There are two ways when something finishes. One is the end in a minute like fireworks bloom and fall in a night sky. Another is gradual one as the Long Goodbye (by Raymond Chandler). It ends slowly and slowly. What are you speaking of? you might ask. I believe that Off Course took the latter. They were a Japanese popular band who broke up in 1989. I think, however, that they began breaking up, saying good-bye in 1984. Why did I suggest thus? The Best Year of My Life brought the idea to me. It is the 11th studio album of Off Course, released in 1984 early summer. I believe that it was the beginning of the end of Off Course.
So, why on earth did you think like that? you might tell off. Well, I am, first of all, introducing the band simply and explaining why.
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The Best Year of My Life
Released on June 21, 1984
FUN HOUSE
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1. 恋びとたちのように
2. 夏の日
3. 僕等の世界に
4. 君が、嘘を、ついた
5. 緑の日々
6. 愛を切り裂いて
7. 愛よりも
8. 気をつけて
9. ふたりで生きている
※Blue lines are my recommendations.
Produced by Off Course
Arranged by Off Course
Composed by
Oda Kazumasa & Matsuo Kazuhiko
Written by
Oda Kazumasa,
Oma Hitose & Matsuo Kazuhiko
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Off Course was a band who contained Oda Kazumasa, a Japanese popular singer-songwriter. He formed a band in his high-school days. It was, needless to say, future Off Course. You cannot become a bandsman alone. Oda needed other players, of course. One of them was Suzuki Yasuhiro. In 1970, they made their major debut. With some changes of the members, Off Course had gone on and on. Suzuki had always been there with Oda. He was a sine qua non to Oda so long as they were Off Course.
In the end of 1970's, they started going like hot cakes after almost a decade of adversity. There was one problem, but. Most people got Off Course as Oda and Others. All their hit songs were written by Oda and it was reasonable in a way. In other words, he became the leading figure of the band on the way to stardom. It was easy for the general to get and they could be popular. That kind of bored Suzuki. It doesn't mean that he had liked to be in the spotlight as Oda. Suzuki was very fond of American pops (sweet 60's!). But the more popular Off Course went, the more songs written by Oda they had to play. In other words, they were almost forced into going in accordance with Oda's music. Suzuki was bored with it and desired to play a lot of kinds of music as American pops.
One day, Suzuki declared a withdrawal from Off Course out of the frustration. Finally, he formally left the band in 1983. Oda was pretty puzzled by the blow. Thumbs down! I cannot find the way without Suzuki. he thought. Should I break up the band now? No, it makes no one happy. No. He thought it over and decided to spend several years as preparation time before the dissolution. How should we go on after Off Course breaks up? We should grope each way in the preparation. they decided.
In 1984, they released the 11th studio album The Best Year of My Life. They tried to find a way after the dissolution through making the songs. Namely, they produced the songs with looking into the future after Off Course gave way. The beginning of the end of Off Course. In 1986, Oda made a debut as one solo singer. In 1989, Off Course officially broke up.