Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 99 - Brazilian/Latin Music Masterpieces Review! Japanese Artist Pop Hit Collection

Bossa Nova-derived J-pop, as well as masterpieces that are a mixture of laughter and admiration!　Volume 5

New music suddenly appeared in the pop music category in the 1970s and 1980s. This is the final installment in our examination of bossa nova-based music from this category.
Japanese bossa nova pop music is not to be discarded. Please give it a listen!

Can you go wrong with bossa nova material?

The music of bossa nova was created by João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim, and its sound is known throughout the world. I believe that it’s the musical structure and form that have kept bossa nova alive to this day.
The unique rhythm and sound of bossa nova is one of the many aspects that I have covered in this special issue of Bossa Nova.
The rhythm is easy for most people to understand at first listen with a beat that’s in 2, and the melody floats on top of it to create a musical form that is even more easily understandable. If you want to add a little flair, you can use tension chords to create a saucy sound. Add to this the saudade (melancholy) melodies characteristic of Brazil, and you have the magic that makes music that everyone loves. Many writers would not miss this opportunity.
I believe that putting songs into the bossa nova format is a major guarantee for music production. Bossa nova is such a sophisticated musical style.

■ Recommended album: Sugar, Sugar Dream (1981)

Sugar is a three-member female singer group. The band consisted of a keyboardist, a guitarist, and a bassist. When they appeared on TV with the song, “Wedding Bells”, each of the three played an instrument and sang (sometimes they lip-synced). They excelled at chorus work with three female voices, and sometimes they sang jazz-style chorus songs with a four-beat arrangement by the three of them.

Recommended Song: “Wedding Bells”

A woman who has been dumped is invited to the wedding of the man who dumped her, and the lyrics humorously reveal the woman's feelings at the ceremony.
The song opens with a stylish bossa nova guitar-like backing from the three female chorus voices (actually, many more voices are dubbed in) saying “Wedding Bells”.
From the beginning, the song already reminds us that it is a hip song.
The humorous wedding situation and the line, “Fuck you, Amen,” add to this.... When I first heard this song, I laughed out loud.
The background, however, is a calculated bossa nova format and the confident assignment of a female chorus part. The Stan Getz-esque saxophone obbligato adds a touch of flair to the song. The lyrics and the perfect setting of the chorus work make this a great song even now.
If you haven't heard it, give it a listen! It will definitely make you laugh. And you will be impressed. Hats off to the taste of the composer.
Was the impact too strong? Unfortunately, this song is Sugar's only hit, but in 1982, she also released “Wedding Bells II”, which changed the situation of the lyrics and wrote about the unexpected after marriage.

■ Recommended album: Ami Ozaki, The Premium Best Ami Ozaki (2013)

A two-disc best album released in 2013. It’s all of Ami Ozaki's best songs packaged into one album, including “Listening to Olivia” and “Haru no Anticipation”.

Recommended Song: “My Pure Lady”

Released in 1977. Ami Ozaki's third single. This song is a refreshing bossa nova based song, and at the same time, the songwriting is very good.
A scene from one of her creative commercials is still fresh in my memory: the image of Ms. Ami Kobayashi appears in the water on the windshield and the movement of the windshield wipers.... It was this music that made the commercial more vivid. The arrangement was by Masataka Matsutoya.

■ Recommended album: Yoshitaka Minami, “South of the Border” (1978)

I had a lot of trouble deciding which album to close with in the J-pop category, but I came to the conclusion that this album is the only one I could think of.
I consider this album by Yoshitaka Minami to be one of the best three J-pop albums.
Brazilian colors appear throughout the album, and the songs, arrangements, and performances...everything about this album is excellent.
The arrangements and keyboards are by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The tone and performance was played on the Korg PS-3100 polysynth and it mimics a brass ensemble, which is unparalleled. The neat Rhodes piano playing is also impressive.
The jacket is “Moment of Love” by Masuo Ikeda. The music, performance, and artwork are all elements of Yoshitaka Minami's dandyism.

Recommended Song: “Date Line”

Music by Yoshitaka Minami himself. Lyrics by Yumi Matsutoya. I think “Date Line” is one of the best J-pop bossa nova songs in terms of scenery, emotion, and performance.
In addition, the members are also amazing: Drums: Tatsuo Hayashi, E.Bass: Haruomi Hosono, E.Guitar, A.Guitar: Shigeru Suzuki, Fender Rhodes, Korg PS-3100: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Percussion: Shigetoya Hamaguchi, Nobu Saito, Chorus: Taeko Onuki Taeko Onuki in the chorus.
The album is packed with Shigeru Suzuki's on-point guitar playing and the gems of each member's performance.

Musicians, albums, and recommended songs featured in this issue

• Artists: Sugar, Ami Ozaki, Yoshitaka Minami, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yumi Matsutoya, etc.
• Albums: “Sugar Dream”, “The Premium Best Ami Ozaki”, “South of the Border
• Songs: “Wedding Bells”, “My Pure Lady”, “Date Line

⇨ SOUND HOUSE Piano/Synthesizer List

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