![Maya Okamoto experienced “a huge gap with the public image” with her hit “TOMORROW”… What is her “goal for the second half of her life” at 50 | Smart FLASH[光文社週刊誌]](https://data.smart-flash.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/28205634/okamoto_mayo_1.jpg "Maya Okamoto experienced “a huge gap with the public image” with her hit “TOMORROW”… What is her “goal for the second half of her life” at 50 | Smart FLASH[光文社週刊誌]")
2024-04-28 21:00:00
Maya Okamoto (Photo: Tetsuo Kimura)
Released in May 1995beginningThe single “DEMAIN” isDramaIt was used as the theme song of “Second Chance” (TBS), ranked number one on the Oricon chart and sold 2 million copies. It’s been 29 years since the shock of “You can get stronger by the number of tears.” Now that she is 50, how has she become stronger? We conducted a 60 Minutes interview to get a closer look at his true colors.
–It seems that you aspired to become a pianist when you were young.
“From the third year of primary schoolpianoFrom then on, my daily routine consisted of sitting at the piano for 5-6 hours every day. I always thought that I would definitely become a pianist in the future. Even now, if I have a piano, I can play for hours until someone stops me.”
–My life changed following listening to Dream Comedy’s song.
“When I was in my first year of high school, I turned on the FM radio when I got home from school, and it was already at the end of the song, but I heard a fake female voice, and it was so amazing that I got goosebumps. I was shocked to find that there are very few Japanese people who can sing so well.
this songDREAMS COME TRUEI found out it was “Future Prediction Map II”, so I went and bought the CD the next day and started singing along as I read the lyrics.
Until then, I only listened to classical music, but I became interested in songs and started listening to artists such as Mariya Takeuchi, Tatsuro Yamashita, Noriyuki Makihara, Chage & Asuka and Toshinobu Kubota.
I just practiced piano every day, but I started going to a karaoke club with my friends two or three times a week, and my dream of “I wanted to be a pianist” gradually turned into “I wanted to be a pianist.” a singer.”did”
–How did you start becoming a singer?
“I created an orchestra by tapping on a synthesizer I had at home, recorded songs by Dream Comedy, Miki Imai, Akina Nakamori and others, and added the chorus.
I sent some recordings to music agencies featured in audition magazines, but they got no attention. However, the talent agency I was introduced to through an acquaintance appreciated my voice and said, “Would you like to come to Tokyo following you graduate from high school?” » “I decided to move to Tokyo.”
–What made you start writing your own songs?
“One day a staff member in my office casually asked me, ‘Why don’t you try composing a song?’ “I bought a book that looked like “Introduction to Composition” and when I read it, “Chord progressions were everywhere.” I didn’t understand the code very well, so I I immediately closed the book (lol).
I hummed the melody I came up with, recorded it on a cassette, put it together like a puzzle, and somehow it became a song. When I asked the staff to listen to it, they said, “You can do it.” ”
So do it all yourself! That’s it. It’s like my aspiring singer has become a singer-songwriter.
–Was “TOMORROW” the first song you composed?
“I don’t remember exactly, but I wrote three songs around the same time. ‘TOMORROW’ was one of them, and the others were ‘BLUE STAR’ and ‘Happi Happy Birthday.’
–Did you have a feeling it would be a success?
“Not at all. None of the staff thought regarding it either (lol). When we did it, it was an average ballad, and it didn’t have the tempo it has now. When he was decided that it would be the theme song for a drama, the producer of the drama uploaded it. They asked me to change the tempo, so it was changed.
– Transform ballad songs into uptempo songs. Have there been any negative reactions?
“I’m very stubborn regarding this, so I can’t accept that the finished product I created at the beginning will be destroyed even by a millimeter. For starters, I’m not good at writing or singing fast tempo songs, and I don’t like ballads. I wanted to start with a ballad song because I liked it…
However, I’m grateful that I got this result by downloading it. I’ve had this uncomfortable feeling for over 10 years (lol).
When it came to songs other than “TOMORROW”, I was brazen and often rebelled once morest the record company’s producers. Even when we discussed revising the lyrics, we were always on the same page. In the end, I lost, but this result (a big blow) was the result of my loss (lol).
–Is there anything you remember regarding the recording?
“I have a little memory, but the director told me much later… The first average ballad we did, “TOMORROW,” didn’t have a beginning chorus. From the first verse, it seems. that the order of the song was: “Please download it because it’s the theme song for a drama” and “please make it the beginning of the chorus”. Even when it came to the “chorus,” he sang it without being satisfied. I think he was singing exactly what he felt.
–For example, have you ever sung a ballad at a concert?
“We played it several times back then. The acoustic version was included in the ballad album “Miss Ano Koro no Sora wo…”, but it was an upbeat hit, so I thought that It would be difficult to replace it, I gave up (lol).
–More than 10 years is a long time. Are you happier now that it’s a success?
“It’s 50/50 (laughs). That’s why I was happy to be able to release my third single, ‘ALONE’. As far as I’m concerned, it’s my first.”
–When you’re watching a drama and your theme song comes on?
“It was a strange feeling. I remember crying. My family was complicated, and my grandparents raised me, and I got my start by moving to Tokyo despite a lot of opposition. “It was great .”Maybe it was a feeling of security.”
–Your first song suddenly became a huge hit.
“But it felt like it was someone else’s business. When we first started, we didn’t show our faces and we didn’t do any media or promotion for regarding six months. Then , the CD came out and it was played on TV and radio, so I mightn’t really feel it. I still felt like it wasn’t my song even though it was. mine.
–Was non-promotion the agency’s strategy?
“Actually, I had always made a promise not to appear publicly. I wanted to become a singer, but I just want the songs I sing to be released to the world. I would be happy just doing that, and I wanted to live a quiet life.
But I was only 21, and following a lot of pressure, I had to appear on TV. If possible, I would like to live peacefully. Create a song, sing it and release it to the world. That’s enough. This position hasn’t changed since I was a teenager.”
–When you first started, wasn’t it difficult to get your position across?
“I just have an inner conflict.”
–When do you feel happy for singing?
“After all, people have told me that my song changed their lives and I’ve been through a lot of tough times, but when I hear words like ‘This song encouraged me and made me positive,’ “I feel like I worked hard. I think it was good. “
――So when do you feel happy?
“I’m not a big drinker and I don’t drink at all at home, but I love the first sip of sparkling wine with friends. It’s a moment of happiness. I’m working hard to achieve this goal.) .”
–It was unexpected.
“Isn’t that the image you have? There was a time when I was really worried because the image of me and the image people thought of me was so different.”
–How was it different?
“When I first started, I was often told that I felt like my room had lace curtains, that I was drinking tea and watching a French film.” I was told a lot regarding it, but it was completely different (lol). Room There is no race, and coffee or latte is better than tea.
I like France, but I like American comics and Marvel films more than French films. I really like “Transformers”. I often go to see it with my son. Now I don’t care regarding that image anymore.”
–Have you ever thought it would be easier to break something?
“A long time ago, a radio personality told me something that I still believe to be true. ”Even if Maya-chan says 100 people go right, if she thinks she goes left… I was like “You’re the type to go left”, and I still think that’s true .
–Next year will be your 30th birthday.
“I’ve had a lot of experiences, I’ve been involved with a lot of people and I’ve had a lot of bad feelings, and now I’m 50 and this is the second half of my life. Everything First, I enjoy the way I want to live my life and I don’t care regarding others. I try to suppress myself as much as I live my life.
We have made a lot of preparations for the environment, so there is a lot to look forward to from now on. From now on, I hope to live my life without regrets.”
Okamoto mayo
Born January 9, 1974 in Kochi Prefecture. Debuted in May 1995 with the single “TOMORROW”. Released hit songs such as “FOREVER” and “Alone.” On May 10, a concert will take place at Blues Alley Japan (Meguro, Tokyo).
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