Song Introduction (Kanashimi ga tomaranai)

Song Title: Olivia wo kiki nagara (Title meaning: Listening to Olivia]
Artist: Anri
Lyrics and Composition: Ami Ozaki
Label: For Life Records
Overview:

“Listening to Olivia” was released as Anri’s debut single on November 5, 1978, and was also included in her debut album, “-apricot jam-,” which came out on November 21 of the same year.
The song was written and composed by singer-songwriter Ami Ozaki.
Although it reached only 65th place on the Oricon charts and did not become a major hit initially,
it grew to become a standard number in Japanese pop music, as many artists began to cover it over the years.

Article Sources:
“Anri” – Wikipedia
“Listening to Olivia” – Wikipedia

About the Song

The “Olivia” mentioned in the title of this song refers to the popular American singer Olivia Newton-John.

The songwriter, Amii Ozaki, was inspired to create the song after hearing that Anri, the singer, was a fan of Olivia Newton-John.

The song’s lyrics express the feelings of a woman facing the end of a romantic relationship.

The protagonist, overwhelmed by the sadness of the breakup, seeks solace in Olivia Newton-John’s music. While she cannot forget her former lover, she tries to convince herself that they must part ways for the sake of both of them.

This song is not just about heartbreak; it conveys a message about cherishing one’s own feelings and finding the strength to move forward in life.

The melody is calm and soothing, but at the same time, it carries a certain emotional depth that resonates with listeners. Together, the lyrics and melody create a warm and gentle atmosphere that wraps around the listener, making it a truly iconic song.

Song Video

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Artist Introduction (Anri)

Artist: Anri (also known as ANRI)
Real Name: Eiko Kawashima
Date of Birth: August 31, 1961
Place of Birth: Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Official Website: ANRI

Artist Trails

Anri has loved music since childhood and began learning the piano.
Growing up listening to various kinds of music, she was particularly influenced by folk, new music, and Western songs, which later became the foundation of her musical style.

In 1978, at the age of 17 and still a high school student, she made her debut with the song “Listening to Olivia,” though it did not become a major hit at the time.

In 1983, the theme song “CAT’S EYE” for the anime Cat’s Eye became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Oricon charts, and her name suddenly became well-known.

Following this, her song “Can’t Stop the Loneliness” also became a consecutive hit, solidifying her status as a popular singer in Japan’s music scene.

During this period, she released many songs with themes of summer and the sea, further shaping her musical style. Albums such as Timely!! and Bi・Ki・Ni released in 1983 were filled with songs that evoked summer landscapes and gained popularity among young people at the time.

Her music came to be classified as a genre called “city pop” and was cherished as stylish, urban music.

Starting in 1987, driven by a strong desire to express her own feelings more directly in her music, she began composing her own songs and producing her own music.

This led to the creation of various styles, including danceable tracks and emotional ballads.

She also expanded her activities beyond Japan, especially drawing attention for her recording sessions in Los Angeles and collaborations with famous American artists.

Her albums CIRCUIT of RAINBOW, released in 1989, and NEUTRAL, released in 1991, were both major hits, with NEUTRAL being her only million-seller album in her career.

Singles like “Dolphin Ring,” released in 1993, were also successful, and her popularity continued to rise.

In 1994, she released a best-of album, 16th Summer Breeze, which featured primarily self-covers, and it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks. Around this time, she also began providing songs for other artists, expanding her work as a composer.

Since the 2000s, she continued her music career by moving to a new label and pursuing overseas activities. The revival of the “city pop” boom in Europe and the U.S. brought her back into the spotlight as the “Queen of City Pop.”

In the 2010s, she released albums with re-recordings of her past hits and continued collaborating with global musicians, showing her enduring love for music and continuing to inspire many fans.