「Featured post」～唐沢寿明さんは、歌手として。

唐沢寿明

Karasawa Toshiaki “Boku ni dekiru koto” CD release

Originally posted on May 1st, 2009 @ 6:29 am.

(edit: all audio tracks which were lost during my move from Vox to WordPress have been re~uploaded to this post. If there are any other older posts dated before September 12th, 2010 (originally “Vox” posts) in which you’d like to hear or see the audio/video clips for please leave a request in the top page tab titled “Requests.”)

Karasawa Toshiaki, one of Japan’s most celebrated actors whose career has long been a staple of Asian cinema has a wonderful gem from yesteryear that I’d love to share here~…..and like so many other prominent figures in Japan’s entertainment industry, diversity and one’s willingness & interest to delve into and explore longstanding personal passions or perhaps just to experience a career outside of one’s main forte can lead to the often unexpected and ultimately wonderful~.

Karasawa Toshiakisan has primarily been known for his stage acting, t.v. dramas and movie career and his filmography/t.v. drama listing is truly one of the most impressive with his popularity and longevity being most notable…..some of my personal favorites are “Toshiie to matsu”, “Uchoten Hotel”, “Oishii kankei” and “Kagayake Rintaro.” =)

And in addition to being such a wonderfully talented actor, Karasawasan is also incredibly handsome~!!…..even in his older years he never seems to lose any of his *boyish* great looks~! (*´∀｀*)

Karasawa Toshiaki “boku ni dekiru koto” (inner jacket scan)

But now for Karasawasan’s venture outside of acting and although he released only one album it’s soooooooo well written with catchy♪♪ tracks galore. And it looks to have been a project in which he really worked hard on with a true dedication as he wrote the lyrics for all tracks with the exception of just one….”Futari no subete” which served as the theme song for “Kagayake Rintaro”, such an awesome t.v. drama!! which he also starred in!! And it was while watching this drama that I first became aware of Karasawasan as a vocalist…..interestingly though the theme song which is a duet performed alongside co-starring actress Kiki Kirin is more of a playful tune as it portrays much of the humor and fun which is such an important aspect of the drama along with heartbreak and triumph…..however with that being said, it readily becomes so obvious the vocal talent which Karasawasan possesses even in such a playful composition♪♪~.

Karasawa Toshiaki “boku ni dekiru koto” (CD cover scan)

Anyone who regularly watches Japanese dramas can most likely understand my sentiment that after just a few episodes…often after just the first one!…..you just want to own the theme song♪♪ so much as it becomes such a part of the drama and so irresistible!! “boku ni dekiru koto” was released on December 1st, 1995 and it was while I was trying desperately to find the drama’s theme song in its single format (“Futari no subete” which was long out of print ) that I became aware that an entire album existed!! ………(゜∀゜)………。After a few months…..the drama still fresh in my mind though……I finally found a used copy in a second hand record store! =) I really wish that Sony Music would re-release this album as it’s filled with such wonderfully *soothing* music~. o(*´∀｀)o゛♪♪

At first I was thinking of uploading just my *favorite* tracks but then I soon realized that I genuinely ~♥~ his entire album so much! XD…..from first track “Sunao ni nareyo~yes, my love~” (hmmm….probably my most favorite! =) ) to the very last track.(*dreamy* ballad~) “Kinenbi.” So……….I’ve uploaded Karasawasan’s entire album~. He sings♪♪ sooooooo wonderfully and *dreamily* ………(゜∀゜)………。that you’d never imagine that he’s not really known as a vocalist and rather an actor primarily, and although this release is from ’95 there’s notably no real “dated” feel to any of it as all of the tracks were written in such a contemporary pop/jazz style which hasn’t aged at all in time~. Did I already mention how amazingly attractive his vocals are?!! XD Please enjoy Karasawa Toshiaki’s music♪♪~. ＾　＾

Here are romaji translations for each track:
1. “Sunao ni nareyo~yes, my love~”
2. “Tatta hitori de kanashimanaide”
3. “Suiheisen no kanata ni”
4. “Setsunai kisu wa shitte iru”
5. “Boku ni dekiru koto”
6. “Eien no kodou”
7. “Ima mo ikiteru”
8. “Futari no subete”
9. “So Hip ‘sokontoko yoroshiku'”
10. “Kinenbi”

Karasawa Toshiaki 1. “Sunao ni nareyo~yes, my love~” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 2. “Tatta hitori de kanashimanaide” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 3. “Suiheisen no kanata ni” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 4. “Setsunai kisu wa shitte iru” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 5. “Boku ni dekiru koto”

Karasawa Toshiaki 6. “Eien no kodou”

Karasawa Toshiaki 7. “Ima mo ikiteru” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 8. “Futari no subete” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 9. “So Hip ‘sokontoko yoroshiku'” mp3

Karasawa Toshiaki 10. “Kinenbi”

~♪~