"Second Love" (セカンド・ラブ, Sekando Rabu) is the third single by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. The song was written by Etsuko Kisugi and Takao Kisugi. It was released on November 10, 1982, by Warner Pioneer through the Reprise label. This single was also the first track from her third studio album, Fantasy (Gensoukyoku).
Background
"Second Love" was first created for Junko Ohashi as a song that came after her 1981 hit single "Silhouette Romance" (シルエット・ロマンス, Shiruetto Romansu). However, the song was given to Nakamori instead. After Nakamori's second single, "Shōjo A," became successful, the director of her talent agency wanted the next single to be "Cancel!" (キャンセル！, Kyanseru!) because it was also written by Masao Urino. However, other members of the agency were not excited about releasing "Cancel!" and decided to make "Second Love" the third single instead. Akira Terabayashi, who was Nakamori's promotion manager at the time, wanted to show listeners how versatile Nakamori's music could be with "Second Love."
Nakamori later re-recorded "Second Love" for the 1995 compilation album True Album Akina 95 Best and the 2002 self-cover compilation Utahime Double Decade. In 2010, she re-recorded the song for the pachinko machine CR Nakamori Akina: Utahime Densetsu ~Koi Moni Dome nara~ (CR中森明菜・歌姫伝説〜恋も二度目なら〜; CR Akina Nakamori: Utahime Legend ~If Love Is For the Second Time~).
Chart performance
"Second Love" became Nakamori's first single to reach the top of Oricon's weekly singles chart. It sold more than 766,000 copies, making it the most successful single of her career.
Awards
The song "Second Love" helped Nakamori win the Excellent Star Award at the 16th All Japan Wired Broadcasting Awards. Additionally, the same song helped Takao Kisugi receive the Grand Prix at the 3rd Japan Composition Awards.
Cover versions
- Takao Kisugi performed the song on his 1983 album Visitor.
- Hong Kong singer Sara Lee recorded the song in Cantonese as "Tuì biàn" (蛻変, "Metamorphosis") on her 1985 album Lǐlìruǐ liàn qǔ jí (李麗蕊恋曲集, Sara Lee's Love Songs).
- Yukari Itō performed the song on her 2002 cover album Touch Me Lightly.
- Ai Nonaka (as Minoru Izumi) performed the song on the 2005 cover album Mansuri Moe on Vocal Collection Vol. 1.
- Chiyo performed the song in 2007.
- Mika Suzuki performed the song on the 2007 various artists cover album 80's Hit Parade.
- Colega Bossa Club performed the song on their 2008 album Futokoro Mellow J Bossa Winter Lounge.
- Risa performed the song in 2008.
- Junichi Inagaki and Yu-ki performed the song on Inagaki's 2008 cover album Otoko to Onna: Two Hearts Two Voices.
- Julee Karan performed the song on her 2011 cover album Torch.
- Yoshimi Iwasaki performed the song on her 2013 cover album The Reborn Songs: Cyclamen.
- Natsuki Morikawa performed the song on her 2016 cover album J: Sentimental Cover.
- Ayano Kudō performed the song as the B-side of her 2017 single "Koi Goyomi".
- Kim Jae-joong performed the song on his 2020 cover album Love Covers II.
- Toki Asako performed the song in Nakamori's 2025 tribute album "Nakamori Akina Tribute Album: Meikyo".