Throwback Thursday Artist Profile: Chisato Moritaka

    Chisato Moritaka is one of my favorite idols from years gone by. As a matter of fact, she's still performing and recording to this day! Yes! She is very active on her youtube channel (The video I am sharing is from said official channel so be sure to subscribe!) both re-recording old songs and uploading old PVs and performances!
    A little history about Chisato before you move onto the video. Japan was first introduced to its "Dance Queen" by way of the Pocari Sweat Image Girl contest in 1986. She won and debuted the next year with the single and album titled "New Season". By the way, those new to the idol world will see a pattern in how idols become....idols. They more often than not win contests and catapult into stardom! After her debut, she had many hit songs and albums right up until her brief retirement in the late nineties. Some of my personal favorite songs by her include: "The Stress", "17sai" "Kaze ni Fukarete", "Teriyaki Burger", "Rock 'N Omelette" and "Kono Machi". The latter song (which I share here in an amazing live version) was also covered by Hello! Project group, C-ute in 2013. Furthermore, as an Up Front artist, she has worked closely with artists amongst Hello! Project. She's worked alongside Mano Erina (who covered her "Rock 'N Omelette" live), Abe Natumi (who covered "The Stress") and wrote the lyrics to Country Musume's debut single, "Futari no Hokkaido" just to name a few. Beyond the normal idol activities, she's also unique in that she not only pens some of her songs, but also performs some of the instruments on the tracks themselves! Drums are most common and there are many videos on her youtube channel of her playing. Anyhow, I will revisit Chisato Moritaka another time down the road, but until then watch this video and travel back to the Golden Age of Idols....

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