Noriko Awaya

Noriko Awaya
Background information
Birth name Nori Awaya
Born (1907-08-12)August 12, 1907
Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Died September 22, 1999(1999-09-22) (aged 92)
Ōta, Tokyo, Japan
Genres Ryūkōka, Chanson
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1929–1999

Noriko Awaya (淡谷 のり子 Awaya Noriko, August 12, 1907 – September 22, 1999) was a Japanese female soprano chanson and popular music (ryūkōka) singer. She was dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.[1]

Life and career

Awaya was born as Nori Awaya (淡谷のり Awaya Nori) in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. She was the oldest daughter of a wealthy merchant. In 1910, her family's home was destroyed in the Aomori City fire. Ten years later they were bankrupt, and in 1923 she, along with her mother and younger sister, went to Tokyo. There, she was admitted to the piano department of a music school. Later, her disposition towards singing was discovered and she was admitted to the vocal department. With the aim of becoming an opera singer, she made an extensive study of classical music.

However, due to her family's poverty, she was forced to leave school for a year and worked as a nude model. Eventually, she returned to the music academy, and graduated top of her class in 1929.

She became a classical singer. However, she soon began to sing popular songs because the salary of a classical music performer was very low. Her 1937 song "Farewell Blues" (別れのブルース Wakare no Burūsu) became a hit. In 1938, she also released "Rainy Blues" (雨のブルース Ame no Burūsu). In Taiwan, the song was later given the alternative title "Han Yu Qu" (寒雨曲). In 1939, she recorded the song "Yoru no Platform" (夜のプラットホーム Night Platform) as an insert song of the movie "Tokyo no Josei", in which Setsuko Hara played the main role. However, the song was banned by Japanese authorities.[2]

Awaya had a daughter outside marriage.[3] In her old age, she criticized enka.[3] She also criticized Hideki Saijo and Seiko Matsuda because Saijo enjoyed dancing and Matsuda sang songs without feeling.[3] She said that songs without pain, distress and effort were frauds.[3] Kenichi Mikawa respected her.[3] In 1996, Awaya gave Mikawa her song "Rainy Blues" at her final live performance.[3] She was elected an honorary citizen by her hometown Aomori City in 1998 and died in 1999.[1]

In 2007, Hideaki Tokunaga covered Awaya's song "Farewell Blues" at a concert.[4]

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 "Honorary Citizens". Aomori City. 2005. Archived from the original on October 10, 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  2. ↑ 戦後歌謡の復活・戦前派歌手の活躍 (in Japanese). JANJAN. 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tragic News: Noriko Awaya" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 1999. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  4. ↑ "Great covers at the 100th Anniversary of Ryoichi Hattori" (in Japanese). natalie. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, January 26, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.