HAYAKAWA, MEGUMI yokosuka 17 elegy WTP-17677

A fascinating debut single from Japanese female rock vocalist Megumi Hayakawa is the focus for this entry. We are looking at her 1985 7-inch single, “Yokosuka 17 Elegy,” released on the Eastworld label with the catalog number WTP-17677.

This 45 RPM single served as Hayakawa’s debut, and it’s a fascinating blend of styles. The A-side, “Yokosuka 17 Elegy,” was penned by superstar songwriters (Masao Urino and Hiroaki Serizawa), who were famous for major pop hits. As a result, the core melody and lyrics are pure “kayōkyoku” (Japanese pop).

However, the arrangement and instrumentation, handled by Masao Nakajima, push the song firmly into the heavy metal and hard rock territory. This contrast is a key feature of the release. Hayakawa, who had fronted her own metal band before her debut, unleashes her powerful, slightly husky, high-tone vocals, perfectly suited for the rock arrangement.

The single features two tracks:
A: Yokosuka 17 Elegy
B: Rock’n’Roll Queen

Fans have noted the A-side’s strong resemblance to other hits by the same songwriting team from that era, such as songs for The Checkers and Yoko Ishino. While this debut single failed to crack the Oricon Top 100, it was accepted by hard rock fans and successfully set the stage for her full-length debut album, which was released the following month and did chart successfully.