Naoko Kawai/Mariya Takeuchi -- Kenka wo Yamete (けんかをやめて）

"Kenka wo Yamete"(Stop Fighting) by 80s aidoru Naoko Kawai（河合奈保子） is just imbued with Mariya Takeuchi's（竹内まりや）bobbysoxer ballad arrangements. It can go toe-to-toe with Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and could probably get inserted into a "Gidget" movie. It's a swayworthy song. While listening to it, you can imagine some guy named Billy Joe running up to his girl's house.... feeling awf'ly sorry about the fight and trying to make up. Meanwhile, Daddy is getting his Winchester for battle...

Released in September 1982, Kawai's 10th single went as high as No. 5 and was the 64th-ranked song of the year. It sold a very respectable 200,000 copies and even won a Gold Prize at the Japan Record Awards that year.

Mariya Takeuchi also did a slightly grander self-cover of the song for her album, "Request" in 1987. It was nice to see that she still had a bit of Connie Francis in her.