Saijō's career spans over three decades. He gained popularity again in the 1990s in the cartoon Chibi Maruko-chan and by releasing a cover version of the Enrique Iglesias song "Bailamos". He also sang the theme song and became the character (specially created for the Japanese version — Lucky Mucho) in The Emperor's New Groove and also performed "Turn a Turn", the first opening theme song for ∀ Gundam.
In the late 1990s, he also appeared on an episode of the original Japanese cooking show Iron Chef as a guest judge, for the Rice Battle, involving Iron Chef Japanese Masaharu Morimoto and Chinese chef Masayoshi Kimura.
In 2003, around the time that his 85th single was to be released, he suffered a mild stroke while performing overseas in Korea. After rehabilitation, in 2006, he released his 86th single, "Meguriai". Lyrics were set to André Gagnon's "Comme au Premier Jour".
In 2009, he released a downloadable single, "Vegetable Wonderful" which is tied to the NHK program, Time for Vegetables.
He married for the first time in 2001. With his wife Miki Makihara, he has one daughter and two sons.
His sister was the wife of Masaru Takumi, a powerful Japanese organized crime figure assassinated in 1997.
Saijo died from acute heart failure in Yokohama hospital on May 16, 2018.
Hideki Saijo debuted onto the Japanese music scene on March 25, 1972. Since then, he has been a trail blazer in the Japanese music industry. He was the first Japanese artist to peform as a solo act in a stadium--for ten consecutive years. His fans brought flashlights to the first stadium concert. The following year, penlights were sold at the venue--for the first time! His chart topping hits and unforgettable melodies make his music legendary. Hit songs like, "Jonetsu no Arashi", "Kizudarake no Lola", "Young Man - YMCA", "Galundo", "Bailamos, Tonight we Dance" and many others are still a favorite today!
His illustrious career has spanned over three decades and continues! On Sept. 27, 2006, Hideki released his 86th single, "Meguriai". The original melody was taken from the Canadian Pianst, Andre Gagnon. The hauntingly beautiful melody and the deep, soulful lyrics, it is a perfect song for Hideki--now 51 years old.
A new release isn't newsworthy but in Hideki's case, it is! In June, 2003, Hideki was in Korea, doing a corporate gig when he realized that something was wrong. Somehow, he finished the show but collapsed afterwards. He didn't know it then, but he had suffered a minor stroke! Immediately after the stroke, he suffered from neuropathy and most importantly, he lost control of his ability to control the notes that he sang. With rehabilitation, his voice returned and he continues his career!
His determination to continue his career, his integrity and passion for music lives on today.
月下美人
西城秀樹 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あなたひとりで ふたりかも
陽ざしがつくる ふくらみと
月のひかりの もうひとり
あなた行く道 ふたつでも
手をかしましょう このぼくの
月のひかりの うす化粧
お嬢さん お嬢さん
あなた抱いても もうひとり
レェスのフリル 咲きほこる
月のひかりの 妖精が
みぎとひだりに 飛んで行く
思いのたけを つかまえて
こんやの月に うつしだす
光のなかの 恋心
あなたふたりの ままですか
ぼくに任せて みませんか
あらい浄めて かがやかす
まどわされない 恋心
The lyrics to 西城秀樹's song "月下美人" (Gekka Bijin) describe a scene of a young man asking a young woman to walk with him in the moonlight. He admires her beauty and sees her as a "second person" created by the light of the moon. He offers to hold her hand and lead her down her path, expressing his romantic feelings for her. The woman, however, also sees herself as a "second person" under the moonlight, and mentions the fairy-like creatures that dance around her in the night. Yet, the man persists in asking her to give him a chance to be with her, and assures her that he will keep her pure.
This song is rich in romantic imagery and metaphors, drawing on the natural beauty of the moon and its light. The lyrics also highlight the idea of duality, as both the man and the woman see themselves and each other as a "second person" under the same moon. The imagery of the fairy-like creatures in the woman's verse adds to the magical and fantastical quality of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
お嬢さん お嬢さん
Miss, Miss
あなたひとりで ふたりかも
You may be alone or with someone
陽ざしがつくる ふくらみと
The shape of the shadow created by the sunlight
月のひかりの もうひとり
Another person in the moonlight
あなた行く道 ふたつでも
Even if you have two paths to choose
手をかしましょう このぼくの
Let me take your hand
月のひかりの うす化粧
The faint makeup of the moonlight
重なる影に 恋心
Love hidden in overlapping shadows
お嬢さん お嬢さん
Miss, Miss
あなた抱いても もうひとり
Even if you hold her, she is alone
レェスのフリル 咲きほこる
Lace frills blooming
月のひかりの 妖精が
The fairy of moonlight
みぎとひだりに 飛んで行く
Flying left and right
思いのたけを つかまえて
Capture all the feelings
こんやの月に うつしだす
Reflect them on this evening moon
光のなかの 恋心
Love in the middle of the light
あなたふたりの ままですか
Will you remain as a couple?
ぼくに任せて みませんか
Can you leave it to me?
あらい浄めて かがやかす
Purify it and make it shine
まどわされない 恋心
Love not deceived
Writer(s): 井荻 麟, 小林 亜星, 小林 亜星, 井荻 麟
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-cu3ev2yi9j
月下美人🎶
いい曲ですね～❤
秀樹さんの歌唱! 癒やされます❤
@ako390
聞きたかったんです。ありがとうございます。良い歌。そして難しい歌。ヒデキはやたら難しい曲をさらっと歌っちゃうから。
@163.nightgames
作曲家 小林亜星さんが絶讚した曲ですね🤗
音の幅が…
神秘的🎶💋
@user-pc2eb8le6p
ええな！ 一生ヒデキ！
@user-ro6fm3by2b
∀ガンダムの挿入歌ですが
いい歌です。
@tigerflower166
名曲ですね😌
@user-cu3ev2yi9j
秀樹さん やっぱり歌うまいなあ!
歌唱力! 凄い!
@ryueneyr
探してた
@kevinriders75
Good song <3
@Red.Decimo
Powerful song... ❤️