REQUEST

Self-covers and songs written for films and television dramas. The recipients of those songs included Akina Nakamori, Naoko Kawai and Miho Nakayama, the popular idols of the day. Mariya makes them this evergreen: what a feat. Her somewhat bitter ballads 2 and 6, originally given to Akina, show how easily a songwriter's point of view can cross generations. The greatest surprise is Hiroko Yakushimaru, who joins on track 5: her strikingly beautiful voice eclipses even Tatsuro and Mariya. Track 9 is a computer groove that carries 'Plastic Love' further.