is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "

Yasashii Kimochi de is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with " Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" in 2009, a month before Superfly's second studio album ''Box Emotions''. Background and development In 2009, Supe ...

" in 2009, a month before Superfly's second studio album ''

Box Emotions ''Box Emotions'' is the second studio album by Japanese pop-rock band Superfly, released on September 2, 2009. It debuted at the number-one spot on the Oricon weekly album charts, making Superfly the first female artist in six years, since Chito ...

''. An upbeat

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

-inspired song that was a change in style from her previous sound, the song was used in commercials for

Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western ca ...

's Digital IXUS cameras in Japan.

Background and development

In 2009, Superfly recorded two songs for the

Fuji Television JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as and colloquially known as CX, is a Japanese television station based in Odaiba today is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. Odaiba was initially b ...

drama ''Boss'', starring

Yūki Amami is a Japanese actress. Career Amami joined the Takarazuka Revue The is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western- ...

. The theme song, a ballad called " My Best of My Life", was released as a single by Superfly on May 13. The drama's upbeat opening theme song " Alright!!" was released as a digital single a month later. Both songs were successful commercially, with "Alright!!" becoming Superfly's biggest hit since "

Ai o Komete Hanataba o is a song by Japanese pop-rock act Superfly. Used as ''Edison no Haha''s theme song, "Ai o Komete Hanataba o" was released as the band's fourth single on February 27, 2008. The song was Superfly's break-through single, breaking into the ''Oricon ...

" (2008).

Promotion and release

The song was first unveiled in late February 2009, when it was used in commercials promoting

's Digital IXUS brand of cameras. Superfly's next single "

Dancing on the Fire "Dancing on the Fire" is a single by Japanese rock act Superfly, the group's ninth single overall. Released on November 18, 2009, "Dancing on the Fire" is Superfly's first single after the release of their second album ''Box Emotions''. The title ...

" (2009) followed "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" as the second song used for this commercial campaign, which was created in the same style as "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii". Superfly performed the song live at ''

Music Station is a Japanese music television program. Broadcasting live weekly on TV Asahi since October 24, 1986, it currently airs from 9PM-10PM on Fridays. The program is also colloquially known as , , and . The show is currently syndicated throughout th ...

'' on August 7, and again at ''Music Japan'' on September 13. The song was released as a part of a four-track single on July 29, 2009. In addition to the two A-sides, the single featured a cover of Kuwata Band's 1986 song "Skipped Beat", a song Superfly had performed at ''

Bokura no Ongaku was a Japanese music television show which aired weekly from April 3, 2004 to September 19, 2014 on the Fuji TV JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as and colloquially known as CX, is a Japanese television station based in Odaiba, Minato, Tokyo, ...

'' and during her Rock'N'Roll Show 2008 tour. The song is a live recording taken from the tour final of the Rock'N'Roll Show at the

NHK Hall The NHK Hall is a concert hall located at the NHK Broadcasting Center, the main headquarters of Japan's Public broadcasting, public broadcaster NHK. The hall is the main venue for the NHK Symphony Orchestra, but it has also played host to other e ...

on November 9, 2008. The remaining track is a cover of the title track from

Jackson Browne Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...

's 1974 album ''

Late for the Sky ''Late for the Sky'' is the third studio album by American singer–songwriter Jackson Browne, released by Asylum Records on September 13, 1974. It peaked at number 14 on ''Billboards Pop Albums chart. In 2020, the album was deemed "cul ...

''.

Music video

A music video was produced for the song, directed by Shūichi Banba. The video is composed of two different scenes. The first features vocalist Shiho Ochi performing the song against a sparkly stage, alongside her bandmates surrounded by mirrorballs. The second is shot outside in

sepia tone In photography, toning is a method of altering the color of black-and-white photographs. In analog photography, it is a chemical process carried out on metal salt-based prints, such as silver prints, iron-based prints (cyanotype or Van Dyke b ...

s, featuring Ochi walking beside a man in a white suit. The final scenes show the couple walking into the club where Ochi is performing the song on stage, and they begin to dance. The clothing used in the couple scenes was inspired by the clothing that

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up i ...

and

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

wore in the 1970s.

Critical reception

Dai Tanaka of ''

Rockin' On Japan ''Rockin'On Japan'', often stylized in all caps, is a monthly magazine that covers the Japanese music scene and various cultural events in Japan, such as art venues and culinary expos. History The magazine was founded in 1972, and focused on pr ...

'' described the song as "funky and dance-able", with a "cool vibe", feeling it was "full of punch" and refined pop music. He praised Ochi's musicianship, feeling that the single was an example of her skill as a vocalist. The song was received well by ''CDJournal'' reviewers, who described the song as an "exhilarating upper dance tune" with a "'80s four-on-the-floor disco beat with rock guitar riffs". They praised the song's "catchy" chorus and lyrics, along with Ochi's "cool" "piercing, soulful vocals".

Track listings

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from the liner notes booklet of ''

''. *Kōji Kusakari – electric guitar *Hideki Matsubara – bass *Hiroshi "Matsukichi" Matsubara – drums *Shiho Ochi – lead and background vocals *Kōichi Tabo – background vocals *Kōichi Tsutaya – keyboard, programming *Yoshiyuki Yatsuhashi – electric guitar

Chart rankings

Sales and certifications

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii 2009 singles 2009 songs Japanese-language songs Songs used as jingles Superfly (band) songs Warner Music Japan singles