As CITY POP gains popularity worldwide, with artists not only in Japan but also around the world using it as a sampling source, Japanese pop songs that coloured the Showa era are once again attracting attention.
About 60 years ago, in 1966, Chikara Masao’s “Hoshikage no Waltz” was released. It matched the historical context of the time and became a huge hit love song representative of Showa era pop music, selling over 2 million copies on analog record.
The original song is a perfect blend of beautiful and elegant waltz and Japanese pop music, with lyrics that depict a sad and romantic separation between a man and a woman under the starry sky, evoking deep emotion and melancholy. The first impression of this SKA version is completely different, but the up-tempo, dynamic rhythm and bright, energetic sound seem to express the sadness and melancholy of separation more strongly and directly, giving a new interpretation of the song.
Be sure to listen to GELUGUGU’s “Starry Night Waltz SKA VERSION,” a new interpretation of the Showa era classic, with an arrangement perfect for summer.
[Links to various streaming services] https://lnk.to/HOSHIKAGE_SKA
・GELUGUGU Comment
I knew “Starlight Waltz”. I’d come this far without knowing which melody matched the voice of Sen Masao playing from my grandmother’s radio cassette player and my grandmother’s voice singing in unison, but this time I think I landed on my grandmother’s melody. I checked the lyrics again before playing it, and I was able to reaffirm the beauty or “aesthetics” of the Showa era. It was good.
Overview
Artist: GELUGUGU
Title: Starlight Waltz SKA VERSION
Genre: J-POP
[Links to various streaming services] https://lnk.to/HOSHIKAGE_SKA
GELUGUGU Profile
In 1996, they picked up instruments to form a band, and in 1997 they began performing live as an eight-member SKA PUNK band including wind instruments. After releasing two albums as an indie label, they made their major debut with UNIVERSAL in 2000, and then moved to Avex. Since then, they have overcome many member changes and are still constantly performing and releasing music as of 2024!
・Official Site https://www.gelugugu.com
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