FST: BOX

karaoke fun for all ages

This FST is basically an in-depth run down of the collection of songs that were sung/mentioned/in the "VOL. 7/BOX" chapter of Tokyo Babylon 5, with some info about the artists and songs themselves. This, as far as I know, is the most thorough run-through of the music of "BOX" on the English web! I've divided it into two "discs", the first being the songs mentioned themselves, and the second being a few fun related extras.

Disc One

The song that Seishirou and Hokuto are pouring their very souls into to perform in the beginning of the chapter. Released in 1961, this a smoky, jazzy duet typical of its time, telling the story of two star-crossed lovers, one in Tokyo and one in Ginza. It was an immediate hit, even having a movie based upon it made, starring Ishihara-san in the lead role. It's a staple duet in karaoke even to this day.

The song that the random selector spits up for Subaru to sing, which Sei-chan subsequently picks up after sending him off to buy cigarettes/exorcise the OL. This was released in 1984, by Tachi Hiroshi, a singer and actor who became quite the sensation when he had a starring role in 西部警察 (Seibu Keisatsu; "Western Police") -- incidentally, directed by the abovementioned Ishihara-san, as you'd have it. "Nakanaide" was a hit, coming in 59th on the ORICON's 1984 top singles list. It's from his seventh album In the Mood.

The song that the OL ghost sings. A dark and heartfelt song about a dying love, it was a massive hit when it was released in 1987, shooting straight to the top of the ORICON charts (as Nakamori-san's 17th number one hit), and has been a karaoke regular since then, just as the OL says in the chapter. Originally written and performed by the very respected Kato Tokiko for her 最後のダンスパーティ (Saigo no Dance Party; "Last Dance Party") album of 1984; she personally requested that Nakamori-san perform the song. It's been covered countless times, including by the original singer/songwriter and the cover artist themselves.

Not actually sung, but the OL ghost suggests she'd like to sing it next. A dramatic and emotional slice of idol pop from the Eternal Idol herself, Matsuda Seiko (who also performs "Who's That Boy", found on Single White). Released in 1987 as a promo-only single from her fifteenth studio album, 1988's Citron. Despite never being released as an official single, it's one of Matsuda's more popular songs, especially karaoke-wise. It's rather interesting that the OL picks a Matsuda song directly after a Nakamori Akina track -- the pair were notorious rivals in the 80s, supposedly even in love.

The song Hokuto is singing when Subaru attempts to sneak back into the karaoke box. Released in 1991, it peaked at #4 on the ORICON charts, and was remixed on Moritaka's second remix album as ザ・勉強の歌 (Za・Benkyo no Uta; "The・Study Song"). It was used as the opening theme to the anime TV series "Mischievous Twins: The Tales of St. Clare's". It's a totally gimmicky song (complete with voguing in the very weird video clip), though cheerful and catchy, so its popularity on the karaoke circuit at the time shouldn't surprise anyone. (You just know that Hokuto unironically adored this song, and drove Subaru batty by singing it at every opportunity.)

The song that Hokuto announces Subaru should sing with Seishirou as punishment for being late. Another staple in the duets section of karaoke, still, this 1979 release was actually a cover. The song was released by two Toshiba EMI artists, Matsudaira Kemeko and the Purple Shadows, respectively, in 1969. In October 1975, Los Indios released a single-voice version, and in 1979 it was rearranged as a male and female duet, with some lyrics changed slightly. The song was an instant hit, and by 1980, it had sold a million copies.

Disc Two

You know a song's a classic when you can re-release it with a different duet partner eighteen years after the original hit! I actually like this one more than the original; I think Yashiro-san has a far more fitting, liqueur-smooth jazzy voice that compliments Ishihara-san's satiny baritone perfectly.

The original singer/songwriter covers herself, technically, in this new, stripped-down rendition of the song from her 2001 best of album, "Tokiko Today". This is every bit as haunting as Nakamori-san's version, but Kato-san's more mature voice adds a depth of sorrow that I think only a older woman could produce.

Weirdly, this self-cover from her 2012 album "Dear" is (to me, at least) far more of a tearjerker than the original. I think it's because Matsuda-san's voice sounds more tired and sad -- not in a bad way, but an emotive one. Like Kato-san's self-cover above, I think age has a lot to do with the intensity and sincerity this time around.

A ridiculous remix of a ridiculous song. What more can you say? Other than this remix just so early 90s, and I unironically kind of love it, in a weird way. (Yes, Hokuto would, too.)

While "Wakaretemo..." has been covered by a lot of people, I think Teresa Teng rises above all of them for having covered it in both Japanese and Mandarin. This is said Mandarin version, from her 1981 album, 島國之情歌第七集—假如我是真的 (Dǎoguó zhī qínggē dì qī jí—jiǎrú wǒ shì zhēn de, "Love Songs from the Island Nation Volume 7 - If I Was Real").

"Nanpasen" is another song that's been covered a million times, and in Catonese as well as Japanese. This is Yolinda Yan's 1988 version; while the immortal Anita Mui also made a Cantonese cover in the same year, each song has different lyrics. I cannot believe Yolinda was only 17 when she sang this -- her voice sounds astonishing!