Players (Yoasobi song)

Last updated

"Players"
Yoasobi - Players.png
Single by Yoasobi
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
ReleasedMarch 21, 2025
Genre J-pop
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s) Ayase
Producer(s) Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"New Me"
(2024)		"Players"
(2025)		"Watch Me!"
(2025)
Music video
"Players" on YouTube
English version on YouTube

"Players" is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released as a single on March 21, 2025, through Echoes and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Based on "a game you want to erase your memory of and play again" stories collected from users via X hashtag #MemoryOfPlay, the song is used to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first PlayStation release.

Contents

Background and release

On December 3, 2024, Yoasobi and PlayStation announced a collaboration project to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the home video game console's first release, called Project: Memory Card. The duo would perform a song based on stories about "a game you want to erase your memory of and play again" to "save PlayStation memories in Yoasobi's song" submitted by users via X's hashtag #MemoryOfPlay until January 31, 2025. [1] [2] The duo and the game first teased the upcoming song via X on March 17, featuring the text "3.21", [3] before confirmed the next two day, titled "Players", to be available digitally on March 21. [4] The song is also used as a jingle on PlayStation's 30th anniversary commercial. [5] [6] The English version was released on May 23. [7]

Composition

"Players" is described as a pop track with electronic elements and four-on-the-floor beats, interspersed with PlayStation-esque video game sound. [8] [9] The lyrics feature repeated opening chant "Play on! You & me! Set on the legacy!" and chorus "Mō ikkai mō ikkai," [A] [9] and contain positive messages to some people in gloomy daily life who once have played PlayStation of giving a push in the real world and inspiring hopes for the future from the song's protagonists in the game world. [10] [9] The song featured uncredited chorus by current and former members of musical group Plusonica. [9]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Players", directed by Suzkikenta and Tsuribu Tokyo, and produced by Takemi Inagaki and Upcoming Imoto, premiered on April 17, 2025, at 20:00 JST. [11] The story begins with a man finding a memory card and use it to play on PlayStation, which he reminisces his childhood when he played the game console. The video features 30 video games created by 30 creators, paying homage to various old and new console games running on PlayStation. [12] [13]

Live performances

Yoasobi gave the debut performance of "Players" on April 5 and 6, 2025, at Echoes Baa, a part of Central Music & Entertainment Festival 2025, at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama. [14] On May 10, the performance of the first day was uploaded via the festival's YouTube channel, while the second day via the duo's channel. [15] The duo performed the song on the 2025 Music Awards Japan, held at Rohm Theatre Kyoto, where was staged as a "PlayStation-meets-sci-fi" and futuristic set, [16] [17] and included it on the setlist for the one-off concert at Wembley Arena, London, England, [18] and the Wandara Hall Tour, etc. [19]

Track listing

  1. "Players" – 3:21
  1. "Players" (English version) – 3:21

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Players"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100) [20] 51
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon) [21] 1

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Players"
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
VariousMarch 21, 2025Original [22]
May 23, 2025English [23]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: もう一回 もう一回, lit.  'one more time, one more time'; "Now retry, now retry" in English version
  2. ↑ Consisting of Emihono, Teno Kayamoto, Kuu, Sui, Hikaru Naruke, Kantarō, Tetsuto, Kosei Nishiyama, and Ryoem

References

  1. ↑ "プレイステーションがYOASOBIとコラボ。ユーザーの"記憶を消してもう一度やりたいゲーム"のエピソードを原作に新曲を制作【Project : MEMORY CARD】". Famitsu (in Japanese). December 3, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ↑ "YOASOBI、プレステとコラボ 楽曲の原作となる「記憶を消してもう一度やりたいゲームのエピソード」を募集". CDJournal (in Japanese). December 3, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ "プレイステーション×YOASOBI，30周年コラボ企画の楽曲を3月21日に公開か。みんなの"記憶を消してもう一度やりたいゲーム"が音楽に". 4Gamer (in Japanese). March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ "YOASOBI、PlayStation®︎30周年記念プロジェクト「Project: MEMORY CARD」コラボ楽曲「PLAYERS」配信決定". Barks (in Japanese). March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "【PlayStation®×YOASOBI】30周年記念楽曲「PLAYERS」を使用した30周年特別CMが本日公開". Digital PR Platform (in Japanese). March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ "YOASOBI、コラボ楽曲「PLAYERS」使用したPlayStation®30周年特別CMの123秒完全版が公開。声優として西野七瀬、兎田ぺこら、キヨ出演". Skream!. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ "YOASOBI「PLAYERS (English Version)」配信スタート! MVプレミア公開決定". The First Times (in Japanese). May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  8. ↑ Mori, Tomoyuki; Ishii, Eriko (March 28, 2025). "YOASOBI、JO1、Vaundy、Hey! Say! JUMP、SKY-HI、m-flo loves 鈴木真海子......注目新譜6作をレビュー". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Kiyomoto, Chihiro (April 2, 2025). "PlayStation®30周年特集「YOASOBIが"PLAYERS"に贈るゲーム賛歌」". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ "YOASOBI、PlayStationRの30周年記念書き下ろし新曲「PLAYERS」配信開始&特別CM公開". CDJournal (in Japanese). March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ "YOASOBI、PlayStation(R)30周年を記念して書き下ろした新曲「PLAYERS」の"ゲーム愛"溢れるMV公開". The First Times (in Japanese). April 17, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ Sekaisandaimiyōkawa (April 18, 2025). "YOASOBIのプレステ30周年記念曲『PLAYERS』のMVがゲームへのオマージュと愛情に溢れすぎ。『リッジ』『ぼくなつ』『パラッパ』『メタルギア』!? ゲーマー歓喜のMVは一見の価値アリ". Famitsu (in Japanese). Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ "YOASOBI新曲「PLAYERS」MVがゲーム愛に満ちててエモい! 『ぼくなつ』『MGS』『ICO』『パラッパラッパー』っぽいオマージュ詰め合わせ". Inside (in Japanese). April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "YOASOBI、新しい都市型フェスの2日目にトップバッターで出演". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ "YOASOBI 4月に横浜•赤レンガ倉庫で開催されたイベント"Echoes Baa"にて、ライブ初披露となった新曲「PLAYERS」のライブ映像をYouTube公開!". Entameclip (in Japanese). May 10, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  16. ↑ "YOASOBI、Creepy Nuts、ちゃんみな、宇多田ヒカル、矢沢永吉…多彩なステージが続々『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025』ライブパフォーマンス【前半】". Oricon (in Japanese). May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  17. ↑ Junaini, Hidzir (June 17, 2025). "Relive MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN through spectacular performance videos of CHANMINA, Fujii Kaze, YOASOBI & more". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  18. ↑ "YOASOBI、ヨーロッパ最大級の音楽フェスに出演＆自身初のロンドン・ワンマン公演2Daysを完走". CDJournal (in Japanese). June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ "YOASOBI初の国内ホールツアー「WANDARA」が熊本公演を皮切りに開幕 全40公演で新曲「Watch me!」などを披露". The TV (in Japanese). July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of April 2, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Singles: 2025-03-31" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ "PlayStation®の30周年を記念して書き下ろした新曲「PLAYERS」配信リリース! 楽曲を使用した30周年特別CMが本日公開". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). March 21, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  23. ↑ "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Grand Ceremonyにてパフォーマンスを行った、PlayStation®30周年記念プロジェクト「Project: MEMORY CARD」コラボ楽曲「PLAYERS」英語版を本日配信リリース!さらに、TVアニメ『ウィッチウォッチ』オープニングテーマ「Watch me!」英語版を5/30(金)に、2週連続配信リリース決定!". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). May 23, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
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