"Dear Friend" (ディア・フレンド, Dia Furendo) is the 24th single by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori. Written by Mayumi Itō and Kazuya Izumi, the single was released on July 17, 1990, by Warner Pioneer through the Reprise label. It was also the lead single from her fifth compilation album Best III.[1][2]
| "Dear Friend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Akina Nakamori | ||||
| from the album Best III | ||||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| B-side | "Caribbean" | |||
| Released | July 17, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | May–June 1990 | |||
| Studio | The Hit Factory | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | Reprise Records | |||
| Composer(s) | Kazuya Izumi | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Mayumi Itō | |||
| Akina Nakamori singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music videos | ||||
| "Dear Friend" on YouTube | ||||
Background edit
"Dear Friend" marked Nakamori's return to the music charts one year after her suicide attempt.[3][4] According to Warner Pioneer chief producer Katsumi Fujikura, the song was selected as Nakamori's next single because it "gives courage, energy, and makes people who listen to it brighter." Nakamori recorded the song at The Hit Factory in New York City. At the same time, she traveled to the Bahamas to shoot the music video, as well as have photographs taken for her photo book My Life 1990: A-K-I-N-A Nakamori.
Chart performance edit
"Dear Friend" became Nakamori's 21st No. 1 on Oricon's weekly singles chart and sold over 547,900 copies.[5][6] It was also certified Platinum by the RIAJ.[7]
Track listing edit
All music is composed by Kazuya Izumi
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dear Friend" | Mayumi Itō |
| 4:41 |
| 2. | "Caribbean" | Miho Onishi | Izumi | 4:35 |
| Total length: | 9:16 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | "Dear Friend" (Live Version) | Itō |
Charts edit
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan (Oricon)[5] | 1 |
Certification edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[7] | Platinum | 400,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history edit
| Year | Format(s) | Serial number | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8cm CD, CT | WPDL-4173, WPSL-4173 | Warner Pioneer | [8] |
| 1998 | 12cm CD | WPC6-8681 | Warner Pioneer | [9] |
| 2008 | Digital download | - | Warner Pioneer | [10] |
| 2014 | Digital download - remaster | - | Warner Pioneer | [11] |
References edit
- ^ "中森明菜(なかもりあきな)ディスコグラフィ". Idol.ne.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "Dear Friend | 中森明菜". Mora. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "Scandal Recap: On the Infamous "Golden Screen" Event". Arama! Japan. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ "Pop diva Nakamori idled by health". The Japan Times. 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
- ^ a b "Dear Friend | 中森明菜". Oricon. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "中森明菜". Yamachan Land. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ a b "Japanese single certifications – 中森 明菜 – Dear Friend" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2022-08-23. Select 1990年8月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "7inchシングル Dear Friend 中森明菜". surugaya.co.jp (in Japanese). Surugaya. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / Dear Friend CD" (in Japanese). WMJ. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / Dear Friend Digital Purchase-Archived". listen.jp (in Japanese). listen japan. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "Dear Friend (+3) [2014 Remaster]". mora.jp (in Japanese). Mora. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
External links edit
- Official website
- "Dear Friend" at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- "Dear Friend" at Discogs