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Wink (J-Pop)
Encyclopedia
was a popular Japanese pop
female duo in the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s composed of and . They released their first single on April 27, 1988, and their final release was on March 31, 1996. Many of their singles topped the Oricon
charts in Japan, including their biggest hit, "Samishii Nettaigyo
", which has since been covered by W (Double You)
.
given by the magazine "Up to boy". Suzuki won the grand prize, while Aida was one of the runners-up. As a result, Wink was formed the next year, and in April they debuted with the single "Sugar Baby Love
", a cover of an English
song by The Rubettes
. Indeed, many Wink songs were covers of Western songs, but with different lyrics in Japanese.
"Sugar Baby Love" and their next single, "Amaryllis", did decently, but it wasn't until the release of their third single "Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It Into Love)" (a cover of Kylie Minogue
's "Turn It Into Love
") the next year that they became popular. It quickly became #1 on the Oricon charts, along with many of the singles that followed it. During this time, Wink also had their own chain of stores, "Winkers", which sold Wink memorabilia. There were three stores in the Harajuku
area of Tokyo
alone.
Wink had a different style and image than many other J-pop idols
of the era who focused on a 'cute' style with sugar coated lyrics. Wink had emotionless facial expressions while they sang, and almost never smiled. They also dressed in extravagant lolita fashion
s, and almost looked doll-like. This uniqueness helped make them popular.
and the many artists he produced, many of them under the avex trax
label. In 1995, Wink tried to generate more sales by putting out a Euro-style single, "Jive Into The Night ~Yaban na Yoru ni~", but it was a flop
, only reaching #92 on the Oricon charts. Their next single, "Angel Love Story ~Aki-iro no Tenshi~", did somewhat better, but sales were still poor. Faced with this, Wink officially disbanded in 1996.
, although not often appearing together. They also continued recording music as solo singers; they released their first solo albums in 1992, and after the break-up, they released their first solo singles. Their solo music is quite different from the music they did as Wink; for example, Aida's music features a more Mediterranean style.
In 2004, Aida released a DVD
and photobook
called with then-Morning Musume
member Kaori Iida
.
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
female duo in the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s composed of and . They released their first single on April 27, 1988, and their final release was on March 31, 1996. Many of their singles topped the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
charts in Japan, including their biggest hit, "Samishii Nettaigyo
Samishii Nettaigyo
is Wink's fifth single. Released on July 5, 1989, with a CD catalog number H10R-31001, and cassette tape catalog number X09R-3001, the single reached #1 on the Oricon weekly charts...
", which has since been covered by W (Double You)
W (Double You)
, also written as Double You or Double U, was a Japanese pop duo associated with Hello! Project. Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago, former fourth generation members of Morning Musume, were in the group.- 2004 :...
.
History of Wink
In 1987, Suzuki and Aida both entered a beauty contestBeauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
given by the magazine "Up to boy". Suzuki won the grand prize, while Aida was one of the runners-up. As a result, Wink was formed the next year, and in April they debuted with the single "Sugar Baby Love
Sugar Baby Love
"Sugar Baby Love", recorded in autumn 1973 and released in January 1974, is a bubblegum pop song, and the debut single of the Rubettes. Written by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington and produced by Wayne Bickerton, engineered by John Mackswith at Lansdowne Recording Studios, "Sugar Baby Love" was...
", a cover of an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
song by The Rubettes
The Rubettes
The Rubettes were an English pop band assembled in 1973 by the songwriting team of Wayne Bickerton, then the head of A&R at Polydor Records, and his co-songwriter, Tony Waddington, after their doo-wop and 1950s American pop-influenced songs had been rejected by a number of existing acts...
. Indeed, many Wink songs were covers of Western songs, but with different lyrics in Japanese.
"Sugar Baby Love" and their next single, "Amaryllis", did decently, but it wasn't until the release of their third single "Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It Into Love)" (a cover of Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
's "Turn It Into Love
Turn It into Love
"Turn It into Love" is a single released from singer Kylie Minogue's debut album Kylie. The single was released in December 1988 as the album's sixth and final single and was written by Stock Aitken Waterman.-Song information:...
") the next year that they became popular. It quickly became #1 on the Oricon charts, along with many of the singles that followed it. During this time, Wink also had their own chain of stores, "Winkers", which sold Wink memorabilia. There were three stores in the Harajuku
Harajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
area of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
alone.
Wink had a different style and image than many other J-pop idols
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
of the era who focused on a 'cute' style with sugar coated lyrics. Wink had emotionless facial expressions while they sang, and almost never smiled. They also dressed in extravagant lolita fashion
Lolita fashion
is a fashion subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian-era clothing as well as costumes from the Rococo period, but the style has expanded greatly beyond these two. The Lolita look began primarily as one of modesty with a focus on quality in both material and manufacture of garments...
s, and almost looked doll-like. This uniqueness helped make them popular.
The break-up of Wink
By the early 1990s, however, Wink's sales were declining. Their singles rarely hit the #1 spot after early 1990, although they sold respectably until 1994. In the 1990s, many people were looking for fresher-sounding music, and Euro dance music became popular thanks to Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
and the many artists he produced, many of them under the avex trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
label. In 1995, Wink tried to generate more sales by putting out a Euro-style single, "Jive Into The Night ~Yaban na Yoru ni~", but it was a flop
Flop
- Terms :*Flop, a box office bomb in the entertainment world*Flop, as verb or noun, referring to flophouse, cheap rooms in a transients' hotel*Flop , a poker term describing the first three cards dealt to the board...
, only reaching #92 on the Oricon charts. Their next single, "Angel Love Story ~Aki-iro no Tenshi~", did somewhat better, but sales were still poor. Faced with this, Wink officially disbanded in 1996.
Solo careers
After Wink, Suzuki and Aida became TV personalitiesTarento
is a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
, although not often appearing together. They also continued recording music as solo singers; they released their first solo albums in 1992, and after the break-up, they released their first solo singles. Their solo music is quite different from the music they did as Wink; for example, Aida's music features a more Mediterranean style.
In 2004, Aida released a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and photobook
Photobook
A photo-book or photobook is a book in which photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content. The most critically acclaimed photo-books celebrate the creative work of an individual photographer, but can also result from the collaboration between a photographer and a writer, an...
called with then-Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
member Kaori Iida
Kaori Iida
is a Japanese pop singer and actress, associated with Hello! Project and best known as a founding member of the girl band Morning Musume. She has also recorded with the Morning Musume side project band Tanpopo and is currently a solo artist...
.
Singles
- Sugar Baby LoveSugar Baby Love (Wink song)"Sugar Baby Love" is Wink's 1st single. Released on 1988-4-27, with a CD catalog number H10R-30002, and cassette tape catalog number X10R-1013.-Track listing:# Sugar Baby Love# 風の前奏曲（プレリュード）/ Kaze no Zensoukyoku...
- AmaryllisAmaryllis (song)アマリリス is Wink's second single. Released on 1988-9-7, with a CD catalog number H10R-30007, and cassette tape catalog number X10R-1018....
- Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It Into Love)
- Namida wo Misenaide (Boys Don't Cry)
- Samishii NettaigyoSamishii Nettaigyois Wink's fifth single. Released on July 5, 1989, with a CD catalog number H10R-31001, and cassette tape catalog number X09R-3001, the single reached #1 on the Oricon weekly charts...
- One Night in Heaven (Mayonaka no Angel)
- Sexy MusicSexy Music"Sexy Music" is a 1981 single taken from Irish female vocal group The Nolans' 1980 album Making Waves, and later hit by Japanese idol duo Wink....
- Yoru ni Hagurete (Where Were You Last Night)
- New Moon ni Aimashō
- Kitto Atsui Kuchibiru
- Manatsu no Tremolo
- Haitoku no Scenario
- Tsuioku no Heroine / Image na Kankei
- Matenrō Museum
- Furimukanaide
- Real na Yume no Jōken
- Eien no Lady Doll (Voyage, Voyage)Voyage Voyage"Voyage Voyage" is a 1986 song written by Jean-Michel Rivat and recorded by the French singer Desireless. It was the first single from her album François and became a hit in many countries in Europe...
- Kekkon Shiyō Ne
- Sakihokore Itoshisa yo
- Itsumademo Suki de Itakute
- Twinkle Twinkle
- Cherie Mon Cherie
- Watashi-tachi Rashii Rule
- Jive Into The Night (Yaban na Yoru ni)
- Angel Love Story (Aki-iro no Tenshi)
Original Albums
- Moonlight SerenadeMoonlight Serenade (Wink album)Moonlight Serenade was Wink's first album released on June 1, 1988 under Polystar label, with a catalog number H33R-20010.Track 3 is a cover of Bye, Bye, Baby originally sung by The Four Seasons....
- Especially for You (Yasashisa ni Tsutsumarete)
- Twin Memories
- VelvetVelvet (Wink album)Velvet is the fourth album by J-pop group Wink, released on July 11, 1990, on the Polystar label.- Track listing :#"Sexy Music "#"Rainy Lonely Pavement"#"夏服のジュリエット～Dos Hombres～ / Natsufuku no Juliet ~Dos Hombres~"#"Unshakable"...
- Crescent
- Queen of Love
- Sapphire
- Each side of screen
- Nocturne (Yasoukyoku)
- Aphrodite
- BRUNCHBrunchBrunch is a meal eaten between breakfast and lunch. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.-Origin of the word:The 1896 supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary cites Punch magazine which wrote that the term was coined in Britain in 1895 to describe a Sunday meal for "Saturday-night...
- overture!
- voce
- Flyin' High
Other Albums
- At Heel Diamonds (mini album)
- Fairy Tone (karaokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
album) - Wink First Live Shining Star (live albumLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
) - Wink Hot Singles
- Fairy Tone II (karaokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
album) - Diamond Box (greatest-hits album)
- Raisonné (singles collection)
- DiaryDiaryA diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
(greatest-hits album) - Back to Front (B-sidesB-SidesB-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
collection) - ReminiscenceReminiscenceReminiscence is the act of recollecting past experiences or events; when a person shares their personal stories with others or allows other people to live vicariously through stories of family, friends, and acquaintances while gaining an authentic meaningful relationship with a person...
(best-of album) - WINK MEMORIES 1988-1996 (greatest-hits album)