Free Planet

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"Free Planet"
Superfly Wildflower.jpg
"Wildflower" single cover
Song by Superfly
from the album Mind Travel
Language Japanese
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2010 (2010-09-08)
Recorded2010
Genre rock and roll
Length4:53
Label Warner Music Japan
Songwriter(s) Shiho Ochi, Kōichi Tabo
Producer(s) Kōichi Tsutaya

"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.

Contents

Background and development

In September 2009, Superfly released the act's second studio album Box Emotions , their second release in a row to reach number one on Oricon's album chart. [1] This was followed by a single, "Dancing on the Fire", Superfly's second upbeat dance song to be used in commercials for Canon's Digital IXUS range of cameras. [2]

On June 18, Superfly released the song "Tamashii Revolution", a song used as the theme song of the NHK broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, played during relay clips and highlight shows. [3] It became one of Superfly's biggest commercial successes, eventually becoming certified platinum twice by the RIAJ. [4] [5] In July, Superfly's song "Wildflower" started airing as the theme song for the drama Boss. [6]

The single's jacket features vocalist Shiho Ochi holding a different object representing each song on the single: a dahlia flower for "Wildflower", a djembe drum for "Tamashii Revolution", a globe for "Free Planet" and on the back cover a rainbow for "Roll Over the Rainbow".[ citation needed ]

The song was written as a message song by vocalist Shiho Ochi, about how if a person does not make any barriers, they can go anywhere. [7] It was recorded in a live take, with musicians such as drummer Tatsuya Nakamura and former Tokyo Jihen member Mikio Hirama. [8] [9]

Promotion and release

"Free Planet" was one of the four tracks found on the "Wildflower" single, a special release commemorating Superfly's 10th single since their debut. [10] Each song featured a different style of rock, and a different commercial tie-up. [8] The single came packaged with Cover Songs: Best 'Track 3', a compilation album compiling Superfly's English language cover songs that were featured on the B-sides of her singles. [8]

The song was used in commercials for Sony Ericsson phones in 2010, including the Bravia Phone S004, and was specifically written for the commercial. [8] As one of the four A-sides of the "Wildflower" single and Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3' set, it reached number one on the Oricon albums chart in 2010. [11] [12]

The song was later featured on the album Mind Travel (2011). It was first performed live during Rock'N'Roll Muncher, a special live with a group called the Lemon Bats formed by Superfly in November 2010. The performance was featured on the DVD of the "Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine" single in March 2011. [13] The song was performed again during the Mind Travel Release Commemorative Free Live at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse on June 15, 2011, footage of which was shown on the "Ai o Kurae" (2011) single's DVD. The song was performed during Superfly's 2011 arena tour Shout in the Rainbow!!, and during the Live Force tour in 2012.

Music video

A music video was released for the song, directed by Shuichi Banba. [14] It is made up of recording studio footage, altered to look like a video taken in the 1960s, with additional effects such as lasers, pencil-drawn triangle art and space imagery.

Critical reception

CDJournal reviewers felt the song's simple beat created a "striking" rock'n' roll-style song. They praised Ochi's "refreshing", "attacking" and varying vocals, in particular the chorus. Many of the instruments were also praised, including the "dancing" guitars and hammond organ, however Tatsuya Nakamura's drums were singled out as "wild and tight", and what pull the song together. The reviewers further noted the contrasting of long tone melodies were a fun part of the song. [15] [16] [17]

Track listing

"Wildflower" single
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Wildflower"Shiho OchiKōichi TaboKōichi Tsutaya, K. Tabo4:26
2."Tamashii Revolution" (タマシイレボリューションTamashii Reboryūshon)S. OchiS. OchiK. Tsutaya3:46
3."Free Planet"S. OchiK. TaboK. Tsutaya, K. Tabo3:23
4."Roll Over the Rainbow"S. Ochi, JamK. TaboK. Tsutaya, K. Tabo4:53
Total length:16:26

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from the liner notes booklet of Mind Travel. [9]

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing Label
Japan September 7, 2010 [18] digital download Warner Music Japan

Related Research Articles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildflower (Superfly song)</span> 2010 single by Superfly

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamashii Revolution</span> 2010 song by Superfly

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii</span> 2009 single by Superfly

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beep!!</span> 2011 single by Superfly

"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).

<i>Mind Travel</i> 2011 studio album by Superfly

Mind Travel is the third studio album by Japanese pop-rock band Superfly, the first studio album from the group fronted by Shiho Ochi in nearly two years. The record features guest musicians from Beat Crusaders, Losalios, and Mo'Some Tonebender, and the limited edition version of the album includes a DVD with 10 music videos from songs on the album. The album will be supported by Superfly's "Mind Traveler" national tour.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ai o Komete Hanataba o</span> 2008 single by Superfly

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ai o Kurae</span> 2011 single by Superfly

"Ai o Kurae" is the 14th single by Japanese rock band Superfly and the first single released after the band's "Mind Traveller" tour. Both of the song's two tracks are used as theme music for the 2011 film adaptation of the manga Smuggler. The DVD edition of the single features footage of Superfly's live concert at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse which was to promote the release of the band's third album Mind Travel. Superfly has stated that "Ai o Kurae" is a return to the band's old style. It ultimately peaked at number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Charts, the highest ranking on the Oricon Singles Chart yet for Superfly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Best of My Life</span> 2009 single by Superfly

"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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasashii Kimochi de</span> 2009 single by Superfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine Sunshine</span> 2011 single by Superfly

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<i>Coupling Songs: Side B</i> 2015 compilation album by Superfly

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References

  1. ↑ "Superfly、1stから2作連続首位 女性ソロ6年ぶり快挙". Oricon (in Japanese). September 8, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Superfly早くも新作！恒例カバーはキャロル・キングのあの曲" (in Japanese). Natalie. October 2, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "18:10～「MUSIC JAPAN」出演決定！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  4. ↑ レコード協会調べ 7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  5. ↑ レコード協会調べ 6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 20, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Superfly新曲「Wildflower」で視聴率女王とタッグふたたび". Natalie. June 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ Tomoko Imai (August 20, 2010). "Superflyナタリー初登場！濃厚シングル＆カバー集を解剖". Natalie. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Superfly、最新シングルは新曲＆洋楽カバーの全19曲". Barks. July 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Mind Travel (Media notes) (in Japanese). Superfly. Tokyo, Japan: Victor Music Japan. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ "Superfly洋楽カバーベストにクハラ、SOILメンバー参加". Natalie. July 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Superfly、ベスト盤に収録される新曲「Bi-Li-Li Emotion」のMVを公開" [Music video for Superfly's new song "Bi-Li-Li Emotion" from her best album released.] (in Japanese). Rockin' On. September 3, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ Superfly、1stから3作連続アルバム首位 中島美嘉以来6年10ヶ月ぶり快挙 (in Japanese). Oricon. September 7, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "「Beep!! / Sunshine Sunshine」初回特典DVD収録内容、カップリング曲決定！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. January 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Free Planet" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Superfly / Wildflower&Cover Songs:Complete Best'TRACK 3' [デジパック仕様][3CD][限定]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Superfly / Mind Travel [デジパック仕様][CD+DVD][限定]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Superfly / Superfly BEST [デジパック仕様][2CD]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Free Planet - Single" (in Japanese). Apple. September 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
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