Daily Music Dose

Classic J-pop duet Wink was not only among the top selling groups of the time, their sound has had a strong impact on the state of Japanese pop music today. The group formed in 1988 after a magazine-sponsored beauty contest in which Sachiko Suzuki won the grand prize and Shoko Aida was a runner- up.

Wink's sound is infectious, and features a notable influence from Western dance pop of the era, compared to the more mellow sounds of most Jpop at the time of their debut. Their image also stood out significantly from other idol groups - notable for their solemn appearances, fashion choices, and simple dance moves.

Many of their hit singles were covers of Western songs (but with rewritten lyrics in Japanese), from artists such as Kylie Minogue ("Turn It Into Love"), Moulin Rouge ("Boys Don't Cry"), and The Rubettes ("Sugar Baby Love"). Some of their adaptations of these songs have become classic enough in turn to be covered by acts such as W and Puffy AmiYumi.

By the mid-1990s, Jpop trends were changing. In an effort to appeal to this new market, they released a Eurobeat-inspired single, "Jive Into the Night", although it only reached #92 on the Oricon charts. In 1996, after their final single "Angel Love Story", the duo disbanded. Both Sachiko and Shoko have gone on to release solo albums, in addition to appearing as TV personalities.

On December 30, 2008, they temporarily reunited for an appearance at the Japan Record Awards, though did not give a clear answer as to whether or not a long-term comeback was in the works.




愛が止まらない("Ai ga Tomaranai" - translates to Love is Neverending) ~Turn it Into Love~


夜にはぐれて ("Yoru ni Hagurete" - translates to "Stray in the night") ~Where were you last night~


Sexy Music


涙を見せないで ("Namida wo Misenaide" - translates to "don't show tears") ~Boys Don't Cry~


淋しい熱帯魚("Samishii Nettaigyo", translates to "lonely tropical fish")


New Moonに逢いましょう ("New Moon ni Aimashou" - translates to "Let's meet under the new moon")


Jive Into the Night


きっと熱いくちびる ("Kitto Atsui Kuchibiru" - translates to "surely hot lips") ~remain~