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Sora ga Natteiru - Wikipedia
Wikipedia

Sora ga Natteiru

"Sora ga Natteiru" (空そらが鳴なっている, "The Sky Is Ringing"), also known by its English name "The Reverberation",[1] is one of the A-sides of the single "Sora ga Natteiru/Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo" by Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen, led by musician Ringo Sheena. The song was the band's fourth to be used in a commercial campaign for Ezaki Glico's Watering Kissmint brand of gum. It was released digitally in February 2011, and eventually physically on May 11, 2011, after the three-month postponement of the physical edition.

"Sora ga Natteiru"
A snowy scene of trees, lit against a blue sky. Shadows from the trees fall on the snow on the ground. At the bottom is a white logo of s crane
"Sora ga Natteiru/Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo" EP cover.
Single by Tokyo Jihen
from the album Dai Hakken
ReleasedFebruary 8, 2011 (2011-02-08)
Recorded2010
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:50
LabelEMI Music Japan
Songwriter(s)
Ringo Sheena

Seiji Kameda

Tokyo Jihen singles chronology
"Dopa-mint!"
(2010) 		"Sora ga Natteiru"
(2011) 		"Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo"
(2011)

Background and development

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In July 2010, Tokyo Jihen released two digital singles: "Tengoku e Yōkoso", the theme song for the drama Atami no Sōsakan, and "Dopa-mint!", Tokyo Jihen's third song used Ezaki Glico's Watering Kissmint range of gum.[2][3] The band performed at the EMI Rocks festival on November 6, 2010, celebrating 50 years of the EMI label.[4]

The band produced the single "Oishii Kisetsu" / "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan" for entertainer Chiaki Kuriyama, which was released on March 2, 2011.[5] After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred on March 11, the band released a cover of Tokiko Iwatani's 1964 song "Yoake no Uta" to YouTube.[6]

The single was first announced on December 10, 2010, with a preliminary release date of February 23, 2011.[7]

Writing and production

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The music for the song was written by Seiji Kameda, an infrequent songwriter for the band. Kameda wrote the tracks "Superstar" and "Tōmei Ningen" from Adult, and most notably the digital single "Senkō Shōjo" (2007), which was commercially successful enough to be certified gold by the RIAJ twice.[8][9] Kameda considered the songs he had written for the band as all "bright", so wanted to attempt to make sad or dark songs. The song was originally called "Breast" in the demo stage.[10] When deciding which song was the best for the commercial, the band unanimously picked Kameda's composition, as they wanted to try something different from the songs previously featured in the campaign.[11]

Promotion and release

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The song was first used in Watering Kissmint commercials from February 8, 2011.[12] The commercial was directed by long-time collaborator Yuichi Kodama, who also directed the music video for the song.[13]

On February 12, band drummer Toshiki Hata was charged with interfering with a public servant, after hitting a police officer during an incident on February 10, when the officer had been called to a residence to investigate broken glass.[14] As a result, the single was postponed, and all promotional activities involving Hata were ceased.[15] All mention of the single's release date were removed from Tokyo Jihen's website.[16] The Watering Kissmint commercials began airing again from February 16, however with a rearranged "solo" version of the song entitled the "Shinkai-han" (深海しんかい版ばん, "Deep Sea Edition"), that did not feature Hata's drumming.[17][18] The song was intended to be performed on Music Station on February 18, with "Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo" being performed the next week, however these appearances were cancelled.[19] The band eventually resumed activities together on April 5, 2011, and the single was given the new release date of May 11.[20][21]

The song was first performed at the Terebi Asahi Dream Music Festival on September 24, 2011. It was additionally performed during the band's Discovery (2011) and Bon Voyage (2012) tours. These performances can be found on the tours' respective DVDs.[22][23]

Music video

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The music video was first unveiled on February 8, 2011, and was made available for streaming from the band's website.[13] It was directed by Yuichi Kodama, who also took charge of the video for "Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo", as well as the commercials for Watering Kissmint, and Shiseido's Maquillage commercials featuring "Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo".[13][24][25]

The video depicts the band performing the song as they sit around a table, eating breakfast foods. It also features close-up scenes of each member by themselves. Ukigumo is seen sitting in a parked car in a garage. Izawa is shown taking an eye examination, and Hata shown sitting on a couch, watching video footage of squirrels. Kameda is shown removing a pair of leather gloves at a table. Sheena is shown sitting in a corner of a room. Outside scenes are shown taken from a vehicle of a frosty countryside. Director Kodama revealed that Hata is meant to be watching the Discovery Channel, tying in with the theme of the album Dai Hakken.[26]

Critical reception

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CDJournal reviewers called the song a "cool rock tune", and "hard boiled rock" with a "disturbing atmosphere", feeling the guitar intro gave the song a tense, running sound and noting the heaviness in Sheena's vocals.[27][28] Hot Express reviewer Haruna Takakawa felt the song was very "Tokyo Jihen-like", likening it to the impact of "Gunjō Biyori". She praised the song's "sharpened sound and lyrics" and Sheena's "emotional vocals", noting that everything in the song is balanced and simple, that there was nothing superfluous.[29]

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Sora ga Natteiru"Ringo SheenaSeiji Kameda3:50
2."Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo"R. SheenaR. Sheena3:56
Total length:7:46

Personnel

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Personnel details were sourced from Dai Hakken's liner notes booklet.[30]

Musicians and personnel

Chart rankings

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Charts (2011) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[31] 24
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[32] 11
Japan Oricon weekly singles[33]
  • "Sora ga Natteiru/Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo"
 6
Japan Oricon monthly singles[34]
  • "Sora ga Natteiru/Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo"
 13
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[35] 40

Sales and certifications

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Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[36] 54,000

Release history

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Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan February 8, 2011 (2011-02-08)[37] Ringtone, cellphone download EMI Music Japan
May 11, 2011 (2011-05-11)[21][38][39] CD, Rental CD, digital download (EP) TOCT-40320
Taiwan May 13, 2011 (2011-05-13)[40] CD Gold Typhoon I5205

References

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  1. ^ "The Reverberation / Fly Me To Heaven / INCIDENTS TOKYO". Kronekodow. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへん「時効じこう警察けいさつ」コンビの新作しんさくドラマに主題歌しゅだいか提供ていきょう (in Japanese). Natalie. June 30, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "東京とうきょう事変じへんの新曲しんきょく『ドーパミント！』、CMタイアップ＆配信はいしん限定げんていリリース決定けってい！" (in Japanese). Universal. July 27, 1010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  4. ^ "EMIミュージック・ジャパン主催しゅさい『EMI ROCKS』に東京とうきょう事変じへん、吉井よしい和哉かずや、9mmら" (in Japanese). Rockin' On. July 1, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  5. ^ "栗山くりやま千明ちあき、椎名しいな林檎りんごプロデュース、東京とうきょう事変じへんの演奏えんそうによる両りょうA面めんシングルをリリース" [Chiaki Kuriyama releases the Ringo Sheena produced double A side single, featuring Tokyo Jihen performing.]. Rockin' On. January 28, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  6. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへん、名曲めいきょく「夜明よあけのうた」カバー映像えいぞうを公開こうかい (in Japanese). Natalie. April 12, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへん始動しどう！ニューシングル2011.2.23リリース決定けってい！ (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  8. ^ レコード協会きょうかい調しらべ 1月がつ度ど有料ゆうりょう音楽おんがく配信はいしん認定にんてい [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 20, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  9. ^ レコード協会きょうかい調しらべ 3月がつ度ど有料ゆうりょう音楽おんがく配信はいしん認定にんてい [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). April 20, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  10. ^ 「空そらが鳴なっている／女おんなの子こは誰だれでも」ライナーノーツ (in Japanese). Kronekodow. June 30, 1010. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  11. ^ 「空そらが鳴なっている／女おんなの子こは誰だれでも」オフィシャル・インタビュー (in Japanese). Kronekodow. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "演技えんぎはすべて逆ぎゃく回転かいてん！椎名しいな林檎りんご出演しゅつえん「キスミント」新しんCM" (in Japanese). Natalie. January 8, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "2/23発売はつばいニューシングルより「空そらが鳴なっている」PV完成かんせい！＆ストリーミング開始かいし！" (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  14. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへんドラマー刄田綴つづり色しょくが公務こうむ執行しっこう妨害ぼうがいの容疑ようぎで逮捕たいほ (in Japanese). Natalie. January 12, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  15. ^ この度たびの刄田綴つづり色しょくの不祥事ふしょうじについて (in Japanese). Kronekodow. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  16. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへんシングル発売はつばい延期えんきのお知しらせ (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  17. ^ "「キスミント」CM楽曲がっきょく、椎名しいな林檎りんごソロアレンジに変更へんこう" (in Japanese). Natalie. February 16, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  18. ^ "林檎りんご出演しゅつえん「マキアージュ」CMソング、ピアノソロアレンジに" (in Japanese). Natalie. February 21, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  19. ^ "東京とうきょう事変じへん「Mステ」2週しゅう連続れんぞく出演しゅつえん、両りょうA面めんシングルお披露目ひろめ" (in Japanese). Natalie. January 26, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  20. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへん・刄田綴つづり色しょくコメント発表はっぴょう、バンドは4月がつから再始動さいしどう (in Japanese). Natalie. March 29, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  21. ^ a b 東京とうきょう事変じへんシングル発売はつばい日び決定けってい、初回しょかいプレスにツアー情報じょうほう (in Japanese). Natalie. April 5, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  22. ^ チャンネルガイド-東京とうきょう事変じへんオフィシャルブック- [Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kronekodow (published February 29, 2012). February 2012. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-4884182984.
  23. ^ 東京とうきょう事変じへん、“最期さいごの生なま実演じつえん”を完全かんぜん収録しゅうろくした映像えいぞう作品さくひん6/13発売はつばい決定けってい [Tokyo Jihen, DVD footage of their final concert to be released on 6/13.] (in Japanese). Barks. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  24. ^ 空そらが鳴なっている (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  25. ^ 女おんなの子こは誰だれでも (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  26. ^ チャンネルガイド-東京とうきょう事変じへんオフィシャルブック- [Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kronekodow (published February 29, 2012). February 2012. p. 114. ISBN 978-4884182984.
  27. ^ ミニ・レビュー (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  28. ^ 11空そらが鳴なっている (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  29. ^ Haruna Takakawa. "Hot Express" 空そらが鳴なっている/女おんなの子こは誰だれでも (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  30. ^ Dai Hakken (Media notes) (in Japanese). Tokyo Jihen. Tokyo, Japan: EMI Music Japan. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary Airplay 2011/05/23". Billboard (in Japanese). May 23, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  32. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2011/05/23". Billboard (in Japanese). May 23, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  33. ^ 「空そらが鳴なっている／女おんなの子こは誰だれでも」 東京とうきょう事変じへん (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  34. ^ 月間げっかんランキング 2011年ねん05月がつ度たび [Monthly ranking May 2011 edition] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  35. ^ "レコード協会きょうかい調しらべ 2011年ねん02月がつ08日にち～2011年ねん02月がつ15日にち ＜略称りゃくしょう：レコ協きょうチャート（「着ちゃくうたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Investigation: February 8, 2011 to February 15, 2011 (For Short: Recokyō Chart (Chaku-uta Full))]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  36. ^ "オリコンランキング情報じょうほうサービス「you大樹たいじゅ」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  37. ^ 2/23発売はつばいニューシングルより新曲しんきょく「空そらが鳴なっている」モバイル先行せんこう配信はいしん開始かいし！ (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  38. ^ 空そらが鳴なっている／女おんなの子こは誰だれでも／東京とうきょう事変じへん (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  39. ^ 空そらが鳴なっている／女おんなの子こは誰だれでも 東京とうきょう事変じへん. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  40. ^ 東京とうきょう事變じへん/ 每まい個こ女おんな孩子啊 (in Chinese). G-Music. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
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