Last March, before the graduation season, Yutaka Ozaki's LP single "Graduation" released in 1985 was re-released on CD.
Among the lyrics, there is a line "break all the school windows at night". The glass windows of countless middle schools across the country have been damaged, so that the schools have to send people to patrol at night to guard against sneak attacks by students.
Along with "Graduation", his debut single "15 Nights" was re-released on CD. The lyrics of the song "speeding on the road on a stolen motorcycle" made countless motorcycle owners feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.
, for fear of offending a fifteen-year-old delinquent.
They want to smash the windows of the school and steal motorcycles.
The criticism that "Ozaki Yutaka's lyrics are about bragging about crime and will become a guide for delinquents" has not stopped since he became slightly famous and entered the eyes of the mainstream public.
In particular, this guy was a well-known delinquent in high school. He was suspended from school for underage smoking and drinking. He later dropped out of school and debuted as a singer. In the first two years, he was sentenced to three years of probation for possessing Nasha.
Some teaching institutions have explicitly banned the entry of anything related to Yutaka Ozaki. The more so, the more rebellious teenagers will be provoked to fight against him.
Although it is indeed unreasonable to look through his resume, as a singer Yutaka Ozaki, it would be absolutely wrong to regard his works as just the self-bragging of a rebellious teenager.
If he was just a rebellious teenager who boasted about committing crimes, he would not have risen all the way since his debut in 1983 when he was under 18 years old. Now, he has become a new generation of male solo singers in the music industry. After being criticized by some music critics
At the same time, he is regarded as a genius by other professionals.
Shinichi Iwahashi also belongs to those people who regard Yutaka Ozaki as a genius.
Not only is he a genius in composing music, but he is also a genius in writing lyrics. Including "Graduation" and "15 Nights", two "bragging crime songs" that adults worry will teach bad children, in fact, they are by no means a mere show off.
Rebellion.
When simply reading these two widely circulated lyrics, Shinichi Iwahashi would have the idea that he was "catering to middle-aged teenagers." However, after listening to both songs and reading the complete lyrics, he felt that
It can be seen that what Ozaki Yutaka wants to convey in his lyrics is completely opposite to the "flaunting and rebellion" criticized by some music critics who criticized him.
The boy who broke the school window at night longed for freedom in his heart, could not believe the school's teachings, and wanted to break the rules set by adults, but the bell rang during the day and he still sat in the classroom. It is not so much "breaking at night"
"The act of breaking the school glass is remarkable." Or rather, "Even if you break the school glass at night, it's meaningless."
Even if I break the school glass at night, I still sit in the classroom during the day, bound by things I can't believe. And at the end of the lyrics, even if I "graduate" from the school's rules, outside the school, new rules are waiting.
There.
Similarly, when he was fifteen years old and riding a stolen motorcycle on the road at night, the boy "didn't know where the direction was, but he just didn't want to be bound." The feeling of not choosing the right path, the desire to get rid of the constraints, and the desire to lose freedom.
The fear is all in this sentence "stolen motorcycle".
Throughout the song, whether breaking the glass or stealing a motorcycle, there is a sense of futility. But even so, you still have to break the glass window when you are suppressed. When you long to get rid of the constraints, you will not choose the road to ride.
Stolen motorcycle...
Singing out the loneliness and confusion of teenagers, singing out the troubled voices of teenagers... These words have been said enough by his supporters and opponents.
Iwahashi Shinichi thinks that what makes Ozaki Yutaka unique and valuable is that he still does it even though he knows it is futile, and he still has to believe even though he knows it is useless. With this futility, he resists the inevitable in life, and it is difficult to get rid of it even after resisting.
things.
Such an almost innocent act.
But this innocence is an important reason why there was no singer who could replace Yutaka Ozaki throughout the 1980s. To be rebellious and to sing the voices of teenagers, there are singers who can do these things. But someone who can be so innocent,
Only him.
Such people may be ridiculed in reality, but as a singer, as a star who is distant from the public, this trait is precious.
Having said that, in order to "worship" a star, the first thing you have to do is not to think about such a person. It's just a matter of how such an idea will turn out in reality.
Ozaki Yutaka's innocence allowed his supporters to see some kind of divinity in him. The media called Ozaki Yutaka the "godfather of the tenth generation." In other words, he has a certain kind of divinity in the minds of minors.
As influential as religious leaders.
Let’s return to reality. The tenth generation patriarch, Yutaka Ozaki, was half the age of Shin Iwahashi. In 1988, he got married young at the age of 23. Last year, his eldest son, Yuya Ozaki, was born. Now he is a serious father and husband.
Judging from his appearance, he is a tough and handsome young man, about the same height as Iwahashi Shinichi.
However, there are two people of similar age and stature, one is a bit of an artist, and the other is a serious adult.
Although Ozaki Yutaka is half a year older than Iwahashi Shinichi, standing together, Iwahashi Shinichi looks older.
...There is nothing we can do about it.
The only thing is that Shinichi Iwahashi looks older. It's definitely not because he looks older. Rather, it's because Yutaka Ozaki will always be a boy.
Legend has it that he has done countless things that would make him die. When he got so excited during a concert, he stood on the stage lighting equipment and jumped off it, breaking his leg. He even smashed his guitar and sprayed water on it. In the eyes of an outsider, he would never be in the second grade.
As a character, the real person is quite reserved and restrained.
After saying hello and speaking, when he pursed his lips slightly, he looked like a puppy.
However, seeing Yutaka Ozaki himself, Iwahashi Shinichi had a name pop up in his mind: Xiao Xie from Xiangjiang.
A handsome and rebellious boy, wearing leather clothes, smashing guitars at concerts, etc... Before that little Xie made his debut, I wonder if he had listened to Yutaka Ozaki's albums or something like that.
However, at Xiao Xie's age, I don't know if he is a junior high school student at the moment, and he may not know who "Ozaki Yutaka" is.
Before leaving for Los Angeles, Tomohisa Kawazoe said that he met Yutaka Ozaki near the recording studio. This time, Shinichi Iwahashi actually met this young man's hero. However, it was not with Yutaka Ozaki in the recording studio.
We met by chance, but came here with Yutaka Ozaki. The producer at Sony and Shinichi Iwahashi are old acquaintances.
Among major record companies, Shinichi Iwahashi has collaborated with Sony quite a lot, especially with a DREAM colored T-shirt.
I previously produced a planned album, and Sony also fully supported it. The underground album that was commemorated before X's debut was also produced by Shinichi Iwahashi. In addition, due to his friendship with Sakai Masatoshi, Shinichi Iwahashi often visited Sony, and he was an acquaintance there.
Quite a few.
For this reason, both parties had an opportunity to get to know each other.
We had never met each other before. One was a singer-songwriter who had been in the industry for many years, and the other was an upstart among the men in black in the recording industry. Even if they met, they had nothing to do with each other.
It was nothing more than polite greetings and a brief exchange. But the producer, who was an old acquaintance of Shinichi Iwahashi, kept him chatting. Soon, Shinichi Iwahashi knew that Yutaka Ozaki was here to produce his new album and the inspiration for the new album.
Yutaka Ozaki's son, who was born last year, became a father for the first time. The change in his identity has made him grow up, and he seems to have a different perspective on things...
For singer-songwriters, getting married, having children, and changing their environment seem to be good ways to gain inspiration.
Iwahashi Shinichi doesn't often travel for long distances, so when he does, he doesn't plan to stay too long. During this period, he has to supervise the production of ZARD's album, and has to be accompanied by a guide to meet with relevant people, so he has made up his mind to be busy.
During the bubble era, Japanese footprints were all over the world. When going out during the day, it was common to encounter Japanese tour groups or individual tourists. You might also encounter the TV production team from Los Angeles who was filming the show.
As for those who come to shoot magazines and photos, needless to say, they happen every day.
Even ZARD is scheduled to shoot the cover and inner pages of their new album here, as well as the MV for TV promotions.
The bubble has not yet burst, the most important real estate has not yet fallen, and the setting sun of the bubble era still illuminates everything red and shiny, giving it a different kind of beauty.
Not only that, compared to the already deformed sky-high land prices in Tokyo, the housing prices in Los Angeles are quite normal now. Japanese speculators are speculating in real estate all over the world. When walking on the street during the day, when passing a building, the guide
Suddenly, I said that this building was bought by Japanese investors.
Iwahashi Shinichi felt a little sweaty, and once again deeply realized that the Japanese were spreading the image of the "nouveau riche" all over the world.
In order to accommodate his schedule, ZARD has been working at night these days. According to the plan, he was busy with business during the day and went to the recording studio to work as a producer at night. He lived like this for three days and two nights in a row, and then set off back to Tokyo.
As for ZARD, after the album production is completed, they will stay for two more days to take photos and videos and travel at public expense.
On the other hand, Shinichi Iwahashi, who came here for business, didn't have much private time to enjoy the holidays. At most, he could take some time to buy some business trip gifts to take back.
When Shinichi Iwahashi was here, ZARD was in full swing, and Yutaka Ozaki's schedule seemed to be quite tight as well. I heard from Yutaka Ozaki's producer that he would be returning to Tokyo this week. After that, he would fly back and forth between the two places depending on the situation.
Yutaka Ozaki is not very good at dealing with people in black. When the producer chatted with Shinichi Iwahashi, he was indifferent. He was either busy with his own business or listening to them like a puppy waiting at the feet of its master.
.
At the same time, like a puppy, although it listens with its ears, it actually doesn’t understand and doesn’t care what they are saying.
Iwahashi Shinichi, a well-known singer, knows his name, and Ozaki Yutaka has heard of Shinichi Iwahashi, a producer who is in the limelight.
Even though I knew about Iwahashi-san's deeds, I seemed to have nothing to say when meeting him face to face.
The two are similar in age, but Iwahashi Shinichi is at home in the adult world. Ozaki Yutaka does not despise such "adults" in his heart, but sincerely admires people who can do things that he cannot do.
"The rebellious patriarch who despises adults", Yutaka Ozaki as described by the media is far from himself.
After a one-sided relationship, both parties were busy with their own affairs.
This kind of encounter happens countless times every year. Shinichi Iwahashi didn't intend to take it to heart. Although he continued to meet Yutaka Ozaki the next day, he just nodded and exchanged greetings.
Both parties were in a hurry to catch up with the schedule, so it was no big deal that they would meet at work. Until the third day, when Shinichi Iwahashi went to the recording studio, he met someone. Actress Yuki Saito.
Before Iwahashi Shinichi had any reaction, Saito Yuki took the initiative to stop him, "Iwahashi-san."
He stopped.
Saito Yuki smiled, "It's really you." She pressed her knees and bowed her head to him, "Long time no see."
Being greeted with "Long time no see", Shinichi Iwahashi reacted. He was stunned for a moment, but Saito Yuki took the lead and said, "Don't you remember?"
Iwahashi Shinichi remembered, "It was..." at a gathering of the fat young man Akimoto Yasu's family.
Yuki Saito showed a coquettish smile and took over his words, "When we were in Karuizawa."
She was obviously a pure idol when she debuted, and her face did look pure and innocent. However, amid the innocence, there was also a hint of neurotic charm.
"Karuizawa?" Iwahashi Shinichi was puzzled by her words.
Saito Yuki saw Iwahashi Shinichi's expression in his eyes, but he showed a look of understanding. Such confidence made Iwahashi Shinichi feel uncertain. Could it be that after Akimoto Yasu's family gathering, he was in the house again?
Did you see her at any party in Karuizawa?
Iwahashi Shinichi thought about it again and again, but did not remember that he had met Saito Yuki in Karuizawa. He tentatively said: "Except for meeting Akimoto-san and Asakiko-san before at their family gathering,
Have I seen you at other times?"
"This... maybe so."
Yuki Saito's expression turned awkward. She suddenly smiled and changed the subject, "Is Iwahashi-san here to record?" She showed an understanding person who gave Shin a step forward and didn't mind if his memory was wrong.
People's will.
Iwahashi Shinichi replied smoothly, "Come to supervise the production of ZARD's album." After a pause, "Does Saito-san also have any recording work?"
Saito Yuki shook his head, "Come to meet your friends."
The "friend" I came to meet was Yutaka Ozaki.
Although he got married and became a father at a young age, it didn't take long for the news of Yutaka Ozaki and Yuki Saito's affair to spread throughout the city.
Ozaki Yutaka has always been maverick, and it is not unusual for him to be open-minded about having an affair. On the contrary, Saito Yuki, an idol-turned-actress, was involved in the whirlpool of an affair and remained indifferent.
Now, I come to Los Angeles to meet Yutaka Ozaki as if nothing happened.
Unexpectedly, Shinichi Iwahashi was familiar with Yutaka Ozaki's producer and did not let him say a few words to Yutaka Ozaki. Instead, because of Yuki Saito's appearance, they sat in each other's recording room.
