| Coupling Songs: 'Side B' | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The cover of "Kuroi Shizuku" and Coupling Songs: 'Side B' | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | December 2, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2007—2014 | |||
| Genre | Pop, rock | |||
| Length | 59:10 | |||
| Label | Warner Music Japan | |||
| Superfly chronology | ||||
| ||||
Coupling Songs: 'Side B' is a compilation album by Japanese musical unit Superfly. Released on December 2, 2015, the album was packaged as a 2-CD set with Superfly's single "Kuroi Shizuku", and compiles Superfly's original B-sides released between 2007 and 2014.
Superfly debuted as a musical group in 2007, with the single "Hello Hello". Originally a two-member group consisting of vocalist Shiho Ochi and guitarist/producer Kōichi Tabo, until the band's third single "I Spy I Spy" (2007), when Tabo withdrew from the band's line-up to act as a behind-the-scenes member of the project. In 2008, Superfly gained national recognition with the song "Ai o Komete Hanataba o" (2008). Used as the drama Edison no Haha's theme song, the song was a great commercial success, certified for one million paid downloads in 2014 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. [1] In 2010, Superfly released "Wildflower" & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3' , a two-CD compilation to commemorate the band's 10th physically released single. The collection featured a four-track original single led by the song "Wildflower", used as a theme song for the Fuji TV drama Gold , as well as a compilation of all of the B-sides of Western cover songs Superfly had released between 2007 and 2009. [2] The two-CD set was a commercial success, debuting at number one on Oricon's weekly albums chart, [3] and receiving a Platinum certification. [4]
In May 2015, the fifth original album by Superfly was released, White . Taking a year to write, the album was partially recorded in Los Angeles, when vocalist Shiho Ochi traveled there to collaborate with Chris Cester, the former lead singer of Australian Jet. [5] [6] Superfly worked together with American songwriters Jason Hill and Bonnie McKee, as well as Japanese singer-songwriter Bonnie Pink and the poet Bin Sugawara. [5] The album was promoted primarily with the song "Beautiful", which Ochi wrote for the Mother Game: Kanojo-tachi no Kaikyū. Released digitally on May 8, [7] the song was a commercial success, certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. [8] From July 4 to December 14, Superfly performed a 39 date tour of Japan, entitled the White Tour. [9] Part way through the tour, Superfly released McKee's contribution to the album "On Your Side" as a post-album single, featuring two compositions recorded for White that did not make the album's final cut. [10]
Coupling Songs: 'Side B' compiles original B-sides released on Superfly's 19 physical singles released between 2007's "Hello Hello" and 2014's "Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde", [11] including two songs which had been compiled onto original albums, "Ai to Kansha" on Superfly (2008) and "You You" on White (2015).
Many of the compositions had been written as homages to Western musicians from the 1960s and 1970s, such as "Kodoku no Hyena", which attempted to recreate the blues styles of Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon and Santana. [11] "Rescue Me" and "You You" were inspired by The Rolling Stones, with "You You" being written as a 2014 version of their song "Sympathy for the Devil" (1968), after vocalist Shiho Ochi attended the Rolling Stones' 2014 concert in Japan. [11] "I My Me Mine Mine"'s live performance-style arrangement was meant to emulate the sound of British beat bands such as The Who and The Kinks. [11]
Many of the songs were linked to the leading tracks of the singles they were featured on. "Perfect Lie" was featured on the "How Do I Survive?" (2008) single, because the group felt its "girly" sound would contrast well with the "strong" sound of "How Do I Survive?". [11] "I My Me Mine Mine" was an 'image song' used in commercials and promotional activities for the film Smuggler: Omae no Mirai o Hakobe (2011), while the single's leading track "Ai o Kurae" served as the same film's theme song. [12] "Mangekyō to Chō" had the same relationship to Superfly's song "Live" (2014), as the songs were used as the promotional and theme songs for the film Ushijima the Loan Shark 2 (2014) respectively. [13] Two exceptions are "Owarinaki Game" and "Tōmei Ningen" from "Force" (2012), which were songs recorded during sessions for Superfly's same-titled album Force (2012) but did not appear on the final track list. [14]
Coupling Songs: 'Side B' was released in two physical formats: a 2CD version alongside "Kuroi Shizuku" and a 2CD and DVD edition, also featuring a visual media disc showing Superfly's free live concert at Ōsaka-jō Nishinomaru Kōen in 2015 to commemorate the release of White. [15] [16] The collection's final track, "Ai o Komete Hanataba o (Piano Version)", was a recording originally released in March 2009. [11] After Ochi had received praise for her piano-backed performances of the song on the television programs Mezamashi TV and Bokura no Ongaku this version received an exclusively digital release, with no further plans at the time to release it onto CD. [17] [18]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kuroi Shizuku" (黒い雫, "Black Droplet") | Ochi, Jam | Ochi | Kōichi Tsutaya | 3:30 |
| 2. | "Shin Sekai e" (新世界へ, "To the New World") | Sally#Cinnamon | Ochi, Tsutaya | Tsutaya | 3:48 |
| 3. | "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Jake Hooker, Alan Merrill | Hooker, Merrill | Tsutaya | 3:39 |
| 4. | "Beautiful" (live from Superfly White Tour 2015 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum; 東京国際フォーラム, "Tokyo International Forum") | Sally#Cinnamon | Ochi, Tsutaya | Tsutaya | 5:48 |
| 5. | "On Your Side" (live from Superfly White Tour 2015 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum; 東京国際フォーラム, "Tokyo International Forum") | Ochi, Jam | Bonnie McKee, Michelle McCord | Tsutaya | 7:05 |
| Total length: | 23:50 | ||||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originating release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kodoku no Hyena" (孤独のハイエナ, "Lonely Hyena") | Shiho Ochi, Kōichi Tabo | "Hello Hello" (2007) | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Rin" (凛, "Cold") | Ochi, Tabo | "Manifesto" (2007) | 5:52 |
| 3. | "Ai to Kansha" (愛と感謝, "Love and Gratitude") | Ochi, Tabo | "Ai o Komete Hanataba o" (2008) | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Perfect Lie" | Ochi, Kōichi Tsutaya | "How Do I Survive?" (2008) | 3:56 |
| 5. | "Welcome to the Rockin' Show" | Tabo | "My Best of My Life" (2009) | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Rescue Me" | Ochi, Tabo | "Eyes on Me" (2010) | 4:09 |
| 7. | "Prima Donna" (プリマドンナPurimadonna) | Ochi, Tabo | "Eyes on Me" (2010) | 3:17 |
| 8. | "Different Ways" | Ochi | "Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine" (2010) | 3:40 |
| 9. | "I My Me Mine Mine" | Ochi | "Ai o Kurae" (2011) | 2:38 |
| 10. | "28" (Nijūhachi) | Ochi, Tabo | "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" / "The Bird Without Wings" (2010) | 4:16 |
| 11. | "Owarinaki Game" (終わりなきゲーム, "Endless Game") | Ochi, Tabo | "Force" (2012) | 3:53 |
| 12. | "Tōmei Ningen" (透明人間, "Invisible Man") | Ochi, Tabo | "Force" (2012) | 4:38 |
| 13. | "Mangekyō to Chō" (万華鏡と蝶, "The Kaleidoscope and the Butterfly") | Jam, Ochi | "Live" (2014) | 3:56 |
| 14. | "The Long Way Home" | Ochi, Jam, Tsutaya | "Live" (2014) | 5:03 |
| 15. | "You You" | Ochi, Jam, Tsutaya | "Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde" (2014) | 4:40 |
| 16. | "Closet" (クローゼットKurōzetto) | Ochi, Jam, Tsutaya | "Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde" (2014) | 5:15 |
| 17. | "Ai o Komete Hanataba o (Piano Ver.)" (愛をこめて花束を, "Put Love in a Bouquet") | Ochi, Tabo, Junji Ishiwatari | 4:08 | |
| Total length: | 71:37 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "White Light" | 5:22 |
| 2. | "Tamashii Revolution" (タマシイレボリューション, "Soul Revolution") | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Alright!!" | 7:29 |
| 4. | "Ai o Komete Hanataba o" | 5:32 |
| 5. | "Bi-Li-Li Emotion" | 4:57 |
| 6. | "Manifesto" (マニフェストManifesuto) | 6:38 |
| 7. | "Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde" (愛をからだに吹き込んで, "Breathe Love Into Your Body") | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Beautiful" | 6:17 |
| 9. | "On Your Side" | 6:20 |
| 10. | "You You" | 7:20 |
| Total length: | 71:37 | |
All positions and sales refer to the album as a part of the "Kuroi Shizuku" & Coupling Songs: 'Side B' set.
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Oricon weekly albums [19] | 2 |
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales [20] | 73,000 |
| Region | Date | Format | Distributing Label | Catalog codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | December 2, 2015 [15] [21] | 2CD, 2CD/DVD, digital download (full-length) | Warner Music Japan | WPCL-12280/1, WPZL-31130/2 |
| December 19, 2015 [22] | Rental CD (2CD) | WPCL-12280/1 |
Superfly is a Japanese rock act that debuted on April 4, 2007. Formerly a duo, the act now consists solely of lyricist and vocalist Shiho Ochi with former guitarist Kōichi Tabo still credited as the group's composer and part-time lyricist. Superfly's first two studio albums were certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and their first four consecutive albums all debuted at the top of the Oricon Weekly Album Charts, a first for a female recording artist in Japan in over seven years.
"Wildflower" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Used as the theme song for the drama Gold, it was released as a single on September 1, 2010. The single release was packaged as "Wildflower" & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3', a four-song extended play featuring a cover album as a bonus disc.
"Tamashii Revolution" is a song by Japanese band Superfly. It was used as the theme song of the NHK broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, played during relay clips and highlight shows. It was released as a digital download in Japan on June 18, 2010, and was later included on Superfly's single and cover album release "Wildflower" & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3' in September 2010. An extended version of the song appears on Superfly's third studio album Mind Travel.
"Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Yasashii Kimochi de" in 2009, a month before Superfly's second studio album Box Emotions. An upbeat disco-inspired song that was a change in style from her previous sound, the song was used in commercials for Canon's Digital IXUS cameras in Japan.
"Beep!!" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Sunshine Sunshine" in 2011, and was used as the theme song for the Hiroshi Shinagawa film Manzai Gang (2011).
The discography of Japanese musical act Superfly consists of seven studio albums, four compilation albums, three extended plays, five video albums and thirty-four singles. Superfly began as a duo in 2003 by vocalist Shiho Ochi and guitarist Koichi Tabo; signing with Warner Music Japan in 2007. Tabo left the band in 2007 just before the release of their single "I Spy I Spy", finding it difficult to work as both the act's songwriter and guitarist. However, Tabo remained attached to Superfly, composing and producing songs for the unit until Superfly's single "Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde" (2014) and Superfly's fifth studio album White (2015), where Ochi collaborated with a range of songwriters instead.
"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 physical singles chart's top 20. As of 2011, it is Superfly's most successful single, being certified as a million ringtone download, triple platinum as a cellphone download, and single platinum for digital sales.
"My Best of My Life" is a song by Japanese rock act Superfly, the band's 7th single overall and the first released after the band's Rock'N'Roll Show 2008 tour. The song was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Boss, alongside a then untitled song the band performed as the opening theme. The show's producer Ken Murase decided to go with Superfly for his program's music because of Shiho Ochi's vocal range not only giving the rock music an edgy quality, but also tenderness and warmth. "My Best of My Life" is a ballad that Ochi wrote with the idea of a lonely woman in mind. The song reached the number 11 spot on the Oricon charts, while reaching number 3 on both the Japan Hot 100 and RIAJ Digital Track Chart.
Force is the fourth studio album by Japanese pop-rock unit Superfly. It was released on September 19, 2012. Force commemorates the group's fifth anniversary and was released in several formats, including a special fifth anniversary edition which includes a bonus CD, a vinyl version of the album, and a commemorative poster. Japanese convenience store Lawson will also exclusively sell a special edition of the album which includes a bonus DVD. On the iTunes Store, the album will be packaged with one bonus track, with a second reserved for those who pre-ordered the album.
"Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "The Bird Without Wings" on August 15, 2012. It was used as the theme song of the TBS drama Summer Rescue: Tenkū no Shinryōjo.
"Ai o Karada ni Fukikonde" is a song by Japanese pop-rock act Superfly. It was released as the group's 18th single on November 19, 2014.
"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.
"Sunshine Sunshine" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Written for a national radio campaign called Meet the Music, it was released as a double A-side single along with "Beep!!" in March 2011.
"White Light" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Used as the theme song for the Bandai Namco game Tales of Zestiria, it was released as a digital single and the leading track from Superfly's fifth studio album White on January 21, 2015.
"The Bird Without Wings" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" on August 15, 2012. It was used as the theme song for the film Ushijima the Loan Shark.
Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3' is an album by Japanese musical unit Superfly. Released September 1, 2010, the album was packaged as a 2-CD set with Superfly's single "Wildflower", and compiled Western classic rock songs found on Superfly's singles.
"Roll Over the Rainbow" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Released as one of the songs on "Wildflower" & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3', a four-song extended play featuring a cover album as a bonus disc in September 2010, it was used to promote the 2010 United States of Odaiba summer event, organised by Fuji Television.
"Free Planet" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Released as one of the songs on "Wildflower" & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3', a four-song extended play featuring a cover album as a bonus disc in September 2010, it was used in a high-profile commercial campaign for Sony Ericsson cellphones.
White is the fifth studio album by Japanese band Superfly. It was released on May 27, 2015.
"Kuroi Shizuku" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Used as the theme song for the Fuji Television medical drama Mutsū: Mieru Me, it was released as a digital single on November 18, 2015, and as a physical single on December 2 as "Kuroi Shizuku" & Coupling Songs: 'Side B', a five-song extended play packaged with a B-side compilation album as a bonus disc.