Hodoyoi Zake

Kiyoshi Hikawa's long awaited enka single is "Hodoyoi Zake," which carries a message of accepting small mistakes and stumbles in a difficult world with a tolerant heart. It is an enka song with a cheerful and embracing melody in which the phrase "Yurushimashou" is also impressive. The lyrics are by Kaisei Kishi, and the composition is by Hideo Mizumori. The coupling contains "Anata no Uta ni Naritai," whose lyrics are by Yukinojo Mori and composition is by Hideo Mizumori. It is a moving ballad that depicts the loneliness of a singer standing on stage while expressing the desire to become a song that stays close to listeners. Furthermore, it contains "Genkai Damashii," themed on his hometown Fukuoka, whose lyrics and composition are by Kiyoshi Hikawa himself, with Hideo Mizumori adding supplementary composition. Within the dynamic enka, it incorporates "Hakata Teippon" and "Hakata Iwai Uta," making it a work filled with deep hometown love. This is truly the singing voice of Kiyoshi Hikawa, stretching, cheerful, and at times sharply piercing through.

氷川きよし待望の演歌シングルは、生きづらい世の中で小さなしくじりやつまづきを、寛容な心で受け止めていくメッセージが込められた「ほど酔い酒」。朗らかで包み込むような演歌メロディーに「ゆるしましょう」というフレーズも印象的な演歌楽曲。作詩は岸快生、作曲は水森英夫がそれぞれ担当。カップリングには森雪之丞が作詩、作曲を水森英夫が手がけた「あなたの歌になりたい」を収録。ステージに立つ歌手の孤独を描きながらも、聴く人々に寄り添う歌になりたいという想いを描いた感動的なバラード作品。さらに氷川きよし本人が作詩・曲を手がけ、水森英夫が補作曲を施した地元・福岡をテーマにした「玄海魂」を収録。豪快な演歌の中に「博多手一本」や「博多祝い唄」をアンコしており、地元愛がたっぷりと詰め込まれた作品になっている。伸びやかで朗らか、時にキリッと突き抜けるような、これぞ氷川きよしの歌声。