Again (Shizuka Kudo song)

Last updated
"Again"
Again.png
Single by Shizuka Kudo
from the album Mysterious
ReleasedDecember 2, 1987 (1987-12-02)
Genre
Length4:15
Label Pony Canyon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tsugutoshi Gotō
Shizuka Kudo singles chronology
"Kindan no Telepathy"
(1987)
"Again"
(1987)
"Daite Kuretara Ii no ni"
(1988)
Audio sample

"Again" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo for her debut solo studio album, Mysterious . Pony Canyon released the track as the second single from Mysterious on December 2, 1987, in both 12-inch vinyl and maxi single format.

Contents

Background

"Again" was Kudo's first solo release following the disbandment of the idol girl group Onyanko Club, which she joined in 1986. [1] The song was the ending theme for the CX teen drama and variety television series Momoiro Gakuen Toshi Sengen!!, of which Kudo herself was a cast member. [2]

Composition

"Again" was put together by the same songwriting duo as Kudo's debut single: it was written by Yasushi Akimoto and composed, arranged and produced by Tsugutoshi Gotō. The song is composed in the key of E minor and set to a tempo of 140 beats per minute. [3] Kudo's vocals span one octave, from B3 to B4. Lyrically, the song talks about a woman breaking off a romantic relationship because of her feelings of inadequacy.

Critical reception

The song is described by CDJournal as a bouncy midtempo track with a funky and unusually complicated melody line for an idol singer's second single. [4] Kudo was praised for matching the song with an effortless vocal performance, and for showcasing potential for breaking out of the idol mold. [4]

Chart performance

The single debuted at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 61,000 copies in its first week. [5] It dropped to number seven the following week, with 20,000 copies sold. [5] "Again" stayed in the top 100 for a total of twelve weeks and ranked number 53 on the year-end Oricon Singles Chart for 1987. [6]

Track listing

All music is composed by Tsugutoshi Gotō

12" vinyl
No.TitleLyricsArranger(s)Length
1."Again"4:15
2."If"
  • Gotō
3;48
Total length:8:03
Maxi single
No.TitleLyricsArranger(s)Length
3."Ai ga Itai Yoru" (愛が痛い夜 "Nights When Love Hurts")
  • Akimoto
  • Gotō
4:05
Total length:12:08

Charts

Chart (1987–88)Peak
position
Sales
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon) [7] 3159,000 [6]
Japan Monthly Singles (Oricon) [8] 4
Japan Yearly Singles (Oricon)53

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References

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