Pepper_Keibu_(song)
Pepper Keibu (song)
Original song written and composed by Shunichi Tokura, Yū Aku
"Pepper Keibu" (ペッパー警部, Peppā Keibu, lit. "Inspector Pepper") is the debut single by the Japanese hit duo Pink Lady. The single was released on August 25, 1976, under the Victor label. "Pepper Keibu" reached a peak chart position of number four, with a total of 1,050,000 sales.[1] The titular song won the duo the Newcomer Award at the 18th Japan Record Awards. It was also nominated for the Best New Artist Award, but lost to "Omoide Boro Boro" by Yasuko Naitō.[2] The original recording did not have the signature "Pepper Keibu yo" at the end, as the live performances did. Subsequent recordings and covers do, however, include the line. A number of reissues have been made, including 8 cm and 12 cm CD versions.
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According to Oricon, this was the 14th best selling single from 1977.[3]
At the time of the song's release, songwriter Yū Aku was often asked if it was inspired by the Lockheed bribery scandal in Japan, as the arrest of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was fresh in the public's memories. Aku responded by saying the song took inspiration from Inspector Clouseau from The Pink Panther series, as well as Shirō Sone's song "Wakai Omawari-san" (若いお巡りさん, lit. "Young Police Officer"), Rakugo's "Kushami Kōshaku" (くしゃみ講釈, lit. "Sneezing Lecture"), soft drinks such as Dr Pepper, and The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Pink Lady also recorded an English-language version titled "Sergeant Pepper" in 1978 for international markets.[4] This version also included an English version of "Wanted".[5][6]
A re-recorded version of the song was included on the 2-disc greatest hits release, INNOVATION, released in December 2010.
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