Akina Nakamori
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Akina Nakamori (中森明菜 Nakamori Akina?) is a much revered Japanese pop singer and actress born on 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan. She was one of the most popular singers in 1980s Japan. Best known for her deep, power-house voice, Nakamori made her debut on May 1, 1982 at age 16 with the single Slow Motion. Within 2 years of her debut, she sets herself apart from all the cutesy singers of her generation by singing provocative songs, with a chameleon-like image change with the release of each new single. Her mature and rebellious image was to be the direct opposite of the other pop rival, Seiko; who projected a girl next door, sweet natured charm. The media competed them against each other throughout the 80's, scrutinising every details of their lives and supposed rivalry. During that period, Akina has always expressed an admiration and respect for Seiko, even humming to Seiko's songs when both happen to be on the same live shows.
Her hair style and dress sense was very much copied by teenagers back in the 80's. Music wise, her recording company molded her to be a successor after the mature and sophisticated Momoe Yamaguchi, a legendary Japanese singer who retired at age 21 for marriage. Her songs were always of heartbreaks, or rebellion, never to stray far from the 'mold'. In actuality, when one watches Akina during live game shows and interviews, she's always smiling and seem cheerful of nature. Perhaps therein lies her attraction; polar opposites that intrigue the viewers.
It came as a shock, when news of her attempted suicide broke in July 1989 in her then-boyfriend Masahiko Kondo's apartment after their engagement was called off by him. She retreated from the public eye for a while. Her career since her suicide attempt has been mediocre at best, and she has never regained the popularity she experienced in the 1980s.
Her live performances continue to be of very high standard, showcasing her amazing vocals, where few pop singers can match. Her 2000, 2002 and 2003 concerts were huge successes. 2006 marked her 25th anniversary in showbusiness. According to the Oricon Charts, she is one of a handful of singers who manage to have albums in the Top 10 in the 80's, 90's and 2000's; proving her resilience to the taste changing music industry.
Akina has ventured into acting in the last decade, with varying success. One might say that Akina the singer is mesmerizing, while Akina the actress is competent.
Regardless of her lack of prolific songs in recent years, Akina was honoured by the Japanese Music critics as the '5th' best voice in the country's recording history, even ahead of her rival, Matsuda Seiko, at '7th' place.
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[edit] 1982-1984
Akina Nakamori's first appearance on the music scene was with her debut single Slow Motion, recorded in Los Angeles. This first single was release on 1 May 1982 and subsequently sold 174,000 copies, reaching number 30 in the charts. The 2nd single, Shōjo A was nearly banned for its risque lyrics. This single fared better, most likely due to the controversy, and peaked at #5, selling 396,000 copies. Her next single, a ballad called Second Love proved to be her best-selling single. This sentimental piece debuted at #2 but reached No. 1 the following week, staying at the number one spot for 9 weeks. It sold an impressive 766,000 copies back then (To date, almost close to 1 million sold). In addition to the single releases, Akina also released two albums entitled Prologue and Variation that year, which sold 453,000 and 743,000 copies respectively.
The following year Akina released three singles, two studio albums and her first best-of album. The singles were Nibunnoichi no Shinwa, which sold 573,000 copies and debuted at #1, making it her best-selling single of that year. Twilight ~Yūguretayori~, released in May, sold 430,000 copies and debuted at #2. But Kinku, her last single of that year, fared better, debuting at #1 and selling 511,000 copies. All three aforementioned albums, "Fantsay", "New Akina Etranger" and "Best Akina Memoir" hit the No. 1 spot.
In 1984, Akina released Kita WING, which sold 614,000 copies, a bit better than her singles from the previous year, but surprisingly it did not become a number 1 hit. It instead debuted at number 2 and remained at that position for 6 weeks. "Kita Wing" is also rumoured to be Momoe Yamaguchi's favourite Akina Song (Momoe being Akina's idol and icon). Her next single Southern Wind brought her back to the number 1 spot, though it sold less than its predecessor at 544,000 copies. Jūkai (1984) proved to be another number 1 for her, selling 611,000 copies. The 9th single, "Kazalijya nainoyo namida wa" proved to be a turning point in Akina Nakamori's career; as the song is considered difficult to sing with super fast lyrics. It debuted at number 1 and sold 625,000 copies. Many in Japan cite this song and her 1986 single, Desire ~Jōnetsu~, as Akina's signature songs. Her two album releases of that year, "Anniversay" and "Possibility" both fared well and hit the No. 1 spot.
[edit] 1985-1987
Akina kicked off 1985 with Meu Amore another great success for her, debuting #1 with 631,000 copies sold ultimately and also winning Akina the Japan Record Taisho Grand Prix award. She became the youngest person at the time (20) to be awarded such an honor. Originally, the single was to be titled Akaitori Nigeta fly away, but the producers felt that the lyrics were not sambaish enough. "Meu Amore" was the result of the newly penned lyrics. "Akaiatori Nigeta fly away" was released as a 12 inch single instead, making the No.1 spot as well. Despite the superb b-side song of Babylon which was remixed, it sold a dismal 354,000 overall. She then released Sand Beige ~Sabaku e~ which sold 461,00 copies and debuted at number 1. Her next single, Solitude also debuted at number 1, but sold merely 336,000 copies.
She also released two albums in 1985. Firstly, Bitter and Sweet, which contained the album version of the earlier hit of Kazari Janai No Yo Namida Wa and "BABYLON". It sold 556,000 copies and debuted at number 1 again. Her next album, D404ME, only had a remix version of the hit single Meu Amore included. Yet this album sold an impressive 651,000 copies and debuted at number 1.
In 1986, at 21, Akina be matured in her singing style and choice of songs. The first single of that year, Desire ~jōnetsu~, proved to one of the highlights in Akina's career. This was also the theme song of PIONEER PRIVATE commercial, and was awarded Japan Record Taisho Grand Prix in 1986. She became the youngest winner for the two consecutive years. It sold 516,000 copies and debuted at number 1. Her next single Gypsy Queen was a calmer song than Desire ~jōnetsu~ and sold a mere 358,000 copies, but still debuted at number 1. The single Fin followed, sold less than it predecessor, at 318,000 copies. Again, it debut at number 1.
To commemorate her first 4 years in the business, Akina released her first BEST album. It sold impressively well, 766,000 copies and a comfortable number 1 debut spot. Then Akina released Fushigi, a conceptual album with echoing singing and obscure musical arrangemnt. It caused quite a stir amongst the mainly conservative Japanese public and thus sold 464,000 copies, nearly 200,000 less than Crimson, which featured an entire album composed by only women, which sold 601,000 copies. But both managed to debut at the number 1 spot, Fushigi stayed number 1 for only 3 weeks, while Crimson stayed number 1 for 4.
In 1987, she released Tango Noir , which sold 348,000 copies and debuted at number 1. Her next single was a cover of an American song, but she called her version Blonde. It sold 301,000 copies and added to her No.1's single. Her best selling single of that year was a heartfelt ballad called Nanpasen an emotionally draining song which many people attributed to her rocky relationship with then boyfriend, Masahiko Kondo and the death of her mother at the time. It sold 431,000 copies and debuted at number 1.
She released only one album in 1987, an unsuccessful English debut album called Cross My Palm. It mainly faltered in the United States music industry because of Akina's heavily-accented English and lack of promotion Stateside. Nonetheless, it was a hit in Japan, selling 343,000 copies and debuting number 1.
3 singles were released in 1988, "Al Mauj", "Tattoo" and "I missed the shock". Other than "I missed the shock", the other 2 debuted at No. 1.
1989, a year that fans will remember as very dark for Akina, only saw one single released. "Liar" became her 19th No. 1 Singles. Perhaps written to reflect her feelings about Masahiko Kondo. She attempted suicide shortly within a couple of months after the single was released. Luckily, she was found and hospitalised.
Her return to the music scene in 1990 was met with skepticism and curiousity, propelling the single "Dear Friend" to another No. 1 spot. Akina once claimed that "Dear Friend' is perhaps her only happy song. Nevertheless, she reverted to seeing melancholic, jilted love songs that ultimately, did not go well with the public's taste. The whole decade proved to be a hit or miss musical era for Akina, who somewhat lost her definitive direction in her style of music.
Currently Akina holds the 4th most No. 1's singles (21) in Japanese Music history. There's a renewed interest in her exceptional live perfomances and music, as the Japanese music lovers tire of squeaky voice, heavily packaged singers reigning the charts. We may see Akina reclaiming her No.1's Singles' feat again.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 1 May 1982 Slow Motion (Joken Hansha)
- 28 July 1982 Shōjo A (Yume Handan)
- 10 November 1982 Second Love (Kagami no Naka no J)
- 23 February 1983 Nibunnoichi no Shinwa (Nukumori)
- 1 June 1983 Twilight - Yūguretayori - (Drive)
- 7 September 1983 Kinku (Ame no Requiem)
- 1 January 1984 Kita Wing (Namida no Katachi no Earring)
- 11 April 1984 Southern Wind (Yume Haruka)
- 25 July 1984 Jukkai (1984) (Korekara Naturally)
- 14 November 1984 Kazari Ja Nai no yo Namida wa (Moonlight Letter)
- 15 December 1984 Kita Wing (Refrain)
- 8 March 1985 Mi Amore (Lonely Journey)
- 1 May 1985 Akaitori Nigeta (Babylon)
- 19 June 1985 SAND BEIGE-Sabakuhe (Tsubaki Hime Julianna)
- 9 September 1985 SOLITUDE (Again)
- 3 February 1986 DESIRE-Jōnetsu (LA BOHEME)
- 26 May 1986 Gypsy Queen (Saigo no Carmen)
- 25 September 1986 Fin (Abunai MON AMOUR)
- 4 February 1987 TANGO NOIR (MILONGUITA)
- 3 June 1987 BLONDE (Amish)
- 30 September 1987 Nanpasen (Koiji)
- 27 January 1988 AL-MAUJ (Bara Hitoyo)
- 18 May 1988 TATTOO (Koakuma Rupuazon)
- 1 November 1988 I MISSED "THE SHOCK" (Bilitis)
- 25 April 1989 LIAR (Blue on Pink)
- 17 July 1990 Dear Friend (CARIBBEAN)
- 16 November 1990 Mizunisashita Hana (Angel Eyes)
- 25 March 1991 Futari Shizuka (Wasurete...)
- 21 May 1993 Everlasting Love (NOT CRAZY TO ME)
- 24 March 1994 Kata Omoi (Aibu)
- 2 September 1994 Yoru no Dokokade - night shift- (Rose Bud)
- 5 October 1994 Gekka (BLUE LACE)
- 21 June 1995 Genshi, Onna wa Taiyō Datta (Kirei)
- 1 November 1995 Tokyo Rose (Yasashii Kankei)
- 7 August 1996 MOONLIGHT SHADOW - Tsuki ni Hoeru
- 21 February 1997 APPETITE (SWEET SUSPICION)
- 11 February 1998 Kisei -Never Forget- (Tsuki wa Aoku)
- 21 May 1998 Konya, Nagareboshi (Arashi no Naka de)
- 23 September 1998 Tomadoi (Good-Bye My Tears)
- 21 January 1999 Ophelia
- 1 December 1999 Trust Me
- 31 May 2001 It's brand new day
- 2 May 2002 The Heat ～musica fiesta～
- 30 April 2003 Days
- 12 May 2004 Akai Hana
- 7 July 2004 Hajimete Deatta Hi no Yō ni
- 7 December 2005 Rakka Ryūsui
- 17 May 2006 Hana yo Odore
[edit] Original Albums
- Prologue 1 July 1982
- Variation 27 October 1982
- Fantasy 23 March 1983
- New Akina Entranger 10 August 1983
[edit] External links
- VAMP
- All About Akina Nakamori
- Official site (in Japanese)
- Akina Nakamori fan-site
