Tokyo Boogie-Woogie
| "Tokyo Boogie Woogie 東京ブギウギ" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Shizuko Kasagi | |
| Language | Japanese |
| Released | 1947 |
| Genre | Boogie Woogie, Kayōkyoku, Swing music |
| Length | 3:06 |
| Songwriter | Masaru Suzuki |
| Composer | Ryōichi Hattori |
Tokyo Boogie Woogie (東京ブギウギ) is the name of a song by Japanese singer Shizuko Kasagi.
Overview
Shizuko Kasagi came to stardom after being noticed by composer Ryōichi Hattori, who composed many of her songs including this one.[1][2]
Hattori was on a train, and as he was listening to the rail joints and the handrail hitting the edge of the luggage rack, he came up with the songs melody.[1] He got off the train to go to a coffee shop where he wrote the songs sheet music on a napkin.[1]
Hattori found that everything was full of melancholy after the war, and he wanted to create something that would uplift people.[3] Some of the lyrics were criticized as not making sense, however upon its release these criticisms would prove to be in vain as the song saw almost immediate success.[4]
Shizuko Kasagi began recording the song 3 months after giving birth, and would put her baby to sleep in her dressing room to sing and dance.[5]
The song was released in 1947.[6]
Reception
The song was released in 1947, and did very well, getting acclaim and popularity within the first 2 to 3 months.[3][6]
The song provided comfort to the Japanese following the war, and uplifted many.[7] It was customary for Japanese singers to sing songs standing still, however Kasagi would perform "flamboyant dance routines" which added to her, and the songs, appeal.[8] Kasagi, who had been dancing "vigorously" since before and during the war, received warnings about her dancing during the war, but she continued her dancing once the war ended.[2][5]
It became one of the most popular songs of its time.[3]
Legacy
The song was published in the United States by Columbia Records in 1953.[9] Shizuko herself re-recorded the song in 1955.[10]
The song was covered by many singers including Hibari Misora, once known as "Baby Kasagi" before she eclipsed Kasagi.[2][11]
In 2022, the NHK announced their new morning drama, "Boogie Woogie" based on the life of Kasagi.[12] This bought renewed attention to Kasagi and her music, especially Tokyo Boogie Woogie, which was released on CD for the first time.[13] The song was also covered by Japanese singers such as Mari Natsuki.[14]
References
- ^ a b c "『ブギウギ』いよいよ最終盤…笠置シヅ子と時代を結び付けた３人の男性". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ a b c Furmanovsky, Michael (2023-10-01). "When the 'Queen of Boogie' reigned in Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ a b c "東京ブギウギ". www.asahi-net.or.jp. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ 歌謡・いま・昔 (in Japanese). 音楽之友社. 1985. ISBN 978-4-276-37042-5.
- ^ a b 笹森文彦. "「東京ブギウギ」笠置シヅ子…「女王」への道 服部良一とのコンビで敗戦の落ち込んだ日本に勇気 - 音楽 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ a b 山岡明 (1973). 生活編 (in Japanese). 太平出版社.
- ^ 昭和流行歌史: 「宮さん宮さん」から「北の宿から」まで心の歌500曲 (in Japanese). 每日新聞社. 1977.
- ^ "平成テレビジョン・スタディーズ | NDLサーチ | 国立国会図書館". 国立国会図書館サーチ（NDLサーチ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ Columbia Tokyo Orchestra; Shizuko Kasagi; M. Suzuki; R. Hattori (1953), Tokyo Boogie Woogie (in Japanese), Internet Archive, Columbia, retrieved 2026-04-01
- ^ "笠置シヅ子の世界 ～東京ブギウギ～". mora.jp. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ "朝ドラ「ブギウギ」のモデル笠置シヅ子とは? 〈女王〉の人生から"東京ブギウギ"など代表曲、ドラマの注目ポイントまで | Mikiki by TOWER RECORDS". Mikiki (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ "来秋朝ドラ「ブギウギ」に決定 戦後の大スター・笠置シヅ子さんモデル 音楽は服部隆之氏 脚本・足立紳氏 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ 全日本歌謡情報センター. "朝ドラ『ブギウギ』モデル・笠置シヅ子、幻の音源が75年の時を越えて復刻初CD化＆初配信 | 全日本歌謡情報センター". 全日本歌謡情報センター (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
- ^ "デビュー50周年を記念し坂東祐大プロデュースであの「東京ブギウギ」をカバー！「TOKYO JUNK BOOGIE」4/19発売！ | 夏木マリ | 日本コロムビアオフィシャルサイト". 日本コロムビア公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-04-01.