Amagasa
"Amagasa" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Standard edition cover. | ||||
Single by Tokio | ||||
from the album 17 | ||||
A-side | "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" | |||
B-side | "Kachū no Otoko", "Jōshō Shikō" | |||
Released | September 3, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:51 | |||
Label | J Storm | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Tokio singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Limited B edition cover, featuring the members of Tokio. |
"Amagasa" (
Background and development
[edit]Tokio's 2006 single "Sorafune" was a hit, being certified by the RIAJ for 1,000,000 ringtone downloads.[1] The song was written by Japanese singer-songwriter Miyuki Nakajima, and acted as the theme song for the drama My Boss My Hero, starring Tomoya Nagase. Since then, Tokio has had several singles written by musicians famous in their own right, such as "Hikari no Machi" by Yoshihiro Kai, another song by Miyuki Nakajima called "Honjitsu, Mijukumono" and "Seisyun", which was written by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi.
Ringo Sheena had previously worked with musicians Ryōko Hirosue and Rie Tomosaka between 1998 and 2000, writing and producing music for them. This single was the first time in eight years that she had written music for another musical act.[2] "Amagasa" / "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" was Tokio's first single released under J Storm. From their debut in 1994 until 2001, Tokio had worked with Sony Music Entertainment Japan, before moving to Universal Music Japan with the single "Doitsu mo Koitsu mo" / "Boku no Mirai" (2001).
Writing and production
[edit]The two songs on the single written by Ringo Sheena, "Amagasa" and "Kachū no Otoko", featured her band at the time Tokyo Jihen performing the song arrangement.[3] Sheena felt that because both Tokio and Tokyo Jihen are structured in the same way (i.e. both are rock bands with instrument players), it was easy to give the songs added flair.[4] "Amagasa" took eight hours to record, as Tomoya Nagase felt very nervous recording for Sheena. He used polite honorifics when talking to her, as he accidentally thought that she was older than him. The chorus is sung in a high key that Nagase found difficult to sing, however even though he was struggling, Sheena felt that it sounded fine, as she wanted the changing key effect.[5]
Of the other songs on the single, "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" by producer her0ism, and the song "Jōshō Shikō" was sung by Taichi Kokubun on lead vocals.
Promotion and release
[edit]"Amagasa" was used as the theme song for the NTV drama Yasuko to Kenji,[6] which starred Tokio member Masahiro Matsuoka as the titular Kenji. This was the ninth single released by the band that was a drama theme song for a drama starring a member of Tokio, after "Furarete Genki" (1997) for Psychometrer Eiji, "Love & Peace" (1998) for Love & Peace, "Ai no Arashi" (1999) for Psychometrer Eiji 2, "Hanauta" (2002) for Nurse Man, "Transistor G (Glamour) Girl" (2004) for Kanojo ga Shinjatta, "Jibun no Tame ni" (2004) for Nurse Man ga Yuku, "Sorafune" (2006) for My Boss My Hero, and "Honjitsu, Mijukumono" for Juken no Kamisama. "Amagasa" was performed live at Music Station three times. First on September 5, then the following week on September 12, and also at the New Years special on December 26, 2008.[7][8][9] The song was also performed at the Fuji TV FNS Kayōsai on December 3, 2008.[10]
Additionally, "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" was used as an ending theme song for Tokio's Fuji Television variety show Mentore G.[6] It was used from May 11, 2008 until the program's final airing on September 14, 2008.
Track listings
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Amagasa" | Ringo Sheena | Tokyo Jihen | 3:51 |
2. | "Kachū no Otoko" ( | R. Sheena | Tokyo Jihen | 2:21 |
3. | "Jōshō Shikō" ( | Kazuaki Yamashita | Shogo Ohnishi | 4:06 |
4. | "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" (あきれるくらい | her0ism | Kazuhiro Yamahara | 4:26 |
5. | "Amagasa (Backing Track)" | R. Sheena | Tokyo Jihen | 3:53 |
6. | "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō (Backing Track)" | her0ism | K. Yamahara | 4:23 |
Total length: | 23:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Amagasa" | 3:51 |
2. | "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō" | 4:26 |
Total length: | 8:17 |
No. | Title | Director | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Amagasa (music video)" | Hiroaki Matsunaga | |
2. | "Amagasa (Making)" | H. Matsunaga |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Negaō (music video, version 1)" | |
2. | "Tokio Station II: Akireru Kurai Tokio wa Shaberō-hen" |
Charts and sales
[edit]Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[11] | 6 |
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[12] | 3 |
Japan Oricon weekly singles[13]
|
2 |
Japan Oricon monthly singles[14]
|
14 |
Sales
[edit]Chart | Amount |
---|---|
Oricon physical sales[15]
|
67,000 |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Distributing Label | Catalogue codes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | August 20, 2008[16] | Ringtone | J Storm | — |
September 3, 2008[13][17] | CD, CD/DVD type A, CD/DVD type B, rental CD | JACA-5114, JACA-5116, JACA-5118 | ||
Taiwan | September 19, 2008[18] | CD | Avex Taiwan | JAJSG27015 |
References
[edit]- ^ レコード
協会 調 べ 1月 度 有料 音楽 配信 認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 20, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2014. - ^ "
椎名 林檎 、初 のセルフカバー集 『逆 輸入 ~港湾 局 ~』リリース&レコ発 ライブ開催 発表 " [Ringo Sheena, first self-cover album collection Gyakuyunyū: Kōwankyoku release and release party live]. Barks. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014. - ^ "TOKIO、
椎名 林檎 提供 によるニュー・シングル"雨傘 /あきれるくらい僕 らは願 おう"を9月3日 にリリース" [Tokio, Ringo Sheena written new single "Amagasa/Akireru Kurai Bokura wa Utau" release on September 3]. Barks. July 28, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ "
椎名 林檎 がTOKIOへの楽曲 提供 に「ひらめきをくれた」" [Ringo Sheena "gave flair" to her songs for Tokio]. Oricon. September 7, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ Tokio (September 9, 2008). "Music Station September 9, 2008 episode". Music Station (Interview). Interviewed by Tamori. Tokyo, Japan: TV Asahi.
- ^ a b
雨傘 /あきれるくらい僕 らは願 おう【通常 盤 】 (in Japanese). JBook. Archived from the original on June 4, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ "2008/09/05 Guest Lineup Back Number" (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "2008/09/12 Guest Lineup Back Number" (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "2008/12/26 Guest Lineup Back Number" (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "2008 FNS
歌謡 祭 " (in Japanese). Fuji TV. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard Japan. September 15, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. September 15, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ^ a b "「
雨傘 /あきれるくらい僕 らは願 おう」 TOKIO" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ ランキング シングル
月間 ランキング 2008年 09月 度 [September 2008 Monthly Single Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^ "オリコンランキング
情報 サービス「you大樹 」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved March 31, 2014. - ^ "TOKIO、
最新 シングル「雨傘 」は椎名 林檎 作詞 作曲 " [Tokio new single Amagasa has lyrics and music by Ringo Sheena] (in Japanese). Barks. August 19, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^
雨傘 (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved April 6, 2014. - ^
東京 小 子 /雨傘 /讓 我 們許下心 願 直 到 天 荒地 老 (in Chinese). G-Music. Retrieved March 31, 2014.