の経験 (hito natsu no keiken) [One Summer's Experience] by PUFFY
7. 夢先案内人 (yume saki annaijin) [Dream Destination Guide] by bird
8. プレイバック part2 (PLAYBACK) by Karashima Midori (辛島美登里)
9. しなやかに歌って (shinayaka ni utatte) [Sing Freely] by CIRCUS (サーカス)
10. ロックンロール・ウィドウ (ROCK 'N ROLL WIDOW) by SAKURA
11. 乙女座 宮 (otomeza-kyu) [Virgo] by Iwasaki Hiromi (岩崎宏美)
Enjoy!
Thank You For...
Wow wow wow, an OLD cover album from 1979! That means all the covers are from late 60s early 70s! Obscure! Great! Love it!
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎宏美) was a 70s idol, and had many number one singles. She is the older sister of 80s idol Yoshimi Iwasaki (岩崎良美).
Many of these covers are from European sources, so I myself didn't know them too well, but Hiromi's beautiful singing voice is always great to listen to.
Track 1 was an original song for the album, so I will not be including that... sorry, but if you really want to hear it, please buy the album! Hiromi is still singing and so... still appreciates our support. :) Iwasaki Hiromi @ amazon.co.jp
2. 白いばら (shiroi bara) [White Rose] - Cat Stevens' "Lady D'Arbanville" cover
3. シェルブールの雨傘 (CHERBOURG no amagasa) [Umbrellas of Cherbourg] - Theme from French musical "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg"
4. ラ・ボエーム [LA BOHEME] - Charles Aznavour cover
5.
黒いオルフェ (
kuroi ORPHEUS) [Black Orpheus] - Luiz Bonfa cover
6. この想いをあなただけに (kono omoi o anata dake ni) [These Feelings Just For You] - Orietta Berti's "Tu Sei Quello" cover
7. 行かないで (ikanaide) [Don't Go] - Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas" cover
8. 禁じられた遊び (kinjirareta asobi) [Forbidden Games] - Theme from French movie "Jeux interdits"
9. マイ・ラブ [MY LOVE] - Paul McCartney & Wings' cover
10. 白い恋人たち (shiroi koibito-tachi) [White Lovers] - Theme from French movie "13 Jours en France"
11. 思い出さないで (omoidasanaide) [Don't Remember] - Shimasaki Keiko (島崎恵子) cover***
12. 甘い生活
(amai seikatsu) [Sweet Life] - Noguchi Goro (野口五郎)
cover
13. 再 会 (saikai) [Reunion] - Matsuo Kazuko (松尾和子) cover
14. ジョニイへの伝言 (JOANIE e no dengon) [Message to Joanie] - PEDRO & CAPRICIOUS (ペドロ＆カプリシャス) cover
15. 五番街のマリーへ (gobangai no MARIE e) [To Marie of Gobangai] - PEDRO & CAPRICIOUS (ペドロ＆カプリシャス) cover
16. ブーツをぬいで朝食を (BOOTS wo nuite choushoku o) [Take Off Your Boots And Have Breakfast] - Saijou Hideki (西城秀樹) cover
17. 憎みきれないろくでなし (nikumikirenai rokudenashi) [Can't Hate This Bum] - Sawada Kenji (沢田研二) cover
18. 立ちどまるなふりむくな (tachidomaruna furimukuna) [Don't Stop, Don't Look Back] - Sawada Kenji (沢田研二) cover
***It seems Shimasaki Keiko's original is obscure, and I have seen info that the original was done by someone else, an actress named Utsumi Midori (うつみ宮土理). Iwasaki Hiromi would later release the song again as a single in 1982.
Enjoy!
koibito-tachi
