Soothing, Gentle, Japanese Virtuosa
Gregory G Sawin | San Mateo, CA United States | 12/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best of the two Miyoshi Umeki CDs that I've heard. My favorite songs on this CD are "I'm In the Mood for Love," "Slowly Go Out of Your Mind," "Teach Me Tonight," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," and especially her enthralling rendition of "Over the Rainbow." This CD very effectively showcases her singing talent--both the selection of songs and the excellent instrumental support (by Hugo Peretti and his orchestra) fit her charming vocal style. Most of the songs are American favorites that she sings in English with phrases in Japanese interspersed. One of the two Japanese songs is in English, and the other is in Japanese. Two pleasant surprises in this CD are (1) "Hana Ko San," a romantic song in English, which seems to refer to the U.S. military post-World-War-II occupation of Japan (written by Dees/Schelb/Clinton), and (2) "Slowly Go Out of Your Mind" (by Jack Carrington), which I would call a melancholy blues number (out of character for Miyoshi, but she does it well). The two bonus tracks are "Sayonara" (from 'her' 1957 movie by the same name) sung in English, and "The Little Lost Dog" (from a 1955 French movie, "Chiens Perdus Sans Collier"). Miyoshi's popularity in America blossomed with her appearances on TV shows (Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts," etc.) and in movies ("Flower Drum Song," etc.) in the 1950s and 1960s. Her two CDs, "Miyoshi Umeki Sings American Songs in Japanese" and "Miyoshi," are recently remastered versions of her circa 1955-1960 LPs."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1