Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara

"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara"
Theater edition cover
Theater edition cover, featuring Chiho Ishida
Single by STU48
B-side
  • "Sunglasses Days" (Type A)
  • "Boku wa Kono Umi o Nagameteru" (Type B)
  • "Soshite Boku wa Boku Janaku Naru" (Theater)
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2021 (2021-02-17)
GenreJ-pop
LabelKing Records
Lyricist(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
STU48 singles chronology
"Omoidaseru Koi wo Shiyō"
(2020) 		"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara"
(2021) 		"Hetaretachi yo"
(2021)
Music video
"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" on YouTube
"Boku wa Kono Umi o Nagameteru" on YouTube

"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" (Japanese: 独り言で語るくらいなら, lit. 'Rather Than Talking to Myself') is the sixth single by Japanese idol group STU48, released on February 17, 2021. The title song features Chiho Ishida in her first lead performer role.

Production and release

Kamikamagari Island
Kamikamagari Island

The single was announced on January 15, 2021, during STU48's first Nippon Budokan concert, followed by the first live performance of the title song.[1] The song uses quadruple meter except for the chorus, during which it switches to triple meter.[2] The music video is the first one from STU48 to heavily utilize computer graphics along with outdoor scenes filmed on Kamikamagari Island in Kure, Hiroshima,[3] in contrast to the group's usual full location shootings at Setouchi region points of interest, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The choreography was created by Tomohiko Tsujimoto, who has choreographed several STU48 songs and envisioned a fantasy-like atmosphere for this music video, in which the performers meet their "alternate selves".[3][4]

"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" became the theme song for the 2021 animated short film Santa Company: Midsummer Merry Christmas (サンタ・カンパニー 〜真夏のメリークリスマス〜, Santa Kanpanī ~Manatsu no Merī Kurisumasu~), which was part of a Nippon Foundation campaign to raise awareness about marine debris. Members Marina Otani and Miyuna Kadowaki also served as voice actresses.[4][5][6]

The B-side song "Soshite Boku wa Boku Janaku Naru" (そして僕は僕じゃなくはる, lit. 'And I'm No Longer Me') was performed by the six members who appeared on the final stages of the third AKB48 Group No. 1 Singing Ability Contest in December 2020.[7][8] The Setouchi PR Unit, which members were elected using ballots included with the previous single, performed "Boku wa Kono Umi o Nagameteru" (僕はこの海を眺めてる, lit. 'I'm Looking at This Sea') led by top-voted member Miyuna Kadowaki.[9][10] "Sunglasses Days" was performed by all full members (excluding trainees).[11]

The single was released on February 17, 2021, in five versions: limited and regular editions of Types A and B and a Theater edition.[12]

Reception

"Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" sold 194,000 copies in its release week according to Billboard Japan[13] and placed second in both the Oricon Singles[14] and Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts.[15]

References

  1. ^ STU48 日本武道館へ出航！ 初の単独コンサート実現に「本当にうれしいです!」：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ. 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  2. ^ 日本経済新聞社・日経BP社 (24 March 2021). "STU48新シングル、四拍子と三拍子交錯 お風呂で練習｜エンタメ！｜NIKKEI STYLE". NIKKEI STYLE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  3. ^ a b STU48の6thシングル「独り言で語るくらいなら」MVは呉市ロケ＋CG！／広島県呉市 [STU48 6th single "Hitorigoto de Kataru Kurainara" music video was shot on location in Kure City + CG!]. 瀬戸内Finder. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  4. ^ a b STU48 6thシングル「独り言で語るくらいなら」MVをYouTube プレミア公開 | OKMusic. okmusic.jp. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  5. ^ サンタ・カンパニー 〜真夏のメリークリスマス〜. santa-company.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  6. ^ "Santa Company Gets New Anime With MyAnimeList Worldwide Debut on January 28". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  7. ^ 「AKB48グループ歌唱力No.1決定戦」加入1年 STU48研究生、池田裕楽が優勝. ドワンゴジェイピーnews. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  8. ^ 独り言で語るくらいなら＜劇場盤＞. キングレコードオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  9. ^ 瀬戸内STU48“広報精鋭部隊”選抜 ファン投票で7人決定「困っている飲食や観光業の助けに」. ENCOUNT (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  10. ^ 独り言で語るくらいなら 初回限定盤＜Type B＞(MAXI＋DVD複合). キングレコードオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  11. ^ 独り言で語るくらいなら 通常盤＜Type A＞(MAXI＋DVD複合). キングレコードオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  12. ^ STU48 6thシングル「独り言で語るくらいなら」. STU48 6thシングル「独り言で語るくらいなら」 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  13. ^ 【ビルボード】STU48「独り言で語るくらいなら」アニメ首位、Who-ya Extended『呪術廻戦』OPが初トップ10入り. Billboard Japan. February 24, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  14. ^ 2021年02月15日～2021年02月21日 オリコン週間 シングルランキング. ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  15. ^ 2021年02月15日～2021年02月21日 オリコン週間 シングルランキング. ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-02-25.