Happy #SongLyricsSunday! Sorry about last week, I had a performance with friends for a Christmas show and was busy prepping that and then performing. So, I didn’t have a chance to participate in last week’s #SAS. But, I am back (after also being sick the whole week) with a song that has lyrics associated with electronic communication devices. At first, I thought about featuring “Telephone” by Lady Gaga and Beyonce. But then I thought to go back in time and pick a song from the 70s. What song did I choose? “Koi no Dial 6700” ‘Love’s Dial 6700 by the Japanese pop band Finger 5.
What Was That Number Again?
“Koi no Dial 6700” was released on December 5, 1973 by the sibling band Finger 5. Many have called the band the “Japanese version of the Jackson 5” as Finger 5 and Jackson 5 were both bands featuring siblings. However, both groups had different musical tastes that made them famous. Jackson 5 got their fame for being a musical band that ha songs in the R&B and Motown genres, Finger 5 got their fame with sugary idol pop tunes.
Finger 5 got its start in 1967 in their father’s bar that had a lot of American GIs as customers. But, the band from Okinawa had a rough start when they moved to Tokyo. Finger 5 struggled to get venues or attention in the early part of their career. Even with their first label, Baby Brother, the band didn’t get much publicity with their three ill-received singles. It wasn’t until they moved to the Phillips label that they were turning heads. They finally became popular by 1974. However, their stardom was quick as the band’s popularity lasted for two years. The band eventually broke up in 1978 with the member pursuing other opportunities.
Ring Ring Ring
But, “Koi no Dial 6700” was a hit! It reached #1 on the weekly Oricon charts and #5 on the year-end charts. The lyrics were written by legendary lyricist Yu Aku. He wrote many hit songs over his career. He is a legend here in Japan! Aku referenced the 1954 film The Glenn Miller Story by featuring the number 6700 in the title. The 6700 refers to “Pennsylvania 6-5000” which was the telephone number of the boarding house featured in the movie. It is also the phone number of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City.
It is one of the staples of 70s Japanese music with its catchy hooks, upbeat tempo, and bubbly personality. “Koi no Dial 6700” has been covered by various artists over the decades like Dream5, Morning Musume., Tomoe Shinohara, and Momoiro Clover Z. It is truly a classic!