片恋酒 Katakoi Zake (演歌) - enka

Modern enka (演歌 — from 演 en performance, entertainment, and 歌 ka song) came into being in the postwar years of the Showa period. It was the first style to synthesize the Japanese pentatonic scale with Western harmonies. Enka lyrics, as in Portuguese Fado, usually are about the themes of love and loss, loneliness, enduring hardships, and persevering in the face of difficulties, even suicide or death. Enka suggests a more traditional, idealized, or romanticized aspect of Japanese culture and attitudes, comparable to American country and western music. The most well-known and beloved performer of this genre is Hibari Misora (1937--1989), who was known as the "Queen of Enka" and "Queen of Showa" for the period (1926--1989) when she lived and was most popular. In recent decades, enka music has declined in sales and in recognition as American-like J-Pop music has become more popular, and enka's traditional themes are no longer appreciated among younger Japanese generations. However, there are still many in Japan who enjoy this genre. Its popularity among younger Japanese people has increased lately because of singer Kiyoshi Hikawa and the early solo releases of then-Morning Musume member Yuko Nakazawa. Enka singers, who are predominantly women, usually perform in a kimono or in evening dress. Male enka performers tend to wear formal dress, or in some performances, traditional attire. Nods to traditional Japanese music are common in enka, usually in the form of an interlude featuring instruments like the shinobue and the shamisen. Besides television, enka can be heard in many restaurants, drinking establishments, karaoke bars, and cafes. In the United States, enka continues to remain popular among a section of the (typically older) Japanese-American population, and enka also has many fans among non-Japanese. There are some enka orchestras and performers active in the U.S., such as the San Jose Chidori Band, which occasionally performs at O-Bon festivals in the summer.

Channel: Music
Uploaded: October 9, 2007 at 1:06 am
Author: wenarto

Length: 04:47
Rating: 4.75
Views: 10945

Tags: enka  japan  演歌  片恋酒  

Video Comments