Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo

"Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" (私がオバさんになっても, lit. "Even If I Become an Old Lady") is the 16th single by Japanese singer/songwriter Chisato Moritaka. The lyrics were written by Moritaka and the music was composed by Hideo Saitō. The single was released by Warner Music Japan on June 25, 1992.[1]

"Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo"
Single by Chisato Moritaka
from the album Rock Alive
LanguageJapanese
English titleEven If I Become an Old Lady
B-side"Jitensha Tsūgaku"
ReleasedJune 25, 1992 (1992-06-25)
Recorded1992
Genre
Length4:16
LabelWarner Music Japan
Composer(s)Hideo Saitō
Lyricist(s)Chisato Moritaka
Producer(s)Yukio Seto
Chisato Moritaka singles chronology
"Concert no Yoru"
(1992)		 "Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo"
(1992)		 "Watarasebashi/ Writer Shibō"
(1993)
Music video
Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo on YouTube

Background

Moritaka wrote "Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" when she was 20 after being told by male staff of her management that women reach their prime at age 19. The song describes a woman's wish for a man to accept her, regardless of her age.[2][3][4][5] It partially draws inspiration from The Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four".[6]

The song was used as the opening theme of the NTV drama series Matta Nashi! (まったナシ!, Total Pear!). Moritaka wrote the lyrics for the B-side "Jitensha Tsūgaku" (自転車通学, lit. "Bicycle Commuting"), based on her experiences commuting to school by bicycle.[4]

Music video

No music video of the song was made at the time the single was released, but in 2001, a re-edit of the song performance from Moritaka's 1993 live video Live Rock Alive was included as a music video in the DVD Chisato Moritaka DVD Collection No. 15, which was a mail-in order exclusive for those who purchased the first edition release of DVD Collection Nos. 1-14. On June 25, 2022, Warner Music Japan uploaded a remastered version of the music video on Apple Music to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the single.[7][8]

Chart performance and reception

"Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" peaked at No. 15 on Oricon's singles chart and sold 228,000 copies, and has since become one of Moritaka's most popular songs.[9][10] It was also certified Gold by the RIAJ in December 1992.[11] During the 43rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen, when Moritaka was part of the Red team, host Hikari Ishida introduced the song as "A song that gave all women the courage!" (すべての女性に勇気を与えた歌です！, Subete no josei ni yūki wo ataeta uta desu!).[2][12][4]

In his 2019 article, music journalist and blogger Tomonori Shiba noted that the song symbolized a shift in women's attitudes during the Heisei era.[13]

Other versions

Moritaka's 2013 live album YouTube Public Recording & Live at Yokohama Blitz features "Aru OL ga Obasan ni Natte mo" (あるOLがオバさんになっても, lit. "Even if an Office Lady Becomes an Old Lady"), with the lyrics of this song performed to the tune of her 1990 song "Aru OL no Seishun ~ A-ko no Baai ~ (Moritaka Connection)".

The song was remixed by tofubeats in the 2014 collaboration album Chisato Moritaka with tofubeats: Moritaka Tofu.[14]

In 2015, Moritaka re-recorded the song for a series of Kosé cosmetics commercials she starred in.[15] This version, titled "Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo (Slow Version)" (私がオバさんになっても（スローヴァージョン）) was included in her 2017 self-covers DVD album Love Vol. 10.[16][17]

In 2019, she performed a brief a cappella version of the song in a commercial promoting DHC Queen of Serum anti-aging skin cream.[18][19][20]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Chisato Moritaka

8 cm CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" ((私がオバさんになっても, "Even If I Become an Old Lady"))Hideo SaitōSaitō4:16
2."Jitensha Tsūgaku" ((自転車通学, "Bicycle Commuting"))Yuichi TakahashiTakahashi4:04
Cassette
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo"SaitōSaitō 
2."Jitensha Tsūgaku"TakahashiTakahashi 
3."Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" (Karaoke)   
4."Jitensha Tsūgaku" (Karaoke)   
2023 7-inch vinyl[21]
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" (Album Version)SaitōSaitō 
2."Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo" (Slow Version)SaitōTakahashi 

Personnel
  • Chisato Moritaka – vocals
  • Hideo Saitō – all instruments, programming, backing vocals

Chart positions
Charts (1992) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[9] 15

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[11] Gold 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions
  • McKee covered the song in Tagalog as "Hindi Kaya" on their 1996 self-titled album.[22]
  • Runa Miyoshida covered the song on her 2008 album Ska Flavor #1.
  • navy&ivory covered the song on their 2009 album Nakeru hodo Suki na Hito.
  • Misono covered the song on her 2010 album Cover Album 2.
  • Nozomi Tsuji covered the song on her 2010 album Minna Happy! Mama no Uta.
  • Yūko Minaguchi covered the song for the 2011 LovePlus soundtrack.
  • Mitsu covered the song on their 2012 single "Hatsukoi Capsule" and cover album Mitsukari.
  • You Kikkawa covered the song as the B-side of her 2012 single "Darling and Madonna" and her cover album Vocalist?.
  • Saya Asakura covered the song on her 2014 album Hōgen Kakumei, with the lyrics changed to Yamagata-ben.
  • Konomi Suzuki covered the song on her 2015 album 18 -Colorful Gift-.
  • Michiru Hoshino covered the song on her 2016 album My Favorite Song.
  • Tsubaki Factory covered the song as the B-side of their 2016 single "Hitorijime".
  • Maria Satō of Philosophy no Dance covered the song as part of the group's "Tiny Bath Concert" video series in 2021.[23]

References
  1. "｢私がオバさんになっても｣(CD)". Chisato Moritaka Official Website. Up-Front Group. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  2. "平成を駆け抜けた "森高千里"". NHK. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  3. "森高千里「私がオバサンになっても」（後編）（3）花開いた「森高ワールド」". Excite. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  4. Moritaka, Chisato (2012-06-01). 『私がオバさんになっても』セルフライナーノート. YouTube. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  5. "森高千里はいつオバさんになるの？THE MUSIC DAYで披露したミニスカと歌唱力「話が違う」と話題に". Coconuts Japan. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  6. Eremenko, Alexey. "Chisato Moritaka". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  7. "ベスト・アルバム『ザ・シングルス』及び「私がオバさんになっても」(MV）を6月25日(土)より遂にデジタル配信(ダウンロード/サブスクリプション)開始！". Chisato Moritaka Official Website. Up Front Group. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  8. "森高千里ベスト・アルバム『ザ・シングルス』及び「私がオバさんになっても」(MV）を6月25日(土)より遂にデジタル配信(ダウンロード/サブスクリプション)開始！". Warner Music Japan. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  9. "私がオバさんになっても/森高千里". Oricon. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  10. "森高千里(シングル)". Yamachan Land (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  11. "Japanese certifications – 森高 千里 – 私がオバさんになっても" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 24, 2021. Select 1992年12月 on the drop-down menu
  12. "43rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen History". NHK. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  13. Shiba, Tomonori (2019-10-18). "昭和の「オバさん」と令和の「女性」 平成4年の「私がオバさんになっても」（森高千里）【柴那典 平成ヒット曲史】". Book Bang. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  14. "森高千里 with tofubeats 森高豆腐". Warner Music Japan. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  15. "コーセー『アスタブラン』 『エスプリーク エクラ』、新CM 代表曲「私がオバさんになっても」を新アレンジ！森高千里さんが魅せる、自立した女性像にご注目！". PRTimes. 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  16. "｢デビュー25周年企画 森高千里 セルフカバーシリーズ"LOVE"Vol.10｣". Chisato Moritaka Official Website. Up-Front Group. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  17. Moritaka, Chisato (2017-09-29). 森高千里 『私がオバさんになっても（スローヴァージョン）』 【セルフカヴァー】. YouTube. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  18. "TV-CM「クイーンオブセラム」女ざかりは19だと誰がいったのよ篇". DHC Corporation. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  19. "森高千里が語る 「私がオバさんになっても」を書くきっかけとなった"ある一言"". BuzzFeed. 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  20. "森高千里が『私がオバさんになっても』の歌詞を儚げに口ずさむ「DHC クイーン オブ セラム」新CMに出演". Music.jp. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  21. "７インチシングルレコード３作品発売！". Chisato Moritaka Official website. Up-Front Group. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  22. "McKee". Original Pilipino Music. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  23. Philosophy no Dance (2021-03-22). 佐藤まりあがお風呂でうたってみた 私がオバさんになっても / 森高千里 - Tiny Bath Concert by フィロソフィーのダンス. YouTube. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
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