Wink (band)

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Wink
Origin Hokkaido, Japan
Genres Japanese pop
Years active 1988–1996
Labels PolyStar
Members Sachiko Suzuki
Shōko Aida

Wink (ウィンク) was a popular Japanese pop female duo in the late 1980s and early-to-mid-1990s composed of Sachiko Suzuki (鈴木早智子 Suzuki Sachiko, b. February 22, 1969) and Shōko Aida (相田翔子 Aida Shōko, b. February 23, 1970). 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).

History of Wink

In 1987, Suzuki and Aida both entered a beauty contest 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 No. 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.[citation needed]

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 fashions, 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 No. 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 Komuro 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 No. 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 personalities, 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 The Aegean Sea (エーゲ海 Eegekai) with then-Morning Musume member Kaori Iida.

Discography

Singles

  • Sugar Baby Love
  • Amaryllis
  • Ai ga Tomaranai (Turn It Into Love)
  • Namida wo Misenaide (Boys Don't Cry)
  • Samishii Nettaigyo
  • One Night in Heaven (Mayonaka no Angel)
  • Sexy Music
  • 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)
  • 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)

Albums

Original Albums

  • Moonlight Serenade
  • Especially for You (Yasashisa ni Tsutsumarete)
  • Twin Memories
  • Velvet
  • Crescent
  • Queen of Love
  • Sapphire
  • Each side of screen
  • Nocturne (Yasoukyoku)
  • Aphrodite
  • BRUNCH
  • overture!
  • voce
  • Flyin' High

Other Albums

  • At Heel Diamonds (mini album)
  • Fairy Tone (karaoke album)
  • Wink First Live Shining Star (live album)
  • Wink Hot Singles
  • Fairy Tone II (karaoke album)
  • Diamond Box (greatest-hits album)
  • Raisonné (singles collection)
  • Diary (greatest-hits album)
  • Back to Front (B-sides collection)
  • Reminiscence (best-of album)
  • WINK MEMORIES 1988-1996 (greatest-hits album)

Bibliography

External links

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