D404ME explained

D404ME
Type:	album
Artist:	Akina Nakamori
Cover:	File:D404ME_(album_cover).jpg
Released:	10 August 1985
Recorded:	1985
Length:	43:09
Language:	Japanese
Label:	Warner Pioneer
Prev Title:	Bitter and Sweet
Prev Year:	1985
Next Title:	Best
Next Year:	1986

is the eighth studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. It was released on 10 August 1985 under the Warner Pioneer label. The album includes renewed version of the smash hit "Meu amor é...".

Background

D404ME is the second studio album released in 1985, four months after her previous studio album Bitter and Sweet. The initial number and letters from the album means .^{[1] [2]}

The music production team consist a various big hit makers during 80's period such as Aska from duo Chage and Aska, Joe Hisaishi, Takashi Tsushimi, Kiyoshiro Imawano from rock band RC Succession, Taeko Ohnuki or Tsugutoshi Gotō.^{[3] [4]}

In the earlier editions of newsletter from Nakamori's fanclub Milkyway, was included prototype version of lyrics of "Nocturne" and "Blue Ocean".^[5]

Promotion

Single

It consists of one previously released single, "Meu amor é..." The single has received the highest claimed musical award in the 27th Japan Record Awards in 1985.^[6] The album version has subtitle New Re-mix version and includes renewed arrangement. The intro begins with the sound of acoustic instruments, while the original version starts with the heavy orchestral instrumentation. The original version of Mi Amore was included in the second compilation album "Best" in 1986.

Following studio albums for four years doesn't include any promotion single, instead they include completely new recorded album tracks.

Stage performances

Endless, Allegro Vivace, Nocturne, Mona Lisa and Blue Ocean were performed in Nakamori's live tour Light and Shade in 1986. As of 2023, it doesn't exist a live footage neither it was broadcast in the TV.

None of the original album tracks (aside of original version of Mi Amore) hasn't been performed in the television music programs.

Charting performance

The album reached number 1 on the Oricon Album Weekly Charts. LP Record version charted 28 weeks, Cassette tape version debuted on number 1 as well and charted 36 weeks and sold over 651,100 copies. The album remained at number 7 on the Oricon Album Yearly Charts in 1985.^[7] As result, in the December 1985 it was nominated in 27th Japan Record Awards and won title The Album of the Year.^[8]

Track listing

Notes:

• "Endless," "Blue Ocean" and "Star Pilot" are stylised in all uppercase.

Covers

Meu amor é

• Naoya Matsuoka, original composed of the song released instrumental cover in 1985 album ONE LAST FAREWELL〜Naoya Matsuoka best selection. The song was reprised as a bonus track on the compilation album "Venus wo Sagase" in 1994.
• Nana Katase covered song as her fifth single, released on March 10, 2004, by Avex Trax as the lead single from her second album Extended.
• Karyudo covered the song as single released in 1996.^{[9] [10]}

Sky Pilot

• Japanese singer from rock band RC Succession, Kiyoshiro Imawano covered Star Pilot under different title "Sky Pilot" and was released as a single on 21 November 1995.^[11]

Mona Lisa

• Japanese idol-singer, Miho Nakayama covered "Mona Lisa" in her first live tour Virgin Flight in 1986.^[12]

Release history

Year	Format(s)	Serial number	Label(s)
1985	LP, CT, CD	L-12594, LKF-8094, 32XL-115	Warner Pioneer
1991	CD	WPCL-418	Warner Pioneer	^[13]
1996	CD	WPC6-8189	Warner Pioneer	^[14]
2006	CD, digital download	WPCL-10284	Warner Pioneer	^[15]
2012	Super Audio CD, CD hybrid	WPCL-11142	Warner Pioneer	^[16]
2014	CD	WPCL-11729	Warner Pioneer	^[17]
2018	LP	WPJL-10096	Warner Pioneer	^[18]
2023	2CD	WPCL-13451/2	Warner Pioneer	^[19]

Notes:

• 2006 re-release includes 24-bit digitally remastered sound source
• 2012 and 2014 re-release includes subtitles in the tracks "2012 remaster"
• 2023 re-release includes lacquer remaster which includes subtitles in the tracks "2023 lacquer remaster" along with original karaoke version of the tracks

Notes and References

1. shi is another way how to spell number 4 in Japanese language (the most used one is yon instead of shi), O can be seen and 0 and includes "mi" is a written pronunciation of "me"
2. Book: Motohiro Ukaino. 2006-07-20. Hotwax presents Kaiyoukyoku Meikyoku Meiban Guide 1980's. SHINKO MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT . 65–68. 440175106X.
3. Web site: D404ME (中森明菜) - Warner Music Japan. https://web.archive.org/web/20080302101505/http://www.wmg.jp/artist/akina/WPCL000010284.html. dead. 2008-03-02. wmg.jp.
4. Web site: 中森明菜 D404ME. cdjournal.com.
5. （1985）Nakamori Akina Fanclub「Milky House」Newsletter Ken-On
6. Book: Club House. 1998-11-01. Oricon No.1 HITS 500 1968〜1985 (Part 1) Oricon Chart No.1 Hit Songs. Club House. 215、267頁. 4906496121.
7. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970-2005 . 25 April 2006 . オリコン・マーケティング・プロモーション . 4871310779 . 3, 455–457, 883.
8. Web site: 優秀アルバム賞「D404ME」（ワーナー・パイオニア） 歌手：中森明菜. JACOMPA.JP. 2019-11-03. 2019-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20191103072747/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/reco27.html. dead.
9. Web site: 狩人 / ミ・アモーレ(Meu amor e…) [廃盤] ]. CDJournal . 2022-08-21.
10. Web site: ミ・アモーレ 狩人 . . 2022-08-21.
11. Web site: RC Succession: Heart Ace (1985). RC Succession Discography from Universal Japan Music.
12. Web site: 中山美穂 / バージン・フライト / 中山美穂ファースト・コンサート. cdjournal.com.
13. Web site: 中森明菜 / D404ME [再発] (1991)]. HMV Japan. October 31, 2023. Japanese.
14. Web site: 中森明菜 / D404ME [再発] (1991)]. CD Journal. HMV Japan. October 31, 2023. Japanese.
15. Web site: 中森明菜 / D404ME (2006) (Archived) . WMG.JP. 30 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220004008/http://wmg.jp/artist/akina/WPCL000010284.html . 2015-02-20 . Japanese.
16. Web site: 中森明菜 / D404ME [SA-CDハイブリッド] [紙ジャケット仕様] [限定]]. CD Journal. October 31, 2023. Japanese.
17. Web site: D404ME. WMG.JP. October 31, 2023. Japanese.
18. Web site: D404ME＜LP（180g重量盤）＞【初回生産限定】. WMG.JP. October 31, 2023. Japanese.
19. Web site: 中森明菜 / D404ME【オリジナル・カラオケ付】〈2023ラッカーマスターサウンド〉 [2CD]]. cdjournal. October 31, 2023. Japanese.