Tsubame (song)

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"Tsubame"
A colorful painting of a swallow flying toward the city in the distance
Single by Yoasobi featuring Midories
from the EP The Book 2
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedOctober 25, 2021 (2021-10-25)
GenreJ-pop
Length3:37
LabelSony Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Taishō Roman"
(2021) 		"Tsubame"
(2021) 		"Mr."
(2022)
Music video
"Tsubame" on YouTube

"Tsubame" (ツバメ, Japanese for "swallow") is a song recorded by Japanese duo Yoasobi, featuring special group Midories, from their second EP, The Book 2. It was released on October 25, 2021, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, as a stand-alone digital single. It features as a theme song of NHK's SDGs children television program series Hirogare! Irotoridori.

Written by Ayase and based on Nana Ototsuki's novel Chiisana Tsubame no Ōkina Yume, "Tsubame" expresses aspects and behavior of humans towards nature and sympathy for others via the perspective of a swallow. Commercially, the song debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and number 29 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was premiered on December 2.

Background[]

Hirogare! Irotoridori is a program series to make children learning SDGs (logo illustrated) easily.

On April 20, 2021, Yoasobi announced being in charge of writing and singing a new theme song for NHK's Hirogare! Irotoridori (ひろがれ！いろとりどり, "Spread! Colorful"), a new television show series introducing and making children learning United Nations's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) accessibly.[1][2] The song would be written and based on the winner's original novel from the project Yoasobi to Tsukuru Mirai no Uta (YOASOBIとつくる 未来のうた, "Made with Yoasobi Song of the Future"), under the heading "living together" (ともに生きる, tomo ni ikiru).[3] The winning story was announced on July 9, titled Chiisana Tsubame no Ōkina Yume (小さなツバメの大きな夢, "A Big Dream of a Small Swallow"), written by 15-year-old Nana Ototsuki, from a total of more than 700 novels.[4]

The song's title, "Tsubame", was announced on September 28. Ayase said about the song, "I wanted to make a song that brightens the message of what we can do about the perspective of swallows flying in the sky, the activities and problems of the people we can see from there, just by listening to it."[5] The SDGs Kodomo unit, called "Midories" (ミドリーズ) was also announced on the same day, consists of 5 elementary school students from the first to the fifth grades: Atsuki, Ukyō, Lexie, Ririna, and Yumeri to feature vocals of the song with Yoasobi.[6] In addition, the song also features as Minna no Uta's on-air song in October and November 2021.[7]

Release[]

On October 1, 2021, Yoasobi announced to include "Tsubame" on their second EP, titled The Book 2, as the first track, alongside "Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara", a theme song of the stage of the same name, schedule for release on December 1, 2021.[8] A week later, on October 8, the song was announced to release as a stand-alone single, scheduled on October 25 to digital music and streaming platforms.[9][10] The full song was aired for the first time at the duo's radio show Yoasobi's All Night Nippon X on October 19[11] and played at several places in Japan before release, including Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop, Matsuya, Sukiya, Shibuya Center Gai, and Takeshita Street.[12] The cover artwork of "Tsubame" depicts a painting of a swallow flying toward the city in the distance, designed by Niina Ai,[2] who also teamed up with "Yoru ni Kakeru", and "Gunjō".[9]

Lyrics and composition[]

"Tsubame" means a swallow (pictured) in Japanese.

"Tsubame" was written by Ayase, a member, and producer of Yoasobi, and recorded by the vocals of the duo Ikura, featuring the vocals of Midories.[13] It was composed in the key of G♯ major, 105 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and 37 seconds.[14] Lyrically, like the based story Chiisana Tsubame no Ōkina Yume, "Tsubame" tells from the perspective of a swallow as a protagonist, shows the tragedy of the sea it went through, positive and negative aspects and behavior of humans towards nature, sympathy for others, and ends up with a scene where swallows bring happiness to people. The song incorporates the idea that even small swallows can achieve big things if they cooperate together, which leads to the efforts of SDGs.[15]

Commercial performance[]

In Japan, "Tsubame" entered Billboard Japan Hot 100 at number 19,[16] and also debuted at number three on the Download Songs with 13,355 download units,[17][18] and number 77 on the Streaming Songs.[19] The song landed on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart at number 29,[20] and the Digital Singles Chart at number three, selling 15,660 units.[21]

Music video[]

An accompanying music video of "Tsubame" was premiered on December 2, 2021, illustrated and directed by Niina Ai.[22][9] The NHK E's children program Zawazawa'en no Ganpē-chan released their version of the music video on October 21.[23] The full version of the dance music video was uploaded on October 25, the same day as the single release on Hirogare! Irotoridori official website and NHK's official YouTube channel.[24]

Live performance[]

Midories and Hirogare! Irotoridori's mascots, Ao and Kii performed the two minutes and twenty seconds version of "Tsubame" for the first time on October 1 at Minna no Uta. Mikiko handled its choreography, shows flying hopefully to the future like a swallow, called "tsubame dance".[6][11] Yoasobi gave a debut performance of "Tsubame" together with Midories for the first time at NHK's music show Songs on December 2, 2021, alongside "Loveletter", and "Taishō Roman".[25] The duo performed the song at 72nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen as part of Colorful Special Project on December 31.[26]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from The Book 2 liner notes and YouTube.[27][28]

  • Ayase – songwriter, producer
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Midories – chorus
  • AssH – guitar
  • Nana Ototsuki – based story writer
  • Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
  • Masahiko Fukui – mixing
  • Niina Ai – cover artwork design, music video animation

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Tsubame"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] 19
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[20] 29

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Tsubame"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 25, 2021 (2021-10-25)
Sony Music Japan [13][29]

References[]

  1. ^ "YOASOBI、NHK 子ども向けSDGs番組シリーズ「ひろがれ！いろとりどり」テーマソング制作". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. April 20, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Billboard Japan (October 8, 2021). "Japan's YOASOBI Set to Drop New Single 'Tsubame'". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "YOASOBI、NHK 子ども向けSDGs番組シリーズ「ひろがれ！いろとりどり」のテーマソングを制作することが決定！". PR Times (in Japanese). The Orchard Japan. April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "YOASOBI、『ひろがれ！いろとりどり』テーマ・ソングの原作となる物語が決定". CDJournal (in Japanese). July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "YOASOBI「披露する場が紅白だったらうれしい」新こどもユニット結成". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "YOASOBI、NHK新こどもユニット「ミドリーズ」と共演「披露する場が紅白だったらうれしい」". Oricon (in Japanese). September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "YOASOBI×小学生ユニットの新曲が「みんなのうた」でオンエア、ダンス振り付けはMIKIKO". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "YOASOBI、12月に新作リリース&日本武道館2daysで初の有観客ライブ決定". Oricon (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "YOASOBI、新曲「ツバメ」配信リリース　ジャケット＆MVは「夜に駆ける」のクリエイター・藍にいな". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "YOASOBI「ツバメ」配信リリース＆ミドリーズがツバメダンスを踊る映像フル公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "YOASOBI、新曲「ツバメ」を『YOASOBIのオールナイトニッポンX』で初フルオンエア　番組ゲストはCreepy Nuts". Spice (in Japanese). Eplus. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  12. ^ Yoasobi [@YOASOBI_staff] (October 23, 2021). "新曲「ツバメ」お店や街でたくさん流していただいております！耳にした方もいるかも？" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ a b "NHK「みんなのうた」にてOA中、NHK SDGs番組シリーズ「ひろがれ！いろとりどり」テーマソングYOASOBI with ミドリーズ「ツバメ」が10/25(月)配信リリース決定！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. October 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Key, BPM of ツバメ by YOASOBI". Musicstax. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "ツバメ【YOASOBI】「ともに生きる」をテーマに15歳の少女が書いた物語". Framu Media (in Japanese). October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Hot 100 [ 2021/11/03 公開 ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "【ビルボード】LiSA「明け星」がDLソング2週連続首位、Ado／YOASOBI／日向坂46がトップ5デビュー". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "Download Songs [2021/11/03 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "Streaming Songs [2021/11/03 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "週間 合算シングルランキング 2021年11月08日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 8, 2021. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  21. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2021年11月08日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 8, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "YOASOBI、NHKの子ども向けSDGs番組シリーズ"ひろがれ！いろとりどり"テーマ・ソング「ツバメ」MVティーザー映像公開。MVは12/2 22時プレミア公開決定". Skream! (in Japanese). Geki-Rock. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  23. ^ ひろがれ！いろとりどり [@nhk_irotoridori] (October 21, 2021). "テーマソング #ツバメ / #ざわざわえんのがんぺーちゃん / バージョン公開‼️" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "YOASOBI、"ミドリーズ"による「ツバメ」ダンス映像フル・バージョンが公開。明日10/26 24時からの"YOASOBIのオールナイトニッポンX"にて英語版第4弾「Blue」初OA". Skream! (in Japanese). Geki-Rock. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  25. ^ "YOASOBIが「SONGS」で語る紅白の舞台裏、ミドリーズとの初共演も実現". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "宮本浩次、水森かおり、YOASOBI、細川たかし「紅白歌合戦」特別企画で日本のカラフルな姿届ける". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  27. ^ Yoasobi (2021). The Book 2 (booklets). Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
  28. ^ Ayase / YOASOBI (December 2, 2021). 「ツバメ」/ YOASOBI with ミドリーズ Official Music Video (video). Yoasobi. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ YOASOBI (October 25, 2021). "Tsubame (feat. midories) - Single". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

External links[]

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