Kuwata's lyrics are a parade of punch lines. His lyrics also have both stillness and movement.
Kuwata-san often uses titles and phrases from old pop songs in his lyrics. One of his new songs, "A Gift from God," is a perfect example of this. The lyrics include "Mune no Furiko" (Pulling Child of the Heart) and "Mata Au Hi Made" (Until We Meet Again), which are titles of famous songs from the Showa era, and the phrase "It was crazy" also brings to mind the Crazy Cats.
Even in "Kanashimi wa Boogie no Kanata ni," an unreleased song from before their debut, there's the line, "Just wait a moment, car dealer, frogs are croaking, it's raining," which feels like an homage to Hibari Misora. The medley with that song, "Mitsuko to Kanji," feels like the Showa era classic "Tsume," written by Hiraoka Seiji for Peggy Hayama, is playing in the background.
The lyrics of "Tsume" are written from a woman's perspective, but the male character Kanji that Kuwata created reminded me of the man the woman in "Tsume" was in love with. I'm sure Kuwata also liked the songs of Peggy Hayama and Kazuko Matsuo, who often sang Hiraoka's songs.
That's why I like the lyrics in "A Gift from God" - "The dawn of Japan is dark, but our ancestors are amazing." I really think that's true too. The important things left behind by our ancestors are stored within us, and they are unconsciously outputted through who we are today. I also feel that there's originality in that. But I also like how in "Mitsuko and Kanji," after "When that girl's face flashes across the ocean of battle," he suddenly says, "I got chopped." (laughs)
This can be said about all of Southern All Stars' and Kuwata's songs, but the lyrics may seem like a parade of punchlines, prosaic and incoherent, but when you listen to them with the music, the placement and balance of the words is designed and interesting.
Not only the melody, but also the lyrics have both stillness and movement. There are energetic songs that don't pursue meaning, and very emotional ballads. When I was younger, I found it easier to understand the lyrics of ballads like "Itoshi no Ellie" and "Namida no Kiss."
But the sense of words like "SHULABA-LA-BAMBA" is an exquisite blend of emotion and intellect, and I've really come to appreciate that since I started writing my own songs. I don't think you could write lyrics like "The sound of the waves is the gospel of a love affair" in "Bye Bye My Love (U are the one)" just by sitting at a desk and thinking about it.
I wonder if Kuwata has a switch inside him that can switch between stillness and activity. I think the balance between external and internal, or rather, the type that flips the switch and takes over all at once, and the usual quiet Kuwata Keisuke is amazing. It's like someone who was joking around a moment ago suddenly turns serious and says, "I really love you" (laughs). It makes me want to hug him and ask, "What's wrong? Did something happen today?"
Hit Me Lyric
The dawn of Japan is dark, but our ancestors are amazing
From "A Gift from God"
My Favorite Southern
Laid Back (1980)
"This is the last of our five consecutive single releases. The fact that Harabo isn't singing the chorus makes us realize just how important he is to Southern All Stars."
Lament of a Female Poet (1982)
"I think the allure of this song comes from the fact that Kuwata sings it in a low key. When you listen to it with headphones, your hips naturally sway."
Sea (1984)
"The arrangement, tempo, melody, lyrics, everything is great. It hasn't been released as a single yet, but it's a beautiful melody that could easily be a single."
