Bitter and Sweet (Akina Nakamori album)

Bitter and Sweet is the seventh studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. It was released on 3 April 1985 under the Warner Pioneer label. The album includes renewed version of the song "Kazarijanai yo Namida wa".

Bitter and Sweet
Studio album by
Akina Nakamori
Released3 April 1985
Recorded1984-1985
StudioSound Inn Studio
Sedic Studio
Freedom Studio
Hitokuchizaka Studio
Aoi Studio
Cherry Island Studio
GenrePop
Length43:54
LanguageJapanese
LabelWarner Pioneer
ProducerYuuzou Shimada
Akina Nakamori chronology
Silent Love
(1984)		 Bitter and Sweet
(1985)		 D404ME
(1985)
Singles from Bitter and Sweet
  1. "Kazarijanai yo Namida wa"
    Released: 14 November 1984

Background

Bitter and Sweet is the first studio album released in year 1985, after half year from previous studio album Possibility.

The music production team consist a various semi-popular artist from the 80's period such as EPO, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Yousui Inoue, Akira Jimbo, Minako Yoshida and Aska from duo Chage and Aska.[1][2]

Album track Yokan has received on the December renewed arrangement, which was included in the mini studio album My Best Thanks. The original version's final melody slowly fades away while in the mini studio version includes the sound of noise to follow final track from the mini album.[3] In 1995 has received piano arrangement and was recorded in the self-cover album true album akina 95 best.[4]

With this album, Nakamori changes not just her visual appearance, but also her musical style from the stereotypical idol-Kayōkyoku into generic Pop and Synth-pop. It's also final album to be produced by producer who produced everything from the debut, Yuuzou Shimada.

Promotion

Single

It consists of one previously released single, Kazarijanai yo Namida wa. The single has received the musical award in the 14th FNS Music Festival in 1984.[5] The album version has subtitle New Re-mix version and includes renewed arrangement. The intro begins with the solo of bass guitar, while the original version starts with the whole instrumental session part. The original version of Kazarijanai yo Namida ha was included in the second compilation album "Best" in 1986.

On 1 May 1985, on Nakamori's third debut anniversary was released original demo of the Meu Amore, Akaitori ga Nigeta as a A-side track and album track Babylon was recorded as a B-side song. Babylon has received a new remix version with the extension of two minutes, in the compare with the original.

Stage performances

On the Fuji TV music television program Yoru no Hit Studio, she performed original version of "Kazarijanaiyo Namida wa" and Koiito to Iru Jikan.

On NHK music television program Young Studio 101, she performed together at once Dreaming and Yokan.

Babylon, So Long, Yokan, Romantic na Yoru dawa, Koibito to Iru Jikan, Unsteady Love, April Stars and Dreaming were performed in Nakamori's live tour Bitter and Sweet in 1985.

Nakamori reprised the performance of Babylon in the live tour A Hundred Days in 1987 and Femme Fatale in 1988.

Among of all album tracks, the Yokan has been performed the most times: in 1993, she performed it in one-night special live event Utahime Live at Parco Threatre, in 1995 special live true akina best 1995, she performed version with the piano arrangement, five years later in 2000 she performed it in live tour 21 Seiki he no Tabidachi and in 2003 it was in her live tour I hope so.

Charting performance

The album reached number 1 on the Oricon Album Weekly Charts for two consecutive weeks. LP Record version charted 22 weeks, Cassette tape version debuted on number 1 as well and charted 24 weeks and sold over 573,700 copies. The album remained at number 9 on the Oricon Album Yearly Charts in 1985.[6]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Kazarijanai yo Namida wa" (album version)Yōsui InoueInoueMitsuo Hagita4:41
2."Romantic na Yoru dawa"EPOEPONoboyuki Shimizu3:43
3."Yokan"AskaAskaKazuo Shiina4:07
4."Tsukiyo Venus"Gorō MatsuiNaoya MatsuokaMatsuoka3:39
5."Babylon"SandiiMakoto KubotaAkira Inoue4:41
6."Unsteady Love"Toshiki KadomatsuKadomatsuKadomatsu4:35
7."Dreaming"Nobu SaitouYoshikoAkaguy4:35
8."Koibito to iru Jikan"ShowAkira JimboInoue3:57
9."So Long"KadomatsuKadomatsuKadomatsu5:02
10."April Star"Minako YoshidaYoshidaShiina5:05

Notes:

  • All English titles are stylized in all uppercase.

Covers

Japanese singer Aska from rock band Chage and Aska, covered Yokan in his second solo album Scene II in 1988.[7]

Japanese composer and singer, Toshiki Kadomatsu covered "Unsteady Love" on his studio album Gentle Sex in 2000.[8]

References
  1. "Bitter and Sweet (中森明菜 ) - Warner Music Japan". wmg.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-03-02.
  2. "中森明菜 Bitter and Sweet". cdjournal.com.
  3. Akina Nakamori, LP MY BEST THANKS" - Album Notes, 21 December 1985, Warner Pioneer (L-4101)
  4. Akina Nakamori, CD True album Akina 95 Best - Album notes, . MCA Victor (MVCD-36001-3) 6 December 1995
  5. Club House (1998-11-01). Oricon No.1 HITS 500 1968〜1985 (Part 1) Oricon Chart No.1 Hit Songs. Club House. pp. 215、267頁. ISBN 4906496121.
  6. Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970-2005. オリコン・マーケティング・プロモーション. 25 April 2006. pp. 3, 455–457, 883. ISBN 4871310779.
  7. "Scene II (Aska)". Aska Discography from Fellows.
  8. "角松敏生 / The gentle sex". cdjournal.com.
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