A or B

Last updated
"A or B"
A or B Cover Art.png
Single by Mika Nakashima
ReleasedOctober 25, 2017 (2017-10-25)
Genre
Length5:19
Label Sony Music Associated Records
Songwriter(s)
  • Jam Note
Mika Nakashima singles chronology
"Happy Life"
(2017)		"A or B"
(2017)		"Kiss of Death"
(2018)
Audio sample

"A or B" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mika Nakashima. It was released as a single by Sony Music Associated Records on October 25, 2017. [1] It was written and composed by Jam Note and arranged by Manaboon. [2] The limited edition of the CD single comes with a DVD including the music video for "A or B" and its making-of. [3] "A or B" was used in televised commercials for Kao's liquid fabric softener "Flair Fragrance", starring actress Satomi Ishihara. [3]

Contents

Background

"A or B" is the first single by Nakashima since the release of her eighth studio album, Tough , [3] and was released two months following the release of her cover album, Roots: Piano & Voice . [3] The single's artwork depicts Nakashima on a white swing in front of a soft pink backdrop. The limited edition artwork has Nakashima in a similar position against a dark gray backdrop. The dueling visuals are meant to represent Nakashima swinging between options "A" and "B"; imagined here as the "rain" and "shine" dispositions of a woman in love. [3]

Critical reception

"A or B" is a light soulful pop song, following in the same vein as her previous single "Koi o Suru". [4] CDJournal praised Nakashima for her "unstrained and pleasant-sounding" vocal performance. [4] CDJournal critics noted that with her last two singles, Nakashima has been successfully shedding her "diva" image. [4]

Chart performance

"A or B" debuted at number 38 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart. [5] The single charted for two consecutive weeks and sold a reported total of 2,000 copies. [6] The song also charted on Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales charts, also ranking at number 38. [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."A or B"
  • Jam Note
  • Manaboon
5:19
2."Happy Life" (Mika Nakashima and Salyu)
  • Kobayashi
3:45
3."A or B" (Instrumental)
  • Jam Note
  • Manaboon
5:16
Total length:14:20
Limited Edition DVD [8]
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."A or B" (Music Video)Takashi Tadokoro 
2."A or B" (Making)  

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position		Sales
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon) [9] 382,000 [6]
Japan Top Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [7] 38

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References

  1. ↑ "中島美嘉、ニューシングル「A or B」10月25日発売＆花王フレアフレグランスCMソングに起用決定！". T-Site . September 15, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ "中島美嘉、10月発売のシングル「A or B」のアートワークを公開". CDJournal. September 15, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "中島美嘉、揺れ動く恋心を歌ったCMソングをシングルリリース". Natalie . September 15, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "中島美嘉 / A or B - CDJournal". CDJournal. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ "【周榜单】2017/11/06付" . Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon . Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales". Billboard . Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ "A or B･中島 美嘉 Sony Music Shop". Sony Music Entertainment . Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  9. ↑ "A or B(初回生産限定盤) 中島美嘉". Oricon . Retrieved February 12, 2018.
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