★☆ Southern All Star ★☆

[Tri-ring]

Southern All Stars or SAS for short is probably the most influential domestic band that hit the Japanese music scene EVER.

These guys who made their sensational debut in 1978 while still going to college have since carved a name for themselves creating a new genre in Japan called "Shonan Sound" which many bands like The Tube and/or Omega Tribe had followed.

Here is a vid of their first song "Katte ni Sindbad" and one of their first TV performances.

They were like the Beatles, The Beach boys and Rolling Stones all wrapped up into one to the Japanese mass with their rapid tempo and provocative double meaning lyrics that blew the mind of listeners of that time.

Although the band is in a dormant stage, Kuwata Keisuke now in his mid 50's still singing strong after recovering from surgery of Esophageal cancer last year.

Without further a due here are some vids I picked up from you tube;

Spoiler for To save space:

Tsunami

Manatsu no Kajitsu

Miss Brand New Day

Man"beep" no G-Spot

Hotel Pacific

Ya Ya(Ano Jidai Wo Wasurenai)

Sha ra ra

Inase na Locomotion

Niji-iro Night Clube

Body Special II

Which is your favorite song?

[Haladflire65]

Sazaaaan!!! I've only really listened to Tsunami properly out of their songs. Kuwata Keisuke... so young in that first video... I like his unique voice, I think the lyrics of the group's songs are quite nice, too. Are they still producing music? I haven't heard much about them lately...

[Tri-ring]

OK here are some more songs by Southern All Stars.

Spoiler for To save space:

Kibo no Wadachi

Bye Bye My Love（U are the one)

Umi

Natsu wo Akiramete

Watashi ha Piano

Moon Light Lover

C-cho Kotoba ni Goyoujin

Melody

Christmas Love

Shiori no Theme

How are these?
What do you think?

[Tri-ring]

Originally Posted by Haladflire65

Sazaaaan!!! I've only really listened to Tsunami properly out of their songs. Kuwata Keisuke... so young in that first video... I like his unique voice, I think the lyrics of the group's songs are quite nice, too. Are they still producing music? I haven't heard much about them lately...

Well Southern All Star is on hiatus but Kuwata is back and kicking.
Here is his new single titled "Ginga no Hoshikuzu" and is probably singing his strong determination towards life.
Here is a link to the new PV.

銀河の星屑 by Kuwata Keisuke

The lyrics just shows how he feels as he licked death. Here is the lyrics with my translation.

あれは泥酔で帰宅途中のFriday night.(It was a Friday night on my way to home completely drunk.)
森を抜けると蓮の御池があってさ(I came across a pond full of lotus blossoms as I got through the woods)

夢を見たのかい!? No,no,no (Is it a dream? no,No,NO)
道に迷ったのかい!? (Did I get lost?)
水面に浮かぶ花を見て眩暈がしたよ (I got dizzy as I was gazing at the blossoms floating on water)

見上げりゃ御来光が差して来て (I looked up I saw heavenly lights)
宴が始まる Carnival (Festivities starts Carnival)

ここは何処だろう!? Dance,dance,dance (Is this the end!? Dance, dance dance)
この世の果てかい!? (Is this the end!?)
美しい女性（ひと）が微笑み手招きしてる (A lady is inviting me over with a smile)

I wanna be your lover.
なんてSpiritual その胸に抱かれて (Spiritual isn't it being crested in your bosoms)
You're gonna give me a power.
お釈迦様よ Everything's gonna be alright. (Oh, Buddha Everything's gonna be alright)

I wanna be your lover.
妖艶Visual その愛に溺れて (How ghostly visual, drowning in your love)
銀河の星屑になった気がした (I feel as if I had become star dust)


故意か偶然か帰宅途中に遭ったのは (Was it a coincidence or was it on purpose seeing you as I head for home)
痛みも苦しみも無い世界 (A world without pain nor agony)

夢を見たのかい!? No,no,no (Is it a dream? no,No,NO)
道に迷ったのかい!? (Did I get lost?)
シラフじゃ説明出来ないあの夜だった (I can't explain that night if I was sober)

哀れみの献花（はな） (A bouquet of tribute out of pity)
そんなモノはまだ僕は欲しくない (I don't want it)
払い終わらぬ借金（ローン） エトセトラ… (I still have mortgage to pay etc.)
まだ人生にゃ 未練がいっぱい (I still have a lot I want to do in life)

お別れの歌!? (A farewell?)
そんなバカな!! (Don't be stupid)
蘇れもう一度!! (I am going to come back)
何処かで母の呼ぶ声がする (Why do I hear my mom's voice)


I wanna be your lover.
なんてSpiritual その胸に抱かれて (Spiritual isn't it being crested in your bosoms)

You're gonna give me a power.
お釈迦様よ Everything's gonna be alright. (Oh, Buddha Everything's gonna be alright)

I wanna be your lover.
妖艶Visual その愛に溺れて (How ghostly visual, drowning in your love)
銀河の星屑になった気がした (I feel as if I had become star dust)


Lu lu lu …
事の始めは蓮の御池があってさ ( It all started at the pond full with lotus blossoms)


Oh,奇譚 我よBack in town (Oh what a strange tale but I am back in town)
Oh,奇譚 我にNo return (Oh what a strange tale but I am no return)

[AnimeFangirl]

I love Southern All Stars too, but AFAIK the band has broken up. They aren't merely on hiatus. I clearly recall them stating that "going on hiatus" wasn't fair to the fans who would be left hanging, so they're well and truly breaking up this time.

My favorite SAS songs? Too many to list, but Tsunami, Katte ni Sinbad, Ai to Yokubou no Hibi, Summer Queen and Dirty Old Man are at the top of the list.