Daite Kuretara Ii no ni

"Daite Kuretara Ii no ni"

Single by Shizuka Kudo

Released

March 2, 1988

Format

Genre

Length

5:07

Tsugutoshi Gotō

Shizuka Kudo singles chronology

"Again"
(1987)

"Daite Kuretara Ii no ni"
(1988)

"Fu-ji-tsu"
(1988)

Audio sample

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"Daite Kuretara Ii no ni" (抱（だ）いてくれたらいいのに, lit. "If Only You Would Hold Me") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo. The song was released as a single by Pony Canyon on March 2, 1988. Despite being included in several subsequent compilation albums, "Daite Kuretara Ii no ni" was never included in any studio album. An English version of the song was recorded for Kudo's 1998 ballad compilation album Best of Ballade: Current, on which it is dubbed "Let Me Sleep In Your Arms".

The release of the song marked a turning point in Kudo's career. The song was promoted as the first single since having "stripped" herself of the image created for her by Yasushi Akimoto while a member of the Akimoto-produced idol girl group Onyanko Club, commonly regarded as the precursor to AKB48. Her eagerness to sing more mature songs and shed the cutesy image that she had cultivated during that time was met with a positive reception by her then-managing producer Yūzō Watanabe, who encouraged her to pursue recording the song. Reflecting on that transitional time, Kudo has express that Watanabe's support "sparked a fire in this 17-year-old's heart". The song has enjoyed a steady popularity as a karaoke staple for women across Japan, with it having since been described as a "female anthem".

The song was written by Gorō Matsui, while Tsugutoshi Gotō composed and produced the track. It is composed in the key of D minor and set to a tempo of 70 beats per minute. Kudo's vocals span from A₃ to C₅. Lyrically, the song is about the insecurities and infatuation felt at the beginning stages of a romantic relationship.

The song is described as a revival of the American pop from the 50s and 60s, but in 1980s fashion. Kudo was praised for singing a song with such sex appeal without hesitation.

In 2013, Chiaki recorded a cover of the song for Tsugutoshi Gotō's concept album, King of Pops 2. "Daite Kuretara Ii no ni" was covered by Showtaro Morikubo as part of the Shizuka Kudo-as-sung-by male voice actors tribute album released in 2017.

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Wikipedia