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Hosono: “Koiwa Momoiro” Surpasses the Original
Hosono: So, let me ask an easier question. How did you work on “Koiwa Momoiro”?
Sam: The instrumental parts were recorded in a small apartment in Kochi. The vocals and ornamental elements were recorded in a hotel in Tokyo.
Hosono: You can record anywhere.
Sam: Yeah, actually, I didn’t have a proper recording mic at the time, so I bought a secondhand mic for about 15,000 yen at a thirft shop in Shimokitazawa. When I had Makoto Kubota master the track, he told me, “I could have given you a U47 or something, but this mic you brought sounds great.”
Hosono: What about the lyrics? You translated them very accurately into English.
Sam: I used Google Translate.
Hosono: Really? [laughs] You can do that?
Sam: Actually, when I first saw the result, I wasn’t satisfied with the quality. While listening to the original track, I felt there were parts where I could make the expression more poetic, so I adjusted the lyrics as I went.
Hosono: Considering that, it turned out amazing. It was even better than the original.
Sam: I’m really honored.
Hosono: “Koiwa Momoiro” was written over 50 years ago. What were you doing 50 years ago?
Sam: I was probably in a different dimension back then. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity since that time.
Hosono: I see, you weren’t even born yet. Were you born in America?
Sam: Yes, I was born in California.
Hosono: So, did you listen to a lot of pop music from that era?
Sam: Not really. When I was young, I listened to mainstream music, like the soundtrack to SPACE JAM, but soon after, I ventured into the world of jazz.
Hosono: If you liked pop music, it wouldn’t have turned out this way.
Sam: I don’t know about that [laughs].
Hosono: Well then, shall we listen to “Koi wa Momoiro”?
