The translated version of the lyrics couldn’t fully encapsulate the sadness that was in “Plastic Love”. Of course, the lyrics are still important to completely convey the story of the song to listeners, but the intent of it could be understood even without actually understanding the language. Even without the lyrics, Takeuchi gives the feeling of vulnerability that can reach the heart despite all the bluster of the song’s electronic sound. The rhythmic guitar strums and the funky drum beats only made the song more alive and captivating in its own way.Īn ode of lonely love made into music, that is how I could describe “Plastic Love” as it perfectly captures the push-and-pull of lust and despair a heart would feel after a heart-wrenching break-up through Takeuchi’s enchanting voice. Its breezy horn and string arrangements make a polished form of pop music, a similar style used in jazz classics during the ‘60s period of the Western Culture. Opposed to most songs of its time, “Plastic Love” also differentiates itself by its melancholic lines as a contrary to the upturned beat prominent of its genre. And just like a memory being dug up again, nostalgia hits back to long lost feelings we never knew we had. The sensation becomes clearer as the song goes on as the rhythm and beat brings along our own what-ifs and other bittersweet memories, as though the song was a diary entry of the life we had before. Incorporating a city pop style, “Plastic Love” reminisces of a time and place most of its listeners had never been to – nighttime in the suburban Japan during the ‘80s. Over 20 million views were recorded in such a short span of time as the song receives positive reviews from different communities and cultures. However, the song’s peak was not reached until three years ago after it was posted on YouTube, allowing listeners both inside and outside Japan listen once again to a time gone by. It was only after the “extended club mix” and “new re-mix” were released the next year the song cemented its part in Japanese music culture as the single reached 86th on the Oricon Singles Chart. Yet, “Plastic Love” was only moderately received by Japanese listeners with just over 10,000 copies sold. The song was written by Takeuchi herself with her husband Tastsuro Yamashita as the producer. Initially released on November 19, 1984, in Japan, “Plastic Love” was a single from Takeuchi’s sixth studio album, “Variety”, through label group Moon Records (now renamed as EastWest Japan).
However, one question still remains, is “Plastic Love” actually good? Many netizens were inspired by the moving post, causing a large growth of positive reactions and comments to both Takeuchi and the song – a feat “Plastic Love” had not achieved for the last three decades. The said post was from a comment in YouTube thanking Takeuchi’s song for taking a great part in the writer’s love life.
This post that went viral in social media a few weeks back caused the resurgence in popularity of in Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi’s iconic “Plastic Love” once again, almost 36 years after its first release. A few years later, you decided to get married and start a family of your own, proving that a true love is unbreakable no matter the time and distance.
However, you were surprised to see her again five months later in America. And as what you have feared, she stopped sending you letters. Then one day, your family decided to move to the United States, leaving her in your hometown with only mail letters as your way of communication. This type of set-up would continue every time you go to the library to the point that you became good friends with her. You were just coming out of a book store when a girl suddenly invited you to hold her hand.
0 kommentar(er)
