Suzume (song)
{{For|the Radwimps song|Suzume (album){{!}}Suzume (album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Suzume
| cover = Keiko Masuda - Suzume.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Keiko Masuda
| album = Hitori ga Suki
| B-side = Eve
| released = November 28, 1981
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|J-pop|kayōkyoku}}
| language = Japanese
| length = 4:28
| label = Reprise Records
| writer = Miyuki Nakajima
| producer =
| next_title = Tamerai
| next_year = 1982
}}
{{nihongo4|"Suzume"|すずめ||lit. "Sparrow"}} is the debut single by Japanese singer Keiko Masuda. Written by Miyuki Nakajima, the single was released on November 28, 1981, eight months after the disbandment of Masuda's group Pink Lady. It peaked at No. 9 on Oricon's singles charts and sold 267,000 copies.{{cite web |url=http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/single/pinkl.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016163635/www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/single/pinkl.html |archive-date=2007-10-16 |title=Yamachan Japanese Chart History |language=Japanese |accessdate=2020-03-10}}{{cite web |url=https://idol.ne.jp/masudakeiko |title=Keiko Masuda Discography |website=Idol.ne.jp |date=11 March 2019 |accessdate=2020-03-10}}{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/%E5%A2%97%E7%94%B0%E3%81%91%E3%81%84%E5%AD%90-%E3%81%99%E3%81%9A%E3%82%81/release/1435797 |title= 増田けい子* – すずめ |website=Discogs |accessdate=2020-03-10}}
Masuda was inspired to collaborate with Nakajima after listening to Junko Sakurada's 1977 song {{nihongo4|"Shiawase Shibai"|しあわせ芝居||"Happy Drama"}}, which was written by Nakajima. "Suzume" marked a musical change for Masuda from Pink Lady's bubblegum disco-pop style to a more contemporary kayōkyoku sound that would define her solo career.{{cite web |url=https://middle-edge.jp/articles/VIsVG |title=【中島みゆき】が作曲し【増田けい子】が歌った「すずめ」が魂を揺さぶる |website=Middle Edge |date=2019-06-08 |accessdate=2020-03-10}}
In 1985, Nakajima recorded her version of the song in her self-cover album Oiro Naoshi. Masuda re-recorded the song as {{nihongo4|"Suzume ~Acoustic Version '05~"|すずめ~アコースティック・バージョン’05~}}, which was included in her 2008 self-cover album {{nihongo4|Moichido Asobimasho: Now & Then|もいちど遊びましょNow & Then||Let's Play Again: Now & Then}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/230673/products/771328/1/ |title=もいちど遊びましょ Now & Then |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=2020-03-10}} She also recorded another version of the song in her 2014 cover album {{nihongo4|Ai Shōka|愛唱歌|Love Songs}}.
Track listing (7" vinyl)
All tracks arranged by Nozomi Aoki.
{{Track listing
|title1 = Suzume
|length1 = 4:28
|note1 = {{nihongo4||すずめ||"Sparrow"}}
|lyrics1 = Miyuki Nakajima
|music1 = Miyuki Nakajima
|title2 = Eve
|length2 = 3:07
|note2 = {{nihongo4||前夜祭(イヴ)|Ivu}}
|lyrics2 = Aya Sagan
|music2 = Jun Horie
}}
Charts
class="wikitable"
!Chart (1981) !Peak |
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart
|align="center"|9 |
Cover versions
- Yōko Hatanaka covered the song in her 1982 album Kyōkō Toppa.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs release|id=1435797|name=Suzume|type=single}}
{{Keiko Masuda}}
{{Miyuki Nakajima}}
Category:1981 in Japanese music
Category:Miyuki Nakajima songs