Flash (Perfume song)

Last updated
"Flash"
PerfumeFlash.jpg
Promotional single by Perfume
from the album Cosmic Explorer
ReleasedMarch 16, 2016
Genre J-pop, EDM
Length4:36
Label
Producer(s) Yasutaka Nakata
Perfume singles chronology
"Star Train"
(2015)
"Flash"
(2016)
"Tokyo Girl"
(2017)

"Flash" (stylized as "FLASH") is a single by Perfume, released on March 16, 2016. It is the fifth single from their fifth studio album Cosmic Explorer . The single reached first place in the real-time ranking of iTunes with 200,000+ downloads. [1] It is also the band's highest selling single since "Love the World".

Contents

The single was used as the theme song for the live action adapted film Chihayafuru . [2]

Background

The single was sold digitally on iTunes, Recochoku, A! MUSIC and other music streaming sites. [3] The digital jacket for it was drawn by Yuki Suetsugu. [4] It was also included on the Cosmic Explorer album and was re-arranged. For the album's first limited edition, the original single edit and the instrumental came as a separate CD and the music video was included on the bonus Blu-ray/DVD. [5] [3]

The choreography for the song contains martial arts and Tai chi elements. [6]

Music video

The song also has a music video for it on YouTube with some CGI. [7] It is their most watched video on YouTube with more than 60 million views. The music video is directed by Yusuke Tanaka based on the credits on the Cosmic Explorer album.

Synopsis

The video starts with the girls in a light and shadow projected room. The video randomly switches scenes from one member to all members dancing throughout the video. The drop before the second verse shows the girls walking to each other, walking in circles. When entering the second verse, the girls put their hands out one by one, holding each other before the pre-chorus, and back to circling again. The first hall of the bridge shows them dancing in slow motion. Going into the final chorus, the scenes with them dancing with the LED light sabers which are operated by their technology team, Rhizomatiks. [8] The video ends with the girls doing the signature pose.

Chart

YearChartPeak position
2016Billboard Japan Hot 1002 [9]

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [10] Platinum250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfume (Japanese band)</span> Japanese pop girl group

Perfume is a Japanese pop girl group from Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, consisting of Ayano Omoto ("Nocchi"), Yuka Kashino ("KASHIYUKA") and Ayaka Nishiwaki ("a-chan"). The group has been signed with Amuse, Inc. since 2003 and with Universal Music Group since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caramelldansen</span> 2001 song by Caramell

"Caramelldansen" is the first track from Swedish music group Caramell's second and final album Supergott released on 16 November 2001. It became an Internet meme in the mid-2000s after a sped-up version of the song was attached to a video loop from the Japanese visual novel Popotan, which went viral. This version of the song was officially released in 2006 in Sweden and Japan as "U-u-uma uma", the latter of which charted on Oricon. A virtual group called Caramella Girls was launched to promote the song, renditions in other languages, and other cover songs and original songs.

<i>Game</i> (Perfume album) 2008 studio album by Perfume

Game is the debut studio album by Japanese girl group Perfume. It was released on April 16, 2008 by Tokuma Japan Communications. Game marks Perfume's first studio album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata, while Perfume contributes to the album as the lead and background vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One (Ami Suzuki song)</span> 2008 single by Ami Suzuki

"One" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ami Suzuki for her seventh studio album, Supreme Show (2008). It was written and produced by Japanese producer and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The track is Suzuki's third single with Nakata after her August 2007 single's "Free Free" and "Super Music Maker". "One" premiered on June 18, 2008, as the lead single from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dream Fighter</span> 2008 single by Perfume

"Dream Fighter" is the 8th major single recorded by Japanese girl group Perfume for their second studio album, Triangle (2009). It was written, composed, arranged and produced by the Japanese musician and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The single included the B-side track, "Negai", of which a remix version appeared on the parent album. It was premiered on November 9, 2008, as the second single from the album in Japan. It was released on June 19, 2013, in European and Oceanic regions, and on June 25 in North America. Musically, "Dream Fighter" is an electropop song, influenced by dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Taxi</span> 2011 single by Girls Generation

"Mr. Taxi" is the first original Japanese song recorded by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. It was released as a double A-side single with the Japanese version of "Run Devil Run" on April 27, 2011, as the third single from the group's eponymous debut Japanese album. Composed by STY, Chad Royce and Scott Mann, with the Japanese lyrics written by STY and Korean lyrics written by Jung Hye-young, "Mr. Taxi" is an electropop and R&B song. A Korean version was later recorded and included on the group's third Korean studio album The Boys, and was released as the album's second single in December 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser Beam</span> 2011 single by Perfume

"Laser Beam" is a song recorded by the Japanese girl group Perfume for their third studio album, JPN (2011). It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The single also included the A-side track "Kasuka na Kaori", which appeared on the parent album. Originally scheduled for an 20 April 2011 release, it was postponed due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami disaster. As a result, they both premiered on 18 May 2011 as the fourth single from the album in Japan. Musically, "Laser Beam" is an electronic song, influenced by 8-bit music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spice (song)</span> 2021 single by Perfume

"Spice" is a song recorded by Japanese girl group Perfume for their third studio album, JPN (2011). It premiered on November 2, 2011 as the fifth and final single from the album in Japan. It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The single also included the B-side track "Glitter", which appeared on the parent album. It was also released on June 19, 2013 through European and Oceanic regions, and June 25 in North America. Musically, "Spice" is a house song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring of Life (song)</span> 2012 single by Perfume

"Spring of Life" is a song by Japanese girl group Perfume from their fourth studio album Level3 (2013). The song was released as the album's lead single on 11 April 2012. It was written, composed and produced by Yasutaka Nakata. The song is a dance track, which features instrumentation from synthesizers and keyboards. "Spring of Life" is the group's first offering after departing from Tokuma Japan Communications and signing with Universal Music Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirai no Museum</span> 2013 single by Perfume

"Mirai no Museum" is a song by Japanese girl group Perfume from their fourth studio album Level 3 (2013). The song was released as the album's third single on 27 February 2013. It was written, composed and produced by Yasutaka Nakata. The song is a dance pop track, which features instrumentation from synthesizers and keyboards. The track is translated to "Future Museum" and was used as the theme song for the Doraemon film, Nobita no Himitsu Dougu Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic of Love (song)</span> 2013 song by Perfume

"Magic of Love" is a song by Japanese girl group Perfume from their fourth studio album Level 3 (2013). The song was released as the album's fourth and final single on 22 May 2013. It was written, composed and produced by Yasutaka Nakata. The song is a calm and mellow dance-pop and synthpop track, which features instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Refrain</span> 2013 single by Perfume

"Sweet Refrain" is a song by Japanese girl group Perfume, the first single released for their fifth studio album Cosmic Explorer. The song was produced and written by longtime collaborator Yasutaka Nakata. Unlike the group's previous efforts, the song introduces different elements of dance-pop and dubstep. The single was released both physically and digitally on November 27, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babymetal / Kiba of Akiba</span> 2012 single by Babymetal and Kiba of Akiba

"Babymetal / Kiba of Akiba" is a joint single by Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal and otailish death pop band Kiba of Akiba. The single was first released in Japan on March 7, 2012 to promote the album Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo: Friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimme Chocolate!!</span> 2015 single by Babymetal

"Gimme Chocolate!!" is a song by the Japanese kawaii metal band Babymetal from their self-titled debut album. Though it was not released as a single in Japan, the song became an international success, with its music video gaining over 180 million views on YouTube. Later, it was released via earMusic in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2015 as a digital single.

<i>Cosmic Explorer</i> 2016 studio album by Perfume

Cosmic Explorer is the fifth studio album by Japanese girl group Perfume. It was released on April 6, 2016 by Universal Music Japan, Universal J, and Perfume Records. It is Perfume's fifth consecutive album to be fully produced, written, composed, and arranged by Japanese musician and Capsule band member Yasutaka Nakata. Five different formats were released to promote the album: a standalone CD, a double CD and DVD/Blu-ray box set, a digital release and a double disc vinyl, where the first disc is blue and the second disc could be orange, pink or yellow. The vinyls were available for purchase at Perfume: A Gallery Experience Supported by Rhizomatiks in London and NY.

"575" is a song recorded by Japanese recording girl group Perfume for their third studio album, JPN (2011). It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The song was included as a B-side track for the group's single, "Voice". It was also released exclusively to Uta stores in Japan on July 14, 2010. Musically, "575" was described as a mellow Japanese pop song. It marks the first time that the group perform in a rap structure, delivered after the first chorus. The song's title, and the structure of its verses, derives from the structure of haiku, a Japanese style of poetry which comprises a 5-syllable line, a 7-syllable line, and then another 5-syllable line.

"Glitter" is a song recorded by Japanese recording girl group Perfume for their third studio album, JPN (2011). It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata. The song was included as a B-side track for the group's single, "Spice". Musically, "Glitter" was described as a technopop song, influenced by dance music. Two versions were released; the original composition, and the remix that appeared on the parent album. It has appeared as the theme song for one commercial and television series in Japan.

"Karate" is a song by the Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal from their second studio album, Metal Resistance. The song was released to active rock radio as an airplay-only single in the United States on February 26, 2016.

"Next Stage with You" is a song recorded by Japanese girl group Perfume. It was released as the group's first promotional single by Universal Music Japan and the group's self-titled subsidiary label in November 2015 from their fifth studio album Cosmic Explorer. It was fully written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician and the group's primary collaborator Yasutaka Nakata. Musically, "Next Stage with You" was noted by critics as a return to the group's previous music releases such as Game and Triangle, incorporating elements of electropop and dance music, and features instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards.

"Dance with Me Now!" is a song recorded and performed by Japanese musical unit E-girls. It was released by Rhythm Zone and Avex Music Creative Inc. on February 10, 2016 as a promotional single to their first greatest hits album, E.G. Smile: E-girls Best (2016). The concept for the single was to emphasize a cooler, sexier and edgier image than their previous singles, which was then later developed and included onto the band's fourth studio and concept album, E.G. Crazy (2017).

References

  1. "Flash won first place on iTunes (In Japanese)". Twitter. 18 March 2016.
  2. "Perfume in charged of a theme song for Chihayafu". Billboard Japan. 7 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Cosmic Explorer Released Announcement". Perfume Official Site. 6 April 2016.
  4. "『ちはやふる』原作者・末次由紀氏がPerfume描く 主題歌「FLASH」ジャケット". Oricon News. 7 March 2016.
  5. "Perfume - Cosmic Explorer Limited Edition [2CD + Bonus DVD]". CDJapan. April 6, 2016.
  6. "Perfume talk about their upcoming US tour, working with OK Go and having fun on stage". hello asia!. July 20, 2016.
  7. "Perfume 新曲「FLASH」MVが完成、コンセプトは"カンフーダンス"". Billboard Japan. 25 March 2016.
  8. "LED Light Sabers". Perfume Global Lab. March 2016.
  9. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 on 13th April". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 13 April 2016.
  10. "Japanese digital single certifications – Perfume – Flash" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 2017年1月 on the drop-down menu

External