A girl in summer

One can find no Japanese characters in the jacket of this album including the reversed side. Yes, Yuming (Yumi Matsutoya) is a world-wide singer-song-writer now.

When I saw the title of this album, I had asked "Why a girl? Is it a kind of joke?", becuase she is >50 years old. But after a listen, I found a girl standing on the beach as shown in the jacket, certainly. Of course, she has kept her nice slim body even now. Moreover, I recently found her sharp dance performance with young dancers at Saitama Super Arena on Wowow television.

In order to understand her songs in this album, one may be no need to understand Japanese. Her music will catch your heart without words. Her songs contain somewhat religious consolation, especially the last 4 songs of this album. I am not a christian, but I felt as if I were on the bench in a church when I listened them. The last number "Smile again" may be a requiem for victims of the 9.11. It means "I would like to see their smile again".

"A girl in summer: Here comes the wave" by Yumi Matsutoya
TOCT-25920 TOSHIBA-EMI
http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/yuming/

cf. http://www.emimusic.jp/yuming/disco/2006/index_j.htm