Variation (Hensoukyoku)

Variation (Hensoukyoku) is the second studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. It was released on 27 October 1982 under the Warner Pioneer label. The album includes the controversial single hit Shoujo A. It became her first number-one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart and the best sold album during Nakamori's career.

Variation (Hensoukyoku)
Studio album by
Released27 October 1982
Recorded1982
GenreIdol Kayokyoku
Length44:08
LanguageJapanese
LabelWarner Pioneer
ProducerHiroo Oda
Akina Nakamori chronology
Prologue (Jomaku)
(1982)
Variation (Hensoukyoku)
(1982)
Fantasy (Gensoukyoku)
(1983)
Singles from Variation (Hensoukyoku)
  1. "Shoujo A"
    Released: 28 July 1982

Background

Variation (Hensoukyoku) is the second studio album released in 1982, three months after the release of debut album.

The music production team consist of a main arrangers Mitsuo Hagita and Kei Wakakusa, Kisugi siblings Etsuko and Takao, Masao Urino, Hiroaki Serizawa, Yukinojo Mori and Yoshitaka Minami.[1][2]

Although the album consist of twelve tracks, Introduction and Ending are instrumental songs written and arranged by Kei Wakakusa.

Promotion

Single

The album consist of one promotional single, Shoujo A. The single debuted at number 5 on Oricon Single Weekly Charts and remained on Yearly Charts at number 34. In the Best Ten Rankings, the single debuted at number 3 and remained in 1982 Yearly Charts at number 13.[3]

Music Home Video

On 1 May 1985, was released second music home video Hajimemashita Nakamori Akina. It was released on Nakamori's third debut anniversary. The music videoclips were filmed in United States, mainly in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The filming of the music home video began before her debut, between 11 and 17 March 1982.[4] From the original album Variation album, were recorded Moroi Gogo, Maerchen Location, Bye Bye Lullaby, Shoujo A, Sakihokoru Hana Ni and Aishū Magic.[5]

Stage performances

Shoujo A has been performed very often in the Yoru no Hit Studio, The Best Ten and various live tours.

The most of the songs has been performed in the live tour Milky Way in 1983, such as Cancel, Moroi Gogo, Aishū Magic , Bye Bye Lullaby, Catastrophe no Amagasa, Maerchen Location and Sakihokoru Hana Ni.[6]

Yokohama Akuma and Dai Nanakan (Septieme Sens) has bee performed in the live tour Rainbow Shower in 1983.

Catastrophe no Amagasa was performed once again in the acoustic live Akina Nakamori: 21 Seiki he no Tabidachi in 2000.

Chart performance

The album reached number one on the Oricon Album Weekly Chart for three consecutive weeks, charted 34 weeks and selling over 742,900 copies. It's her best sold album during her history of career. The album was ranked at number 8 on the Oricon Album Yearly Chart in 1983.[7]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Introduction" Kei WakakusaWakakusa1:46
2."Cancel!"Masao UrinoKazuhiko IzuMitsuo Hagita3:24
3."Moroi Gogo"Tsuzuru NakasatoNoboru MimuroHagita4:21
4."Aishū Magic"Yukinojou MoriYasuo KosugiHagita4:32
5."Sakihokoru Hana ni..."Etsuko KisugiTakao KisugiWakakusa4:37
6."Yokohama Akuma"NakasatoYoshitaka MinamiHagita3:42
7."Maerchen Location"NakasatoMimuroHagita4:37
8."Shoujo A"UrinoHiroaki SerizawaHagita3:34
9."Dai Nanakan (Septieme Sens)"Mayumi ShinozukaMinamiHagita4:12
10."Bye Bye Lullaby"MoriKosugiHagita3:43
11."Catastrophe no Amagasa"ShinozukaTsunehiro IzumiWakakusa4:56
12."Ending" WakakusaWakakusa0:44

Covers

Japanese singer, Azumi Uehara covered Shojo A in the cover album The Hit Parade produced by Tak Matsumoto.[8]

References

  1. "バリエーション〈変奏曲〉 (中森明菜 ) - Warner Music Japan". wmg.jp.
  2. "中森明菜 / バリエーション〈変奏曲〉". cdjournal.com.
  3. Akina (Media notes). Warner Music Japan. 1993-11-10. WPCL-770〜3.
  4. "DVD Collection 2 | Akina Nakakamori | Warner Music Japan". Warner Music Japan. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
  5. Akina Nakamori (1 May 1985). Hajimemashite Nakamori Akina (VHS). Warner Music Japan. 10PV-38.
  6. (1983年) 中森明菜 Ballade Best: 25th Anniversary Selection〜#Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite|Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite Tour Pamphlet. (MILKY HOUSE)
  7. Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970-2005. オリコン・マーケティング・プロモーション. 25 April 2006. p. 3, 455-457, 883. ISBN 4871310779.
  8. "TAK MATSUMOTO ソロ・プロジェクト・カヴァー・アルバム 『THE HIT PARADE』11月26日リリース!". Music Freak Magazine.
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