The 1970s in Japan is renowned as the heyday of City Pop. It was an era before the burst of the economic bubble, marked by material abundance, and Japan’s status as the world’s second-largest economy. City Pop encapsulates the atmosphere of that period.
Among the notable City Pop tracks, “Stay With Me,” known as the debut song of Miki Matsubara, remains beloved and iconic, representing Japan in the ’70s.
Miki Matsubara, “Stay With Me”
The full title of Miki Matsubara’s song “Stay With Me” is “Door of Summer Nights, Stay With Me.” Originally composed as “Stay With Me,” the title was hastily modified to “Door of Summer Nights” due to the existence of another song with the same title during the composition period.
Despite being released on November 5, 1979, and having a long history, the song maintains a sophisticated feel that has not aged a bit. It continues to garner online popularity, portraying a timeless appeal.
While it did not achieve remarkable success upon release, reaching only 28th on the Oricon Singles Chart and 13th on the Album Chart, the song has experienced a resurgence over time. In the 2010s, with the revival of City Pop, it secured a position within the top 100 charts on major platforms and even claimed the top spot on the Spotify global chart for two weeks.
Miki Matsubara’s Signature Piece
“Stay With Me” not only marked Miki Matsubara’s debut but also stands as one of her signature pieces. The success of her debut song propelled her into instant stardom. Despite maintaining consistent musical activity after her debut, she struggled to replicate the same level of popularity, leading to psychological stress.
Ultimately, despite several album releases, none matched the acclaim of her debut, adding to the pressure she felt after gaining recognition with this song. After making a name for herself with “Stay With Me,” she faced intense stress, and her subsequent works couldn’t quite capture the same level of success.
A Song Unbelievable for Its 1970s Origin
In reality, “Stay With Me” is a song that’s hard to believe was created in the 1970s. Its refined atmosphere and perfection make it timeless, resonating even today without a hint of outdatedness.
Listening to the lyrics, both the title “Stay With Me” and the recurring phrase “Stay With Me” in the middle of the song might evoke a sense of desperate struggle to hold onto the fading Japanese economic bubble. It could be interpreted as a poignant effort to grasp the lost 30 years, a term that emerged with the decline of Japan’s bubble economy in the 1980s.