Back to the Pops

Last updated
Back to the Pops
Glay Back To The Pops.jpg
Studio album by
Glay
Released9 October 2024
Length65:49
Label Pony Canyon
Glay chronology
Freedom Only
(2021)		Back to the Pops
(2024)

Back to the Pops is the seventeenth studio album by Japanese rock band Glay, released on 9 October 2024 via Pony Canyon. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

It features guest performances by Pierre Nakano (drums on tracks 1 and 12), Shinya Kiyozuka (piano on 12), Koharu (Charan-Po-Rantan, arrangement on 14), HIDE (GRe4N BOYZ, chorus on 14), and Ryota Yamasato (Nankai Candies, spoken words on 14). [1] [2] [3] [4]

To commemorate the album's release, a short drama titled GLAY Back to the Pops 'Albumovie', directed by Michihiko Yanai and starring Tokio Emoto and Emi Takei, was released. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Background and production

According to guitarists Takuro (also main songwriter) and Hisashi, the album marks their "debut" for their 30th year as a band and it was conceived with GLAY's take on pop music from various angles. [1] [2] [3] [4] In interviews, both members stated that unlike more later albums, debut albums typically reflect the immediate concerns of young musicians, so the band deliberately focused on such topics instead of touching more "grown up" matters as they had been doing for the past decades. [9] [10] Takuro also said he feels "proud of the J-ROCK and J-POP I've listened to and created, and I feel a responsibility and mission to pass that on to the next generation". [11]

Regarding the title Back to the Pops, vocalist Teru said it was more like a keyword between members to guide the songs. [12] After three months trying to decide on a track order, the quartet simply did a draw, which can be seen in a bonus video. Takuro commented that such process would fit the age of streaming. [9] [1] [2] [3] [4]

Commercial reception

Oricon

In the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking, the album debuted at #1 with 25,773 copies sold in its first week. It marked GLAY's 17th album to reach the top spot. [13] In the Digital Albums category, it also ranked first with 1,594 downloads in its debut week, becoming the band's second digital chart-topper. [14] Furthermore, it topped the Combined Albums chart as well, with a total of 28,016 points, marking their third number one in this category. [15]

Billboard Japan

On Billboard Japan 's “Hot Albums” chart published on October 16, 2024 (tracking period: October 7–13), the album ranked first overall with 17,358 physical sales and 1,525 downloads. This marked their third time topping the chart, following Summerdelics (2017) and the compilation Review II: Best of GLAY (2020). [16]

In the Billboard Japan Weekly Album Sales chart (Top Albums Sales), it also debuted at number one with 17,358 copies sold. This was GLAY’s first number one on this chart in approximately four years and seven months, since Review II: Best of GLAY. As for original albums, it was their first number one since No Democracy (2019). [17]

The album topped Billboard Japan's Download Albums chart (tracking period: October 7–13, 2024), with 1,525 downloads. [18]

Other

On January 9, 2025, the album was selected in the "Red" category at the 17th CD Shop Awards 2025. [19] [20] [21]

Track listing

Back to the Pops track listing
No.TitleTranslationLength
1."Romance Rose" 3:51
2."Buddy" 4:49
3."Shea (シェア)"Share4:51
4."Sayonara wa Yasashiku (さよならはやさしく)"Farewell Is Gentle4:42
5."Kaishin no Ichigeki (会心ノ一撃)"A Critical Hit3:46
6."Kaikyō no Machi nite (海峡の街にて)"In the Strait Town6:12
7."Brighten Up" 4:03
8."V." 2:55
9."Beautiful Like You" 6:07
10."whodunit" 4:28
11."Sono Koi wa Kirei na Katachi o Shiteinai (その恋は綺麗な形をしていない)"That Love Doesn't Have a Beautiful Shape4:29
12."Nante Yaban ni ECSTASY (なんて野蛮にECSTASY)"How Savage, Ecstasy5:56
13."Sharuro (シャルロ)"Charlo3:33
14."Back Home With Mrs.Snowman" 6:07
Total length:65:49

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "17th Album 『Back To The Pops』 to be released on October 9!". GLAY Official Site. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Details revealed for GLAY's new album, featuring Pierre Nakano, Shinya Kiyozuka, Ryota Yamasato, and more". Natalie . Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "GLAY announces first album in three years, "Back To The Pops": "A proper debut album for GLAY's 30th anniversary"". BARKS. Retrieved 2024-10-07.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 "GLAY confirms release of 17th album! TAKURO: "A proper debut album for GLAY's 30th year"". Pony Canyon. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  5. ↑ "Short drama featuring Tokio Emoto & Emi Takei journeys through time with GLAY's latest album". GLAY Official Site. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  6. ↑ "Travel back 30 years with GLAY's music: drama starring Tokio Emoto & Emi Takei commemorates new album "Back To The Pops"". Natalie Music. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  7. ↑ "GLAY releases short drama tied to new album "Back To The Pops"". BARKS. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  8. ↑ "GLAY unveils short drama with Tokio Emoto & Emi Takei for new album release". Pony Canyon. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  9. 1 2 "Vol.113 TAKURO Interview". GLAY Official Site. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  10. ↑ "Vol.116 HISASHI Interview". GLAY Official Site. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  11. ↑ "GLAY特 - TAKURO & JIROソロインタビューで紐解くニューアルバム「Back To The Pops」 (2/4)". Natalie. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  12. ↑ "GLAY to release 17th album 'Back To The Pops': TERU talks about creating music in his hometown Hakodate, 'GLAY wouldn't have been born in a big city'". Oricon. 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  13. ↑ "GLAY、3年ぶり通算17作目のアルバム1位 今年デビュー30周年【オリコンランキング】". オリコン. 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  14. ↑ "GLAY, latest album "Back To The Pops" achieves simultaneous No. 1 on CD and digital charts". CD Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  15. ↑ "GLAY tops Combined Albums chart for the third time, celebrating their 30th anniversary". Oricon. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  16. ↑ "【ビルボード】GLAY『Back To The Pops』総合アルバム首位　IVE『ALIVE』が2位に上昇". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  17. ↑ "【ビルボード】GLAY『Back To The Pops』で自身約4年7か月ぶりアルバム・セールス首位". Billboard JAPAN. 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  18. ↑ "【ビルボード】GLAY『Back To The Pops』がDLアルバム初登場1位、和楽器バンドが続く". Billboard JAPAN. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  19. ↑ ""Back To The Pops" wins at 17th CD Shop Awards 2025". GLAY Official Site. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  20. ↑ "CD Shop Awards Overview and Voting". All-Japan CD Shop Clerks Union. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  21. ↑ "CD Shop Awards honor Ringo Sheena, XG, Ado, BUMP, Mariya Takeuchi, THE YELLOW MONKEY, GLAY, and Satoko Shibata". Natalie Music. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
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