Saturday, 17 September 2011

Angela Aki: a mother and turning enka


Good news for Angela~! Jpop star Angela and her (music director) husband revealed just a day after Angela's birthday that they are expecting their first child. It is due this February, but she still pushes through her annual performance in the Nippon Budokan. The new hair is a good change, but somehow I miss her messy yet classy hairdo. lol

Anyway, I'm happy for her~!

AND a new single from Angela. It is a cover of Ishikawa Sayuri (enka singer), "Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeshiki." When I first heard her song, I was screaming "ENKA". This may be a change for Jpop lovers out their who adored Angela's covers. But this enka cover is really GOOD, and I'm afraid, it can only be appreciated by people who likes enka (like me). 

I love Ishikawa Sayuri's vocal prowess and a cover can be a hit or miss for any Jpop artist who dares to cover her songs. Well, this cover really proves Angela's good voice control. Enka is known for its very complex voice techniques and for Angela Aki to pull it off in a classy way (with her piano), it is really an achievement. Her soothing voice mixed with Enka gives the song a more personal emotional impact. Most Enka song gives very heavy emotional content (most of the time lamenting) and the mixes can be sometime very dated. A new approach on enka can be a good change ever since Sakamoto Fuyumi's hit in the 2000's , "Tada Kimi ni Koishiteru" (despite the decline of enka industry). It's enka with a contemporary beat and sound. It somehow reminds me of Maki Hino's enka with piano accompaniments. I actually want Angela to cover more enka songs since she might attract younger audience for enka.

Remember, this is from someone who love both Angela and Enka. :)

Sayuri Ishikawa:
Angela Aki:

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