Noriko Awaya
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese female Soprano
chanson
and popular music (ryūkōka
) singer. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.
, Aomori Prefecture
. She was the oldest daughter of a wealthy merchant family, but in 1910 her family's home was destroyed in the Aomori City fire. Ten years later they were completely bankrupt, and in 1923 she, along with her mother and younger sister, went to Tokyo. There, she was admitted to the piano department of a music school. Later, her predisposition towards singing was discovered and she was admitted to the vocal department. With the aim of becoming an opera singer, she made an extensive study of the foundations of classical music.
However, due to her family's poverty, she was forced to leave school for a year to work as a nude model, in order to cover living expenses. Eventually, she was able to return to the music academy, and she graduated top of her class.
After Awaya graduated from the school in 1929, she became a classical singer. However, she soon began to sing popular songs because the salary of a classical music performer was very low. Her 1937 song became a hit song. In 1938, she also released . In Taiwan, the song was later given the alternative title "Han Yu Qu" (寒雨曲). In 1939, she recorded the song as an insert song of the movie "Tokyo no Josei", in which Setsuko Hara
played the main role. However, the song was banned by the Japanese authorities.
Awaya had a daughter outside marriage. In her old age, she criticized enka
because those songs were heard like needy for her. She also criticized Hideki Saijo
and Seiko Matsuda
because Saijo enjoyed dancing and Matsuda sang songs without basics. She said that songs without pain, distress and effort were frauds. On the other hand, Kenichi Mikawa
respected her. In 1996, Awaya gave Mikawa her song "Rainy Blues" at her concert, which became her final live performance as a result. She was elected an honorary citizen by her hometown Aomori City in 1998 and died in 1999.
In 2007, Hideaki Tokunaga
covered her song "Farewell Blues" at a concert.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
and popular music (ryūkōka
Ryukoka
- 1914–1927: Origin :In 1914, Sumako Matsui's song "Katyusha's song", composed by Shinpei Nakayama, was used as a theme of the rendition Resurrection in Japan. The record of the song sold 20,000 copies...
) singer. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.
Life and career
Awaya was born as in AomoriAomori, Aomori
is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
, Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
. She was the oldest daughter of a wealthy merchant family, but in 1910 her family's home was destroyed in the Aomori City fire. Ten years later they were completely bankrupt, and in 1923 she, along with her mother and younger sister, went to Tokyo. There, she was admitted to the piano department of a music school. Later, her predisposition towards singing was discovered and she was admitted to the vocal department. With the aim of becoming an opera singer, she made an extensive study of the foundations of classical music.
However, due to her family's poverty, she was forced to leave school for a year to work as a nude model, in order to cover living expenses. Eventually, she was able to return to the music academy, and she graduated top of her class.
After Awaya graduated from the school in 1929, she became a classical singer. However, she soon began to sing popular songs because the salary of a classical music performer was very low. Her 1937 song became a hit song. In 1938, she also released . In Taiwan, the song was later given the alternative title "Han Yu Qu" (寒雨曲). In 1939, she recorded the song as an insert song of the movie "Tokyo no Josei", in which Setsuko Hara
Setsuko Hara
is a Japanese actress who appeared in six of Yasujirō Ozu's films, most notably as Noriko in the 'Noriko Trilogy': Late Spring , Early Summer and Tokyo Story . Her other films for Ozu were Tokyo Twilight , Late Autumn and finally The End of Summer in 1961.She was born 会田 昌江 Masae Aida in...
played the main role. However, the song was banned by the Japanese authorities.
Awaya had a daughter outside marriage. In her old age, she criticized enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
because those songs were heard like needy for her. She also criticized Hideki Saijo
Hideki Saijo
is a Japanese singer and television celebrity most famous for singing the Japanese version of the Village People's hit song Y.M.C.A., called Young Man. Although the original version was camp, Saijō's version was intended to seriously inspire "young men"....
and Seiko Matsuda
Seiko Matsuda
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter. Due to her popularity in the 1980s and her long career, she has been dubbed the "Eternal idol" by the Japanese media.- Biography :...
because Saijo enjoyed dancing and Matsuda sang songs without basics. She said that songs without pain, distress and effort were frauds. On the other hand, Kenichi Mikawa
Kenichi Mikawa
is a Japanese singer and TV personality, known for his outspoken views and style.Mikawa was born in Suwa, Nagano as . He recorded a number of hit songs as a male enka singer in the 1960s and 1970s. The most well-known of his songs include "Sasoriza no Onna" and "Yanagase Blues"...
respected her. In 1996, Awaya gave Mikawa her song "Rainy Blues" at her concert, which became her final live performance as a result. She was elected an honorary citizen by her hometown Aomori City in 1998 and died in 1999.
In 2007, Hideaki Tokunaga
Hideaki Tokunaga
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter and actor.Although Tokunaga failed to pass the test of Star Tanjō! in 1982, he debuted as a recording singer in 1986. After he released hit songs such as "Yume o Shinjite" and "Kowarekake no Radio" in 1990, his single "Wednesday Moon" reached No...
covered her song "Farewell Blues" at a concert.
Singles
: 1929- Love Parade : 1930
- Veny Ven : 1934
- Dona Marriquita : 1935
- Poema : 1935
- Barcelona : 1935
- Teresina : 1935
- Dardanella : 1936
- Morucha : 1936 : 1936 : 1937
- Madiana : 1937
- AmapolaAmapola (song)"Amapola" is a 1924 song by Cádiz-born composer José María Lacalle García , with Spanish lyrics. After the composer died in 1937, English language lyrics were written by Albert Gamse....
: 1937 : 1938 - Rumba Tambah : 1938
- La CumparsitaLa Cumparsita"La cumparsita" is a musical piece written by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, an Uruguayan musician, in 1916. It is among the most famous and recognizable tango songs of all time....
: 1939 - La Seine : 1952
- My Shawl : 1952
- Romance : 1953
- Maria la O : 1959
- Adieu : 1959 : 1960 : 1982 : 1993
Albums
: 1971- Noriko Awaya 50th Anniversary : 1978 album including song "Charmaine"
- Last Song : 1982 : 1988 : 1993 : 2000 – Triple-CD greatest-hits album set just after her death : 2003 compilation : 2004 compilation : 2005 compilation : 2007 compilation
- Golden Best Noriko Awaya: Chanson Album : 2009 compilation : 2010 compilation