Lounge
March 13, 2015
Keiko Toda: On the final episode of 'Doremifa Wonderland'
Keiko Toda | Broadcast for Two Years on NHK BS2
On Reaching the Final Episode of 'Doremifa Wonderland' (1)
'Doremifa Wonderland,' which began airing on NHK BS2 in April 2009, concluded its run on March 25th of this year with a compilation special. Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. I truly learned so much. It feels like being forced to graduate from a beloved school,──that's the feeling. (Tears)
Text by Keiko Toda (OPENERS)
We Were Greedy for Better Each Time
'Doremifa Wonderland' is a music variety show featuring composer Akiyoshi Miyakawa, RAG FAIR, and myself. We produced a pilot episode before the first broadcast, and its popularity led to it becoming a regular series. While 'variety' can be a broad term, it involves a great deal of effort and time, making it a truly demanding task. Yet, I believe we executed it with remarkable care. It's fair to say, 'This is what NHK does best!' (laughs).
Above all, I am grateful for the opportunity to 'sing,' or rather, for having a 'place to sing.' How many songs did we encounter, how many unfamiliar songs did I challenge myself with?──The show didn't allow us to sing only the songs we wanted or were good at; instead, Mr. Miyakawa would assign us課題曲 (kadai kyoku - assigned songs). From nostalgic melodies to pop, rock, jazz, and more... these diverse songs were rearranged in Mr. Miyakawa's unique style, completely changing their atmosphere and proving quite challenging.
The production process began with deciding on the band session song, followed by recording, harmony checks, and vocal rehearsals. It was the familiar scene of RAG FAIR, myself, and Mr. Miyakawa gathered around his piano, which I often mentioned on my blog.
This is where we'd conduct the first stage of vocal practice. Mr. Miyakawa would teach us about the song's sonic structure and the groove for singing. Everyone would record their parts on their own equipment to take home and practice until the day of the recording. I recall that when the show first started, during the musical 'The Hit Parade,' RAG FAIR members and I would arrive early at the dressing room to practice, or even practice between matinee and evening performances. It was tough, but incredibly fun. We were completely captivated by the magic of sound.
On the recording day, we had a rehearsal with the band from the morning. This is where we'd align our direction with the band. Mr. Miyakawa was always sincere about sound. He never compromised with the band or with us. We often watched a preview of the take together with the band after recording. Then we'd either approve it or decide on a retake. Even if told to do another take, no one showed any displeasure; we were all greedy for better each time.
While producing the correct sounds and singing accurately is crucial, I also learned the importance of valuing the nuances and grooves of various genres.
Keiko Toda | Broadcast for Two Years on NHK BS2
On Reaching the Final Episode of 'Doremifa Wonderland' (2)
How Conversation Flows with Just Two Words: 'Music'
In the 'Rambling Talk' segment, we truly had rambling conversations (laughs). What's surprising is that they were all about music and sound. It's amazing how much we could talk about. It's truly profound, and I made many new discoveries here, especially since I have a weakness for classical music. I realized there's still so much to learn!
Then there were the individual segments, each requiring separate practice. Akiyoshi Miyakawa had the 'Deep Dive' corner, and RAG FAIR had singing skits (I participated once in a music sorting segment, which was incredibly fun). Even though they were skits, everyone's foundation in singing and music was solid. I think that's what made them so special. The 'Craftsmanship' corner was also compelling each time.
I was given the role of Keiko Mama, the proprietress of the live house 'OKEI.' This opportunity became another invaluable asset for me. Initially, I was very anxious about whether I could draw out interesting conversations from our guests, but my worries were unfounded as the guests were warm and shared fascinating stories, making it easier than I anticipated.
I also loved how this segment was framed around the guests' 'stories related to music.'
Keiko Mama also got to sing many songs, including numerous ones I didn't know and had never sung before. I felt I couldn't tarnish the guests' memories... I sang each song with all my heart. There were many difficult songs too (laughs). Singing with a simple arrangement, like just Mr. Miyakawa's piano, or with an added upright bass or guitar, at 'OKEI' was nerve-wracking. The band session songs at the beginning of the show also had arrangements different from the originals, which was characteristic of Mr. Miyakawa's style, or perhaps the 'Dorewan' style. This was both incredibly challenging and enjoyable.
Fortunately, most of our guests, starting with Shiro Ito in the first episode, were people I already knew, so we could have truly enjoyable conversations without reservation. Occasionally, there were guests I met for the first time, which made me nervous, but I was surprised at how engaging conversations could be with someone new, centered around the theme of 'music.' I experienced extreme nervousness twice! Once when I sang the ending theme 'Cosmos ni Kimi to' from 'Space Runaway Ideon' in front of composer Koichi Sugiyama, and again when I sang 'Gomibanchō no Mary' in front of composer Shunichi Tokura.
Having the composer right in front of you──made my heart pound! I was so focused on 'singing well in front of the composer' that it ended up being, 'It was better during rehearsal~' (laughs). But both of them praised me after I finished singing. They are so kind.
The show's wrap party has ended, and the compilation special has also aired. Honestly, I feel a bit dazed. I tend to like new things, so I don't mind moving on to the next project once a show finishes. However, 'Doremifa Wonderland' felt like a school I wanted to keep attending. It's truly difficult to learn things on your own. But I can't just lament forever. I intend to utilize what I learned at the 'Dorewan' school over the past two years and continue to strive in my singing career. I also hope to sing with RAG FAIR again, who are currently on hiatus. Thank you all so much for your support of 'Doremifa Wonderland.'
Keiko Toda
