is the second studio album by Japanese entertainer

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 ...

. It was released on October 27, 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 ...

under the

Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Enya, Michael ...

label. The album includes the controversial single hit "

Shōjo A is the second single by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori. Written by Masao Urino and Hiroaki Serizawa, the single was released on July 28, 1982 by Warner Pioneer through the Reprise label. It was also the first single from her second studio alb ...

". It became Nakamori's first number-one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart and her best sold album.

Background

''Variation (Hensoukyoku)'' is Nakamori's second studio album, released in 1982, three months after the release of her debut album. The music production team consisted of main arrangers Mitsuo Hagita and Kei Wakakusa, Kisugi siblings Etsuko and Takao,

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 ...

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 ...

, Yukinojo Mori and Yoshitaka Minami. Although the album consists of twelve tracks, "Introduction" and "Ending" are instrumental songs written and arranged by Kei Wakakusa.

Promotion

Single

The album had one promotional single, "

". The single debuted at number 5 on the Oricon Single Weekly Charts and remained on the yearly chart at number 34. In the Best Ten Rankings, the single debuted at number 3 and remained on the 1982 yearly chart at number 13.

Music home video

On 1 May 1985, Nakamori's third debut anniversary, the second music home video ''Hajimemashita Nakamori Akina'' was released. The music video clips were filmed in the United States, mainly in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

and

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...

. Filming began before her debut, between 11 and 17 March 1982. Songs recorded from the original ''Variation'' album were "Moroi Gogo", "Maerchen Location", "Bye Bye Lullaby", "Shoujo A", "Sakihokoru Hana Ni" and "Aishū Magic".

Stage performances

"Shoujo A" has been performed very often in the Yoru no Hit Studio, The Best Ten and various live tours. Most of the songs were performed in the live tour ''Milky Way'' in 1983, including "Cancel", "Moroi Gogo", "Aishū Magic" , "Bye Bye Lullaby", "Catastrophe no Amagasa", "Maerchen Location" and "Sakihokoru Hana Ni".(1983年) 中森明菜 Ballade Best: 25th Anniversary Selection〜#Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite, Akina Milkyway '83 Haru no Kaze wo Kanjite Tour Pamphlet. (MILKY HOUSE) "Yokohama Akuma" and "Dai Nanakan (Septieme Sens)" were performed in the live tour ''Rainbow Shower'' in 1983. "Catastrophe no Amagasa" was performed again in the acoustic live ''Akina Nakamori: 21 Seiki he no Tabidachi'' in 2000.

Chart performance

The album reached number one on the Oricon Album Weekly Chart for three consecutive weeks, charted 34 weeks and sold over 742,900 copies. It is Nakamori's best sold album. The album was ranked at number 8 on the Oricon Album Yearly Chart in 1983.

Track listing

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 1982 albums Akina Nakamori albums Warner Music Japan albums Japanese-language albums