Nakazawa Yuko Dai Isshou (中澤ゆうこ第一章; Nakazawa Yuko Chapter 1) is Nakazawa Yuko's first album. The album was released on December 12, 1998 and reached #59 on the weekly Oricon charts and charted for two weeks, selling 9,440 copies overall.
When asked (upon the release of the album) what she thought when listening to the finished album, she answered:
«I felt like, “Are you sure it’s good enough?”. […] I don’t have enough confidence in my vocal skill. Regardless, […] many songs featured in the album are popular hit songs from the past, so it should be easier to get into and become familiar with the songs once again. I knew I wasn’t expected to imitate the original versions. But it’s hard because the original artists have already established each image of the song. Also, I didn’t want to ruin the original versions with my lack of vocal skills. I was worried if they’d be upset and tell me not to sing the song anymore…lol.« Nakazawa also said in another interview: «I love all songs that are featured in this album, and I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to do the covers. That’s why, I felt as much pressure to do it right.»
Tracklist
- Karasu no Nyoubou (カラスの女房; The Raven's Wife)
- Sutenaide yo (捨てないでよ; Don't Throw Me Away)
- Osaka Rhapsody (大阪ラプソディー) (Unabara Senri Anri cover)
- Koi (恋; Love) (Matsuyama Chiharu cover)
- Tsugunai (つぐない; Atonement) (Teresa Teng cover)
- Cosmos Biyori (秋桜日和; Beautiful Weather for Cosmos Viewing)
- Odaiba Moonlight Serenade (お台場ムーンライトセレナーデ) with Takayama Gen
- Ame no Midousuji (雨の御堂筋; Rainy in Midosuji) (OuYang FeiFei cover)
- Otonashibashi (音無橋; Soundless Bridge)
- Eki (駅; Train Station) (Takeuchi Mariya cover)
- Etto Tsubame (越冬つばめ; Hibernating Swallow) (Mori Masako cover)
- Koibito-tachi no Ballad (恋人たちのバラード; Ballad of Lovers) with Takayama Gen
Concert Performances
- Sutenaide yo
- Morning Musume Summer-Autumn Event '99
- Morning Musume First Live at Budokan ~Dancing Love Site 2000 Haru~
- Nakazawa Yuuko Live at Cotton Club -Shinshi wa Imademo Mini ga O-suki!-
- Cosmos Biyori
Album Information
- Karasu no Nyoubou
- Sutenaide yo
- Lyrics and Composition: Tsunku
- Arrangement: Kawaguchi Makoto
- Osaka Rhapsody
- Lyrics: Yamagami Michio
- Composition: Inomata Kosho
- Arrangement: Funayama Motoki
- Koi
- Lyrics and Composition: Matsuyama Chiharu
- Arrangement: Nobuta Kazuo
- Tsugunai
- Lyrics: Araki Toyohisa
- Composition: Miki Takashi
- Arrangement: Nobuto Kazuo
- Cosmos Biyori
- Lyrics: Araki Toyohisa
- Composition: Horiuchi Takao
- Arrangement: Funayama Motoki
- Odaiba Moonlight Serenade
- Ame no Midousuji
- Lyrics: Hayashi Haruo
- Composition: The Ventures
- Arrangement: Funayama Motoki
- Otonabashi
- Eki
- Lyrics and Composition: Takeuchi Mariya
- Arrangement: Funayama Motoki
- Etto Tsubame
- Lyrics: Ishihara Shinichi
- Composition: Shinohara Yoshihiko
- Arrangement: Kawaguchi Makoto
- Koibito-tachi no Ballad
Trivia
- W also covered Osaka Rhapsody on their album, Duo U&U.
- Horiuchi Takao released his own version of track #1, Karasu no Nyoubou,as a single.
- Takayama Gen released his own version of track #2, Sutenaide yo, as a single.
- Sutenaide yo was used to promote the release of Nakazawa’s first album. The song was later released as a single by enka singer Gen Takayama in 1999. Nakazawa said in an interview: «At first, I didn’t know if this was enka or pop. So I had to ask Tsunku how I was supposed to approach this song. He simply said, “It doesn’t matter. Sing it exactly the way you like it.” There are contrasts within the song, so I tried to express them as they were. Both Sutenaide yo” and “Cosmos Biyori” are both my original songs, so I felt more attached, excited and enthusiastic.»
- Nakazawa said in an interview: «[…] while watching the music video of “Odaiba Moonlight Serenade”, there is a scene which I am supposed to expose my shoulder by sliding down a little bit of my yukata dress. Was it yukata or kimono? I can’t remember. Anyway, I was so awkward! During the filming of the music video, I was told to smoothly and gently remove the kimono.[…] It was impossible for me to feel relaxed, I mean, I am not an actress or anything. So I ended up doing it in a very clumsy way, and when I look back, I think this music video is very fun and interesting to watch.»[1]
- Nakazawa said in an interview: «The first song to be recorded was “Eki” by Mariya Takeuchi.Until then, I had been practicing all songs at home on my own, and I was prepared for the recording session except for “Eki”, which I was still working on. When I walked into the studio, and was told that “Eki” was the first one to be recorded, I felt like I was facing a big obstacle. In any case, we did record the song then, but I was never satisfied. I asked if I could do it again on a different day, and I was able to try it again and again. I think it’s inconsiderate to present an incomplete song to the fans because they are paying for it with their precious money.»[1]
External Links
- Discography: Hello! Project (archived), UP-FRONT WORKS, Tsunku.net
- Wikipedia: Japanese
- Lyrics:Sutenaide yo, Osaka Rhapsody, Koi, Tsugunai, Cosmos Biyori, Ame no Midousuji, Otonabashi, Eki, Etto Tsubame
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