Search - Ayano Tsuji :: Cover Girl, Vol. 2

Tsuji's second lesson in J-Pop history...

ewomack | MN USA | 11/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tsuji Ayano remains best known for her 2002 hit "Kaze Ni Naru" featured in Studio Ghibli's "The Cat Returns." This song has since become a Japan coffee-house standard (YouTube reveals voluminous cover versions by aspiring crooners). Anyone looking at a distance would chalk her up as a one-hit-wonder, but Tsuji's career encompasses far more than this one highlight. Her first major label release appeared in 1999 and she has recorded or released at least one album per year since (including a 2006 "Greatest Hits" compilation). Her reputation appears on the rise in Japan as she rides the wave of Hawaii-mania that elevates nearly anyone with a ukulele to a higher echelon. As a result, at least one tv ad has featured her music (the stigma of "sellout" carries little shame in Japan and appearing in ads represents substantial success). This and a live action movie theme have nudged her slightly out of coffee houses and parks. As such, Tsuji Ayano now looks more like a minor star than a lucky and obscure ukulele plucker with a penchant for interesting fingernail polish. Unfortunately, myopic language barriers will probably keep her from infiltrating the US market anytime soon.



As the title, dripping with sequel-speak, suggests, Tsuji's latest album, "Cover Girl 2," follows exactly the format of its 2004 predecessor, "Cover Girl." Two CDs, called "sides," present two different production styles. "Tokyo side" includes lush full studio arrangements. In contrast, the songs on "Kyoto side" feature Tsuji and her ukulele unplugged in various public settings. Occasionally a small audience provides backing vocals. The song selection, none of them Tsuji originals, provides a whirlwind tour of J-Pop history. Tokyo side's third song, "oka wo oete", dates back to 1931 when Ichirou Fujiyama reigned as one of Japan's most popular singers and composers. Fast forward 70 years and hip hop has entered the J-Pop domain. Tsuji's toned down version of m-flo's 2001 hit "Come Again" removes its raucous hip hop sections, but the original reveals how much things have changed. And anyone who knows anything about J-Pop history knows about the 1970s disco super group "Pink Lady" (unfortunately remembered in the US for the disaster known as "Pink Lady and Jeff"). One of their catchiest and most humorous hits, 1977's "Nagisa no Sindbado" gets Tsuji-fied here. Many other indispensable songs in the J-Pop canon appear here, including Yumi Matsutoya's ("Yuming") "Reejiyo no Dengon," or "Rogue Message," Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," Arashi's skippy joyful "Happiness," and Seiko Matsuda's soothing "Sweet Memories" (which appeared in a 1985 Vietnam War anime featuring penguins). One salient standout that has nothing whatsoever to do with J-Pop is "Tennessee Waltz," made famous by Patti Page in the 1950s. Tsuji sings it all in English, something she has done with fervent infrequency. In fact, "Cover Girl 2" contains more English lyrics than all of her previous albums combined.



Though Tsuji's vocals and ukulele playing are not technically impressive, she has nonetheless developed an unmistakably singular and instantly recognizable style. This has carried her farther than any instrumental wizardry would have. She continues to write and record beautiful and intriguing music that has appeal beyond her country's borders. Unfortunately, her previous album, "Sweet Happy Birthday," was barely heard outside Japan (as of this writing Amazon's US site doesn't even list it for sale). Luckily, "Cover Girl 2" fits right in with Tsuji's high quality oeuvre. Non-Japanese listeners doubly benefit from not only this collection's great versions of J-Pop standards but a history lesson that will open up the fascinating world of Japanese popular music."