VAMP

This is Hamu’s wonderful translation of the Yahoo Talk Show that Akina participated. For Akina fans like me who don’t understand spoken Japanese too much, this is most appreciated. Thanks Hamu san!

 From the reculsive Hamu san:

I was a little late for the "Yahoo Live Talk" and the connection wasn’t beri good so I only got bits and pieces of the talk.

Below is a summary as i remember the talk:

At the begining, 明菜姫 talked to the compare about her ability to remember faces and seeing "things", especially during her early-20s. She said that sometime she would describe a person that she saw down the corridor to her staffs and they would tell her there’s noone there…. Also during concert, she seems to see people clapping hands at dark corners…. (Seriously think she has run out of chat topic)

Then compare asked her if she is still not connected to the internet. 明菜姫 apologetically replied "no". Then the topic moved to if 明菜姫 is interested in new tech. 明菜姫 replied there is no need for her to use the computer, so she didn’t pick up net surffing. But she insisted that she likes new tech. Not new break through LCD TV type of new tech, but new gadgets that she can participate in.

Compare asked if she play hand-held games, to which she replied that she used to play Mario and someother 1st generation PC games. Now she doesn’t play them anymore.

Then they got into the main topic – 艶華

明菜姫 revealed that she thought it’s a joke when her staffs suggested the cover of 演歌. She hardly sings 演歌 at Karaoke. Also, she thought it’s too tough a challenge to take on, as there is a fixed way to sing 演歌. It took her staffs and 千住明 a long time to convince her. 千住明 reassured 明菜姫 that his arrangement would make the songs contemporary and hence she can interpret them her own way.
明菜姫 said that \nthough "艶華" isn't her idea and she was "made" to sing the songs, she is happy \nthat she attempted. In addition, even though the production of "艶華" isn't her \nidea, the jacket art is. She thought that since it's 演歌 cover album, it would be \nfun to look at 演歌 from an outsider's point of view, like Asian.\u003cbr\>明菜姫 compared \nthe making of "艶華" jacket to the wearing of mini skirt to perform one of her \nhits, "Tattoo". She said she looked at the production objectively and suggested \nthe "艶華" jacket art, only to realise that that it would mean she has to endure \nthe long hours of make-up and hair dying to get the desired effect that she \nherself proposed. It reminded her of how she suggested wearing of mini skirt, \nwhich she hated, then realised that she had gotten herself in \n"trouble".\u003cbr\>Towards the end of the talk show, 明菜姫 promoted "艶華", saying that \nyou can listen to it on radio, but she's sure you would want to get a copy once \nyou have a listen to it.\u003cbr\>\u003c/div\>\u003c/div\>\n”,0] );
// –>

When asked about 天城越え, 明菜姫 jokingly said it could be her staff’s fixing that "天城越え" came in 1st in the poll. She explained that as "天城越え" is a popular request at her concert, her staff might thought it’s a good idea to make 明菜姫 cover it. 明菜姫 mentioned that the lyrics is a bit too intense.

明菜姫 said that though "艶華" isn’t her idea and she was "made" to sing the songs, she is happy that she attempted. In addition, even though the production of "艶華" isn’t her idea, the jacket art is. She thought that since it’s 演歌 cover album, it would be fun to look at 演歌 from an outsider’s point of view, like Asian.

明菜姫 compared the making of "艶華" jacket to the wearing of mini skirt to perform one of her hits, "Tattoo". She said she looked at the production objectively and suggested the "艶華" jacket art, only to realise that that it would mean she has to endure the long hours of make-up and hair dying to get the desired effect that she herself proposed. It reminded her of how she suggested wearing of mini skirt, which she hated, then realised that she had gotten herself in "trouble".

Towards the end of the talk show, 明菜姫 promoted "艶華", saying that you can listen to it on radio, but she’s sure you would want to get a copy once you have a listen to it.

————————————- Fin ———————————————

I think it is interesting that they start off with such trivial subjects to ease into the conversation. I wonder if Akina has 阴阳眼, eyes that can see ghosts (See! Even I am sucked into this stupid conversation/analysis. Whatever!) Regardless, it is a great water cooler topic. It has got nothing to do with the promotion but it will field new questions for her next interview like her staff "complaints" the last time, which seems to be worked into every single interview now. They have to ask her because she is such a "relic" when it comes to technology.

I like it that she used to play games and she imitated all those firing sounds when you are playing games and I like it even more that she has gotten over that fad (because I don’t play games too. Ha! Ha!) I wonder what new technology she is talking about embracing – new curling irons? I think the defence of her liking new tech stuff is so that her image will fit in more with the new generation, and she is not going to be viewed as weird.

Anyway, onto more interesting topics like her new album, so it is her staff who is reading our blogs, and I like how she thinks they rigged the poll. Ha! Ha! I wasn’t aware that 天城越え was such a popular request and she said how she would listen out to requests like "Slow Motion" and then she would heard 天城越え. I wonder how she never hears 帰省 no matter how fans scream for it. Selective listening I must say.

I also find it interesting that it is 千住明 who persuaded her to record this album. He must be a fan of Akina to want her to try new challenges, and I must say that even though I had huge reservations about the album (because I don’t like enka that much),  I really like the album because it has its own contemporary flavour, and it is very easy listening. She doesn’t attempt to sing it in the traditional enka style, and it is more acceptable to fans who don’t like enka much to start with. It is not as dramatic or in your face, and I am really rather surprised by how pleasant it is. 

Lastly, the most interesting part of the interview I feel is the tidbit about "Tattoo" and her dislike for mini-skirts and how she digs herself these graves with her wonderful ideas that we so adore. Akina, we love your challenges, so please don’t stop.

For those of you who still have not ordered your copy of Enka, please do because it is a really good buy!