In 2001, Akiko signed with Universal Jazz.
After she had gained highest praises at International Jazz Meeting in New York,
she recorded her debut album in Paris. Legendary French Producer, Henri Renaud, produced this album. Her debut album "Girl Talk" was selected as Swing Journal's Gold Disc (Seal of Approval) and ranked at 1 of Jazz Chart in Original Confidence (Japanese Bill Board). Right after the debut, akiko made success with her debut concerts in 4 major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka). And in October, she performed at Blue Note Tokyo with her trio. As the result of these aggressive activities, she won New Star Award of 2001, Swing Journal Jazz Disc Award.
In 2002, Akiko released her 2nd album "Hip Pop Bop" which features 2 songs produced by UK's pop unit, Swing Out Sister. The album also ranked at 1 of Jazz Chart in Original Confidence. In summer, she appeared with her own trio at several jazz festivals in Japan and captured more than 30,000 audiences.
In 2003, Akiko released her 3rd album "akiko's holiday" which was recorded in New York. She picked up 12 jazz standards sung by legendary singer, Billie Holiday. On several tunes, she sang modern way in R&B/Hip Hop touch, with several guests like Roy Hargrove. This album was selected as Swing Journal's Gold Disc (Seal of Approval).
In October (of 2003), Akiko was awarded "Defining Beauty Award" by world-famous cosmetic company "ESTÉE LAUDER". Right after receiving the award, she released her 4th album "Mood Swings". Tatsuo Sunaga, A Japanese famous DJ produced this album. With this album, Akiko has started to appeal to not only jazz fans but also young audience as "The coolest jazz singer in Japan". As the result, she won Jazz Vocal Award of 2003, Swing Journal Jazz Disc Award.
In 2004, Akiko collaborated with Tatsuo Sunaga again and released her 5th album "Mood Indigo". This album was awarded ADLIB magazine’s 2004 Best National Club/Dance Disc Award. In September, she performed at Tai-chung Jazz Festival in Taiwan and captured more than 6,000 audiences.
In June 2005, Akiko released her first live album “Simply Blue” which was recorded at jazz club, Motion Blue Yokohama. In November, She released a new studio album produced by Yasuharu Konishi (ex. Pizzicato Five) titled “Little Miss Jazz & Jive Goes Around the World!” which focused on her musical roots; jive music. In connection with “Little Miss…”, she produced a jive compilation CD titled “akiko presents Rockin’ Doo Wop, Jump & Jive.”
In April 2006, Akiko released her first best album “Collage.” In July, she made Blue Note tour (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka), and the live performance in Osaka was released as digital album on iTunes Store.
Akiko’s 2007 started in Brazil, for the recording of her new album “Vida” with her co-producer, GIRA MUNDO. The album was supported by famous Brazilian musicians incl. Marcos Suzao and Art Lindsey, which was released in April. She made a Japan tour with this album and also performed at major pop festivals incl. Fuji Rock Festival. Also, during this period, her past albums were released in Korea that she visited Korea for both promotion and performing at jazz festival.
In the end of same year (2007), akiko released her first Christmas album “a white album” which was produced by Yasuharu Konishi. Simultaneously, her second jive compilation “akiko presents Rockin’ Doo Wop, Jump & Jive Vol. 2” was released targeting for the party seasons.
In 2008, after the successful Billboard Live/Blue Note tour in spring, akiko started to work on two albums simultaneously in studio, by self-producing her albums. Concepts for these albums were to express “What’s Jazz?” from two different points of view. “What’s Jazz? -STYLE-” released in October expressed her love to good old acoustic jazz, whereas “What’s Jazz? -SPIRIT-” released in November was to express her vision as the music should always reflect the trend, collaborating with track makers of club music field incl. Yukihiro Fukutomi and Hajime Yoshizawa.
In June 2009, Akiko released her new album “HIT PARADE” which was a tribute to LONDON NITE, the legendary rock DJ event in Tokyo, where she largely spent her times as a teenager. Having Kensho Onuki, who was the organizer of LONDON NITE as her supervisor, akiko picked various pop/rock hit tunes of 60’s-90’s which were ‘LONDON NITE classics’ and collaborated with LONDON NITE DJs/producers for each track creation
In summer of 2009, Akiko visited Oslo, Norway to make her new album with the producer/keyboardist and also the owner of Jazzland label, Bugge Wesseltoft. During her stay in Norway, she performed with Bugge at PUNKT, one of the most cutting-edge music festivals in Norway. The album is scheduled to be released in early December
Akiko has also collaborated for various artists incl. Haime Yoshizawa, STUDIO APARTMENT, Yukihiro Fukutomi, arvin homa aya, Yuji Ohno, [re:jazz], just to name a few. Akiko is one of the few vocalists whose total creation are paid attention; not only her music but also the album covers and her own fashion.
Official Website: http://www.universal-music.co.jp/jazz/j_jazz/akiko/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/akikojazz
Old Devil Moon
Akiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon begins bewitching me.
It's that old devil moon that you stole from the skies.
It's that old devil moon in your eyes.
You and you glance make this romance too hot to handle.
Stars in the night, blazing their light can't hold a candle;
To your razzle-dazzle.
Full of butterflies inside.
Want to cry, want to croon, want to laugh like a loon.
It's that old devil moon in your eyes.
Just when I think, I'm free as a dove.
Old devil moon, deep in your eyes, blinds me with love.
In Akiko's song Old Devil Moon, the lyrics reflect the singer's feelings towards a person she has just met. As she looks at this person, she notices something in their eyes that begins to bewitch her. The "old devil moon" steals her heart and holds her under its spell. The lyrics suggest that the person's gaze and their presence are irresistible and too hot to handle, with the stars in the night being unable to hold a candle to their charm. The person's "razzle-dazzle" puts the singer in a state of enchantment, sending her soaring high and wide on a magic carpet ride, full of butterflies inside. The singer is so smitten that she wants to cry, croon, and laugh like a loon, all because of that "old devil moon" in the person's eyes. The final lines suggest that the singer is blinded by love, unable to escape the spell of the "old devil moon" despite her attempts to free herself.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at you and suddenly, something in your eyes I see;
When I gaze at you, I notice something captivating in your eyes;
Soon begins bewitching me.
It gradually fascinates me;
It's that old devil moon that you stole from the skies.
To be precise, it's the olden villainous moon you snatched from the sky;
It's that old devil moon in your eyes.
The very one that now resides in your eyes;
You and you glance make this romance too hot to handle.
It's your gaze that makes this affection unmanageably intense;
Stars in the night, blazing their light can't hold a candle;
Even the stars shining brightly at nighttime, are not as captivating;
To your razzle-dazzle.
To your bewitching presentation;
You've got me flyin' high and wide, on a magic carpet ride;
You have elevated my joy and enthusiasm, and I feel like I'm on an incredible adventure;
Full of butterflies inside.
My heart is full of fluttering butterflies;
Want to cry, want to croon, want to laugh like a loon.
I wish to cry, serenade, and giggle ecstatically;
It's that old devil moon in your eyes.
It's that sinister moon in your eyes;
Just when I think, I'm free as a dove.
Whenever I feel like I've regained my liberty;
Old devil moon, deep in your eyes, blinds me with love.
The malevolent moon that dwells in your eyes, ends up overwhelming me with love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: Burton Lane, E. Y. Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KateCat 3
Wonderful dear friend, j'adore Akiko, merci warm hug Kate
yoichiro tani
Thank you dear Kate!! I'm glad you liked her singing!!
lastknowngood0
Yochiro, I love this sweet talented sexy Japanese Beauty, man is she sweet! Kudos to you my friend! Take care man!
lastknowngood0
@yoichiro tani 10:27 AM (3 minutes ago)
Nice to read you Yochirosan. Hope you are keeping warm in Sapporo, Hokkaido. I hope I remembered correctly.
yoichiro tani
Hello, dear Jerry! How are you? I'm glad that you liked her song. I am pleased to meet you on this channel. I hope that you will be well this year. best regard yoichiro.