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. Written by Moritaka and 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
Songwriter(s)
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 Nippon TV drama series Matta Nashi! (まったナシ!, Total Pear!). The B-side "Jitensha Tsūgaku" (自転車通学, lit. "Bicycle Commuting") was written by Moritaka, based on her experiences commuting to school by bicycle.[4]

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.[7] It was also certified Gold by the RIAJ in December 1992.[8] 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][9][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.[10]

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.[11]

In 2015, Moritaka re-recorded the song for a series of Kosé cosmetics commercials she starred in.[12] 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.[13][14]

In 2019, she performed a brief a cappella version of the song in a commercial promoting DHC Queen of Serum anti-aging skin cream.[15][16][17]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Chisato Moritaka.

No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."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"))Hideo SaitōSaitō4:16
2."Jitensha Tsūgaku" ((自転車通学, lit. "Bicycle Commuting"))Yuichi TakahashiTakahashi4:04

Chart positions
Charts (1992) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[7] 15

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[8] Gold 228,000

Cover versions
  • Runa Miyoshida covered the song in her 2008 album Ska Flavor #1.
  • navy&ivory covered the song in their 2009 album Nakeru hodo Suki na Hito.
  • Misono covered the song in her 2010 album Cover Album 2.
  • Nozomi Tsuji covered the song in her 2010 album Minna Happy! Mama no Uta.
  • Yūko Minaguchi covered the song for the 2011 LovePlus soundtrack.
  • Mitsu covered the song in 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".
  • Saya Asakura covered the song in her 2014 album Hōgen Kakumei, with the lyrics changed to Yamagata-ben.
  • Konomi Suzuki covered the song in her 2015 album 18 -Colorful Gift-.
  • Michiru Hoshino covered the song in her 2016 album My Favorite Song.
  • Tsubaki Factory covered the song as the B-side of their 2016 single "Hitorijime".

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. "私がオバさんになっても/森高千里". Oricon. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  8. "ゴールドディスク認定". RIAJ. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  9. "43rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen History". NHK. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  10. 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.
  11. "森高千里 with tofubeats 森高豆腐". Warner Music Japan. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  12. "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.
  13. "｢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.
  14. 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.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
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