"Jidai" (時代) is a 1975 song by Miyuki Nakajima. It was used as the official theme of the Osaka Expo, and won the grand prize at the World Popular Song Festival in November 1975.[1] It was released as a single in December 1975 and sold over 2 million copies.[2] In 1993, it was redubbed for release in Jidai: Time Goes Around, and in 2007 it was included in the Nihon no Uta Hyakusen.
| "Jidai" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
,_Miyuki_Nakajima.png) | ||||
| Single by Miyuki Nakajima | ||||
| from the album Watashi no Koe ga Kikoemasuka | ||||
| B-side | "Kizutsuita Tsubasa" | |||
| Released | December 21, 1975 | |||
| Genre | New Music | |||
| Length | 9:08 | |||
| Label | Canyon | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Nakajima | |||
| Miyuki Nakajima singles chronology | ||||
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A cover was released by Hiroko Yakushimaru in 1988, and in 2008 it was translated and sang by Hayley Westenra. An instrumental version was used in Leiji Matsumoto's series Cosmo Warrior Zero (2001).
Ayumi Hamasaki version
edit| "Jidai (時代)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Song by Ayumi Hamasaki | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2024 | |||
| Genre | J-pop | |||
| Length | 4:51 | |||
| Label | Avex | |||
| Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology | ||||
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Singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki initially mentioned working on new music at the beginning of 2024, going on to write about feeling "nervous" about a recording session, for "a song that's simply too great". A few weeks later, it was announced that she would be covering "Jidai".[3] It was released as a digital single on March 25.[4]
Upon the song's release, Hamasaki paid tribute to the original track, stating "I worked with the best staff and musicians to produce this song, paying due respect to Nakajima Miyuki's great masterpiece. I expressed myself the best I could."[5]
The track was used as the theme song for Banpaku no Taiyo, a TV-drama based in 1970s Japan. Actress Kanna Hashimoto starred as heroine Asano Kyoko, the show following her journey working for the Osaka Expo and her goal to connect people from all over the world; it is described by critics as a "heartwarming" drama focused on celebrating the history of the era.[6] When asked about the show, Hamasaki commented "I agreed to sing the theme song because I empathized with the world view depicted in this drama, especially the story of the main characters, who continue to pursue their dreams in an era when women's advancement in society was not recognized at all."[7]
Critical reception
editCritics complimented Hamasaki's interpretation, comparing its production and quality to her previous covers of Yumi Matsutoya's "Sotsugyou Shashin" and "Haru yo, koi". "(Hamasaki) brings out the charm in every song" Sponichi said in its coverage,[8] while another critic compared it to Hamasaki's previous hit song "Seasons": "Listening to (Jidai), I remember how much I love Hamasaki's singing voice."[9] Other commentary was similarly positive, the release being met with reported responses of "It's a song that has been covered by hundreds of artists, so why does Ayu's voice pierce my heart so much?" and "Ayu is the epitome of this generation".[10][11]
The song debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Digital Single Chart, and placed at number thirty-one on the Oricon Weekly Digital Singles Chart with 1,790 downloads.
References
edit- ^ The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. v. 1, p. 4991.
- ^ 富澤一誠『フォーク名曲事典300曲〜「バラが咲いた」から「悪女」まで誕生秘話〜』ヤマハミュージックメディア、2007年、361頁。ISBN 978-4-636-82548-0
- ^ DailyNewsOnline. "浜崎あゆみ、偉大すぎる中島みゆき『時代』をカバー「あゆがいた時代に生まれてよかった」（DailyNewsOnline）｜ｄメニューニュース". topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "浜崎あゆみ、中島みゆき「時代」をカバー。橋本環奈主演ドラマ主題歌に起用". BARKS (in Japanese). 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "浜崎あゆみ、中島みゆき「時代」をカバー。橋本環奈主演ドラマ主題歌に起用". BARKS (in Japanese). 2024-03-05. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ NEOTOKYO2099 (December 19, 2023). "Hashimoto Kanna to star in a TV Asahi 65th anniversary drama "Banpaku no Taiyo"".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "浜崎あゆみが中島みゆき「時代」をカバー！ 橋本環奈主演ドラマ主題歌に起用＆配信リリース決定". THE FIRST TIMES (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "令和に昭和の名曲 浜崎あゆみ「時代」をカバー「私なりに精いっぱい表現」 テレ朝ドラマ主題歌 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "『浜崎あゆみ「時代」を聴いた。』". ラフラフ日記 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ 小口幸子. "浜崎あゆみ、中島みゆき「時代」カバー「あゆは私の時代そのもの」ファンから歓喜のコメント - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ DailyNewsOnline. "浜崎あゆみ、偉大すぎる中島みゆき『時代』をカバー「あゆがいた時代に生まれてよかった」（DailyNewsOnline）｜ｄメニューニュース". topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-11.