| Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī | |
| Cover: | Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushii.png |
| Alt: | The single's cover. Fuse stands between a short hallway with a window, looking at the viewer with a smile. |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Album: | Survival, Ai Aru Kagiri Kimi wa Utsukushī |
| Artist: | Akira Fuse |
| Language: | Japanese |
| B-Side: | C'est la Vie (Jinsei Nante Sonna Mono sa) |
| Genre: | Kayōkyoku |
| Length: | 3:42 |
| Label: | King |
| Composer: | Mickie Yoshino |
| Prev Title: | Meguri Ai Tsumuide |
| Prev Year: | 1978 |
| Next Title: | Koi no Survival |
| Next Year: | 1979 |
(pronounced as /ja/) is a song by Japanese singer Akira Fuse from his ninth studio album, Survival, Ai Aru Kagiri Kimi wa Utsukushī (1979). Written by lyricist and composer Mickie Yoshino, it was released through King Records on January 17, 1979, as Fuse's 42nd single. A light ballad, its lyrics are set from the perspective of a man who meets a woman he observes has changed to be more beautiful than a rose.
Akira Fuse was inspired to become a singer by the twin vocal group the Peanuts. As a high schooler, Fuse gave a passing audition on the television program and was subsequently scouted by Watanabe Productions, who were also managing the Peanuts. He made his solo debut through King Records with the single "Kimi ni Namida to Hohoemi o" in 1975, a Japanese version of the Italian "Se piangi, se ridi" (1965). In the following years, he saw success with hit songs including "Kiri no Mashūko" (1966), "Koi" (1967), "Ai wa Fushichō" (1970), and "Tsumiki no Heya" (1976).[1] [2] His 1975 single "Cyclamen no Kahori" sold over a million copies and won the Grand Prix at the Japan Record Awards.[3]
Within the latter half of the 1970s, rival cosmetics companies Shiseido and ran competing advertisement campaigns centered on recognizable commercial jingles. Though the start of the decade had seen focus on slogans and attractive models, Shiseido transitioned to music-based advertising starting with "Haru no Asa" by Lily in 1975. Following suit, Kanebo launched similar campaigns starting with "Ginza Red Oui Oui" by singer Dave in 1976. In 1978, competition for high chart positions intensed when Shiseido's "Jikan yo, Tomare" by Eikichi Yazawa and Kanebo's "Mister Summertime (Natsu Monogatari)" by Circus both achieved first place on the Oricon Singles Chart.[3] [4]
"Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" was released by King Records on January 17, 1979. It was used as the jingle in Kanebo's 1979 spring campaign, with the song's title doubling as its slogan. That year in what kayōkyoku journalist Hideki Hamaguchi described as the Rose War, Shiseido primarily promoted their campaign through the film Lady Oscar (known as the Rose of Versailles in Japan) and starred the lead actress Catriona MacColl in commercials. To compete, Kanebo's commercials featured British-Argentine actress Olivia Hussey, who had gained recognition in Japan for her role in Romeo and Juliet (1968).[3] [4] Following the release of "Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī", Fuse and Hussey began dating upon the latter's visit to Japan; they married in 1980, but divorced in 1989.[4]
"Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" was composed and arranged by Mickie Yoshino of Godiego, who previously performed Kanebo's 1977 summer campaign song "Salad Girl". wrote the song's lyrics. Fellow Godiego member Takami Asano arranged the B-side "C'est la Vie (Jinsei Nante Sonna Mono sa)", which features lyrics and composition written by Fuse.[3] [5] Musically, "Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" is a light and cheerful ballad and pop song for the spring season, demonstrating elements of Yoshino's musical style. Opening with a brass intro, the songs moves to an odd time signature with the chorus, and ends with Fuse singing the word kawatta ('changed') in high note.[3] [4] [6] Reviewers for CDJournal described Fuse's vocals as pop transformed into soul.[6] Lyrically, the song presents the perspective of a man who meets a woman he hasn't seen for a long time, and finds that she has changed into something more beautiful than a rose.[3] [4]
Though Fuse's popularity had feigned in 1977–78, "Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" was a commercial hit.[3] It sold circa 400,000 copies in Japan according to Sports Nippon and reached number eight on the Oricon Singles Chart, Fuse's first top ten entry since the number-one "Ochiba ga Yuki ni" (1976).[4] Based on factors of sales, airplay, and music TV program rankings, Sports Nippon ranked it as the sixth most-popular song of April 1979. The newspaper's staff wrote that there were "probably no women who didn't feel excited when [sung] that [they're more beautiful than a rose]" by Fuse, the "king of ballads".[4] Alongside the follow-up single "Koi no Survival" – a Japanese cover of the English-language "I Will Survive" (1978) – the song was released on Fuse's ninth album Survival, Ai Aru Kagiri Kimi wa Utsukushī (1979; 'Survival: As Long As There Is Love, You Are Beautiful').[7]
Retrospectively, "Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" has been named amongst Fuse's most representative songs in profiles by Oricon and Excite Japan.[8] [9] In the 2010s, the song saw renewed attention on radio airplay, charting three weeks on Billboard Japan adult contemporary chart with a peak at number 80. Fuse's kawatta high notes have become viewed as a representative part of the song. Official audio uploaded to YouTube by Fuse's mangagement includes timestamps to the high notes in its description, which garnered attention on Japanese social media in 2024.[10]
Fuse performed "Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī" on December 31, 1979, at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, an annual New Year's Eve television special produced by NHK. Performing as a member of the White Team, it was his 13th appearance at the event.[11]
A jazz version was recorded for Fuse's compilation album 55th Anniversary Special Album in 2021.[12]
| + | Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (Oricon)[13] | 8 |
| + | Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Adult Contemporary (Billboard Japan)[14] | 80 |