Some times ago, Rika Ishikawa gave a concert in the same live house place as this time for Takao Horiuchi. Of course many people came to see this artist.
Takao sang many of his famous songs and the public felt very fast in love with him. When he began to sing an old song (1986), Seishun Oeba, almost all the audience has been taken by a huge emotion, and couldn't hold the tears while facing an interpretation like this. It was so different from the album version of 1986. Takao' strong point is really to take part of this song, like if he was living each inside of him.
With a setlist which is a mix of different music styles (folk, pop, rock, etc.), this talented artist overwhelmed his public, who laughed with his jokes, cried, sang with him, etc.
Some days ago the laqst single of Takao Horiuchi has been released: Omokagebashi / Toki no nagare ni.
I introduced you Takao some times ago, so I think it can be interesting to discover this folk artist.
The song Toki no nagare ni is a nice fold song, and you can hear the public which has been recorded the day of the live report I made.
For Omokagebashi, Takao wrote a nice and melancholy ballad.
We would like to express our sincere and deepest sympathy to everyone who has been affected by the huge earthquake which happened in eastern Japan. Our prays go to those who died and suffered.
Now, Up-Front Group as well as the related artists, the associated companies and their artists will launch the "Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu" (in English "Do your best Japan, Love will win") Project.
During this project we will organize many activities, like songs for example, for the people who suffered from the disaster as well as for their family and everyone, with our small possibilities of helping and collecting.
First of all, on April 9th from 11AM, in the park of Yokohama, with the support of executive committees and joint sponsorship, 98 people of the Up-Front Group as well as the related artists will take part of the project "Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu" ～From Yokohama with love～.
The song of KAN "Ai wa Katsu" will be sing by everyone. Then the event will take place not only in the park of Yokohama, "Yamashita Kouen" but also in Motomachi and Chinatown.
Fund-raising activities will be carried out until 4PM.
Takao Horiuchi will lead the charity song Ai wa Katsu with 131 people from Up-Front Group as well as the associated companies. This song will be available on Recochoku (official download platform) and other websites on the same day, April 9th.
In addition, from now, each concert, each event as well as HP, etc. will invite for donations money for eastern Japan.
This activity of collecting funds will be for the Japanese Red CrossSociety.
Up-Front Group as well as associated companies will go to the disaster area for the restoration.
All of our artists and staff will support the slogan "Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu" and continue to give his assistance in the future.
Thank you all in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
Up-Front is not just working for Hello! Project artists and producing food with Hanabatakebokujō. This is why this time I will introduce you a famous and really talented artist, Takao Horiuchi.
Biography
Takao Horiuchi (堀内孝雄) is born in 1949 in Abeno (one of the 24 wards of Ōsaka) from two parents who owned a restaurant. In this restaurant, there was a radio from which it was possible to hear old popular songs. While his parents were busy in the kitchen, Takao memorized and sang many songs. And thanks to his nice voice, his grand-mother was always saying he would become a singer.
His older sister was usually listening to western music. Then, one day, thanks to this, he had like an electric choc while listening a song from the Beatles. Takao was in grammar school during this revelation.
Thanks to his older brother, they borrowed many albums of the Beatles. Her older sister bought him a guitar and he learnt how to play by himself. After this the boom of the electric guitar came. Takao entered a club of music during college as singer.
During the university, Takao created a band called Peace Makers Foolish Brothers Foot. Some times after, he met Chinpei in Kobe and both had the opportunity of becoming professional. In 1971 they began their own band, Alice. To make a living from a band was not easy, but it was their own decision to live from music carrier. So the group Alice began in the Kansai (Kyōto and Ōsaka area). For some years they had difficult times but after, it became a huge and famous band all over Japan which stopped their activities in 1981 (even if they had some activities after).
In 1986 Takao wrote a song for the theme song of a television show for TV Asahi and worked for it. Alice area is still present with Takao but now he has his own carrier, full of folk, pop and rock songs with a touch of melancholy. He has released many albums and singles and is still active!
Live-report
So to introduce you his own musical world, I made a report for you about his concert on saturday.
The concert of Takao Horiuchi was in the culture's center of Nerima, a beautiful live house. Of course many people were there and bought many goodies.
When the concert began, the public became crazy!! He directly sang and the fans applauded enthusiastically. Just after, Takao introduced himself and talked a bit. He said many funny jokes and welcomed the late people with a big smile. It is easy to see his charisma on stage, he knows how to talk with the public.
Takao Horiuchi
He sang some pop and folk songs, full of melancholy. Then he took his guitar to play a medley of some Alice' songs. Takao played pop but also rock songs, the public stood up, he was a real eclectic showman!! Of course he is really talented to play the guitar as well and he made nice solos.
The lights were also magnificent. Following this, he sang some songs of his last album, like "Sayonara ha Iwanai", who just thrilled me so much!!!
Takao Horiuchi
He surprised his whole public while asking to record the voice of the audience singing a song. So he made the public repeat with his musical director, surely for a nice surprise in the future!!
But it was not the end, Takao gave a show of almost 3 hours, singing and giving so much pleasure to his fans. They all felt happy to be part of a live like this.
Seriously, it would be a mess to not try to listen to his last album, "Thank You～Aisubeki Otokotachi～". Personally, I felt in love with "<Kimikyoku>Akogare Asobi～Harukana Wadachi～Itoshiki Hibi('99 Remake Version)" for example.
And on April 27th, Takao will have a new single "Omokage Bashi", do not miss it!
As usual, here is a special picture of this great and nice artist just before the show.
