When you're first getting into j-pop, you are not only introduced to all the terrific artists and songs, but are becoming acquainted with the MUSIC PROGRAMS that featured them; shows like Hey Hey Hey, Pop Jam and Music Fair were shows I began watching regularly to get my weekly j-pop fix, and I was to learn that j-pop fans had an extra treat waiting for them at the year with the New Years Specials that would air such programs as the Mighty Kohaku Uta Gassen as well as a lesser (but no less interesting for a j-pop newbie like me) RECORD TAISHO, better known as the Japan Record Awards!
When the J-pop buyer at work saw that I was getting into j-pop, he thought I’d be interested in checking out some live performances, and let me borrow his copy of the Record Taisho from earlier that year! “I think you’ll see a lot of artists from that cassette mix” he assured me.
I popped in that VHS cassette, and the first artist to come onscreen was Be-B, this kakkoi, rockin’ gal channeling Pat Benatar and beginning my Taisho experience with a BANG!
I'd already fallen in love with Be-B from her incredible song "Manatsu No Ai Yai Yai", but this was the first time I was seeing her perform LIVE! Rockin' a little tune called “Doumu~ Kaze Ni Mukatte, you can bet that once the performance was over I loved it just as much as Manatsu, it was so cool!
Well, I just HAD to have it, and as fate would have it, Be-B had JUST come out with a brand spanking new GREATEST HITS package that contained all of her past singles, including BOTH Manatsu No Ai Yai Yai AND Doumu Kaze Ni Mukatte, Standing in line to purchase the CD, I just couldn’t believe my luck!!!
Well, that CD naturally became a fast favorite of mine, and when they marked the CD down at Tower Records a few months later, I even went out and bought a copy to give my friend! Ah, the gift that keeps on giving!
