RICHIE Stephens has breathed new life into Mary Jane, a Japanese ballad first recorded over 20 years ago.Mary Jane is the featured track on his Live Your Life album, released early this year by VP Records. Stephens said it drew the attention of the original writer and singer, Japanese Hiro Tsunoda, who took to YouTube and paid tribute to the cover.
Stephens said the song was brought to his attention by a popular studio owner in Jamaica who does dub plates for sound systems around the world.
"I was told a sound system from Japan had asked for a couple dub plates to be done. When I went to the studio, the last song he wanted me to record was a song originally done by a Japanese singer called Hiro Tsunoda. I said, 'Lets do it another day... I'm too tired right now..' However, they insisted it had to be done as they were leaving the next day."
Stephens said they urged him to listen to the song. He told Splash that the instant he heard it, he needed no further persuasion.
"I fell in love with the words and made an instant connection with it. It is not very often that a singer sings a song and it touches them this way. I listened to the song again and in less than 20 minutes, I memorised the words and was ready to cut the dub plate."
Stephens said he asked for a copy and played it for his friends. The positive response he got encouraged him to cover Mary Jane for Live Your Life.
"I said at the time, 'I hope Hiro hears it and approves. I thought of the possibility of me performing it live some day in Japan," said Stephens, who is happy his version has been endorsed by Tsunoda.
"My heart was overjoyed when I saw his video message saying that he loves my rendition very much. I feel it's a great honour to have such a powerful endorsement from the original singer," he said.
(from Jamaica Observer)
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