Gypsy Queen (song)

"Gypsy Queen"
Single by Akina Nakamori
from the album CD'87
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Saigo no Carmen"
ReleasedMay 26, 1986 (1986-05-26)
Recorded1986
Genre
Length4:27
LabelReprise Records
Composer(s)Wataru Kuniyasu
Lyricist(s)Ikki Matsumoto
Producer(s)Yūzō Shimada
Akina Nakamori singles chronology
"Desire (Jōnetsu)"
(1986) 		"Gypsy Queen"
(1986) 		"Fin"
(1986)
Music videos
"Gypsy Queen" (Live) on YouTube

"Gypsy Queen" (ジプシー・クイーン, Jipushī Kuīn) is the 15th single by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori. Written by Ikki Matsumoto and Wataru Kuniyasu, the single was released on May 26, 1986, by Warner Pioneer through the Reprise label. It was also the second single from her third compilation album CD'87.[1][2]

Background

The first day of recording occurred on 13 April 1986, on the same day, when fellow younger idol-singer Yukiko Okada committed suicide.[3] Knowing this new, Akina was unable to start recording due to intense emotional impact, resulting recording to be finished on the last minute.[3]

Nakamori self-covered the song twice: in 1995, under subtitle "Renewal" and was included in the compilation album True Album Akina 95 Best and in 2024 under subtitle "Jazz version".[4]

Chart performance

The single became Nakamori's 12th No. 1 on Oricon's weekly singles chart and sold over 357,600 copies.[5][6]

Track listing

Original release
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Gypsy Queen" (Jipushī Kuīn (ジプシー・クイーン))Ikki MatsumotoWataru KuniyasuShingo Kobayashi4:27
2."Saigo no Carmen" (Saigo no Karumen (最後のカルメン, "The Final Carmen"))Keiko AsōTakashi TsushimiKazuo Shiina4:28
Total length:8:55
1998 reissue bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
3."Gypsy Queen (Live Version)" ((ジプシー・クイーン(LIVE VERSION)))MatsumotoKuniyasu 

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[5] 1

Cover versions

  • Composer Wataru Kuniyasu self-covered the song on his 1988 compilation album Wataru Kuniyasu's Best Hits.
  • Yuki Murakami covered the song on her 2014 album Piano Woman: Tomodachi kara.

Release history

Year Format(s) Serial number Label(s) Ref.
1986 7inch LP L-1670 Warner Pioneer [7]
1988 8cm CD, CT 10SL-145, 10L5-4054 Warner Pioneer [8]
1998 12cm CD WPC6-8672 Warner Pioneer [9]
2008 Digital download - Warner Pioneer [10]
2014 Digital download - remaster - Warner Pioneer [11]

References

  1. ^ "中森明菜(なかもりあきな)ディスコグラフィ". Idol.ne.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  2. ^ "中森明菜/ジプシー・クイーン". SoundFinder. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  3. ^ a b "中森明菜、後輩アイドルの岡田有希子さん自殺で過呼吸　「ジプシー・クイーン」レコーディングに狂い". ZakZak. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  4. ^ "中森明菜が歌う最新映像公開、今度は「ジプシー・クイーン」をセルフカバー". SoundFinder. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  5. ^ a b "ジプシー・クイーン | 中森明菜". Oricon. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  6. ^ "中森明菜". Yamachan Land. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  7. ^ "7inchシングル ジプシー・クイーン 中森明菜". hmv.co.jp (in Japanese). HMV Japan. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "シングルCD　中森明菜 / ジプシー・クイーン (廃盤)". suruga-ya.jp (in Japanese). surugaya. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "中森明菜 / ジプシー・クイーン CD" (in Japanese). WMJ. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  10. ^ "中森明菜 / ジプシー・クイーン Digital Purchase-Archived". listen.jp (in Japanese). listen japan. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  11. ^ "ジプシー・クイーン (+3) [2014 Remaster]". mora.jp (in Japanese). Mora. Retrieved October 31, 2023.