Singer Ozawa Kenji was always one of those artists that I didn’t know too much about and never quite figured out, as he seemed so much NOT like a guy who should be rockin’out onstage! Looking more like a frustrated kindergarten teacher than a pop singer, when he gets into the song and starts flinging about, he reminds me less of Roger Daltrey than David Byrne in the “Once In A Lifetime” video as the sweaty and harried science teacher!
But one thing that I never could deny is that the guy had a LOT of heart and seemed to put 100% effect and sincerity into his performing, and there’s no better example of that than in the wonderful song “Tsuyoi Kimochi-Tsuyoi Ai”, the quirky song that won me over and made me an Ozawa fan before I knew what was happening!
Listening to the song, Kenji’s vocals are always sung like he was out of breath from running around the studio a few times, which somehow makes the effect on his voice seem even more honest, and the hook of the song never sounded more like he wanted you to believe as he ended each chorus with “Ima No Kono Kimochi…Honto Dayone!!!”
And I love how in the very last verse he repeats over ad over: Tsuyoku!! Tsuyoku!!!
Then ends the familiar line with: “Ima No Kono Kimochi, Honto Dayone…eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Performing Tsuyoi Kimochi Tsuyoi Ai on Hey Hey Hey:
