Linda Edition Mapper
▶ Paul Anka

Diana

Paul Anka (1957) → Masaaki Hirao (1958)

Rock and roll
→
Japanese Rockabilly / Cover Pop
1957 — when teen idols and rock and roll ruled the world charts
Original
Paul Anka — 1957

Rock and roll

Written and sung by 16-year-old Paul Anka, Diana is a teen-pop landmark: a crush on an older girl carried on a bouncing beat and a boyish voice, selling millions worldwide and launching Anka as an international star.

Now playing
Daiana
Masaaki Hirao — 1958

Japanese Rockabilly / Cover Pop

In 1958, amid Japan's rockabilly boom, Masaaki Hirao (then billed as 平尾昌章) cut a Japanese-lyric single credited to Takashi Otowa. Released in competition with Keijiro Yamashita's version, it redefined the US teen hit as Japanese rockabilly / cover pop.

A Canadian teen rock-and-roll hit is transplanted into Japanese youth culture through translated lyrics and rockabilly delivery.

From original to redefined

What to listen for

A Canadian teen rock-and-roll hit is transplanted into Japanese youth culture through translated lyrics and rockabilly delivery.

  • Language localize

    From Anka's English lyric to Takashi Otowa's Japanese 'Daiana'

  • Genre landing

    From US teen pop / rock and roll to Japanese rockabilly

  • Competing covers

    Paired with Yamashita Keijiro in the Western Carnival-era cover wave

  • Title script

    From Latin-script Diana to katakana ダイアナ as the Japanese standard title

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