Opening the Midnight Door to the World: Miki Matsubara's Journey of Rediscovery (1979-2020s)

Opening the Midnight Door to the World: Miki Matsubara's Journey of Rediscovery (1979-2020s)

The most widely known representative song of Miki Matsubara is her debut song "Midnight's Door - Stay With Me," released in 1979. The song, with lyrics by Tokuko Miura and music composed and arranged by Tetsushi Hayashi, was unique immediately after its debut due to the mature singing ability and deep expressiveness of Miki Matsubara, who was only 19 at the time. The song's urban, sophisticated AOR style sound, combined with the lingering image of love unfolding in the city at night, made it a masterpiece that drew in the hearts of those who heard it. The electric piano riff, light and groovy bass, and brass accents were woven together to create a fresh and urban impression in Japan at the time.

Eventually, this song would "reappear" in the world in the 2020s, transcending the 1979 era. The opportunity began in 2020, when Indonesian YouTuber Rainych released a cover of the song in Japanese. The faithful reproduction of the song with her soft and clear voice captured the hearts of music fans around the world, and their attention spilled over to the original Miki Matsubara. The original soundtrack rapidly increased in playback on YouTube and Spotify, and listeners in the U.S., Brazil, South Korea, and France, among others, were surprised and impressed, asking why they had never heard of her before. Miki Matsubara's name has transcended 40 years and borders, and has come to be spoken of once again as a symbol of "Japanese City Pop".

Behind this revival was the spread of the song on social networking sites such as TikTok and YouTube. The retro and pleasant sound of "Midnight at the Door" was used in many short movies because it blended easily with the visuals. Eventually, it was embraced by younger audiences as "nostalgic yet new Japanese music," and interest in Japan's 70s and 80s music culture itself began to grow. The urban, nostalgic sound of Matsubara's music fits the sensibilities of the 2020s, and it continues to be played not simply as music of the past, but as "the sound we want to hear now.

The wave of reevaluation has also extended to analog and CD reissues: in 2021, the 7-inch analog version of "Midnight's Door - Stay With Me" was re-released and sold out immediately. In addition, their early albums "POCKET PARK" and "Who Are You?" were also re-released as LPs and CDs, attracting attention at record stores in Japan and abroad. Especially in Europe and the United States, Japanese city pop has been fused with DJ culture and lo-fi beats, and is being actively adopted as a vintage sound. Miki Matsubara's music, with its sophisticated chord progressions and flexible grooves, has greatly influenced contemporary trackmakers and musicians.

Music critics and international media have taken notice of this phenomenon, with Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and others featuring her work, calling her "the hidden gem of Japanese City Pop. The world has finally noticed the song," and the songwriter and arranger, Tetsushi Hayashi, has also been a member of the band. In an interview, arranger Tetsuji Hayashi said, "I never dreamed it would be played this much.

The "Midnight Door," which opened quietly that night in 1979, has opened again more than 40 years later. This time, in front of music fans not only in Japan but around the world. Beyond the door, the power of music that resonates beyond time and borders was spreading. Miki Matsubara's voice is not a memory of a bygone era, but a sound of our time that still lives on, reaching deep into the ears and hearts of many.

In addition to "Midnight's Door," there are many other great songs that convey her appeal. Ai wa Energetic" (1980) is a positive song that uses the rising tide of love as a metaphor for "energy," and it is impressive to see the 20-year-old Matsubara singing as if she is pouring out her passion in a straightforward manner. The song is cheerful yet sincere, and it directly expresses the emotional vibrancy of those who are in love.

Neat 3:00 P.M." (1981) evokes the soft light of afternoon and the tranquility of the city. The song depicts a sense of freedom, not in the sense of "not working," but in the sense of using time for oneself, and together with the jazzy arrangement, it invites the listener into a calm and refined mood.

Cryin'" (1982), composed with English lyrics, is a ballad that delicately depicts the tranquility at the end of a love affair, and shows a glimpse of Matsubara's international sensibility. The work conjures up images of her shedding tears alone in a bar late at night, and her voice is imbued with a quiet passion.

In addition, "Bay City Romance" (1983) is an impressive song with a light AOR sound set in a seaside city. With a freshness reminiscent of California air and a tenderness that envelops the memory of love, this song is perfect background music for a drive or a trip.

What emerges through these songs is the multifaceted nature of Miki Matsubara as an artist. She was not only a singer who colored the city pop era, but also a rare artist who could express with a single voice the subtle fluctuations of love and loneliness, freedom and sadness, urbanity and emotion. That is why her music continues to be discovered and to touch the hearts of many listeners even today.