A fantastic take on an ABBA disco classic.
I never thought I'd own this single, but I saw it for sale recently and for a great price, too, so I knew I had to get it. The only recording of it on YouTube is very poor quality.
Here is some background on Kazuki Enatsu. Born Masaki Takanashi on the 12th of October 1954 in Yokaichiba City, Chiba Prefecture, he is better known by the alias Daisuke Hara. His music debut came in 1976 when he formed a folk duo with Kiyoshi Hattori called Layla. They won the Silver Canary Newcomer Award at the 5th Tokyo Music Festival with their debut single "Summer Angel". The duo subsequently disbanded in 1979, after which Masaki changed his solo alias to Kazuki Enatsu. Staying with the same record label that signed Layla, Discomate (The same label that released ABBA's music in Japan from 1976 onwards), he recorded a Japanese version of ABBA's "Voulez Vous", translated to "Hot Love" (Atsuku Nare/熱くなれ) with completely different lyrics. He released one more single under the Kazuki Enatsu name that same year before releasing a single in 1981 under his real name. He yet again changed his alias, this time permanently, in 1983, to Daisuke Hara. He achieved moderate success as Daisuke Hara. Sadly, he passed away recently at the age of 71 in Kanagawa Prefecture on the 22nd of December, 2025.
It's not easy to successfully cover an ABBA song and have it sound good, but this is a definite exception. Unlike ABBA's disco dancefloor-filler production, this cover, to me, has a more traditional disco production with the strong, forward vocals, if that makes sense. The B-side, Rolling City (ローリング シティ) also has a strong disco vibe, but with a pop-rock edge, bordering on City Pop.
The A-Side, the Voulez Vous cover, was, of course, written by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, arranged by prolific Japanese keyboard player, composer, arranger, and producer, Akira Inoue (井上 鑑). It was translated into Japanese by Masato Kanematsu (兼松正人), a Japanese lyricist. The B-side was also arranged by Akira Inoue, composed by Kiyoshi Hattori, Takanashi's group mate from Layla and the lyrics were written by Takashi Kitahara.
Track Listing:
0:00 - A - 熱くなれ (ヴーレ ヴー) = Voulez Vous
4:01 - B - ローリング シティ = Rolling City
Original Artist:
ABBA
Lyrics & Composition by:
Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus (Side A)
Composed By:
Kiyoshi Hattori (服部清) (Side B)
Arranged By:
Akira Inoue (井上 鑑) (Both tracks)
Lyrics (Translation) By:
Masato Kanematsu (兼松正人) (Side A)
Lyrics By:
Takashi Kitahara (北原喬) (Side B)
Catalogue number: DSF-131
℗ 1979 For The World By Union Songs AB
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