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Akina Nakamori

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is a 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 Nanpasen, Nakamori made her debut on May 1 1982 with the single Slow Motion. One of her most well known performances remains that of "Desire," where she came out in a white kimono and wig, leaving everyone with a very strong image of her. Her own image was always more mature than that of her other companions, and her voice much lower and huskier.
She attempted suicide in July 1989 in her then-boyfriend Masahiko Kondo's apartment after discovering that Seiko Matsuda, her main competition, and her boyfriend were having an affair together. Afterward, she disappeared from the public eye and is rumored to have spent her days drinking heavily in Hawaii. Her career after her suicide attempt has been mediocre at best, and she has never regained the popularity she experienced in the early- to mid-1980s. But she keep conducting concerts even after 1996. Her performance is seen by public audience from Japan, remains at high quality. The 2000, 2002, 2003 concerts still attracted large amount of fans to her stages. She still performs and releases original songs (as of 2005). She is also on the New Year’s TV show Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Contents

1982-1984

Akina Nakamori debuted on the music scene with Slow Motion, which Akina had to leave Japan and go to Los Angeles to record. Her debut sold a dismal 174,000 and debuted at #30 on the charts. Despite this disappointing debut, Akina then released Shōjo A, which was nearly banned for its risque lyrics. This single farred better, most likely due to controversy and debuted at #5 selling 396,000 copies. Her next single proved to be her best selling single. It was a ballad called Second Love. This sentimental piece debuted at #1 and sold an impressive 766,000 copies. But Akina did not only release singles during the year 1982, she released 2 albums, Prologue and Variation, selling 453,000 and 743,000 respectively.

In the next year, Akina released only singles. These singles were Nibunnoichi no Shinwa, which sold 573,000 copies and debuted at #1, which made it her best selling single of that year. Twilight ~Yūguretayori~, the next single she released, sold 430,000 copies and debuted at #2. But Kinku, her last single of that year, would fare better, debuting at #1 and selling 511,000 copies.

In 1984, Akina released Kita WING, which sold 614,000 copies, a bit better than her previous singles from last year, but it surprisingly didn't get the number 1 spot. It instead debut at number 2. Her next single Southern Wind did debut at number 1, but curiously sold only 544,000 copies. Jūkai 1984 proved to be another number 1 for her, selling 611,000 copies. Her next single proved to be a landmark in Akina Nakamori's career, Kazari janai no yo namida wa debuted at number 1 and sold 625,000 copies. Many in Japan cite this song and Desire ~Jōnetsu~ as one of Akina's landmark songs. But Kazari Ja Nai no yo Namida wa ("Tears Are Not Decorations") weren't featured on either Anniversary or Possibility, the only albums of that year.

1985-1987

Akina started the year of 1985 off with Meu Amor E which proved to be a great success for her, debuting #1 with 631,000 copies and also winning Akina the Japan Record Taisho Grand Prix award. She became the youngest person of the time (20) to be awarded such an honor. Because of the success of Meu Amor E, she re-released Meu Amor E but made the song longer and changed the lyrics and title, calling it Akaitori Nigeta. Despite the b-side of Babylon which was remixed and the colorful cover, It sold a dismal 354,000, nearly half as less as the original, but managed to debut at #1. 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 336,000 copies.

She also released two albums during 1985, BITTER & SWEET, which contained the album version of the earlier hit of Kazari Janai No Yo Namida Wa and the b-side to Akaritori Nigeta, BABYLON. Despite these two songs carrying the album, it sold 556,000 copies and debuted at number 1. Her next album, D404ME, only had one song carrying it, Meu Amor E, but it was in a special remix edition on the album. This album sold an impressive 651,000 copies and debuted at number 1.

In 1986, Akina was 21 and she became more artistic and sung more maturely. The first single of that year, Desire ~jōnetsu~, proved to be a turning point in Akina's career. This song was used as the theme song of PIONEER PRIVATE commercial, and was awarded Japan Record Taisho Grand Prix in 1986 and Akina won the award for the second time in her singing career. 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 more quieter than Desire ~jōnetsu~ and sold a mere 358,000 copies and debuted at number 1. Fin sold less than it predessor, a lukewarm 318,000 copies, but it did 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. And then, Akina released Fushigi, an album that caused quite a stir amongst the mainly conservative Japanese public and thus sold 464,000 copies, nearly 200,000 less than Crimson, which featured the entire album composed by women rather than men, 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 started of the year quietly, releasing 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 cover Blonde. It sold 301,000 copies and debuted at number 1. Her best selling single of that year was a heartfelt ballad called Nanpasen which many people attributed her sadness to her rocky relationship with Masahiko Kondo and the recent 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 United States debut album called Cross My Palm. It mainly faltered in the United States music industry because of Akina's heavily-accented English and low promotion. Nonetheless, it was a hit in Japan, selling 343,000 copies and debuting number 1.

Discography

Singles

  1. 1 May 1982 Slow Motion (Joken Hansha)
  2. 28 July 1982 Shōjo A (Yume Handan)
  3. 10 November 1982 Second Love (Kagami no Naka no J)
  4. 23 February 1983 Nibunnoichi no Shinwa (Nukumori)
  5. 1 June 1983 Twilight - Yūguretayori - (Drive)
  6. 7 September 1983 Kinku (Ame no Requiem)
  7. 1 January 1984 Kita Wing (Namida no Katachi no Earring)
  8. 11 April 1984 Southern Wind (Yume Haruka)
  9. 25 July 1984 Jukkai (1984) (Korekara Naturally)
  10. 14 November 1984 Kazari Ja Nai no yo Namida wa (Moonlight Letter)
  11. 15 December 1984 Kita Wing (Refrain)
  12. 8 March 1985 Mi Amore (Lonely Journey)
  13. 1 May 1985 Akaitori Nigeta (Babylon)
  14. 19 June 1985 SAND BEIGE-Sabakuhe (Tsubaki Hime Julianna)
  15. 9 September 1985 SOLITUDE (Again)
  16. 3 February 1986 DESIRE-Jōnetsu (LA BOHEME)
  17. 26 May 1986 Gypsy Queen (Saigo no Carmen)
  18. 25 September 1986 Fin (Abunai MON AMOUR)
  19. 4 February 1987 TANGO NOIR (MILONGUITA)
  20. 3 June 1987 BLONDE (Amish)
  21. 30 September 1987 Nanpasen (Koiji)
  22. 27 January 1988 AL-MAUJ (Bara Hitoyo)
  23. 18 May 1988 TATTOO (Koakuma Rupuazon)
  24. 1 November 1988 I MISSED "THE SHOCK" (Bilitis)
  25. 25 April 1989 LIAR (Blue on Pink)
  26. 17 July 1990 Dear Friend (CARIBBEAN)
  27. 16 November 1990 Mizunisashita Hana (Angel Eyes)
  28. 25 March 1991 Futari Shizuka (Wasurete...)
  29. 21 May 1993 Everlasting Love (NOT CRAZY TO ME)
  30. 24 March 1994 Kata Omoi (Aibu)
  31. 2 September 1994 Yoru no Dokokade - night shift- (Rose Bud)
  32. 5 October 1994 Gekka (BLUE LACE)
  33. 21 June 1995 Genshi, Onna wa Taiyo Datta (Kirei)
  34. 1 November 1995 Tokyo Rose (Yasashii Kankei)
  35. 7 August 1996 MOONLIGHT SHADOW - Tsuki ni Hoeru
  36. 21 February 1997 APPETITE (SWEET SUSPICION)
  37. 11 February 1998 Kisei -Never Forget- (Tsuki wa Aoku)
  38. 21 May 1998 Konya, Nagareboshi (Arashi no Naka de)
  39. 23 September 1998 Tomadoi (Good-Bye My Tears)
  40. 21 January 1999 Ophelia
  41. 1 December 1999 Trust Me
  42. 31 May 2001 It's brand new day
  43. 2 May 2002 The Heat ～musica fiesta～
  44. 30 April 2003 Days
  45. 12 May 2004 Akai Hana
  46. 7 July 2004 Hajimete Deatta Hi no Yō ni
  47. 7 December 2005 Rakka Ryūsui
  48. 17 May 2006 Hana yo Odore

Original Albums

  1. Prologue 1 July 1982
  2. Variation 27 October 1982
  3. Fantasy 23 March 1983
  4. New Akina Entranger 10 August 1983
  5. Anniversary 1 April 1984
  6. Possibility 10 October 1984
  7. Bitter and Sweet 3 April 1985
  8. D404ME 10 August 1985
  9. Fushigi 1 August 1986
  10. Crimson 24 December 1986
  11. Cross My Palm 25 August 1987
  12. STOCK (music) 3 March 1988
  13. Femme Fatale 3 August 1988
  14. Best II 24 December 1988
  15. Cruise 25 July 1989
  16. Unbalance+Balance 22 September 1993
  17. LA ALTERATION 21 July 1995
  18. Shaker 21 March 1997
  19. SPOON 17 June 1998
  20. Resonancia 22 May 2002
  21. I hope so 14 May 2003
  22. Destination 21 June 2006

External links

 

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