Yū (song)
| "Yū" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Shizuka Kudo | ||||
| Released | June 5, 1996 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:54 | |||
| Label | Pony Canyon | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Shizuka Kudo singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
"Yū" | ||||
"Yū" (優, lit. "Gentle") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo, released as a single through Pony Canyon on June 5, 1996. It featured as the theme song on the ninth and penultimate installment of the Gokudō no Onna-tachi Yakuza film series, Gokudō no Onna-tachi: Kiken na Kake (1996),[1] starring Kudo herself.[2]
The coupling song "Luna (Tsuki no Megami)", which was first included on Kudo's album, Doing, a month prior, is the theme song to the film Bakusō! Moon Angel: Kita e (1996), starring Kudo as a female truck driver in her first cinematic role since Future Memories: Last Christmas.[3] The song was recut as a B-side to "Yū" to promote the film.
"Yū" is the third and last in a consecutive trilogy of singles with one-character titles: "Yū" is preceded by "Chō" and "7".
Background[edit]
"Yū" is a ballad co-written by Kudo, under the pseudonym Aeri,[4] and Hideya Nagazaki. It is written in the key of C-sharp minor and set to a tempo of 70 beats per minute.[5] Kudo's vocals span one octave, from B3 to B4. The song represents Kudo's heartfelt ode to her mother.[6] Lyrically, it describes the strength of a mother and the greatness she brings to the narrator's life.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
Kudo sings about needing her love and wanting to learn the workings of her mother's heart.[6] Kudo was praised for her emotional vocal performance.[6] TV personality Ayako Nishikawa has listed the song as one of her personal favorites.
Chart performance[edit]
The single debuted at number 26 on the Oricon Singles Chart with 20,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming Kudo's first single to peak outside of the top 20.[7] It stayed in the top 100 for a total of seven weeks.[8]
Track listing[edit]
All lyrics are written by Aeri
| No. | Title | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yū" (優, "Gentle") |
|
| 4:54 |
| 2. | "Luna (Tsuki no Megami)" (ルナ -月の女神-, Runa, "Luna (Moon Goddess)") |
| 4:48 | |
| 3. | "Yū" (Original Karaoke) |
|
| 4:54 |
| Total length: | 14:36 | |||
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[9] | 26 | 73,000[8] |
References[edit]
- ^ "優 (工藤静香) 音楽ダウンロードはドワンゴジェイピー". Dwango. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "極道の妻（おんな）たち 危険な賭け". Natalie. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "未来の想い出 Last Christmas". MovieWalker. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "工藤静香25周年アルバムBOXが発売". Musicman. October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "優 楽譜:メロディ譜 工藤 静香". @Elise. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "工藤静香 / Shizuka Kudo 20th Anniversary the Best [2CD]". CDJournal. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "1987.08.31 工藤静香 アイドル・ポップ・データベース". Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ a b "工藤静香 - アーティスト別シングル売上補完". @wiki. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ "優 工藤静香". Oricon. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
