Among the singles I purchased in 1999 was a song featuring a great beat called “Rhapsody in Blue” by the vocal/dance outfit called Da Pump.
I didin’t really buy a lot of “guy group” songs back then, but I was REALLY impressed with their performance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen that New Year’s Day. Their singing and timed dance moves really got me “into” the song, and I promptly went down to the japanese record store Hakubundo on my lunch break and picked up the single later that same week!
I remember one of my co-workers who also like J-pop [favorite band: Luna Sea] decided to accompany me on my trek to the record store, inquiring me as to just what single I was hoping to pick up, and I stuttered a bit before saying, "Er…Um..Well, that Da Pump song.” She then (to my relief) simply nodded, and said “Oh, Rhapsody in Blue? Yeah, that song is good, huh?” WHEW!
I was going to wait a while before posting this particular track, especially since I’d just recently run an entry on SMAP a few entries ago, but when I was talking to a friend, he mentioned that he’d JUST downloaded Da Pump’s greatest Hits package “Da Best of a Pump” the night before! This to me was a great sign telling me the time was right for this post!
