The genius of Nakamori Akina's lineup album

When talking about the biggest 80s kayokyoku idol, the name Akina Nakamori will definitely pops out. 

Seiko, Momoko, Yukko, Yu ... They are great singers, and wonderful TV personality. But nothing comes close to how Akina did it. 

What you're about to read is an opinion from someone who's coming from a different generation with her; not even the same nationality. But even I can see her charm, up till this day.. Her magical presence in old TV shows is like no other. 

This is her 40 year old legacy.

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Many would say that Slow Motion is the song that starts it all. But in my opinion, her talent shines through her cover of Yumesaki Annainnin during Star Tanjou!. She gives out a different feel of the already lovely song (Momoe did it beautifully, giving it a mature feel; but for Akina, it was one of her first stage, and her shyness spills through). It's giving young love discovering each other's fate for the first time. 

And so she wins the talent show, and Slow Motion was released. 

Not her biggest breakthrough, most people says. I feel the same way. I dunno who was in charge of her haircut, but those bangs are way too long. She was also quite stiff on stage most of the time; the only live Slow Motion video I like is the one where she (rarely) smiles and looks like she's having fun. She's wearing a pure white dress that's not too puffy, and she barely have any choreography. It's the awkward movement + her smile that I really adore!! 

I remember in an interview how she mentioned she always 'sings like she's angry' because her producers once said that 'acting all cutesy doesn't suits you'. (oof, that's mean)

So from 1982 - 1986, her album lineup is not like any other idols. 

She constantly changes her style from each year, and none of them falls through the category of 'cute, innocent girl falling in love for the first time' vibes. Hell, one of her hit single is literally titled 'Second Love'. 

If I recall correctly, most of her songs in the first three album era portray an 'already mature for someone your age' vibes. Look, I can even categorize it:

Breakup songs --> Jouken Hansha, X3 La La Bye, Hitokakera no Emerald, Aitsu wa Joke

"Eloping with an older guy" songs --> Downtown Story, Yokohama Akuma, Moroi Gogo

Cute with a hint of ecchi songs --> Ginga Densetsu, Shojo A, Yume Handan

See, it's far too different with other idols, right! 

While Momoko was singing about parting with her best friend, or Nanno singing about wanting to have her crush look at her, Akina was singing about.....her bad romance choices.. and breakups.. God that's terrible (lol).

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During 1986 - 1989, her style changes from youthful rebel to mature melancholy. Yep, I think that's the best way to put it. 

It's also amazing how she break out of her "Idol" persona to "Singer"; eventually "Utahime" or "Diva".

During this era, the album she released has a distinct personality to one another:

Fushigi --> Experimental

Cross My Palm --> International 

Stock --> Rock

Femme Fatale --> Sexy, with a hint of Europop

Cruise --> Ballad

And. THEY. ARE. GREAT!! 

I always wonder how can someone as thin as her can make such a deep and powerful voice... Especially in Stock. It's just... wow

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Now! There are many things I'd like to write about her 1987-1988 era. So this was when she's 21 until 24. The same age as me. 

Being in this age, I understand how an aspiring young girl would want to break out of her bounds, trying new things, in a hope that it would expand our experiences. I guess that's what happened with her Fushigi and Cross My Palm album. 

Fushigi

If you ever listen to Fushigi, you'll know that it sounds like the record's broken. Well it was intentional, she meant to do it that way. Her live stage in Yoru no Hit Studio also very unique, she's dressed as a witch with black attire, with her backdancers having a...similarly unique choreography as well. 

But giving that she's the only idol who tried that path, I think we owe her some degree of respect.

Judging by song-wise, every single track gives off a tense, strange, and well, mysterious (Fushigi) <-- though her re-release album names it "Wonder" rather than "Mysterious". 

The best track from Fushigi is, in my opinion, the fifth track; Genwaku Sarete. Too bad it doesn't appear in Wonder.

Cross My Palm

An underrated album. Wasted opportunity.

There are times when I think to myself "Damn girl, you were so brave for releasing this album". Horrible, I know.

The sales flopped for this album precisely because her English pronunciation is not good. But I can't blame her completely!! I mean where is her producer!! Why didn't they polish her speaking skills!! 

I feel like Japanese people in those era doesn't care much about whether the English pronunciation's correctness; Akina released an English album, and that's already cool. 

Little do they know there is a passionate fan overseas who constantly cringes when listening to this album...Again, it's horrible, I know. But I can't help it!! 

Sometimes I came to think what if we use AI to improve her speech in this song. Maybe it would improve the album's quality. But I am anti-AI no matter what, so I think to do that would be an insult. So I refrained.

It is really a shame, considering almost all the tracks in this album really suits 80s American pop songs. She almost...ALMOST blends in...if only not because of her thick accent. But hey, she tried!

Songs like Modern Woman and House of Love are my kind of songs. It's crazy how back in the 80s, people already have an idea of what 'Modern Woman' is made of.. and how those ideas are still relevant even in the 21st century.

Stock

My go-to album whenever I want to listen to Akina's badass persona. She delivers and she knows it! The lyrics in Stock are jam-packed with 'cool and distant' narrative of young women in love. 

Like in Yume no Fuchi (Edge of Dream), I have always interpret it as a perspective of a woman who's content with being alone, but one day was touched by a handsome man's kindness, and how it sways her away during those rushed feelings, even if she forced herself to act loose between the moments.. 

"My made-up crush on you is all set-up (...) Yet I won't mind, I won't mind if it's with you.."

And how it pains her ego to actually dances on top of the man's palm, shall she jump across the abyss, unknowing what lies ahead?

"An unfamiliar pain starts to crawl atop my corpse, I can't go back, I can't go back, I'm in the edge of dreams..."

The lyric's amazing. Her performance's amazing. I love her long hair in this era.

Femme Fatale

Both Stock and Femme Fatale shows what adult Akina can do with her range. But somehow, it gives off a whole different style. I think what makes it different between the two is that Stock is in the 'masculine' spectrum, and Femme Fatale is the 'feminine' spectrum. 

There are too many personal favorites in Femme Fatale; the first 5 tracks are five stars from me. 

Putting Reversion in the first track is such a strong album opener. I feel like Reversion and Yume no Fuchi is telling the similar love story; but in this one, the woman is more willing to let herself falls into the man's embrace, even so that she's desperate to make him look at her only...

"I'm going to cast a spell on those gaze, so that you only look at me alone.."

Not to mention how hot it is for her to describe what this 'man' looks like and the things he does to her. Everything about this song is so sexy. Ugh

"You brainwashed me from the very first time we met, with no way to reclaim who I used to be (...) When you whisper sweet nothings and embrace me, it sends me out to zero gravity.."

"I can't move a muscle when you lay your eyes on me.. Reluctantly within shooting range: Shoot Me.."

"It is vile of you to watch me got carried away...but your love is the only thing that I want!"

I hope whoever wrote this lyrics got a very beautiful and fulfilling life. They better be.

But I also adore how Akina doesn't shy away with her song selections. Like in this album, So Mad is literally about hate sex; two people frustrated with each other but still needs each other's bodies at night.

During this year she also released BILITIS, which, if you have done your research, MIGHT BE a reference of the French novel in 1894, The Songs of Bilitis. And if you know that novel, it's about erotic lesbian stories. 

"Reading Bilitis while hugging my knees, covering my ears while turning the page.."

It's quite interesting to connect the dots, thinking what was the producer planning to market Akina... Because we know from her very first singles, up until her 1985 era, most of her hit songs are marketed towards the female gaze. She doesn't act demure or cutesy during live stages, she was playing the role of 'cool, aloof, independent woman' which definitely sells out to the girls.

Cruise

Nothing much to say about this album; I haven't got any sudden struck of inspiration to listen thoroughly to this album again. This album is a ballad, and Akina had got hooked with her cigarettes for a while now, so her voice is really, REALLY low. And most of the songs here are mellow, quiet, without hope. Not exactly my cup of tea to be so melancholic. But I think it was around this era when she released Nanpasen. I quite liked that song. 

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If you have read this far, thank you!! I don't have anyone to talk about Akina, considering how rare it is to find myself a friend around my age that likes 80s kayokyoku as I do.. Hey, if you liked this blog post, consider saying hi! I'll see you around next month!