Fushigi (不思議, lit. "Mystery" or "Secret"), often translated as Strange or Mysterious,[2] is the ninth studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori, released on August 11, 1986 through Warner Pioneer.
| Fushigi | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 11, 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Studio | Sedic Audio Studio Sound Inn Studios Freedom Studio Sound Atelier Cherry Island Studio Music Inn Studio Warner-Pioneer Studio | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:08 | |||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| Label | Warner Pioneer | |||
| Producer | Akina Nakamori | |||
| Akina Nakamori chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
In February or March 1986 the name of the album was announced, along with an early track set list.[3] Originally, the album was supposed to include the promotional single "Fin" along with its B-side (they were later released in the mini compilation album CD87). Some tracks had names which were later used in other studio albums ("Akai Mystery" in Cruise and "Fire Starter" in Stock). The album track "Fushigi" was later re-recorded in the mini album Wonder.
In May, an inquiry letter was included inside the single "Gypsy Queen", with information about the planned release of the album in early July,[4] however due to production issues, the release was postponed to August.
The final official track list was published in June; from the previous list only three tracks remained: "Okibi", "Glass no Kokoro", "Marionette" and "Teenage Blue". In 1988, these four tracks were re-recorded and included in the mini album Wonder with clearer vocals and a change in arrangements. It is unknown whether the demo-tape tracks "Aoi Twilight Rain" and "Akage no Sandora", which were included in the earlier track set list, were renamed or completely removed from the album.
The album is the first self-produced by Nakamori.[1] It is something of a concept album in that every track features vocals with heavy reverb or other effects (many unsuspecting members of the Japanese public at first thought this to be an unintentional mis-recording).
Stage performance edit
Before the album release, Nakamori performed "Back Door Night" and "Marionette" as a medley in the music television program Yoru no Hit Studio, on 24 July 1986. In 1986 in the live tour Light and Shade, she performed "Back Door Night", "Marionette", "Genwaku Sarete", "Glass no Kokoro" and "New Generation". In 1987 in the live tour A Hundred Days, she performed "Wait for me" and "Mushroom Dance". In 2004 on the live tour I hope so, she performed "Okibi" and "Marionette".
Charting performance edit
Despite using unique vocal techniques foreign to her fan base, the album proved to sell moderately well, debuting at number 1 on Oricon Albums Chart and charting in the same position for three consecutive weeks.[1] The album remained at number 16 on the Oricon Album Yearly Charts in 1987.[5]
Reception edit
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club wrote in 2016 that the album is both "forward-thinking and faithful to the slick songwriting formulas of the era’s romantic pop, [...] An uncompromising experiment in soundscape that also happens to be pretty damn catchy, Fushigi is an album best played very loud."[2]
Track listing edit
All tracks produced by Akina Nakamori.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back Door Night" | Keiko Aso | Eurox | Eurox | 5:33 |
| 2. | "New Generation" | Ichiko Takehana | Eurox | Eurox | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Labyrinth" | Aso | Eurox | Eurox | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Marionette" | Takaaki Yasuoka | Yasuoka | Eurox | 4:21 |
| 5. | "Genwaku Sarete" | Minako Yoshida | Eurox | Eurox | 4:11 |
| 6. | "Glass no Kokoro" | Sandii | Makoto Kubota | Akira Inoue | 4:24 |
| 7. | "Teen-age Blue" | Yoshida | Yoshida | Kazuo Shiina | 4:14 |
| 8. | "Okibi" | Yoshida | Yoshida |
| 4:08 |
| 9. | "Wait for Me" | Show | Eurox | Eurox | 4:55 |
| 10. | "Mushroom Dance" | Sandii |
| Eurox | 4:33 |
| Total length: | 45:08 | ||||
Notes:
- "Back Door Night," "Teen-age Blue" "Wait for Me" and "Mushroom Dance" are stylised in sentence case.
Alternative recordings by Eurox edit
In 1987, the main sound producer of the album, Eurox, self-covered their songs "Please Wait for me" (Wait for me), "Adulation" (New Generation) and "Dream of" (Back Door Night) in their only album Megatrend with a renewed arrangement and altered lyrics.[6]
Release history edit
| Year | Format(s) | Serial number | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | LP, CT, CD | L-12595, LKF-8095, 32XL-155 | Warner Pioneer | [7] |
| 1991 | CD | WPCL-420 | Warner Pioneer | [8] |
| 1996 | CD | WPC6-8190 | Warner Pioneer | [9] |
| 2006 | CD, digital download | WPCL-10286 | Warner Pioneer | [10] |
| 2012 | Super Audio CD, CD hybrid | WPCL-11144 | Warner Pioneer | [11] |
| 2014 | CD | WPCL-11730 | Warner Pioneer | [12] |
| 2018 | LP | WPJL-10093 | Warner Pioneer | [13] |
| 2023 | 2CD | WPCL-13474/5 | Warner Pioneer | [14] |
Notes:
- 2006 re-release includes 24-bit digitally remastered sound source
- 2012 and 2014 re-release includes subtitles in the tracks "2012 remaster"
- 2023 re-release includes lacquer remaster which includes subtitles in the tracks "2023 lacquer remaster" along with original karaoke version of the tracks
References edit
- ^ a b c Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (February 2, 2016). "A one-of-a-kind album tried to turn '80s pop on its ear". AV Music. The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (2016-02-02). "A one-of-a-kind album tried to turn '80s pop on its ear". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
- ^ "オリコン・ウィークリー". オリコン・ウィークリー. 8 (37). オリジナルコンフィデンス: 15. 15 September 1986. 通巻363号.
- ^ Akina Nakamori (1986). ジプシー・クイーン (CD Single; Inquiry Letter). Akina Nakamori. Japan: Warner Pioneer. L-1751.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Eurox (1987). Megatrend (CD Album; Booklet). Eurox. Japan: Warner Bros. Records. K-12531.
- ^ "不思議 (中森明菜)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / 不思議 [再発] (1991)" (in Japanese). HMV Japan. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / 不思議 [再発] (1996)" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / 不思議 (2006) (Archived)" (in Japanese). WMG.JP. 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20.[dead link]
- ^ "中森明菜 / 不思議 [SA-CDハイブリッド] [紙ジャケット仕様] [限定]" (in Japanese). Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "不思議" (in Japanese). WMG.JP. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "不思議＜LP（180g重量盤）＞【初回生産限定】" (in Japanese). WMG.JP. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "中森明菜 / 不思議【オリジナル・カラオケ付】〈2023ラッカーマスターサウンド〉 [2CD]" (in Japanese). cdjournal. Retrieved October 31, 2023.