A New Old Favorite: Yoko Oginome

My First Oginome Yoko Purchase!

Up until recently, I wouldn’t say that I knew an awful lot about 80’s idol Yoko Oginome, though I liked the few songs I did know from her, but when I came across a newly updated version of her song “Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)” from her new 2014 album Dear Pop Singer, it totally knocked me out and made me pay attention!

 Now, I’d already known Dancing Hero and had even recently marveled at her awesome performance of it on this past year’s FNS Kayosai, but DAMN, there was something about this new PV that really got me going! It was stylish, it was catchy, and OH MY GOD was Yoko looking BEAUTIFUL! I must have watched the new video three or four times just taking in how gorgeous she was, soooo darn pretty and FIERCE, and after all these years!! I knew it was time I took a closer look at what this gal had to offer!
Going onto Youtube I was rewarded with an amazing handful of terrific live performances of some of Yoko’s biggest hits, including both songs I knew like Dancing Hero and Gallery, and introducing me to some new, exciting tracks like “Roppongi Junjouha”, “Dance Beat Yoake Made” and the stellar (and totally kick-ass) “Stranger Tonight” and “Wangan Taiyou Zoku”!  Even better, these clips were from the Glory Days of J-pop on shows like Yoru No Hit Parade and The Best Ten, complete with live backing band!

I was so taken in by the performances I saw that I no longer was satisfied with the meager downloaded MP3 files I had- it was time to get myself some proper Yoko Oginome CDs, and what better way to start than by picking up an all-encompassing Anthology Collection, and going online,  I found someone selling Yoko's awesome (and out-of-print) Double CD OGINOME YOKO HISTORY which fit the bill!!

 What an incredible collection! Like I said, I knew only a few songs from her before, but I wasn’t prepared for how freakin’ impressive her output was- each and every song was so strong, and Yoko’s voice was never cooler! I found myself taking walks playing this collection over and over and getting to know her better and better…MAN, I’m loving it so much that I’ve been downloading MP3s of some of her other albums… and DAMN, even THESE are freakin’ GREAT! Man, it looks like it may be time to make the leap to pure Yoko Oginome fandom!!!!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com