Samishii Nettaigyo

"Samishii Nettaigyo"
Single by Wink
from the album Twin Memories
LanguageJapanese
English titleLonely Tropical Fish
B-side"Senaka made 500 Miles"
ReleasedJuly 5, 1989 (1989-07-05)
Recorded1989
Genre
Length4:30
LabelPolystar
Composer(s)Masaya Ozeki
Lyricist(s)Neko Oikawa
Producer(s)Haruo Mizuhashi
Wink singles chronology
"Namida wo Misenai de (Boys Don't Cry)"
(1989) 		"Samishii Nettaigyo"
(1989) 		"One Night in Heaven (Mayonaka no Angel)"
(1989)
Music video
"Samishii Nettaigyo" on YouTube

Samishii Nettaigyo (淋しい熱帯魚, lit. "Lonely Tropical Fish") is the fifth single by Japanese idol duo Wink. Written by Neko Oikawa and Masaya Ozeki, the single was released on July 5, 1989, by Polystar Records.[1][2][3]

Background and release

"Samishii Nettaigyo" was first used by Panasonic for their S-Type headphone commercial featuring Wink in mid-April 1989. The B-side is a Japanese-language cover of the Hedy West song "500 Miles".

"Samishii Nettaigyo" became Wink's third No. 1 on the Oricon's weekly charts.[4] It sold over 564,000 copies and was certified Platinum by the RIAJ.[5][6] The song won the Grand Prix award at the 31st Japan Record Awards.[7] In addition, it led to the duo's first and only appearance on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1989.[8]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Neko Oikawa; all music is arranged by Motoki Funayama.

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Samishii Nettaigyo" ((淋しい熱帯魚, "Lonely Tropical Fish"))Masaya Ozeki4:30
2."Senaka made 500 Miles" (Senaka made Gohyaku Mairu (背中まで500マイル, "500 Miles and Back"))Hedy West3:38

Chart positions

Weekly charts
Charts (1989) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[4] 1
Japanese The Best Ten Chart[4] 1
Year-end charts
Charts (1989) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[4] 7

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[6] Platinum 400,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

  • In 1990, the song was covered in Chinese Mandarin by Xiao Hu Dui as "Xing Xing De Yue Hui" (星星的約會) on their cover album of the same name.
  • In 1991, the song was covered in English by The Nolans as "Tidal Wave" on their cover album Tidal Wave (Samishii Nettaigyo).
  • In 2004, the song was covered by W on their debut album Duo U&U.
  • In 2004, the song was covered by Nana Katase on her album Extended
  • In 2005, the song was performed by ex-Morning Musume member Kaori Iida and Ruca at Flet's (フレッツ) Casual Dinner Show.
  • In 2008, the song was covered by Kimiko Koyama for the anime Rosario + Vampire.
  • In 2010, the song was covered by MAX on their 2010 cover album Be MAX.
  • In 2017, the song was covered by FEMM on their album 80's/90's J-Pop Revival.[9]
  • In 2012, the song was covered by You Kikkawa on her 2012 cover album Vocalist?.
  • In 2012, the song was covered in English by Janet Kay on her 2012 cover album Idol Kay.
  • In 2019, the song was covered by Kazehikaru Fukurou (風光ル梟), as their second single.
  • In 2019, the song was performed by Red Velvet members Joy and Yeri as a Special Stage at SMTOWN in Tokyo.
  • In 2020, the song was parodied by Kyoko Fukada, Mikako Tabe, and Mei Nagano in a UQ Mobile commercial.[10]
  • In 2023, the song was covered by Japanese pop music duo ClariS.[11]

References

  1. ^ "89年に大賞の30周年Ｗｉｎｋが「淋しい熱帯魚」". Nikkan Sports. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  2. ^ "WINK / 淋しい熱帯魚". Stereo-Records. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  3. ^ "Wink | 淋しい熱帯魚(Original Remastered 2018)". Space Shower Music. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  4. ^ a b c d "淋しい熱帯魚 | Wink". Oricon. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  5. ^ "Wink(シングル)". Yamachan Land (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  6. ^ a b "Japanese single certifications – Wink – 淋しい熱帯魚" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2021-07-19. Select 1989年8月 on the drop-down menu
  7. ^ "第３１回 日本レコード大賞". Japan Composer's Association. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  8. ^ "40th Kōhaku Uta Gassen History". NHK. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  9. ^ "FEMM、WINK「淋しい熱帯魚」の完コピ・ビデオ公開". Musicman. 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  10. ^ "淋しい熱帯魚にあわせて三姉妹があのダンスを披露！新TVCM「家族でUQモバイル」篇3月1日(日)全国放映". Kyodo News. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  11. ^ "ClariSが21世紀のスーパーアイドルに!?　Winkのカバー「淋しい熱帯魚」を完全再現！". jp:リスアニ!. 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
Preceded by
"Paradise Ginga"
(Hikaru Genji)
 Japan Record Award Grand Prix
1989 		Succeeded by