Welcome to the Edge

For the album, see Welcome to the Edge (album).
"Welcome to the Edge"
Single by Billie Hughes
from the album Welcome to the Edge
B-side"Night and Day"
ReleasedMay 15, 1991 (1991-05-15)
Recorded1991
StudioGlass Sea Studio
GenrePop
Length4:34
LabelPony Canyon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Billie Hughes
  • Roxanne Seeman
Music video
"Welcome To The Edge (Todokanu Omoi 「とどかぬ想い」)" on YouTube

"Welcome to the Edge" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Hughes, from his 1991 album of the same name. Written by Hughes, Roxanne Seeman, and Dominic Messinger, the single was released in Japan by Pony Canyon on May 15, 1991, under the title "Todokanu Omoi" (とどかぬ想い, lit. "One-Sided Love").[1]

Background

"Welcome to the Edge" was written by Hughes and Seeman with Messinger, music director and composer of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara, after a previous song, "Turn it All Around", that Messinger had selected in 1988 to use in connection with a love triangle between the character Julia and Father Michael, became a popular love theme, prompting viewer requests.[2][3] The song was connected to the character of Robert Barr. As the drama unfolded, "Welcome to the Edge" became a central love theme revolving around the Robert, Kelly Capwell, and Craig Hunt love triangle. Hughes' version was attached to the Robert and Kelly love affair while a female vocal version was attached to the Kelly and Craig Hunt love affair, with performances airing for two years.[4][5][6]

"Welcome to the Edge" was nominated for Outstanding Original Song at the 18th Daytime Emmy Awards in 1991.[7]

Commercial success in Japan

In 1990, the Japanese duo Wink recorded a version of "Welcome to the Edge" titled "Omoide made Soba ni Ite" (想い出までそばにいて, lit. "I'll Stay by Your Side Until You Remember"), which was the B-side of their single "Yoru ni Hagurete (Where Were You Last Night)".[8][9][10] Hughes and Seeman produced a new version of the song using the arrangement of the Wink recording with Chuck Wild programming the track and recording Jimmy Haun's guitar section at Wild's Hollywild Studio. Hughes' vocals' were recorded over the track mix at Glass Sea Studios.[11] The new version became the theme song of the Fuji TV drama I'll Never Love Anyone Anymore.[12][13] The single hit No. 1 on Oricon's international singles chart and sold over 500,000 copies. Billboard journalist Kaz Fukatsu remarked: "That's an impressive figure, since most karaoke fans can't sing along in English. Five years ago, No. 1 international songs sold only about 40,000 copies."[14]

"Welcome to the Edge" was awarded No. 1 International Single of the Year at the 1992 Japan Gold Disc Awards.[15][14] Hughes performed the song live for the telecast in Tokyo.[16]

Track listing

8 cm CD
No.TitleWriter(s)ArrangementLength
1."Welcome to the Edge" ("Todokanu Omoi" (とどかぬ想い, "One-Sided Love"))
Satoshi Kadokura4:34
2."Night and Day"
  • Hughes
  • Seeman
Hughes5:29
Total length:10:03

Personnel

  • Billie Hughes – vocals, keyboards (2), programming (2)
  • Chuck Wild – keyboards (1), programming (1)
  • Jimmy Haun – guitar (1)

Chart performance

Country Peak
position
Japan Billboard 1
Japan Oricon International Singles 1

Certification

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[17] 4× Platinum 400,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Bon Chic version

"Todokanu Omoi"
Single by Bon Chic
from the album Bon Chic II
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Paradox"
ReleasedMay 29, 1991 (1991-05-29)
Recorded1991
GenreJ-pop
Length4:44
LabelHummingbird
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Ayuko Ishikawa
Bon Chic singles chronology
"Paradox"
(1991) 		"Todokanu Omoi"
(1991) 		"Cool Temptation"
(1991)
Music video
"Welcome To The Edge (とどかぬ想い)" on YouTube

Japanese band Bon Chic's version of "Welcome to the Edge" was released through Apollo Sounds Japan through the Hummingbird label on May 29, 1991. This version was used in the next episode announcement of episode 10 of I'll Never Love Anyone Anymore.[1] A remix of the song, known as the "Add 909 Mix", was included in the band's second album Bon Chic II.[18][19]

Track listing

All music is arranged by Dada.

8 cm CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1.""Todokanu Omoi" (とどかぬ想い, "One-Sided Love")"Ayuko Ishikawa
4:44
2."Paradox"Venus MamedaMonk4:30

Jeniffer version

"Welcome to the Edge"
Single by Jeniffer
B-side"Welcome to the Edge (Instrumental)"
ReleasedNovember 6, 1991 (1991-11-06)
Recorded1991
GenrePop
LabelToshiba EMI
Songwriter(s)
Music video
"Welcome to the Edge (Extended Version)" - Jeniffer on YouTube

Italian singer Jeniffer's version of "Welcome to the Edge" was released through Toshiba EMI on November 6, 1991.[20][21]

Track listing

8 cm CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Welcome to the Edge" ("Todokanu Omoi" (とどかぬ想い, "One-Sided Love"))
 
2."Welcome to the Edge" (Instrumental)  

Other cover versions

Japan

  • Wink covered the song in Japanese as "Omoide made Soba ni Ite" (想い出までそばにいて, lit. "I'll Stay by Your Side Until You Remember"), which was the B-side of their 1990 single "Yoru ni Hagurete (Where Were You Last Night)".[11]
  • Mie Yamamoto covered "Todokanu Omoi" on her 1991 debut album Sweet Love/Todokanu Omoi.[22]
  • The Nolans covered the song on their 1992 compilation album Colorful Nolans.[23]
  • Bill Champlin covered the song on the 1992 various artists album Love Stories.[24]

Hong Kong

  • Cherrie Choi covered the song in Cantonese as "Wèi nǐ de mèng lái, wèi nǐ de àishēng" (為你的夢來，為你的愛生, "Come for Your Dream, Live for Your Love") on her 1992 album Liù yuè de àirén (六月的愛人, Lover of June).
  • Joyce Lee covered the song in Cantonese as "Qǐng Biǎo Tài" (請表態) on her 1992 album Lee Loksze  (李樂詩, Joyce Lee).

Germany

Santa Barbara aired on RTL under the title California Clan, with a soundtrack album released by Intercord including a cover version of "Welcome to the Edge".

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Clements, Jonathan (2003). The Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama Since 1953. Stone Bridge Press. p. 130. ISBN 1-880656-81-7.
  2. ^ "The TV Songs Big Book". Alfred. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  3. ^ "Now You Know, Herman Hoglebogle Says: Several have asked about song". 1989-01-16.
  4. ^ "List of Musical Works Used on the NBC Television Series Santa Barbara in the Period 1984-1993" (PDF). Santa Barbara. December 2020.
  5. ^ "Songs From Santa Barbara - Billie Hughes". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  6. ^ Reichardt, Nancy (21 April 1991). "SB' creators, NBC bury the hatchet". Austin American Statesman.
  7. ^ Pesselnick, Jill (1998-08-21). "Billie Hughes". Variety. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  8. ^ Lichtman, Irv (1991-08-24). "Versions of A soap-opera Track Cleaning Up In Japan" (PDF). Billboard. p. 29.
  9. ^ McClure, Steve (1992-08-21). "Chage & Aska Say Yes to Top Japan Nods" (PDF). Billboard. p. 55.
  10. ^ "Omoide made Soba ni Ite (Welcome to the Edge) - Wink | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  11. ^ a b "想い出までそばにいて〜Welcome To The Edge〜 Lyrics Wink(JP)". MOJIM. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
  12. ^ "ドロドロの愛憎劇「牡丹と薔薇」や吉田栄作「もう誰も愛さない」、水谷豊＆伊藤蘭「事件記者チャボ」を放送 （1/2）". The Television (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  13. ^ "ドラマ「もう誰も愛さない」 | ザテレビジョン(0000001188)". The Television (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  14. ^ a b Fukatsu, Kaz (1992-06-06). "TV Themes, Karaoke Push CD Singles Production Up 44% in '91 (page 42)" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  15. ^ "第6回日本ゴールドディスク大賞". Japan Gold Disc Awards. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  16. ^ "Billie Hughes; Recorded 'Welcome to the Edge'". Los Angeles Times. 1998-07-18. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  17. ^ "Japanese single certifications – ビリー・ヒューズ – とどかぬ想い" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2022-07-26. Select 1992年4月 on the drop-down menu
  18. ^ "BON CHIC / とどかぬ想い [廃盤]". CDJournal. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  19. ^ "とどかぬ想い | BON CHIC". Oricon. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  20. ^ "ジェニファー / とどかぬ想い [廃盤]". CDJournal. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  21. ^ "とどかぬ想い | ジェニファー". Oricon. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  22. ^ "スイート・ラブ/とどかぬ想い～山本実枝ファースト～ | 山本実枝". Oricon. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  23. ^ "CD- COLORFUL NOLANS（Japan）（ノーランズ博物館）". The Nolans Museum. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  24. ^ Various – ラブ ストーリーズ at Discogs (list of releases)