The Album That Opened the Door to Western Music — Masato Ikegawa

The album that opened the door to western music — Michel Polnareff's『Gold Disc』.

Knocked Out in One Shot by "Tous les bateaux, tous les oiseaux"

This is probably the album I've listened to most in my life, a precious lifelong album that opened the door to western music for me. My encounter with Michel Polnareff was in my junior high school days when "Tous les bateaux, tous les oiseaux" (known in Japan as "Sherry ni Kuchizuke") happened to flow from an AM radio. I was instantly knocked out by its incredibly catchy sound, completely different from Japanese pop songs - the upbeat melody, soaring falsetto, and exquisite harmonies! This best-of album was the first LP I ever bought.

Cosplaying as Polnareff with Mom's Wig

I was knocked out not only by the golden, glittering jacket but also by his androgynous, psychedelic look with that curly hair and white petit sunglasses. Though I was just a junior high student with a buzz cut at the time, needless to say, I cosplayed as Polnareff using my mom's wig and sunglasses.

Classical Setbacks, Beatnik Wanderings

Later, through liner notes and magazine articles, I learned various things about Polnareff: how he was influenced by Presley, the Beatles, and other rock and jazz music, failed as a classical concert pianist, dropped out of the prestigious "Conservatoire de Paris," was influenced by the beatniks, wandered throughout Europe, and then made his professional debut.

"La Poupée qui fait non" Features Page and Jones

His debut song "La Poupée qui fait non" (Non-Non Doll) amazingly featured Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (later, The Birds with Ron Wood would also cover it). He caused controversy with shocking album covers featuring bare buttocks and a hat placed on his private parts, among other eccentric behaviors that strongly attracted me. Of course, musically, Polnareff had a profound influence on my subsequent musical tastes as well.

love me please love me and Ray Charles' Shadow

My favorite Polnareff song, "love me please love me" (Japanese title: "Ai no Negai"), has a composition and melody quite similar to Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind." Looking back now, I feel this may have been what triggered my later immersion into soul and blues.

The Human Trumpet Special Move

This album features a song called "Le Rêve de l'ordinateur" (Computer's Dream) where Polnareff showcases his signature technique - the human trumpet (a special move where he scat-sings in a voice that sounds exactly like a trumpet). There's another song simply called "Trompette" on a different album where he performs Gershwin's "Summertime" with his human trumpet technique.

Film Music, and Then to Gainsbourg

With his rare musical sense and classical background, he also worked on many film scores. He created music for numerous works including "Lipstick" starring Hemingway's granddaughter Margaux Hemingway, and "La donna della domenica" starring Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve. My attraction to French films and eventual discovery of Gainsbourg might originally stem from Polnareff's influence.

Western Music: Polnareff, Japanese Music: Yoshida Takuro

Finally, this might be a bit of a stretch, but the Japanese cover of "La donna della domenica" was sung by Saigo Teruhiko, who was a classmate in elementary school in Kagoshima with none other than Yoshida Takuro. The first western artist I became obsessed with was Polnareff, and the first Japanese artist I became obsessed with was Yoshida Takuro. So, if I get another chance, I'd like to talk about the great influence Yoshida Takuro had on today's Masato Ikegawa on Album Sweet. Until then!

Editorial Afterword

Masato Ikegawa was the "hired boss" of a record rental shop I frequented in Matsuyama during my twenties. Those days of endlessly reading through the wall of LPs, even the credits on the back covers, are the origin of Album Sweet. Ikegawa-san was the one who managed that place.

The Café Bleu he opened in Matsuyama after quitting his corporate job at 50 has now become a café that visiting artists always stop by. Every time I return home and visit, the owner's eyes still light up when we talk about music, just like in the old days. When Ikegawa-san tells the story of Polnareff's "cosplaying with mom's wig and sunglasses," it becomes even more vivid.

The first western artist he became obsessed with was Polnareff, the first Japanese artist was Yoshida Takuro — this pairing carries the weight of "beginnings" that every music listener has. I can't wait for the promised Takuro edition next time.

Related: Michel Polnareff