2nd self-cover album announced

Exactly one year after Yoeko's comeback album, she announced via Twitter/X that a sequel will be released on her 48th birthday.

Similarly to the first edition, "New Yoeko 2: Rhapsody"will feature one newly-written track along with self-covers from the Kurahashi era. This time, the tracklist is mostly centered in her Warner Music releases (2000˜2003).

The album cover features an illustration by Miyo Tsuchiya.

Yoeko "New Yoeko 2: Rhapsody"
(ヨエコ「ニューヨエコII～ラプソディ～)

Release date: September 20, 2024
Media: CD
Catalog number: NWYK-0002
Price: 3000 JPY
Label: Craques Onze
Distribution: PCI MUSIC

Yoeko Official Shop: pre-orders start TBA, comes with a "rare" bonus TBA

Tower Records: pre-orders started, comes with postcard and sticker
Other stores: pre-orders started, comes with a postcard

-
Tracklist:
01 music (new song)
02 kanshateki seikatsu (from AL rei, 2000)
03 mamagoto (from AL omoutsubo, 2001)
04 torarekei (from AL fujin'you, 2002)
05 ningen yametemo (from SG ningen yametemo, 2002)

06 ryuusei (from AL modern girl, 2003)

07 radio (from AL modern girl, 2003)

08 music (piano ver.) (new song)
*Includes a serial code to stream a making of video*

She has mentioned on a Instagram live that there is an official music video for the new track "music", but it's unclear whether this video will also be available with the serial code.

To celebrate the release, Yoeko will perform a mini-live at the Tower Records Shinjuku store on Sep 22. The last time she has performed in that store was nearly 19 years ago to promote the release of album Tadaima.

New AL tracklist announced!

Yoeko's staff Twitter announced yesterday that the new official website is finally online! Besides that, the new album cover and tracklist were also made public.

As mentioned before, similarly to 2006's Ochuugen, the tracklist consists of self-covers and a new song.
The album cover features the same drawing from the promotional picture, by Miyo Tsuchiya.

Yoeko mentions that all tracks were arranged by Bin Sugawara, from Re-Trick (a Japanese band self-described as an "aggressive jazz trio"), and that depending on the album demand/purchases she would be planning a "New Yoeko Part II".

The online store shall open in 5 days with the album pre-order and some other goods (T-shirt, keychain, ecobag and more) produced by Andorinha. 

Yoeko "New Yoeko"
(ヨエコ「ニューヨエコ」)

Pre-order starts: July 20
Release date: September 20
Media: CD
Catalog number: NWYK-0001
Price: 3000 JPY
Label: Craques Onze
Distribution: PCI MUSIC
-
Tracklist:
01 tomodachi no uta (4 beat version)
(from AL kaitai piano, 2008)
02 yona yona yona
(from AL fujinyou, 2002)
03 tamagotoji
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
04 hiru no tsuki
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
05 kyou mo ame
(from AL iroiro, 2006)
06 dopamine
(new song)
07 tate
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
*Includes a special making of video, not specified in which media format*

I think it's a good sign to see songs from her Warner and Victor era being covered in this album. For me it means that, first of all, there are no legal restrictions in regards to her old material. Except for... her "lost" First Aid Network album Tokyo Piano, which was the only one that never got reissued and is the only one still missing from streaming platforms.

That also shows that, from an artistic point of view, this new Yoeko is ready to re-visit her Kurahashi days. <3

Total random fact, I'm specially happy to see some words from my native language featured in this post... Andorinha (goods maker) is Portuguese for swallow bird, and Craques Onze (record label) could be translated to... Soccer star (jersey number) eleven. :-)

Source: [Official Twitter] [Official Website] [Online Store]

EDIT: I'm not even sure if anyone still visits this, but I forgot to mention that I'm preparing a new website layout to celebrate this new era! It's meant to feature some more up-to-date web elements and this should make it easier to navigate via web and mobile browsers. Yes it will be just as ugly as this one or even more!

New album release

Promotional picture, drawn by Miyo Tsuchiya

Yoeko has announced via Twitter that a new album is in the works!

"New Yoeko" (possibly a wordplay with "New York") will feature a mix of self-covers and new songs.

Pre-orders start on July 20th, exactly 15 years after her last concert at Tokyo Kinema Club, and release date is set to September 20th, her birthday. 

A teaser video was published on Yoeko's YouTube channel featuring a new version of Tomodachi no uta.

Pre-orders will be available from her official store and more information will be posted on her official Twitter soon.

Source: Natalie.Mu
[Official Twitter] [Staff Twitter] [Official Website] [Online Store]

Yoeko "New Yoeko"
(ヨエコ「ニューヨエコ」)

Pre-order starts: July 20
Release date: September 20
Media: CD
Catalog number: NWYK-0001
Price: 3000 JPY
Label: Craques Onze
Distribution: PCI MUSIC
-
Tracklist: TBA; tomodachi no uta '4bit version' and more (self-covers and new songs).

Welcome back

I never really thought I would be writing about this, but Yoeko just announced on Twitter that she will resume her activities under the name "Yoeko" (no Kurahashi) after exactly 15 years since she announced her retirement. The announcement was made on Twitter. 

[Twitter] [Website] [YouTube] [Online Shop]

(click to download PDF version) 

This website was first published (also) exactly 13 years ago (July 2010), and a lot has happened during this time... For me, listening to and making a website about Yoeko is one of those teenage hobbies that we lose touch with as we mature. Yes, I still listen to the music I did back when I was that age... some because I still enjoy it, and some because it gives me that feeling of going back to a very specific cherished time in the past.

After learning from a person close to her about some of the reasons why she retired, it made me sad to the point where it has been hard to enjoy her music again ever since.

This announcement makes me glad on a different level than just the "I'm really looking forward to listening to new songs from this artist" level. I'm genuinely happy that this person who brought so much joy to my teenage self is comfortable with showing her art again.

I feel like there is a point in life where the music we love is not as interesting anymore, the friends we made are not as reachable as they used to be, and that makes us end up losing a little bit of ourselves along the way - maybe that's what getting old means. These news kind of brought back a small piece of me from that time. Welcome back :) 

Country Color

Two days ago I received an email from someone using the contact form of this website. The first one in five years which was not a spam. It was from a girl living less than 100km from me thanking me for keeping the website up and mentioning it has been a reference place for her as a fan of Yoeko. That alone would have made my day, but she also mentioned machi (same person mentioned in my previous blog post -from 5 years ago-) wrote the theme song for a Chinese documentary series.

wo zhuzai zheli de liyou is a documentary series
on YouTube about Chinese living abroad.

The “wo zhuzai zheli de liyou” (The reason why I live here) series has COUNTRY COLOR by machi as theme song since early 2017. A package containing the song (+instrumental version +PDF file with lyrics) is available for purchase at this website, unfortunately payment can only be done using a Chinese bank account.

Not only machi’s singing voice is absurdly identical to Yoeko’s, the instrumental part resembles a lot songs like 卵とじ(tamagotoji) or ラブレター(love letter).

Although I am convinced she is back under this new pseudonym, I’m torn between adding the work with SasaNishiKa+Country Color to the website and waiting for an official-ish announcement connecting Yoeko and machi (that might never happen).

Parts of the song can be heard below, starting 2m48s.

 

WO ZHUZAI ZHELI DE LIYOU
theme song Country Color
music/lyrics/vocal machi
performance SasaNishiKa

Many thanks to the above-referenced Ms. Maria Tavares who was the reason why I finally updated this website after long five years :-)))))))))))))))))))))))

SasaNishiKa

Hi! Happy new year!! Being busy and the lack of news about Yoeko made me take long to update the website again :( 

SasaNishiKa's debut album "※".

A few weeks ago some rumours spread online on discussion boards like 2ch forums and mixi.jp communities about a voice very similar to Kurahashi's being featured in some tracks of the recently debuted band SasaNishiKa.

The tracks are included in their debut album "※" (reference mark), which was released the past December 20th. 

The record's liner notes lists Shinjiro Yamato and machi as guest vocals. Shinjiro Yamato is a Gunma prefecture born vocalist from The Funderfuls band. As for machi, there isn't any kind of information anywhere! I, myself, asked the band's staff for more information about her and they said they are not able to give out details on artists not attached to their record label… :(

Previews for the tracks "machi" is featured can be heard below. ;)

01 wabi-sabi 

02 parade 

08 curtain call 

Could "machi" be a new Yoeko Kurahashi's pseudonym? :3

Is she coming back from retirement?

SasaNishiKa's line-up consists of former Gymnopedie (a japanese jazz band, 2001-2008) members: Ayako Kawasaki (drums), Saori Sasazawa (piano) and Hiroki Nishi (guitar).

The album can be purchased at Studio Leda CD Shop. For international (outside Japan) orders, please use their contact form.

Lyrics - koi no airport

オヒサシブリ！Thank you for all the visits on Yoeko Live DB! It's now up for 2 months, please keep adding info up :)
A new link called "セトリ不明" (unknown setlist) was added for easier reference on which pages need further contribution. Please have it a check.

Now back to updates! I have added lyrics to "KOI NO AIRPORT". According to "KAIZOKU PIANO" booklet, this was the first version of "KOI NO DAISOUSA", the track included in this album had the vocals taken from some early recording and mixed with the arrangement of the version present on "MODERN GIRL" album.

lyrics - koi no airport 

koi no koi no koi no koi no eapoooooooto!~♬

Live DB

After almost 2 months of gathering information, designing and trying to figure out how a database works, I can finally announce a Yoeko Kurahashi live database will be open for everyone to check on April 30th.




It will be a wiki-based website with information of almost all the concerts Yoeko has been to, with details about setlist, live house and artists she shared the stage with. All the information was taken from blogs and forums around besides the usual support from Mr.Nyamco and Mr.Konohamoero. It's a free database that anyone will be able to edit and add information.
I picked April 30th so that it's the 4th anniversary of Yoeko's public announcement of retirement...

 I hope you enjoy it :)

mawarimichi

Hi! You can now check more information and lyrics to "mawarimichi", a song Yoeko Kurahashi never released, but perfomed only once at Shimokitazawa440 live house. Romaji lyrics support from Nyamco-san!! Thanks :)

→Information

→Lyrics

PS.: The database I mentioned in the previous post will be related to Yoeko live gigs! More information to come soon!

Lyrics - zangyou musume

Ohisashiburi! Finally a new demo track from Yoeko has been leaked into the internet some days ago. And quickly, Mr. Nyamco has provided romaji lyrics for this song, which you can find in the link below. Enjoy! Thanks Mr. Nyamco!

lyrics - zangyou musume

PS.: I'm currently working on a big database related to Yoeko. I'm giving more details away soon! Please look forward.

Perfect Oil CM

Hi! Media sections was finally updated with links for TV-ads from Kao's Bioré Perfect Oil aired during 2006 with narration provided by Yoeko Kurahashi! Two different versions were shot, one with Akiko Kikuchi in the main role, and the other with Rena Takeshita. The songs are slightly different, there's a version for Mascara and Concealer. These ads were very popular in Japan back then, and many people wondered whose the singing voice was. Actually, this was the second nation-wide CM Yoeko sang for. The first one was for cough drops from Nanten Nodoame, featuring Emi Hashino.... but I never got the chance to watch/listen to it :(

Click here for "Media"

Translation - tsubutsubu

butsubutsu! It is time for another new translation. I personally like these lyrics very much. They are very simple, yet very freaky!! Also, this is the first one coming from album 'MODERN GIRL'. Mr. Julian gave me a good help on this, thank you!

See you!

Translated Lyrics - tsubutsubu

New addition to Discography

Happy new year!! (I know that's pretty late, but oh well)

Songs which title is 東京, TOKYO, TOKIO and similars registered on JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) are as much as 264! Having that in mind, Victor Entertainment has gathered 13 of these songs into one brand new compilation, "Tokyo Compi".

Including artists such as GO!GO!7188 (I love them ♥), Quruli, GOING UNDER GROUND, Misako Odani and of course Yoeko Kurahashi, the release is set to March 7th.

More info about tracklist available at Discography > Others.

Translation - seesaw

Hi! This week I come from another translation from TADAIMA album! There's nothing else much to say... Does anyone have any suggestion for translated lyrics? :D Please email me or comment here if so!

Translated Lyrics - seesaw

Translation - mannequin ningen

Ay! New translation is available at Extra area. Another b-side! (I love b-sides).This one particularly, was released afterwards in an album with a new version. It describes well the average content of Yoeko lyrics, usually about self-deprecation and daily duties. I hope you enjoy it!!

Translated lyrics - mannequin ningen

Translation - jewelry

Hi. A new lyrics translation is available at Extra area! This time, the last song Yoeko Kurahashi has made, right after announcing the retirement. JEWELRY is originally only released in the best album "SHUUGAKUSHOU", but right before the last live DVD was released, the record label decided to release it as a digital single with a new artwork and coupling with "shohousen", another song released only on the best compilation. Please enjoy it!!

Translated lyrics - jewelry

Kaitai Yoeko DVD Letter

Hey there! This has been one busy week, but I finally got to translate this thing. Back when Kaitai Yoeko DVD was released, about one year ago, I wrote a post to announce that one of the attached bonus of it would be a last letter from Yoeko with a serial number.

I just realized this post I wrote is still a draft that I never published, damn it!!

By the way, so yes, there was a letter inside it with a serial number that was written right before SHUUGAKUSHOU was released, around September, 2008. It was translated by me, that means it's not an accurate translation, but it's a nice reading for all the fans.

Available on PDF format through Extra area.

Translation - shizumeru machi

Hello! Here goes one more translation. This time a b-side! I must say this one was hard to do, and it doesn't make many sense at all... but I like it anyway!

If you found any mistake, don't hesitate to contact me, please use the contact form. Translations added to Extra area, enjoy.

Translated Lyrics - shizumeru machi

Translation - sen wo kaku

Hey you! As promised, I bring you the first page from Extra area! This time it's a translation, but this section will be used for articles, translated interview and such. Anything that would not fit anywhere else. And guess what's the first translated lyrics! Yes! sen wo kaku, the song this website is named after.

I apologize beforehand for any mistakes, as I said before these translation are not accurate. Though if you found something wrong, please tell me! Use the contact form. Thanks.

Translated Lyrics - sen wo kaku

Densenkyou DVD

Hi!! I think that was the longest time without any updates, but you know what happens when school, work and laziness decide to take a piece of you at the same time! :( I came to announce some minor updates, but I hope I can come back to post something else before you decide to never open this website again (maybe you already did...).

Discography area was updated with Kyoto Tower Densenkyou DVD, something I just knew of the existence some days ago, surfing in some auction website. This is actually a very rare DVD, and I've already posted the "full" Yoeko performance in the Media area a while ago. "Full" because the DVD itself doesn't include the complete Yoeko's performance. You can find more information about it clicking here.

Besides doing some minor updates I already forgot, I'm also trying to get some random lyrics of Yoeko translated into English, with my poor and awkward japanese skills. They should be posted sometime soon in the Extra area, but I can say beforehand they won't be accurate and ask help in advance. If someone wants to help me in that quest, please write me in the Contact Form. :)

There are no news about Yoeko or whatever related to her these days... which is very sad, but that's supposed to happen when someone retires... Some kind soul could at least leak some other unreleased demo, who knows? (倉ヨエデモ集の持つ方へのお願いです(￣人￣))


That's all! Happy Halloween!