RAINFOREST_音乐专辑

RAINFOREST

表演者: Ohta-san

专辑类型: Import

介质: CD

发行时间: 2003-06-30

唱片数: 1

出版者: Jvc Japan

条形码: 4988002448449

曲目

ABOUT THE SONGS
WEATHER MAN
The first song is a minor tune with a touch of nostalgia which suits Japanesepeople's taste. A weather man is a weather reporter. Here in the lyrics, theword "whether" is used as a homonym. The lyrics go, "Can you tell me weatherman, whether she'll be back again. Is your forecast sun or rain? Is ithappiness or pain?"
LILY
Ohta-san went to Brazil with his band members on a concert tour at thebeginning of the 1970s. There, he met with two terrible misfortunes. First,at customs, the group's musical instruments worth more than $100,000, wereconfiscated. Then, Ohta-san was robbed of his passport when he was exchangingcurrency at a bank. A 17 year-old British girl ran after the robber and heldhim down, and Ohta-san's passport came back to him safely. "Lily" is the songthat Ohta-san wrote for this young lady. The lyrics were also written byOhta-san. Here in this album, Ohta-san plays the song in bossa nova style. Itis the only good memory from his Brazil tour.
I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE YOU MINE
A song entitled "Yuukei(An Evening Landscape)" is included as the last song inthe album "Nostalgia~Heart IV~"(Sound Circus SCAC-004) recorded by "Circus," awell known Japanese choral group. The song "Yuukei" is made up of the melodyof "I Would Love To Make You Mine" by Ohta-san and lyrics by Ousuke Kanou, amember of Circus. Ohta-san also attended the recording. Both Jamie Hope'sEnglish lyrics and the Japanese version by Ousuke Kanou perfectly match themelody. Personally this is one of my favorites.
THE FINER THINGS
This tune is a love song with lyrics written by Jim Beloff. In his sweet,smooth voice Bruce Hamada sings, "The finer things, so I once thought, weremade of gold. A fancy car, The private plane, A house in Spain. They're notwhat I thought. Yes, I have found, something finer, than any thing can be.That is love, the finest thing, you and me."
WHEN I'M NOT AROUND
This song has lyrics which read, "I've loved you now for seven years,... I'mleaving now,... What you goin' to do when I'm not around." 30 some years agowhen Ohta-san held a workshop in Punahou, a boy appeared with an introductionfrom a famous poet. He was the then 16-year old Vick Schonberg, the lyricistwho wrote the words of this song. The lyrics he wrote were all so beautifulthat at first Ohta-san thought the boy had copied someone else's lyrics.
Afterwards, many songs with Schonberg's lyrics and Ohta-san's melodies came tobe recorded including "Summer Nights"(sung by Linda Green).
RAINFOREST WALTZ
Ohta-san often uses the recording studios of Audio Resource. There are twostudios, one in Honolulu and the other in a mountain in Nuuanu. The Honolulustudio is used mostly for recording and the Nuuanu studio is mainly used formixing.
In August, 2000, at the Nuuanu studio people gathered to choose one song froma number of Ohta-san's originals for the shooting of a TV program PEACEWAVE~The Ukulele And The Boy. This was to commemorate the opening of a new TVstation(BS-i), directed by Hiroyuki Nakano and starring MakotoNishikido(Johnnies, Jr.). As it turned out this song was chosen, but at thetime it had no title. The title "Rainforest Waltz" was suggested by studioowner Tony Hugar based on where the studio was. This witty title is adoptedfor the album title as well. It is considered most suitable as the title fora collection of Ohta-san's beautiful melodies.
PUA LOKELAU
Among the works of a blind singer-composer of Hawaiian music, Johnny Almeida,there is a song entitled "Green Rose Hula." In spite of its English title,the lyrics are all in the Hawaiian language. The lyrics go, "No ka pualokelau ke aloha, no ka u`i kau i ka wekiu." "Lokelau" is the Hawaiian wordfor "green rose"(a kind of rose originated in China of which petals aregreen.) However, the "Pua Lokelau" here has nothing to do with JohnnyAlmeida's tune and was written by Katherine Roseguo, a white lady. Even thoughshe is a Caucasian, she is adept in the Hawaiian language. She is nowteaching science to children on the island of Hawaii using only the Hawaiianlanguage.
Since this song was written back in 1981, Ohta-san and his son Herb Ohta, Jr.have played it on many occasions and Herb Orta Jr. has recorded this melodyfor his latest solo album. However, this is the first time that the lyricsare being sung. And, for lead vocalist Gary Aiko and two others, this wastheir first time to sing it. All three, who were moved by the melody and thelyrics, said they would like to include the song in their repertoire.
THE FRENCH CAFE
This song is a minor tune similar to "Weather Man" with a melody which touchesour heartstrings. A man is waiting for his sweetheart at a French cafe,their usual meeting place. During the song he realizes that their affair isover but toasts their rendezvous nonetheless. Jim Beloff's lyric writing iswell displayed here.
THERE IS SOMEONE NEW IN MY LIFE
The lyricist of this song, Dennis Couzijn is a Dutchman. Ohta-san met him inHawaii and asked him to write lyrics for some of the melodies he had written.This is one of the songs they wrote together. The song depicts the emotion ofa man(or a woman) who met "someone new in his/her life" Since the sexes ofthe main characters are unclear with the words "you" and "I," the song can besung by either a man or a woman.
KAMAAINA KEIKI
One of the great Hawaiian songwriters, Robert Alex Anderson wrote classicssuch as "Malihini Mele," "Haole Hula," "Lovely Hula Hands," "On A CoconutIsland" and "Mele Kalikimaka." For most of the songs, he wrote both melodiesand lyrics himself. Anderson, who took a fancy to the melodies Ohta-sanwrote, published "collaborated works" with his lyrics. This "Kamaaina Keiki"along with "Ukulele Isle" (which became the title of one of Ohta-san'salbums(Decca DL-74704)) are such "collaborated works."
Here in this track, Nina Kealiiwahamana takes the lead, and Gary Aiko andIwalani Kahalewai join to sing as a trio. "Kamaaina" means native-born, and"keiki" is a child. The lyrics read, "When I sing Hawaiian songs you don'tknow what it's all about, unless you're a Kamaaina Keiki Hawaiian like me."
THOSE EYES
Female lyricist, Jamie Hope, weaves a "feminine sensation" into the words ofthis song. Ohta-san was saying, "I don't understand the feeling of 'up toyou'(laughter)" quoting the lyrics which go, "One look at you, and I knew we'dbe together, Next look is up to you...." Anyway, this song depicts a scenewhere two lovers look into each other's eyes.
DANCING IN THE RAIN
Another song with Jamie Hope's lyrics. "Dancing In The Rain" is about twolovers with lyrics which read, "Tell me how, you've got me dancing in therain." Though it has nothing to do with this instrumental performance, thereis a part in the lyrics where Ohta-san as a senior changed some words.
Against an original line written by Hope, "Please love me more, come to mydoor...," Ohta-san said if the two are really in love with each other, itcannot go in that subdued manner. It is reported that he changed the line to"Please love me more, run right through my door..."
LINGER IN YOUTH
Bob Alan who wrote the lyrics of this song has been on friendly terms withOhta-san for a long time. Alan also wrote the lyrics of "Living In Dreams"which is included on Song For Anna released in 1976. Bruce Hamada sings thesong which goes, "Little boys chase little girls,*an ice-cream after school.
Adventures ev'ry trip,... Linger in your youth awhile and keep on livingdreams, 'cause you won't see 'till it's too late, your dreams there're gonewith age."
LAZY DAY
This "Lazy Day" is a waltz which has an atmosphere similar to Burt Bacharach'ssongs. Since its bar structure is 18+18+16+18, it seems to be a hard song forthose who do improvisation. The lyrics go, "Yes, I love a lazy day, here withyou, feeling like two contented cats asleep in the sunshine. Hang around,...nothing here that we have to do."
HAWAII
The last song of this album is "Hawaii" which can be called Ohta-san'smasterpiece. It is often performed as the closing tune of his concerts. Itis also known as a memorial song of Yujiro Ishihara, a Japanese actor whowanted to use it as the theme music for his next movie but passed away beforeit was made.
This song has been recorded a number of times on Ohta-san's albums and videos.While most of the recordings are of Ohta-san's ukulele instrumental, in thisalbum it is sung by veteran singer, Nina Kealiiwahamana. Since the originalkey was a bit too low for Nina's vocal range she sang it with a melody shearranged. This arrangement is very innovative, and there may be some singerswho will want to cover the song in this manner.

关键词：RAINFOREST