Genki o Dashite

Genki o Dashite (元気を出して) is the 1st track on Japanese actress/singer Hiroko Yakushimaru's 1984 debut album Kokinshū (古今集). It was written by singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. Takeuchi recorded her own version of the song for her Request album, released in 1987. It was released as a single from the album in 1988.

The song later appeared on her greatest hits albums Love Collection (released in 2000) and Hiroko Yakushimaru Golden Best (薬師丸ひろ子 ゴールデン☆ベスト) (released in 2002).

Mariya Takeuchi version
Mariya Takeuchi, the writer of the song, recorded her own version in 1987. It was originally released as the B-side of her Yume no Tsuzuki (夢の続き) single in 1987, however was later added to her self-cover album, Request. After being selected for use as a commercial song for watchmaker Seiko's Dolce & Exceline (ドルチェ&エクセリーヌ) range in 1988, the song was released as the album's 5th single.

Hiroko Yakushimaru features background vocals in Takeuchi's self-cover.

The B-side, Oh No, Oh Yes!, is a self-cover of a song Takeuchi wrote for singer Akina Nakamori's 1986 album Crimson. This song is also present on Takeuchi's self-cover album Request.

While not doing well on the charts in its single format, the song has been recognised as one of Takeuchi's signature songs. It was re-recorded twice: once on Takeuchi's 1987 self-cover album Request and once as the '08 New Remaster on her 2008 single, Shiawase no Monosashi/Ureshukute Samishii Hi (Your Wedding Day) (幸せのものさし/うれしくてさみしい日(Your Wedding Day)). The song has appeared on her greatest hits compilations Impressions (1994) and Expressions (2008). The song is frequently covered by other artists.

Shimatani Hitomi version
Hitomi Shimatani covered this song and released it as her 11th single on June 4, 2003. It was as a theme song for 7 of the 27 serial dramas in NHK's special NHK Yoru no Renzoku Dorama serial dramas, over a period of 6 and 1/2 months.

Shimatami performed the song at the 54th Kōhaku Uta Gassen annual New Year's Eve music variety show at the end of 2003.

The song appears on her third album Gate: Scena III as the Gate Version. This version is the version used for her 2003 greatest hits album, Delicious!: The Best of Hitomi Shimatani. The original version appears on her second greatest hits album, Best & Covers, released in 2009.

Other cover versions

 * Rowena Cortes (1987, Cantonese, 手掌上的電話號碼, album 露雲娜'87, Hong Kong)
 * Patrick Tam (1989, Cantonese, 泡沫裏的夢, album 為你解悶, Hong Kong)
 * Jessica：Lín Yŭpíng (1991, Mandarin, 清醒之後(Pinyin: Qīngxĭng-Zhī Hòu), album Jiŭbié Chóngféng, Taiwan)
 * Eric Martin (2003, Compilation album Sincerely...II〜Mariya Takeuchi Songbook〜)
 * Cyndi Wang (2005, Mandarin, 打起精神來(Pinyin: Dăqĭ Jīngshén Lái), album Cyndi with U, Taiwan)
 * Chara (2009, single Kataomoi B-side)
 * Junichi Inagaki (2009, single Christmas Carol no Koro ni B-side)
 * Hiromi Iwasaki (2006, album Dear Friends III)
 * Juju (2008, single Yasashisa de Afureru You ni B-side)
 * Shizuka Kudō (2002, album Shōwa no Kaidan Vol.1)
 * Mana Kana (2009, album Futari no Uta 2)
 * Mitsuki (2008, single Natsu no Montage B-side)
 * Aoi Teshima (2008, album Niji no Kashū)
 * Hideaki Tokunaga (2007, album Vocalist 3)