Episode Title: 山崎 昭和歌謡曲 ヒットパレード ("Yamasaki's Shōwa era Popular Song Hit Parade")
Original Broadcast Date: 21Aug2011
Viewing Links:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk3MzE5NDQ0.html
Episode Summary:
Matsumoto, Hamada, Endou and Tanaka called to a studio set, where they participate in an uncomfortable retrospective of Japanese Shōwa era popular music, performed entirely or in part by Yamasaki.
Episode Analysis:
Though not part of an explicit "series" this episode seems most similar to episode #1029 昭和の歌姫 山口百恵ヒストリー (Shōwa era songstress Yamaguchi Momoe History) featuring a similar set, the same actor playing Yamasaki's "husband" at the close, the same male and female program hosts, and primarily the same preoccupation with Shōwa era music.
Upon first viewing I did not take a great deal away from this episode, but upon subsequent research, my admiration grew. All of the music and album covers featuring Yamasaki are fairly faithful reproductions of original material. It serves as an excellent overview of Japanese popular music over several decades.
The point of the episode, emphasized in Downtown's labored responses to the two overexcited show hosts is evidently to parody similar reverential music retrospective shows. Still, a certain amount of affection for at least some of the music shows through.
This episode also showcases Yamasaki's not inconsiderable musical talent. He plays the piano, and has written songs for numerous episodes (the "Yamasaki Producer" series). One suspects that he decided to perform most of these songs not only to exercise his power of mimicry, but also out of sheer enjoyment. Most of the songs are quite fun.
Timestamped Notes:
0:0:0
The episode opens at Tokyo Tower Studio (東京タワースタジオ). Presumably this episode was filmed there, perhaps becuase of its demand for a reasonable amount of studio space. The studio is easily found at: +35° 39' 28.01", +139° 44' 41.34"
0:00:10
The Gaki reglars, minus Yamasaki, have received a note, labelled "招待状" （しょうたいじょう）or "written invitation."
Matsumoto mentions its an invitation from "the one not here."
0:00:17
The text of the note is as follows:
ダウンタウン様 ココリコ様
残暑厳しい今日この頃
いかがお過ごしてしょうか。
さてこの度、私 山崎邦正が皆様の為に
日本が1番元気だった昭和を懐かしみ
力を与える特別な催しを開く事になりました。
どうぞお誘い合うせの上お越し下さいませ。
山崎邦正より
0:01:33
The regulars make their way to the studio set (evidently in the 1st stage).
The stage is the same as that used for episode #1029.
0:02:11
Yamasaki enters doing his impression of Agnes Chan (アグネス チャン) singing ひなげしの花(Hinageshi no Hana, or Red Poppy Flower). Released in 1972, this was Chan's first hit in Japan, she being originally from Hong Kong. This explains why the announcers compliment her on her Japanese when the song is over.
An evocative version of the original song can be found here.
0:03:49
The two (as yet) nameless announcers open a pained discussion of the popular hist of the Showa 40's era (1965-1975).
0:04:24
When asked what songs of this era they like, Matsomoto (again, painfully) mentions 太陽がくれた季節 ("taiyou ga kureta kisetsu" or "the season the coming sun") by 青い三角定規 (the blue triangle) a song released in 1972 (Showa 47). The original version of the song can be found here.
0:04:53
Thus begins a smarmy and obviously hackneyed retrospective of Showa year 47 (1972). It was evidently the year of:
- The Japanese Panda fad or "boom."
- Three gold medals for Japan for Ski Jumping at the Sapporo Winter Olympics.
- The capture of (横井 庄一 ) Yokoi Shoichi, a Japanese Sergent who held out on Guam 28 years after the end of WWII.
Also famous in Showa 47 was ひとりじゃないの ("I'm not alone") by 天地 真理 (Amachi Mari). It can be found here.
At this point, the very clever and considerably accurate album cover recreations begin.
0:05:30
The retrospective of Showa 48 (1973) highlights as major events of the year:
- Popularity of the game "Othello."
The next song is 赤い風船 (Red Balloon) by 浅田美代子(Asada Miyoko). The song is here.
Next is 他人の関係 by 金井克子(Tanin no Kankei by Kanai Katsuko). This is an especially enjoyable song and impression. The original version can be found here.
0:07:12
This song (Uso by Nakajo Kiyoshi) is available here:
0:07:34
Next is Yamasaki's parody of the フィンガー５ (Finger5) song 恋のダイヤル６７００ which you can view here.
Once aware of the original version, Yamasaki's impression becomes one of the highlights of the episode. Pure silliness.
0:09:13:
After the Finger-Five number, Matsumoto mentions he enjoyed it, and that Yamasaki's portrayal of Akira-Kun (the youngish lead singer) looked like Ken Shimura (an older television comedian) from time to time.
0:10:50
After some painfully forced dialog with the hosts ("Cocorico, how old were you when this song came out?" "Do you understand the meaning of Tanin no Kankei?") the show moves onto the Showa 50's (1975-1985).
0:11:32
In Showa year 52 (1977): Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka is implicated in the massive Lockheed corporation bribery scandal.
0:11:42
Next is なごり雪 (Nagori snow) by イルカ (Iruka, a female singer.) It's available here.
0:11:56
As the enjoyable weirdness continues, Yamasaki plays the female half of the bizarrely untalented "Beauty Pair" (ビューティ・ペア) to sing the song かけめぐる青春 (Rush around Aoharu). The exact television appearance parodied is available here.
0:12:59
Yamasaki next plays Ran-Chan from the group the Candies (キャンディーズ). The group is famous not only for its music, but for declaring they wanted to "return to being normal girls again" and quitting show business. This is staged, with the title "SummerShock '77" atop the screen.
0:13:39
Showa year 53 (1978) Tokyo's Narita airport opens.
0:13:48
Yamasaki performs 炎 (Fire) by 西城 秀樹 (Saijo Hideki) available here.
Next is an enjoyable performance of 銃爪 (hikigane)
by 世良公則&ツイスト (Senama Senori and Tsuisuto "twist") which you can see here.
0:15:50
Showa 54 (1979) The Space Invader craze hits Japan.
0:15:51
A recollection of Sada Masashi's 関白宣言 (Kanpoku Sengen) available here.
0:16:10
"Sexual Violet No.1" by 桑名正博 (Masahiro Kuwana)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_hOLCf0Uu8
0:16:27
A recreation of a press conference announcing the marriage of Japanese/American singer Ann Lewis.
0:17:18
Showa 55 (1980) and the Rubik's cube craze hits japan.
0:17:26
宮崎美子 (Miyazaki Miko) in what appears to be a Minolta commercial available Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um1FjRFzJWQ
0:17:49
Next is 赤道小町ドキ (Akadokomachi Dokii) by 山下久美子 (Yamashita Kumiko)
The song isn't bad (a little New Wave) and is available in many places, like here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ocYV0qNSFM
But I can't find a video which matches Yamasaki's parody (with the bikini top.) The best I can do is this image comparison:
0:21:05
Seiko Matsuda's Daite, closing the episode is, in my opinion, Japanese popular music, Shōwa or otherwise, at its lugubrious worst:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s75gDxs62nQ
thank you thank thank you for this! I recently discovered Seiko Matsuda, been a Jpop fan for many years, and now through many wonderful people in blogspot I've been able to listen and see earlier japanese pop music artists.
ReplyDeleteI love watching these kinds of videos from tv shows but I always wonder what is going on, my japanese is rather basic, so this kind of post is awesome!! THANKS!