My first and lasting memory of Naoko Kawai（河合奈保子） has always been that of the young girl with the cute snaggletooth who literally popped up on the stage at the 1981 Kohaku as the top batter in the frilly dress and gushed out “Smile For Me”. Quintessential aidoru! But, y’know, I never managed to get any of her albums or singles until somewhat later when she took a more mature direction in her music.

There was a trend in Japanese popular music from about the late 70s and well into the 80s in which established singers didn’t just go for the Western-influenced genres of New Music and City Pop, but literally went across the Pacific to record albums with American producers and fellow artists to produce what was basically American popular music of the time. Momoe Yamaguchi（山口百恵）had “LA Blue” (one track profiled[1979]))and Mariya Takeuchi（竹内まりや） did half of “Miss M” (already profiled) Stateside. Naoko Kawai had her day in the US sun for the first time with “Daydream Coast”in 1984, in which she did a bossa nova duet with David Foster!

Strangely enough, the very first Naoko album I bought was this one called “9 1/2″. Her 12th album, this was her second production in the US. It didn’t make any waves in Japan or in the States, but I think it’s still an interesting album since it was the first time for my ears to hear the aidoru push the crossover envelope. Of the 9 songs she put down, the first two tracks are the ones I remember the most since I first bought the LP in the late 80s. The album cover has her photographed against the backdrop of the Grand Canyon, and sure enough, the videos here have her traipsing across America. “Say It’s Over”is the first track and a ballad. Right from the start, I could hear that this was not an aidoru tune….obviously since it had been written and composed by Tom Keane, Michael Landau and Mike Himelstein with the lyrics changed into Japanese by Masao Urino（売野雅勇）. I can’t really put it into words but it just sounds like American pop of the 80s. I half-expected Peter Cetera and other members of the band Chicago to suddenly jump into the chorus. Vocally, Kawai is allowed to let some of the richer lower register of her voice to emerge.

Naoko stops off in Texas to perform the uptempo 2nd track, “Turn It Up” with Tom Keane on backup vocal. Listening to this one, I can just picture the old big hair, shocking pink blouses and tight jeans….although Naoko is not wearing any of that in the video….thank the heavens.

“Finding Each Other” has her traveling to The Big Apple this time. This is another David Foster project, although Naoko’s partner in this one is Steve Lukather from TOTO. Still, this is a typically 80s Foster melody desperately looking for a “Karate Kid”sequel to grace. Naoko’s voice is a bit thin here against the instruments but acquits herself well in the English language.

Again, “9 1/2″didn’t break the mold when it came to joint Japanese-American musical relationships, but it did answer for me for the first time a “What If”question as to how an aidoru could go beyond the usual parameters of a Japanese recording company with the help of some high-powered American production staff.

Naoko Kawai — 9 1/2