WINK – WINK MEMORIES 1988-1996 (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

DISC 1:

1. Sugar Baby Love
2. Amaryllis
3. Ai ga Tomoranai – Turn it into love-
4. Namida wo Misenaide – Boy’s Don’t Cry
5. Samishi Nettaigyo
6. One Night in Heaven – Mayo Naka no Angel
7. Sexy Music
8. Yoru ni Hagurete – Where Were You Last Night-
9. New Moon ni Aimashou
10. Kitto Atsui Kuchibiru – remain
11. Manatsu no Tremolo
12. Haitoku no Scenario
13. Tsuioku no Heroin

DISC 2:

1. Matenrou Museum
2. Furimukanaide
3. Real na yume no jouken
4. Eien no Lady Doll
5. Kekkon Shiyo ne
6. Sakihokore itoshisa yo
7. Itsumademo Suki de itakute
8. Twinkle Twinkle
9. Cherie Moon Cherie
10. Watashi-tachi Rashii Rule
11. JIVE INTO THE NIGHT Yaban na Yoru ni ~hyper Euro Mix~
12. Angel Love Story ~Aki-iro no tenshi~

The announcement of WINK’s breakup was inevitable considering how female pop groups have changed as of late. The once very dominant WINK (which consists of Sachiko Suzuki and Shoko Aida) were once Japan’s top female pop duo’s as they have dominated the music scene but today’s female pop groups such as MAX and SPEED are about sexiness and dancing ability. The days of idol pop with simplistic dance moves and just singing and looking cute is not going so far with Japanese music listeners and unfortunately, WINK will become one of the casualties of this change.

But if anything, WINK should be remembered as one of Japan’s most successful female idol pop groups.  They may not be about the choreography but one thing they did have a one-up on compared to other Japanese idol groups in the late ’80s and early ’90s is that the two women can definitely sing.

So, in a way, it’s a bit bittersweet for me to say goodbye to WINK, after enjoying their music and I was a supporter of their move into a more upbeat, dance-style of music this year.  Unfortunately, their image is to ingrained in the minds of music listeners and seeing the group perform music that is not part of their style is not going to please many of their diehard fans.

But they did try their best and I commend both Sachiko Suzuki and Shoko Aida for what they have given to their music fans for nearly a decade.

The final goodbye from the group will be this final album titled “WINK MEMORIES 1998-1996″ featuring every wonderful single release from their first single “Sugar Baby Love” all the way to their 25th single “Angel Love Story ~Aki iro no tenshi~”.  A total of 25 tracks and it’s hard to say anything bad about this album when everything is on this two-CD set.

Insert features lyrics and production credits to the album.

Overall, this is an album for those who are diehard WINK fans or for those who never owned a WINK album or single in your life.  Everything you would want from WINK is all on this album and is definitely recommended!

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