#80s aidoru

[redfreesias03]

Samishii Nettaigyo (“Lonely Tropical Fish”)

“With my heart on the waves, I start swimming, but I can’t catch up to the ideal in your head.”

OR: A lovesick girl with a colorful 80’s sense of fashion waits by the poolside for a guy that doesn’t show.

Stop   hoshikuzu de kami wo kazari Non-stop   yasashii me wo matsu wa PUURUSAIDO

Stop   With my hair decorated with stardust Non-stop   I wait for tender eyes by the poolside

ZUKI-ZUKI   setsunaku furueru mune maboroshi demo ii   aitai no ni

Pain throbs inside my heart,   an aching, quivering chest– It doesn’t matter if it’s just an illusion   I just want to see you

Heart on wave   Heart on wave anata wa konai watashi no omoi wo JOOKU ni shinaide

Heart on wave, heart on wave You don’t come Don’t treat my feelings like a joke

Lonely   YURAYURA Swimmin’   YURAYURA Dreamin’ ai ga yureru   Stop Stop

Lonely,   swaying in the water, swimmin’   Swaying, swaying, dreamin’ My love’s left shaking   Stop Stop¹

Love   hanagara no mizugi dake ga Love me   medachi sugite   nakitaku naru no

Love   My flower-printed swimsuit is Love me   The only one sticking out like a sore thumb,   I feel like crying

JIRI-JIRI kogeteru   kono itami wo tsumetai mizube ni   sotto ukabete

The scorching sun   leaves a burning pain that I Gently take afloat   into the cold waterside

Heart on wave   Heart on wave oyogidasu kedo anata no yume ni wa oitsukenakute

Heart on wave,   heart on wave I start swimming, but I can’t catch up to your ideality²

I can’t   nee   konna ni kurushii no naze   naze   anata ja na kya DAME na no

I can’t   Hey,   I’m hurting inside so much Why is it,   why is it that   nobody but you will do?

Lonely   YURAYURA Swimmin’   YURAYURA Dreamin’ ai ga yureru   Stop Stop

Lonely,   swaying in the water, swimmin’   Swaying, swaying, dreamin’ My love’s left shaking   Stop stop

Heart on wave   Heart on wave anata wa konai watashi no omoi wo JOOKU ni shinaide

Heart on wave,   heart on wave You don’t come Don’t treat my feelings like a joke

Heart on wave   Heart on wave oyogidasu kedo anata no yume ni wa oitsukenakute

Heart on wave,   heart on wave I start swimming, but I can’t catch up to your ideality

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¹ Yureru means both swaying (side to side, the way fish “swim” through the water) and shaking, so the same verb is used throughout the stanza.

² The word sung is yume (“dream”), but the kanji used is 理想 (“ideal”).

As a side note: If this song sounds familiar, that’s because it’s been covered by W, MAX, and Kikkawa You and Kaze Hikaru Fukarou.

There’s also two different English covers (with vastly different lyrics): one by the Nolans called Tidal Wave, another by Yoo Yoo called SAMISHII NETTAIGYO.

[redfreesias03]

Dream Dream Dream

“At a white church in a tiny forest, the bells celebrating our wedding will go happy dingdong ding! Gentle as you are, you’ll surely say something like ‘Don’t cry, my cute baby.’”

OR: A 14-year-old dreams up a wedding.

ima wa DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru kisetsu yo DREAM DREAM DREAM tokimeku watashi wa anata no egao de    chiisana mune hazumu no sou yo DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru watashi no DREAM DREAM DREAM juushi no koi na no DREAM DREAM DREAM anata dake na no…

Right now is a DREAM DREAM DREAM Season for dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM Thrilled, I Feel my small heart leap with your smile Yes, DREAM DREAM DREAM I’m dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM A fourteen-year-old’s love DREAM DREAM DREAM You and you alone…

chiisana mori no shiroi kyoukai de futari no UEDDINGU iwau BERU ga Happy Dingdong Ding! yasashii anata    kitto kou iu hazu ne 「nakanaide… kawaii BABY」 namida no shizuku de hikaru yubiwa wo tsukutte watashi no yubi ni hameru no wa anata yume no you da wa… yasashii anata no kuchidzuke ukeru toki iwaresou 「nakimushi no BABY」

At a white church in a tiny forest, The bells celebrating our wedding will go Happy Dingdong Ding! Gentle as you are, you’ll surely say something like this “Don’t cry, my cute baby.” Making a ring that shines with my teardrops The one who slips it onto my finger is you Just like a dream… When I receive a gentle kiss from you It’s as if you’re saying “My crybaby baby”

ima wa DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru kisetsu yo DREAM DREAM DREAM tokimeku watashi wa anata no egao de    chiisana mune hazumu no sou yo DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru watashi no DREAM DREAM DREAM juushi no koi na no DREAM DREAM DREAM anata dake na no…

Right now is a DREAM DREAM DREAM Season for dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM Thrilled, I Feel my small heart leap with your smile Yes, DREAM DREAM DREAM I’m dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM A fourteen-year-old’s love DREAM DREAM DREAM You and you alone…

chiisana mori no    aoi kotori-tachi futari no UEDDINGU iwau uta wo Happy Dingdong Ding! egao de anata    kitto kou iu hazu ne 「naki BESO mo… kawaii yo BABY」 KYANDORU RAITO ni yureru anata no egao to BUUKE no kaori ga watashi wo tsutsumu no yume no you da wa… yasashii anata no kuchidzuke ukeru toki shiawase na…「nakimushi no BABY」

The blue birds of the tiny forest Will sing celebrating our wedding Happy Dingdong Ding! With a smile on, you’ll surely say something like this “Even your about-to-cry face is also cute, baby.” Flickering in the candlelight, your smile and The scent of my bouquet envelop me Just like a dream… When I receive a gentle kiss from you It’s a happy…”My crybaby baby”

ima wa DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru kisetsu yo DREAM DREAM DREAM tokimeku watashi wa anata no egao de    chiisana mune hazumu no sou yo DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru watashi no DREAM DREAM DREAM juushi no koi na no DREAM DREAM DREAM anata dake na no…

Right now is a DREAM DREAM DREAM Season for dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM Thrilled, I Feel my small heart leap with your smile Yes, DREAM DREAM DREAM I’m dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM A fourteen-year-old’s love DREAM DREAM DREAM You and you alone…

ima wa DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru kisetsu yo DREAM DREAM DREAM tokimeku watashi wa anata no egao de    chiisana mune hazumu no sou yo DREAM DREAM DREAM yume miru watashi no DREAM DREAM DREAM juushi no koi na no DREAM DREAM DREAM anata dake na no…

Right now is a DREAM DREAM DREAM Season for dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM Thrilled, I Feel my small heart leap with your smile Yes, DREAM DREAM DREAM I’m dreaming DREAM DREAM DREAM A fourteen-year-old’s love DREAM DREAM DREAM You and you alone…

DREAM DREAM DREAM anata dake na no…

DREAM DREAM DREAM You and you alone…

[redfreesias03]

Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Natsu (“The World’s Hottest Summer”)

“Hold me tight darling, embrace the August wind. Fly with me darling, let’s fly away to the savannas, just us two.”

OR: A girl dreams up a fantastical vacation with her boyfriend.

Hold me tight darling　hachigatsu no kaze wo    dakishimete Fly with me,darling　tobitatsu no    futari no SAVANNA e Hold me tight darling　kakenukeru    ZEBURA no SUTORAIPU Fly with me darling　maiagaru    suna no arashi sekai de    ichiban    atsuku hikaru natsu mou kono TOKIMEKI    tomenaide

Hold me tight darling, embrace the August wind Fly with me darling, let’s fly away to a savanna for two Hold me tight darling, zebra stripes running through Fly with me darling, a whirling sand storm The hottest shining summer in the world Don’t let this thrill I feel ever stop again

hachigatsu no kaze wo    ryoute de dakishimetara IMAJINEESHON    tobitatsu no SAVANNA e kagayaku gin’iro no SESUNA wa    futari wo nose haruka na kokkyou wo    ima koeru yo taikutsu na     IRUMINEESHON    zawameku tokai no NOIZU SUTEREOTAIPU no mainichi ga    hora shinkirou no kanata ni kieteku

When I embrace the August wind with both hands My imagination takes off to the savannas A shining silver Cessna plane takes us on a ride for two We’re crossing far-off borders right now Boring lights, the noise of the bustling cities, and Stereotypical days, look, disappear in the distance of the mirage

One and only darling　kakenukeru    ZEBURA no SUTORAIPU Fly with me darling　maiagaru    suna no arashi sekai de    ichiban    ookina taiyou sekai de    ichiban    atsuku hikaru natsu mou kono TOKIMEKI    tomenaide

One and only darling, zebra stripes running through Fly with me darling, a whirling sand storm The biggest sun in the world The hottest shining summer in the world Don’t let this thrill I feel ever stop again

KONPASU wa itsumo    hora minami wo sashiteru mou sugu yo     kirameku SHANGURIRA eien ni owaranai    futari no yume no naka de haruka na    OASHISU ni tadoritsuku no MONOTOON no jikan ga    itsu no ma ni ka ubatteitta kokoro no uchi no JUVUNAIRU    torimodosu no yo    anata to issho ni

See, the compass is always pointing north We’ll reach the sparkling Shangri-La soon It’ll never come to an end inside our dreams At long last, we reach the distant oasis I’m recovering the juvenile feeling inside my heart that was snatched away By monotone life before I knew it, recovering it    together with you

One and only darling    nagareochiru    kawa no mizushibuki Fly with me, darling    maiagaru    niji no SUKOORU sekai de    ichiban    ookina taiyou itsumademo    natsu wo yakitsukete

One and only darling, the river’s splashes flow downstream Fly with me, darling a whirling rainbow squall The biggest sun in the world Sears summer into our hearts forever

Hold me tight darling　hachigatsu no kaze wo    dakishimete Fly with me,darling　tobitatsu no    futari no SAVANNA e Hold me tight darling　kakenukeru    ZEBURA no SUTORAIPU Fly with me darling　maiagaru    suna no arashi sekai de    ichiban    ookina taiyou sekai de    ichiban    atsuku hikaru natsu sekai de    ichiban    itoshiteru

Hold me tight darling, embrace the August wind Fly with me darling, let’s fly away to a savanna for two Hold me tight darling, zebra stripes running through Fly with me darling, a whirling sand storm The biggest sun in the world The hottest shining summer in the world I love you most in the world

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As a summer staple, this song has been covered by ANGERME’s Tamura Meimi, ex-Melon Kinenbi member Shibata Ayumi, PRINCESS PRINCESS’s spiritual successor ZONE, a mishmash of late 80′s-early 90′s idols (including Qlair, Ribbon, and Coco) at their Otomejuku concert, a mishmash of 90s idol/talent (including Mizuki Alisa and Moritaka Chisato) on television, and Momoiro Clover Z’s Momota Kanako as a collab with miwa and Kato Izumi.

[redfreesias03]

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (“Girl Who Leaps Through Time”)

“A girl who leaps through time: love is a shining ship. I’ll cross past, future, and the constellations, so catch me in your arms.”

OR: A girl can overcome time itself to be with a person she loves.

anata    watashi no moto kara totsuzen kietari shinaide ne nido to wa aenai basho e hitori de ikanai to chikatte watashi wa    watashi wa    samayoibito ni naru

Don’t suddenly Vanish from my side, okay? Swear to me that you won’t go off alone To a place where I’ll never see you again I’ll    I’ll    become a wanderer

toki wo kakeru shoujo ai wa kagayaku fune kako mo mirai mo seiza mo koeru kara dakitomete

A girl who leaps through time Love is a shining ship I’ll cross past, future, and the constellations so Catch me in your arms

yuube no yume wa kin iro osanai koro ni asonda niwa tadazumu anata no soba e hashitte yukou to suru kedo motsurete    motsurete    namida makura wo nurasu no

Last night’s dream was a golden color The garden I played in as a child You stand there unmoving and I Try to run to your side but My feet get tangled up, tangled up    Tears wet my pillow

toki wo kakeru shoujo sora wa uchuu no umi yo aseta shashin no anata no katawara ni tonde yuku

A girl who leaps through time The sky is the universe’s ocean I’ll leap to your side In the faded photograph where you are

toki wo kakeru shoujo ai wa kagayaku fune kako mo mirai mo seiza mo koeru kara dakitomete

A girl who leaps through time Love is a shining ship I’ll cross past, future, and the constellations so Catch me in your arms

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No notes, but I love this song and it’s definitely among Harada Tomoyo’s most iconic, so it’s worth mentioning a few of my favorite covers out there: Yuming’s cover, BITTER&SWEET’s Tasaki Asahi’s piano cover, LoVendoЯ’s Tanaka Reina’s cover, Keyakizaka46′s collaboration w/Harada, and finally, Harada Tomoyo’s own full bossa nova self-cover. *-*

[redfreesias03]

17sai (“17 Years Old”)

“I love you and that’s why I’m alive right now.”

OR: The very first summer idol single.

dare mo inai umi futari no ai wo    tashikametakute anata no ude wo    surinukete mita no hashiru mizube no mabushisa iki mo dekinai kurai hayaku tsuyoku tsukamae ni kite suki nanda mono watashi wa ima    ikiteiru

At a beach with no one else in sight Wanting to confirm our love I tried slipping out of your arms I run by the radiance of the waterside So hard I’m out of breath Come quickly, powerfully, and catch me I love you and that’s why I’m alive right now¹

aoi sora no shita futari no ai wo   dakishimetakute hikari no naka e    tokekonde mita no futari kamome ni naru no yo kaze wa ooki keredo ugokanaide    onegai dakara suki nanda mono watashi wa ima    ikiteiru

Wanting to embrace Our love under the blue sky, I tried to merge into the light We’re becoming a pair of seagulls The wind is huge, but Don’t move from where you are, please I love you and that’s why I’m alive right now

atsui inochi ni   makasete sotto KISU shite ii sora mo umi mo    mitsumeru naka de suki nanda mono watashi wa ima    ikiteiru watashi wa ima    ikiteiru

Abandon yourself to the ardor of life Go ahead and kiss me softly As we gaze at the sea and sky I love you and that’s why I’m alive right now I’m alive right now

watashi wa ima    ikiteiru watashi wa ima    ikiteiru

I’m alive right now I’m alive right now

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¹ I’m not sure if the line is all that ambiguous, but this is very much a “I love you and that’s what makes my heart pound and lets me know I’m alive” and definitely not “I love you and you’re my only reason for living.” I feel like it’s obvious, but never hurts to err on the side of caution!

So I literally can't believe I never realized this until I read the wiki entry, but 17sai was directly modeled off Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden, since it was Minami Saori (aka Cynthia)'s favorite song. (The Japanese wiki entry is slightly more hilarious: it explains Cynthia entered the entertainment industry as a TV show assistant and got scouted by Sony based off photos alone. When composer Tsutsumi Kyouhei was tasked with making a song for Cynthia, he asked her what songs she could sing, to which she replied "I can only sing Rose Garden"...and thus 17sai was born.) Cynthia went on to record Rose Garden herself later, but I can’t find it online.

At any rate, this song is iconic, partly because there's a strong argument to be made that Minami Saori was the very first "real" idol (her only real challenger to that role goes to fellow "Shin Sannin Musume" Koyanagi Rumiko who debuted a little over a month prior with a much more traditional ditty ) thus making 17sai the first real idol song (certainly first idol summer bop) and forever cementing 17 as the magical age of youth and a staple song topic in idoldom (why 17? Because Cynthia was 17 when she debuted. Name a more iconic–albeit apparently unintentional–legacy.)

The other reason this song is iconic is due to Moritaka Chisato's extremely Shouwa cover, released in 1989 and remixed to be somehow even more catchy as heck. Her version is the one cemented in public consciousness, so expect most "covers" to be remixed similarly.

At any rate, as can be expected, there are loads of recorded covers and remixes of this song, including an acoustic rock and R&B arrangement by Moritaka Chisato, a tv performance by 80s idol Kawai Noriko, a tribute cover by Kikkawa You, a Morning Musume Reina-Koharu duet, and a recording by Tsubaki Factory. On the non-idol side, this song has been sung by enka singer Tagawa Toshimi, has an English version by Norwegian Eurobeat singer Bambee, a rock version by singer-songwriter Katsuo Shinko, and was released as a single featuring two drastically different punk rock takes by Ging Nang BOYZ.

(Also, let's take a moment to appreciate the lyricist in particular: Arima Mieko was 40 when she wrote this song, and yet she wrote in the youthful feeling so WELL.)