Telephone Number // Junko Ohashi Bass Playthrough

If somebody asked me what the most perfect song in citypop is, “Telephone Number” would be a good candidate. That’s a big claim, so let me explain.
The song comes from Junko Ohashi’s 1984 album “Magical”, a now-classic album that any fan of citypop should own. The record is representative of a pop music transitionary period of ~1979-1984, when record producers and studio musicians took advantage of synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers while still utilizing arrangement and performance techniques held over from the all-analog late 70’s. In this era, and on “Magical” itself, then state-of-the-art synthesizers like the Roland Juno-60 groove along with real horn sections, string sections, and an incredibly tight drummer. It’s one of my favorite eras in music, and one that for me represents a sort of golden age for studio musicianship and arrangement.
“Telephone Number” itself is wholly representative of all those things. The arrangement is teeming with horn lines, full string sections, and bombastic background vocals, but they all fit together in lock step courtesy of the high level of musicianship provided by its players. And of course, it contains one of the catchiest hooks in citypop, the answer to the “badeya” chorus of “September”, the “Awoo” chorus.
Bass-wise this song is simple, but hard to really get right. It’s tempting to simply go wild with a song with so much spunk, but to do so would upset the fine balance of the song itself. For example, the bassline underlying the chorus of the song actually serves as both an actual bassline and a countermelodic figure played in unison with the horn section. It keeps the energy of the chorus going while Junko Ohashi belts out that famous “awoo”, and gives the song its signature danceability. To mess with that would be a sin, so I tried my damndest to be as close to the recording as possible.
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[@AlexKeiko]

Wow,Just try seach someone playing city pop Bass then I see this... like like like

[@elishahunt]

Fantastic! Sounds wonderful. If you're taking suggestions for another track to bass, one of my favorites is 二名敦子 - COMMUNICATION (ワン・ノート・サンバ - Nina Atsuko) (1983)

[@kriskenard]

this song always make me feel better

[@AB-np2mj]

do you have tabs for this? i’ve been looking everywhere but i have yet to find any.

[@DmitryIsc199]

I'm afraid you won't find them. tabs for this music tabs aren't exist almost

[@darvinjimenez9796]

@MorganBG you’re a legend. Thank you !

[@derpkipper]

City pop songs have some dope basslines man This is such a good cover! I can feel your energy in your movements lol I bet I'd be bouncing like crazy the entire song if I tried to learn this The bass line is so nice and bouncy and full of energy

[@JerryZard]

Very good playing. If I were to make a request it would be "midnight pretenders" by tomoko Aran. Someone else has uploaded a midi cover of the song with a link to download the midi file, if that helps. I would cover it myself but you're a much better bassist than me hah

[@fernando_simas]

Muito bom

[@rhino948]

Love when it doubles the horns, great job dude! Excited to see what you do next, would love a break down of either ruby no yubiwa or the obvious plastic love 👍

[@jbeeyes]

the fender logo lol, "fucker" it says

[@Oriolus1]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@manmcman01]

I never thought I would just randomly stumble across somebody covering this absolute gem out of the blue. Killer job dude!!

[@pepeloni_ch]

LMAO nice head stock

[@thecitypopbassist]

hell yeahhhhh

[@psychtank8681]

Perfect by your definition is more like "ideal". The most ideal city pop song it is.

[@davejohnson3860]

Play Don Blackmon joint "loving you, holding you"! That's a killer bassline.

[@thecitypopbassist]

I'll check it out!

[@AbyControl]

awesome cover

[@jordanilaga]

Citypop the best genre. So relaxing.👌

[@poseidenne]

hi

[@thecitypopbassist]

hi

[@danielnielel]

Such a simple line, but fits and grooves perfectly Good job man!1!

[@evilmusselmussel9718]

I was looking for a city pop bass player and there you are 😍😍😍

[@zoewinters820]

cant I read or does it say "Fucker" on the headstock ?

[@thecitypopbassist]

your eyes do not deceive you!

[@omahcreative5253]

Midnight pretender plzzz

[@KevinFu5100]

Nice 🅱️ass playing! 5/7

[@marcogomez2232]

Very nice. I really hope to see more songs being played!

[@AndyLifeInVideo]

Love that Fucker bass! :D Keep it up!

[@elgranbrollero1792]

Great interpretation....

[@limuelmendoza5356]

dude your channel is a gem!

[@igameu3]

killer tone dude

[@qpbvn]

ノリノリ！

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

What any amp or preamp using?

[@thecitypopbassist]

I use the balanced out and EQ section of a Gallien Krueger 200MB straight into my audio interface!

[@pstrokeslibsarctic]

@@thecitypopbassist great tone bruh

[@rommelsmells]

more city pop bass pleas

[@Chubiko_101]

awooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@thecitypopbassist]

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@Nyoh_5]

Very nice and smooth.

[@niitsukid]

Summers officially here !!

[@Wertical93]

Really hard for a beginner like me, what a shame, the bassline is absolutely slappin!

[@jhonnybatera]

AMAZING JOB

[@FLAVAHMUSIC]

Absolutely the best bass cover for 56709 ever heard for sure mate. Would it be possible for you to share the dry bass stem file with me please. Will send you an email if you're okay. Cheers mate.

[@yanowijaya690]

great content 😎

[@OneMoreMeme_INeedYou]

You are the hero we need right now

[@Javs23]

So fuking nasty, i love it, great job

[@mfn2475]

you are using Saffire Pro 40 to record this video?

[@DoodlezMusic]

that headstock decal 💀

[@Halinspark]

I love the notes in the corner as much as I love being able to hear the bassline easier

[@xxjuanchoxxhd1723]

Awesomeeeee

[@franc8023]

yeah, i can feel the bass

[@joshubao]

I like the music but I appreciate ur description solid stuff ! Made me sub

[@glacier_official]

Killer playing.

[@nazcandogan3323]

Hi, do you have sheet music for that? It would be so nice if you could share it!!

[@ellinayey7713]

nice tone!!!!

[@falcaooo]

awooooooooooooooo

[@thecitypopbassist]

oooooooooooooooooooo

[@jackkovar7806]

Great playing and description

[@kurniawandwiseptian]

please, continue your works, such a good channel

[@francealizee19]

Can you made someday a tab of our fans? 🙏🏻

[@ILoveSoonkyu]

Midnight pretenders pleaseeeee

[@internetidentity2678]

oh god

[@nekoishi85]

Nice !