Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Monday, January 31, 2022

Nakamori Akina - Namida no Katachi no Iyarinngu 中森明菜ー涙の形のイヤリング

 


While I was writing about North Wing (or Kita Wing 北ウイング) a few weeks ago, I discovered something new and interesting.

I always thought Refrain (リ・フ・レ・イ・ン) was the B side song of North Wing.  I was wrong.  When North Wing was initially released January 1, 1984, Namida no Katachi no Iyarinngu (涙の形のイヤリング) was on side B.  Then, on December 15 the same year, North Wing was released as a Special Double A-side Single (特別盤両A面シングル).  But they changed the B side song to Refrain!

If you're interested, you can go to Wikipedia for details.

Back to the song.  Namida no Katachi no Iyarinngu talks about a young girl whose boyfriend was also dating a more "mature woman".  They're driving around the sea shore and were about to break up.  The young girl kept crying and asked why he did not choose her.  She also remembered the earring she's wearing, whose shape resembled a teardrop, was her boyfriend's present.  It was like a bad omen leading to their break up.

Even though it's a sad song, the melody is a bit light hearted.  On the other hand, another B side song that I like, Nukumori 温り, which is also about break up, its music has a much darker mood that fits the moment.  Maybe I'll write about it in the future when I get the chance.  In fact, I like many B-side songs of Akina.

Today's Chinese New Year Eve in North America.  To all Chinese readers, Happy Chinese New Year! 恭喜發財!

5 comments:

  1. Hi, Larry.

    As Brian mentioned above, my compliments on your research. The story behind this song kinda fits how the producers had wanted to frame the image around Akina at that time as a tough girl with a vulnerable centre.

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    1. Allan, completely agree with you regarding Akina's image. They've been playing with that since Shojo A.

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    2. Another thing that I noticed from the song is that the overall melody line is similar to that of Mariya Takeuchi's "September"...another song that Hayashi created.

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    3. Just went to YouTube and listened to September. Indeed both melodies sound alike.

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  2. Brain, thank you for your kind comments. Serendipity is good!

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