Dōkoku

"Dōkoku" (慟哭（どうこく）, lit. "Wailing") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo for her eighth studio album, Rise Me. It was released by Pony Canyon as the album's lead single on February 3, 1993. "Dōkoku" is the theme song of the CX getsuku television series Ano Hi ni Kaeritai,[1] starring Momoko Kikuchi and Kudo herself as two sisters who fall in love with the same man.[2][3] Kudo performed the song on the 44th Kōhaku Uta Gassen, marking her sixth consecutive appearance on the annual show.[4] With over a million copies sold, "Dōkoku" remains Kudo's best-selling single to date.[5] In 2015, DAM asked their users to select their favorite Shizuka Kudo songs to sing karaoke to and compiled a top ten list; "Dōkoku" came in at number two.[6]

"Dōkoku"
Single by Shizuka Kudo
from the album Rise Me
ReleasedFebruary 3, 1993 (1993-02-03)
Genre
Length4:48
LabelPony Canyon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tsugutoshi Gotō
Shizuka Kudo singles chronology
"Koe o Kikasete"
(1992)		 "Dōkoku"
(1993)		 "Watashi wa Knife"
(1993)
Audio sample
"Dōkoku"
  • file
  • help

Background

"Dōkoku" is a mid tempo track written by Miyuki Nakajima, composed by Tsugutoshi Gotō and arranged by Gotō and Naoki Takao. It is the first single since "Watashi ni Tsuite" to be co-written by Nakajima and Gotō. Lyrically, the song deals with the theme of unrequited love. Nakajima writes from the perspective of a woman coming to the realization that her feelings for a male friend have progressed beyond friendship, after "crying all night". She laments the fact that her friend is oblivious to her predicament by imploring him to "stop patronizing me".

Upon reading the lyrics for the first time, Kudo's initial response was to ask for help with pronouncing the title from Yūzō Watanabe, her executive producer at the time.[7] "How do you read this character?", the kanji for "dōkoku" (慟哭) being uncommon, Kudo remembers having to look it up in the dictionary.[7] "Let's make it a cheerful song, to balance out the heavy lyrics," Kudo explained about her approach with recording the track, "this happened, but now I can laugh about it, let's make it that kind of song".[7]

Critical reception

Nakajima received acclaim for the storytelling abilities she demonstrates on "Dōkoku", and for weaving a story that is relatable to both women and men.[8] Gotō was praised for returning to form with a gentle but catchy melody that incorporated various sounds.[8][7] Kudo was also praised for her interpretation of Nakajima's lyrics and for her clever vocal delivery.[7]

Cover versions

Nakajima recorded a self-cover for her album, Jidai: Time Goes Around, released the same year as Kudo's single. In 2012, Miliyah Kato recorded a cover of the song that was released as a B-side on her single "Aiaiai".[9] In an interview with Excite, Kato praised the power of Nakajima's lyrics, stating "I really felt, by singing the song, that I had become the protagonist".[10] In 2013, Kato performed the song, backed by Gotō, on the CX music show FNS Uta no Natsu Matsuri.[11] She also performed the song in duet with Kudo on Music Fair in 2014.[12] In 2015, Japanese singer Ms. Ooja recorded a cover of the song for her cover album, The Hits: No. 1 Song Covers.[13]

Chart performance

"Dōkoku" debuted at number-one on the Oricon Singles Chart with 242,000 copies sold in its first week, scoring Kudo her best first-week single sales.[14] The single charted for three consecutive weeks in the top five.[15][16] It held on to the top ten for the next three weeks. "Dōkoku" spent a total of 15 weeks in the top 100 and ranked at number 19 on the year-end Oricon Singles Chart.[17]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Miyuki Nakajima; all music is composed by Tsugutoshi Gotō

No.TitleArranger(s)Length
1."Dōkoku" (慟哭, "Wailing")
  • Tsugutoshi Gotō
  • Naoki Takao
4:48
2."Call" (コール, Kōru)
  • Gotō
  • Takao
4:34
3."Dōkoku" (Original Karaoke)
  • Gotō
  • Takao
4:48
Total length:14:10

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[18] 1
Japan Monthly Singles (Oricon)[19] 6
Japan Yearly Singles (Oricon)[17] 19

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[20]
Physical 		2× Platinum 939,000[21]
Japan (RIAJ)[22]
Digital 		Gold 100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. "工藤静香「慟哭」-『My Treasure Best -中島みゆき×後藤次利コレクション-』収録". Recochoku. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  2. Kimura, Takashi (September 26, 2014). "AKB48卒業メンバーで1番の活躍!? 大島優子がメディアに引っぱりダコの理由とは". Mynavi. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  3. 亀井, 徳明 (February 1, 2017). "菊池桃子・工藤静香姉妹が月9で奪い愛！ 中島みゆき作詞の主題歌「慟哭」がグサリ～1993年『あの日に帰りたい』より／懐かし番組表". TV Pablo. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  4. "NHK紅白歌合戦ヒストリー 第44回（1993年／平成5年）". NHK. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  5. "工藤静香、これまでとこれから示した"31曲" 貫禄と実力を見せたデビュー30周年記念ライブ". Real Sound. September 25, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  6. "カラオケで歌いたい工藤静香BEST10が発表！". Livedoor. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  7. "「慟哭」明るく歌った工藤静香 「歌手、女として葛藤」". Asahi Shimbun. December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  8. "工藤静香 / ミレニアム・ベスト". CDJournal. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  9. "加藤ミリヤ、「なりきりミリヤコンテストはまず形から入って！」". Barks. June 13, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  10. Takashi, Inomata. "加藤ミリヤ シングル『AIAIAI』インタビュー（インタビュー2）". Excite. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  11. "FNSうたの夏まつり - ７月31日（水）18:55〜23:08 国立代々木競技場第一体育館から４時間超生放送！". Fuji Television. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  12. "「Mフェア」に藤あや子×乃木坂46、工藤静香×水樹奈々ら". Natalie. April 3, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  13. "Ms.OOJA、No.1ヒット集めたカバーアルバム第4弾". Natalie. June 26, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  14. "1993年2月15日付 CDシングル/アルバムランキング". Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  15. "1993年2月22日付 CDシングル/アルバムランキング". Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  16. "1993年3月1日付 CDシングル/アルバムランキング". Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  17. "オリコン 1992年TOP100". Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  18. "慟哭 工藤静香". Oricon. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  19. "オリコン(oricon)「1993年02月」の月間シングルCDランキング". Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  20. "Japanese single certifications – 工藤 静香 – 慟哭" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 1993年3月 on the drop-down menu
  21. "音楽を語ろう特集『中島みゆきが詞・曲を提供！工藤静香の名曲を語ろう』". Oricon. Archived from the original on August 23, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  22. "Japanese digital single certifications – 工藤 静香 – 慟哭" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 2014年1月 on the drop-down menu
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