Akina Nakamori
is a Japanese Singing, singer and Actor, actress. She is one of the most popular and best-selling artists in Japan. Akina achieved national recognition after winning the 1981 season of the talent show ''Star Tanjō!''. Her debut single "Slow M ...
. Written by
Masao Urino
is a Japanese lyricist, script writer, and film director. He has written lyrics for many musical groups and individual artists, sometimes under the pseudonym .
After graduating from Tochigi Prefectural Ashikaga High School, he graduated in 197 ...
and
Hiroaki Serizawa
Hiroaki Serizawa (芹澤廣明 ''Serizawa Hiroaki'' January 3, 1948 - ) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. He has released albums under two other similar names: Hiro Serizawa (芹沢ヒロ and 芹沢 廣, both said ''Serizawa Hiro''). He has re ...
, the single was released on July 28, 1982 by
Warner Pioneer
Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and th ...
through the
Reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...
label. It was also the first single from her second studio album '' Variation (Hensoukyoku)''.
Background
"Shōjo A" was the first hit single penned by Urino, who made his debut in 1981 with Chanels' . The idea of the song came from producer Yūzō Shimada, who read Tōkō Kon's book and wanted Nakamori to record a song with the concept of "anti-society". The title refers to an anonymous girl and has nothing to do with "A" being Akina. The lyrics were based on those from an abandoned song titled , which was to have been recorded by
Kenji Sawada
is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and actor, best known for being the vocalist for the Japanese rock band The Tigers. Nicknamed because of his self-professed adoration of Julie Andrews, he was born in Tsunoi, Iwami (now part of Totto ...
. Urino drew some inspiration from
Momoe Yamaguchi
, known by her maiden name , is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe," Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 ...
's 1978 single "
Playback Part 2
is the 22nd single by Japanese idol Momoe Yamaguchi. Written by Yoko Aki and Ryudo Uzaki, the single was released on May 1, 1978, by CBS Sony.
Background
The title "Playback" was suggested by Yamaguchi's management, who requested Aki and Uzaki ...
".
Nakamori has re-recorded "Shōjo A" for the 2002 self-cover compilation '' Utahime Double Decade'' and the 2006 compilation ''
Best Finger 25th Anniversary Selection
is a compilation album by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori, released through Utahime Records and Universal Sigma on January 11, 2006 to commemorate Nakamori's 25th anniversary. The album consists of the singles " Akai Hana", " Hajimete Deatta ...
''. In 2010, she re-recorded the song for the pachinko machine .
Chart performance
"Shōjo A" became Nakamori's breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 5 on
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 Nov ...
's weekly singles chart and selling over 396,000 copies.
Awards
"Shōjo A" earned Nakamori the Newcomer Award at the 13th Japan Music Awards, the 8th Nippon Television Music Festival, the 8th All Japan Kayo Music Festival, the 9th Yokohama Music Festival, and the 15th Japan Cable Awards, the 15th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards. She also won the 9th ABC Kayo Rookie Grand Prix Silver Award, the 12th Ginza Music Festival Professional Jury Encouragement Award, the 8th All Japan Kayo Music Festival Newcomer Encouragement Award, the 15th Shinjuku Music Festival Jury Special Encouragement Award, and the 11th FNS Song Festival Outstanding Rookie Award.
Track listing
All music is arranged by Mitsuo Hagita.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Cover versions
* Singaporean singer Dawn Yip covered the song in Mandarin as "Bùyào liú xià" (不要留下, "Don't Stay") on her 1983 album of the same name.
* Taiwanese singer Anna Lin covered the song in Mandarin as "Dānshēn nǚláng" (単身女郎, "Single Girl") on her 1983 album ''Ānnà'' (安娜). This version was then covered by Chinese singer Yáng Jūnzǐ on her 1986 album ''Tiàowǔ jiē'' (跳舞街, ''Dancing Street'') and by Wú xiǎo yún on her 1988 album of the same name.
* Chinese singer Du Du covered the song in Mandarin as "Shàonǚ A" on her 1985 album of the same name.
* Taiwanese singer
Annie Yi
Wu Chin-yi (; born March 4, 1968), better known as Annie Yi () or Annie Shizuka Inoh ( ja, 伊能 静, Inō Shizuka), is a Taiwanese singer, actress, and writer.
Early life and education
Wu Chin-yi () was born on March 4, 1968 in Taipei, Taiwan ...
covered the song in Mandarin as "Xuǎn cuò diànyǐng xuǎn cuò nǐ" (選錯電影選錯你, "You're in the Wrong Movie") on her 1990 album ''Jǐn jǐn yǒngbào wǒ'' (緊緊擁抱我, ''Hold Me Tightly'').
*
Tak Matsumoto
is a Japanese musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist and main composer of the rock duo B'z, the best-selling music act in their native Japan. He also has a successful solo career where, in addition to winn ...
covered the song on his 2003 cover album '' The Hit Parade'', with
Azumi Uehara
is a former Japanese adult video (AV) actress and former Japanese pop singer.
Life and career
Uehara debuted in 2001 with the song which was featured on the anime ''Detective Conan'' as its 13th ending song. Both the song and the subsequent a ...
on vocals.
* Miu Nakamura covered the song as the B-side of her 2007 single "Miumiu no Toiki ~Tsuyogaru Ai no Katachi~".
*
Ryoko Shiraishi
is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Kashiba, Nara. She is affiliated with Aoni Production.
Possessing a husky voice, Shiraishi voices young to teenage men as well as young girls and teenage women. However, in a break from tradition, on ...
(as Sayoko Arashiyama) covered the song as an insert song in episodes 12 and 13 of the 2008 anime ''
Natsu no Arashi!
is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Jin Kobayashi. The manga was serialized in Square Enix's ''Gangan Wing'' ''shōnen manga'' magazine from August 2006 to September 2010, with its chapters collected in eight bound volumes. ''Nat ...
''
*
Keisuke Kuwata
is a Japanese multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and frontman for the Southern All Stars, as well of his own solo band, the Kuwata band. He has also done a significant amount of scoring music for films. He went to Aoyama Gakuin University ...
covered the song on the 2009 live video ''Shōwa Hachijūsan-nen do! Hitori Benishiro Uta Gassen''.
*
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 ...
covered the song in English on her 2012 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 ...
''.
*
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 ...
covered the song on her 2012 cover album '' Vocalist?''
*
Tomomi Itano
is a Japanese recording artist, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She is a former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. She was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 2011 she debuted solo with a single titled " Dear J", which wa ...
covered the song as the B-side of the Theater Edition release of her 2013 single " 1%".
*
Ken Hirai
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer. Since his debut, Hirai has worked as a model, actor, composer, lyricist, singer, and brand ambassador.
During his career, Hirai has released 45 singles and nine studio albums as of January 2019.