is the fifth single by

Japanese idol An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in acting, dancing, and modeling. Idols are commercialized through merchandise and endorsements ...

duo

Wink A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signaling shared hidden knowledge or intent. However, it is ambiguous by itself and highly dependent upon additional c ...

. Written by

Neko Oikawa (born February 10, 1960) is a Japanese lyricist who has written J-pop and anime theme songs over her career. Biography Neko Oikawa was born in Wakayama, Wakayama. She made her songwriting debut in 1985 with Kanako Wada's "Passing Through", wh ...

and Masaya Ozeki, the single was released on July 5, 1989 by Polystar Records.

Background and release

"Samishii Nettaigyo" was first used by

Panasonic formerly between 1935 and 2008 and the first incarnation of between 2008 and 2022, is a major Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation, headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka. It was founded by Kōnosuke Matsushita in 1918 as a lightbulb ...

for their S-Type headphone commercial featuring Wink in mid-April 1989. The B-side is a Japanese-language cover of the

Hedy West Hedwig Grace "Hedy" West (April 6, 1938 – July 3, 2005) was an American folksinger and songwriter. She belonged to the same generation of folk revivalists as Joan Baez and Judy Collins. Her most famous song " 500 Miles" is one of America's ...

song "

500 Miles "500 Miles" (also known as "500 Miles Away from Home" or "Railroaders' Lament") is a song made popular in the United States and Europe during the 1960s folk revival. The simple repetitive lyrics offer a lament by a traveler who is far from home ...

". "Samishii Nettaigyo" became Wink's third No. 1 on the

Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...

's weekly charts. It sold over 564,000 copies and was certified Platinum by the RIAJ. The song won the Grand Prix award at the

31st Japan Record Awards The 31st Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo, December 31, 1989, starting at 7:00PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS. Award winners *Japan Record Award: **Wink for "Samishii Net ...

. In addition, it led to the duo's first and only appearance on

NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestr ...

's ''

Kōhaku Uta Gassen , more commonly known simply as ''Kōhaku'', is an annual New Year's Eve television special produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. It is broadcast live simultaneously on television and radio, nationally and internationally by the NHK net ...

'' in 1989.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by

; all music is arranged by Motoki Funayama.

Chart positions

;Weekly charts ;Year-end charts

Certifications

Cover versions

* In 1990, the song was covered in Chinese Mandarin by

Xiao Hu Dui Xiao Hu Dui (Chinese: 小虎隊), also known as the Little Tigers, were a Taiwanese boy band formed in 1988. The band consisted of Alec Su, Nicky Wu and Julian Chen. The trio rose to fame during the late 1980s, achieving success in their native Tai ...

as "Xing Xing De Yue Hui" (星星的約會) on their cover album of the same name. * In 1991, the song was covered in English by

The Nolans The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish girl group who formed in Blackpool in 1974 as the Nolan Sisters, before changing their name in 1980. Often referred to as Ireland's ''First Family of Music'', they were the first Irish performing family to achiev ...

as "Tidal Wave" on their cover album '' Tidal Wave (Samishii Nettaigyo)''. * In 2004, the song was covered by W on their debut album '' Duo U&U''. * In 2004, the song was covered by

Nana Katase Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

on her album '' Extended'' * In 2005, the song was performed by ex-

Morning Musume , formerly simply and colloquially referred to as , are a Japanese girl group, holding the second highest overall single sales (of a female group) on the Oricon, Oricon charts as of February 2012, with the Oricon record of most top ten singles ...

member

Kaori Iida is a Japanese pop singer and actress, associated with Hello! Project and best known as a founding member of the girl band Morning Musume. She has also recorded with the Morning Musume side project band Tanpopo and is currently a solo artist. ...

and Ruca at Flet's (フレッツ) Casual Dinner Show. * In 2008, the song was covered by Kimiko Koyama for the anime '' Rosario + Vampire''. * In 2010, the song was covered by MAX on their 2010 cover album ''

Be MAX ''Be MAX'' is a cover album by Japanese vocal group MAX. Released on September 8, 2010, by Sonic Groove as part of the group's 15th anniversary celebration, the album was offered in two editions: CD only and CD with bonus DVD. It features the grou ...

''. * In 2017, the song was covered by FEMM on their album ''80's/90's J-Pop Revival''. * In 2012, the song was covered by

You Kikkawa is a Japanese singer and actress. Kikkawa achieved early fame portraying Kobeni Hanasaki from '' Kirarin Revolution Stage 3'' and later debuted as a solo singer with the song, "Kikkake wa You!" Career 2006–2010: Pre-debut, ''Kirarin Revoluti ...

on her 2012 cover album '' Vocalist?''. * In 2012, the song was covered in English by

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 ...

on her 2012 cover album '' Idol Kay''. * In 2019, the song was covered by Kazehikaru Fukurou (風光ル梟), as their second single. * In 2019, the song was performed by Red Velvet members

Joy The word joy refers to the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, and is typically associated with feelings of intense, long lasting happiness. Dictionary definitions Dictionary definitions of joy typically include a sense of ...

and Yeri as a Special Stage at ''SMTOWN in Tokyo''. * In 2020, the song was parodied by

Kyoko Fukada is a very common feminine Japanese given name. Not to be confused with Kiyoko. Possible writings The final syllable "ko" is typically written with the kanji character for child, 子. It is a common suffix to female names in Japan. The first s ...

Mikako Tabe is a Japanese actress from Tokyo. Starting acting in her teens with a role in the Sailor Moon musicals, she has developed into a lead actress in film and television, playing the heroine in the Asadora ''Tsubasa'', starring in TV comedy series s ...

, and

Mei Nagano is a Japanese actress. Amongst her film and television credits are Rinko in the film '' My Love Story!'', Suzume Yosano in the film '' Daytime Shooting Star'', and Suzume Nireno in the 98th NHK asadora ''Hanbun, Aoi''. Career Nagano was scouted ...

in a UQ Mobile commercial.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1989 singles 1989 songs Wink (duo) songs Japanese-language songs Songs with lyrics by Neko Oikawa Compositions in A minor Oricon Weekly number-one singles