Ōsaka Shigure

"Ōsaka Shigure"
Single by Harumi Miyako
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Onna Koiuta"
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1980 (1980-02-01)
GenreEnka
LabelNippon Columbia
Composer(s)Shōsuke Ichikawa
Lyricist(s)Osamu Yoshioka

"Ōsaka Shigure" (大阪しぐれ, autumn rain in Osaka) is the 82nd single released by Japanese singer Harumi Miyako through the record label Nippon Columbia. The single was released on 1 February 1980 and is considered one of Miyako's most famous songs, selling over one million copies.

Composition

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"Ōsaka Shigure" is written in Miyako's signature enka style, and the lyrics are about a melancholic woman after a heartbreak.[1] The title is a combination of the city Osaka and "shigure" (時雨), which refers to light rain showers in late autumn and early winter. The lyrics reference Kitashinchi (北新地), Dōjima (堂島), and Sonezaki (曽根崎), which are all neighborhoods in Kita-ku, Osaka that are known for their bars and nightlife.[2][3]

Impact

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"Ōsaka Shigure" performed well on the Oricon Singles Chart. The single was the 49th best-selling single in 1980, and then outperformed itself by ranking 6th in 1981.[4] "Ōsaka Shigure" also saw positive reviews from critics. The song was the winner of the "Best Vocal Performance" category at the 22nd Japan Record Awards.[5] The lyricist of the song, Osamu Yoshioka, won the 13th Japan Lyricist Awards for this song.[6] Miyako was also invited to the 31st Kōhaku Uta Gassen to perform this song, a television show on New Year's Eve which is considered a major honor for a Japanese musician. This performance was Miyako's 16th time appearing on the show.[7] The single is one of the six singles by Miyako that have sold over a million copies, at 1.14 million sold.[8]

Many other artists have included cover versions of "Ōsaka Shigure" in their own albums. Notable examples include Hibari Misora in her 1982 album Hitokoizake (人恋酒)[9] and Kaori Kozai in her 1995 album Tsuzureori Hyakei Vol. 5: Ōsaka Monogatari (綴織百景 Vol.5 大阪物語).[10] Miyuki Hatakeyama also sang this song in the 2020 album Miyako Harumi o Sukininatta Hito (都はるみを好きになった人), an album released as a tribute to Miyako.[11]

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Ōsaka Shigure" (大阪しぐれ)Osamu YoshiokaShōsuke IchikawaTsuneō Saitō 
2."Onna Koiuta" (おんな恋唄)Keiko YūkiJun SuzukiMakoto Saeki 

References

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  1. ^ 佐藤禀一 (7 March 2011). "【演歌シリーズ】（１２）吉岡治 歌手再生の手練 I—吉岡治の短詩と長詩—". 日刊ベリタ (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. ^ "大阪しぐれの歌詞". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. ^ "元サントリー宣伝マンの小説「バー堂島」シリーズの第二弾". BOOKウォッチ (in Japanese). J-Cast. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  4. ^ "1981年の邦楽ヒット曲 ランキング。売上枚数「年間ベスト10」はこの曲だ！". Middle Edge (in Japanese). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  5. ^ "第22回 日本レコード大賞". Japan Composer's Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ "日本作詩大賞受賞作品 第13回". Japan Lyricists Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. ^ "第31回紅白歌合戦 アーカイブス". Mysound (in Japanese). Yamaha Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. ^ "黄金の"ミリオンセラー歌姫"を総直撃＜忘れじのオンナたち＞コロナ禍で消えた久保田早紀「異邦人」の復活". Asagei (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. ^ "人恋酒～最新演歌名曲名唱集＜美空ひばり復刻盤2＞". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  10. ^ "綴織百景 Vol.5 大阪物語". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  11. ^ "「都はるみを好きになった人」UA、一青窈、怒髪天、畠山美由紀ら参加のトリビュート盤". Natalie (in Japanese). 3 February 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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