Liar (Akina Nakamori song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Liar
| cover = Akina Nakamori - Liar.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Akina Nakamori
| album = Cruise
| language = Japanese
| English_title =
| B-side = Blue on Pink
| released = {{Start date|1989|04|25}}
| recorded = 1988
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|J-pop|kayōkyoku}}
| length = 4:35
| label = Reprise Records
| composer = Kazuya Izumi
| lyricist = Mitsuko Shiramine
| producer =
| prev_title = I Missed the Shock
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Dear Friend
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video
| type = single
| header = Music videos
| 1 = {{YouTube|R3pM65m1Qjo|"Liar" (Live)}}
}}
}}
{{nihongo4|"Liar"|ライアー|Raiā}} is the 23rd single by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori. Written by Mitsuko Shiramine and Kazuya Izumi, the single was released on April 25, 1989, by Warner Pioneer through the Reprise label. It was also the lead single from her 14th studio album Cruise.{{cite web |url=https://idol.ne.jp/nakamoriakina |title=中森明菜(なかもりあきな)ディスコグラフィ |website=Idol.ne.jp |date=28 December 2018 |accessdate=2022-08-22}}{{cite web |url=http://artms.blog76.fc2.com/blog-entry-39.html |title=中森明菜（27）LIAR（ライアー） |website=Nakamori Akina Miryoku no Subete |date=2011-06-18 |accessdate=2022-08-22}}
Background
"Liar" was recorded and released at a time Nakamori experienced a crisis in both her career and personal life. Despite being a chart-topper and award-winner, she saw her record sales steadily declining in favor of newer idol singers. Furthermore, she was in a very unstable relationship with Masahiko Kondō. It was revealed through the tabloid Friday that Nakamori had been funding Kondō's side hobbies such as auto racing and that he owed her and her former talent agency tens of millions of yen. In July 1989, three months after the release of the single, Nakamori attempted to commit suicide amidst rumors of Kondō having an affair with Seiko Matsuda. This led to the "Golden Screen Incident" months later, when both Nakamori and Kondō held a press conference in front of a gold-colored backdrop (which is traditionally used to announce engagements) to explain the events leading to Nakamori's suicide attempt. In the aftermath of the press conference, both Nakamori and Kondō were dropped from the lineup of the 40th Kōhaku Uta Gassen while Nakamori was shunned by the industry, leading to her alcohol and smoking addiction during the 1990s.{{cite web |url=https://aramajapan.com/aramaexclusive/scandal-recap-on-the-infamous-golden-screen-event/113217/ |title=Scandal Recap: On the Infamous "Golden Screen" Event |website=Arama! Japan |access-date=2022-08-22}}{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/10/30/national/pop-diva-nakamori-idled-by-health/ |title=Pop diva Nakamori idled by health |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=2010-10-30 |access-date=2022-08-22}}
Nakamori has re-recorded "Liar" for the 1995 compilation True Album Akina 95 Best.
Chart performance
"Liar" became Nakamori's 20th No. 1 on Oricon's weekly singles chart and sold over 274,700 copies.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/235370/products/4223/2/ |title=LIAR {{!}} 中森明菜 |publisher=Oricon |access-date=2022-08-22}}{{cite web |url=http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/single/akina.html |title=中森明菜 |website=Yamachan Land |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524165617/http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/single/akina.html |access-date=2022-08-22|archive-date=2011-05-24}} It was also certified Gold by the RIAJ.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Original release
| extra_column = Arrangement
| total_length = 8:17
| title1 = Liar
| lyrics1 = Mitsuko Shiramine
| music1 = Kazuya Izumi
| extra1 = Akira Nishihira
| length1 = 4:35
| title2 = Blue on Pink
| lyrics2 = Yoshiko Miura
| music2 = Wataru Kuniyasu
| extra2 = Kei Wakakusa
| length2 = 3:42
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 1998 reissue bonus track
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title3 = Liar
| note3 = Live Version
| lyrics3 = Shiramine
| music3 = Izumi
| length3 =
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1989)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| Japan (Oricon)
|style="text-align:center;"|1 |
Certification
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=LIAR|artist=中森 明菜|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|certmonth=5|domestic=true|refname="RIAJ"|access-date=2022-08-22|type=single}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{clear}}
Release history
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Serial number ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| 1989
| 7inch LP, 8cm CD, CT | 06L7-4070, 09L3-4070, 09L5-4070 |
| 1998
| 12cm CD | WPC6-8680 |
| 2008
| Digital download | - |
| 2014
| Digital download - remaster | - |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://wmg.jp/akina/discography/5205/}}
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=d20d4b47-a7d7-4f33-9e8f-76e77bfa8791|name=Liar|type=single}}
- {{Discogs master|master=1334336|name=Liar|type=single}}
{{Akina Nakamori singles}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liar}}
Category:Warner Music Japan singles