Some songs are loud on purpose. This one is quiet, and it still reached number one.
In the spring of 1981, Chiharu Matsuyama (松山千春) released a song about a long night. It went straight to the top of the charts, and many people still remember it today.
The song
“Nagai Yoru” (長い夜, “The Long Night”) by Chiharu Matsuyama was released on April 21, 1981, as his 10th single. It reached number one on the Oricon weekly chart, his first number one since “Kisetsu no Naka de” (季節の中で), and it was the fifth best-selling single of the year. He also appeared on the TV music show The Best Ten (ザ・ベストテン) for the second time with this song.
The song that almost was not a single
It is said that many people on the production staff did not think this song fit the image of Chiharu Matsuyama. There were strong opinions against releasing it as a single. But it became the biggest hit of his career. Sometimes the people who make a song do not know what the listeners are waiting for.
Why I chose it
I chose this song because autumn is here. In Japanese, we say aki no yonaga (秋の夜長), “the long autumn nights.” As the days get shorter and the air gets cooler, the nights feel long, and I think this is a very good song for that time of year.
What I love about it
What I love most is the guitar in the intro. It stays in my heart. I especially love the very beginning of the intro.
Listen
Listen on Spotify:
A note: the version on Spotify is a recording from 1992 (on the album Kishoutenketsu II, 起承転結 II). The original single was released in 1981.
Also on YouTube Music: Nagai Yoru (長い夜) by Chiharu Matsuyama
A best-of CD by Chiharu Matsuyama (CDJapan, affiliate link):
A compilation of male J-ballads with “Nagai Yoru” in its title (CDJapan, affiliate link):