"Southpaw" (サウスポー, Sausupō) is Pink Lady's seventh single release, released on March 25, 1978. This became their sixth number-one hit on the Oricon Chart in Japan.[1] The single sold 1,800,000 copies, and spent nine weeks at number one on the chart.
Background
According to songwriter Yū Aku, the song was inspired by Crown Lighter Lions pitcher Tamotsu Nagai, who used an underthrow to strike out Sadaharu Oh at the 1977 All-Star Game.
The dance choreography uses a baseball motif. Traditionally, Mie and Kei wear tank tops and shorts patterned after baseball uniforms.[2]
According to Oricon, this was the second best selling single from 1978, after "UFO".[3]
Other uses
The duo also recorded a version of the song with different lyrics as a commercial jingle for "Shinsyu-ichi Instant Miso Soup" (神州一即席味噌汁, Shinshūichi Sokuseki Misoshiru).
A re-recorded version of the song was included on the 2-disc greatest hits release, INNOVATION, released in December 2010.
Controversy
In July 2019, the cheering squad for the Chunichi Dragons stopped playing the song when it was decided that one line of the lyrics was offensive. The line in question is "Omae ga utanakya dare ga utsu" (お前が打たなきゃ誰が打つ, lit. "Who will hit you if you hit?"); the use of the term "Omae" (お前) is considered to be rude to players.[4][5]
Track listing (7" vinyl)
All lyrics are written by Yū Aku; all music is composed and arranged by Shunichi Tokura.
