"LAST PRETENDER" & "AMENIC" Konnichi-wa! Once again, it’s double-review time. The two subjects are “Last Pretender” and its B-side counterpart “Amenic”. These two songs came to us in late 1980 (I would guess not long after the 6th and final episode of “Pink Lady & Jeff” was recorded). By this time, they broke away from the bubblegum style and fused disco with their sound. But for these two songs, they experimented with the new-wave style (for which the group Devo is well-known). “Last Pretender” was fast-paced yet a little on the mellow side. The song began with the sound of an opening door, followed by an eerie noise which sounds like you’re walking through a portal. Then after you’ve walked through the portal, the music begins. It almost sounds like the type of song that could be performed at an outdoors party. Actually, I visualized an outdoors party with Pink Lady as the source of entertainment. During the bridge sections where MIE was singing solo, I visualized KEI on the phone talking to some guy she was dating. I somehow had a feeling that she wasn’t fully committed to the relationship; she only went along because he really liked her and she did not want to hurt his feelings. After the second bridge, my mind took me back and forth between the outdoors party and KEI on the phone. As the song fades, it is confirmed that KEI’s relationship will soon be over; her final words being: “Sorry… I have to go now.” KEI hangs up, and the song is finished. “Amenic” was just fast paced. It sounded like a fusion of 1960-style rock and 1980-style electronica. For this song, I visualized MIE & KEI performing on an outdoor beach stage – just mere yards away from the water – audience all around them… surfers and swimmers behind them, lifeguards and spectators in front of them – all going crazy! This scene may sound like a setup for “Sindbad at the Beach”… but in my opinion, the music sets its own scene. While it is unknown if these two songs were performed live or if they got any airplay, I think they would make for some kick-ass music videos. Once again, I thank my fellow Chicagoan Joshua Parris for bringing Pink Lady back to my attention back in 2009, I thank Jeffrey Branch for creating the “Pink Lady America” website, and I thank Mitsuyo Nemoto & Keiko Masuda for bringing Pink Lady to this world. And most of all, I thank all of you for loving Pink Lady as much as I do. See ya next time, Think Pink, and God Bless. (Editor's Note: It should be noted that in all the reunions Mie and Kei had done over the years, including 2003-05, they NEVER sang "Last Pretender".) |
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