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S.O.S. (Pink Lady song)

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"S.O.S."
Song
B-side"Pink no Ringo"

"S.O.S." is a song Yū Aku and Shunichi Tokura wrote for Japanese idol duo Pink Lady. It was released as the group's second single in November 1976, and became their first number-one hit on the Japanese Oricon singles chart in the following year.[1]

"S.O.S." features Morse code which stands for the song title at the opening of the song. Because its sound effect might be mistaken for genuine Morse code, intro of the track has been omitted occasionally when the song has played on the radio. The song has been one of favorites for both the duo and the fans, and it is also one of the essential songs performed in their concerts.

Reception

Led by commercial success of its predecessor "Pepper Keibu" which reached the number-4 on the Japanese Oricon chart, "S.O.S" climbed the top of the country's hit parade three months after its release. A single remained on the chart for 38 weeks, selling approximately 650,000 copies.[2] According to the record label Victor, "S.O.S." has sold in excess of 1.2 million units to date.

According to Oricon it was the 8th best selling single from 1977.[3]

A re-recorded version of the song was included on the 2-disc greatest hits release, Innovation, released in December 2010.

The song is used as background music in one episode of the anime TV series His and Her Circumstances, as a song the female lead, Yukino Miyazawa, can't get out of her head.

Track listing (7" vinyl)

All tracks composed by Shunichi Tokura, lyrics written by Yū Aku.

  1. "S.O.S." 2:45
  2. "Pink no Ringo (ピンクの林檎, Pinku no Ringo)" 3:02

Chart positions

Charts (1976–77) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart 1

Covers

  • Jellyfish covered the song in Japan and their version of the tune was released on the 2015 reissue of their 1993 album Spilt Milk.
  • Girl group MAX covered this song for the 1997 Yu Aku tribute album VELFARRE J-POP NIGHT presents DANCE with YOU.
  • Chiemi Hori and Toru Yamazaki covered it for the 2009 released Pink Lady/Yu Aku tribute album Bad Friends.
  • Anime Alice SOS features a cover of this song.
  • The song is used as the ending theme in episode seventeen of the anime TV Series Gun X Sword, covered by Kikuko Inoue (voice of Carmen99), Houko Kuwashima (voice of Wendy), Satsuki Yukino (voice of Yukiko) & Saeko Chiba (voice of Priscilla).

References

  1. ^ "List of the number-one hit singles on the Japanese Oricon Chart". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  2. ^ "Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) - Singles Chart Daijiten - Pink Lady" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  3. ^ "Annual Oricon Charts 1977-1980" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-10-25.
Preceded by Japanese Oricon Chart number one single
February 14, 1977 		Succeeded by
"Shitsuren Restaurant" by Kentarō Shimizu
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