is a song recorded by Japanese singer

Shizuka Kudo , known by her maiden name , is a Japanese singer, actress and former idol, born in Hamura, Tokyo, Japan. She was a member of Onyanko Club between May 1986 and September 1987 and went on to have a successful solo career with 11 number-one hits ...

, released as a single by

Pony Canyon , also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affi ...

on May 3, 1989. Although the song is one of Kudo's most recognizable hits, as well as widely considered to be her breakout hit, and despite the fact that it was included on the compilation album '' Harvest'', released later that same year, it was never featured on any of Kudo's studio albums. At the fourth Japan Gold Disc Awards, "Arashi no Sugao" was one of the five recipients of the award for Best Single of the Year. In 2015, DAM asked their users to select their favorite Shizuka Kudo songs to sing karaoke to and compiled a top ten list; "Arashi no Sugao" was ranked number seven.

Composition and critical reception

The song was written by Yoshiko Miura and composed and produced by Tsugutoshi Gotō. Lyrically, the song explores themes of scorned love and vulnerability. Miura describes a protagonist's volatile state of mind after being abandoned by a condescending lover, to whom she vows to "raise up a storm and destroy everything". Kudo was praised for her vocal performance and unique tone, credited by critics as one of the main elements behind the success of the song.

Live performances

The live performances of "Arashi no Sugao" achieved fame for the accompanying choreography. After delivering the choruses, Kudo would perform a specific hand movement which involved moving her hand repeatedly below and along the side of her face to the beat of the song. Bobby Yoshino, who choreographed the routine, was inspired by tutting to create the famous hand move. Along with the shoulder-padded skirt suit Kudo wore to perform the song, this signature hand movement is often replicated by comedians performing impressions of Kudo.

Cover versions

In 2006,

Nana Kitade is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to being the lead singer of the rock band The Teenage Kissers, she has (or had) success as a solo artist, model, actress, and fashion designer. Kitade is particularly known for her songs ...

recorded a cover for her second EP, ''

Cutie Bunny ''Cutie Bunny'' is the second EP by Nana Kitade is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to being the lead singer of the rock band The Teenage Kissers, she has (or had) success as a solo artist, model, actress, and fashion d ...

''. In 2012,

Janet Kay Janet Kay Bogle (born 17 January 1958) is an English actor and vocalist, best known for her 1979 lovers rock hit "Silly Games". Biography Janet Kay Bogle was born in Willesden, North West London. She was discovered singing impromptu at a rehea ...

recorded an English-language cover of the song for her cover album ''

Idol Kay is a cover album by British singer Janet Kay. Released through Universal Music Japan on 23 May 2012, the album features English-language reggae covers of popular J-pop J-pop ( ja, ジェイポップ, ''jeipoppu''; often stylized as J-POP; an ab ...

''. In 2014, the girl group Feam recorded a cover of the song for their album, ''Re:Idol: Hajimete no Chū''. "Arashi no Sugao" was covered by

Kenichi Suzumura is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer who is affiliated with and a representative of INTENTION, a voice acting company he founded in March 2012. He voiced Morley in ''Macross 7'', Hikaru Hitachiin in ''Ouran High School Host Club'', Ma ...

as part of the Shizuka Kudo-as-sung-by male

voice actors Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

tribute album, ''Shizuka Kudo Tribute'', released in 2017. In 2015, Nanase Aikawa, who credits Kudo as being the artist who inspired her to become a singer and whose songs, including "Arashi no Sugao", she sang at auditions, performed a duet of the song with Kudo at her concert commemorating her 20th anniversary.

Chart performance

"Arashi no Sugao" debuted at number-one on the Oricon Singles Chart, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks. It charted in the top ten for nine straight weeks. "Arashi no Sugao" stayed in the top hundred for a total of 21 weeks and moved over 500,000 copies during its run. The single ranked at number eight on the year-end Oricon Singles Chart for 1989, and was one of three singles released by Kudo that year to rank in the yearly top ten.

Track listing

Charts

Certification

References

{{authority control 1989 songs 1989 singles Songs written by Tsugutoshi Gotō Oricon Weekly number-one singles Shizuka Kudo songs Nana Kitade songs Kenichi Suzumura songs Pony Canyon singles