Timeless Masterpieces of Eiichi Ohtaki That Make You Fall in Love — The Niagara Sound
Featuring the music of Eiichi Ohtaki, a multifaceted figure not only as a musician but also as a recording engineer, producer, and label owner!
Often called a pioneer of Japanese rock, he was a member of the band Happy End, which was active around 1970, and after going solo he founded the Niagara label.
He released meticulously crafted masterpieces such as NIAGARA TRIANGLE Vol.
1 and NIAGARA CALENDAR, as well as the timeless classic Yume de Aetara (I Wish I Could Meet You in My Dreams).
Though his more idiosyncratic sounds initially struggled to gain acceptance, his 1981 album A LONG VACATION became a historic landmark.
Ohtaki’s intricately constructed songs are said to stem from his student days, when he listened widely and analyzed musical structures.
A trove of classics that can be seen as laying the foundations of J-pop.
The unfading Niagara Sound continues to shine brilliantly across the ages.
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Timeless Masterpieces of Eiichi Ohtaki That Make You Fall in Love: The Niagara Sound (11–20)
Two People in LoveOhtaki Eiichi
Records from the Japanese 80s and 90s that continue to receive passionate reappraisal from creators and listeners around the world—and at the heart of that era stands Eiichi Ohtaki.
His melodic sensibility and songwriting haven’t faded in the slightest; press play and vivid colors burst forth in irresistibly catchy form.
Beyond the backing band’s superb musicianship, the mature lyrical world and perfectly organized soundscape reached complete fruition during his solo period.
A collection of glittering gems that transcends language and time, still shining today.
Why not take this opportunity to give it a listen?
Pap-Pi-Doo-Bi-Doo-Ba StoryOhtaki Eiichi
Released in 1981, the studio album A Long Vacation includes the credited track “Pap-Pi-Doo-Bi-Doo-Ba Monogatari (Story)”! True to Eiichi Ohtaki’s style, it’s a playful piece with a distinctive rhythm, using a tropical approach to portray the world of everlasting summer.
Among Eiichi Ohtaki’s studio albums, this one is especially popular and widely regarded as a masterpiece, so I highly recommend listening to the entire album from start to finish!
Demae IcchoOhtaki Eiichi
The instant ramen song “Demae Icchō,” familiar from the commercial with the catchphrase “Ah~rayo, Demae Icchō~.” The phrase above was composed by Taro Kida, but the rest was composed by Eiichi Ohtaki.
It’s included on the album “NIAGARA CM SPECIAL.” Its buoyant bounce and smoothness make you want to skip along, and even though it’s very short, it’s packed with Eiichi Ohtaki’s signature style—utterly irresistible! Also worth noting are the anecdotes with Akio Omori, said to be the pioneer of “commercial songs,” or “komason.” Makes you crave a bowl of Demae Icchō…! (laughs)
pinky promiseOhtaki Eiichi
This track features an intro with a flute and a dark, moody vibe, and Naoya Ohtaki’s relaxed falsetto delivers a cool, seasoned performance.
It’s a song that fits perfectly anywhere—whether in a club, a bar, or a café.
If I can see you in my dreamsOhtaki Eiichi
Among the releases on the Niagara label, the standout, timeless classic is Yume de Aetara.
It’s also beloved as a Minako Yoshida song.
Rather than the then-trendy funky sound, it took on a 60s-style pop approach, which earned it support from devoted music fans, though it was never released as a single.
At producer Mr.
Asazuma’s suggestion, it began to spread through girl-pop covers by artists like Cyria Paul.
In 1996, Rats & Star’s version became a hit.
Being passed down in this way may have, conversely, heightened the universal appeal of Yume de Aetara.
Above all, its meticulously crafted musicality draws you into a romantic, gentle, retro atmosphere.
Along with Eiichi Ohtaki’s moody vocals, you’re wrapped in a pleasantly dreamlike haze.
Christmas Ondo (Christmas Bon Dance)Ohtaki Eiichi
A signature bon-odori-style song by Eiichi Ohtaki, released in December 1977 as the track representing December on the album Niagara Calendar.
With humor and satire, the lyrics depict how Christmas became an annual custom in Japan, vividly capturing scenes of the holiday spreading through shopping streets and neon-lit districts.
Fusing the traditional ondō form with pop elements, the sound features a meticulously crafted structure highlighted by twelve key changes in the coda, offering new discoveries with every listen.
Its nimble wordplay and playful arrangement give it an appeal that goes beyond a mere novelty song.
A classic that portrays Showa-era Christmas from a unique perspective and remains enjoyable no matter how many times you hear it.
Niagara Sound: Timeless Masterpieces by Eiichi Ohtaki That Make You Fall in Love (21–30)
Flying Mr. KanazuchiOhtaki Eiichi
Included on the album “NIAGARA CALENDAR,” this is the song corresponding to July.
It’s sung in a style that clearly showcases Eiichi Ohtaki’s signature phrasing—just how many vocal approaches does he have? According to him, “When I sing, I first become unconscious; that functions as the switch into singer mode.”