Mr. (Yoasobi song)

"Mr."
A circuit board with a red mechanical heart on the right-top corner
Single by Yoasobi
from the EP Hajimete no – EP and The Book 3
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedFebruary 16, 2022
GenreCity pop
Length3:07
LabelSony Japan
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Tsubame"
(2021) 		"Mr."
(2022) 		"Suki da"
(2022)
Music video
"Mr." on YouTube
English version on YouTube

"Mr." (ミスター, Misutā) is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi from their EPs, Hajimete no – EP and The Book 3 (2023). It was released on February 16, 2022, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, as the first single from the short story collection project Hajimete no. Written by Ayase and based on 159th Naoki Prize-winning Rio Shimamoto's short story Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha, the song is about the desire of an android for their owner. Commercially, "Mr." reached number 11 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 19 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.

Background and release

On December 1, 2021, the same day as the EP The Book 2 release, Yoasobi announced a collaboration with four Naoki Prize-winning novelists: Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori; for writing and singing songs based on the novelists' short stories under the theme of "a story to read when you first did". All four novels were published as a book, titled Hajimete no, on February 16, 2022.[1][2] With the theme "a story when you first fell in love", Shimamoto's story Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha (私だけの所有者, lit. "My only owner") is about a "first feeling" of android Boku towards their owner Mr. Naruse.[3]

On January 26, during their radio show Yoasobi's All Night Nippon X, the duo revealed the title of the song "Mr.", based on Shimamoto's story. They made a poll on Twitter for fans to guess the single's release date between February 16, 18, or 21.[4] On February 8, Yoasobi revealed the snippet at Fuji TV's morning show Mezamashi TV[5] and announced that the single would be released on February 16 to digital music and streaming platforms, alongside the teaser video. The full song was aired for the first time at the radio show hosted by the duo on the same day.[6] The single's cover artwork was designed by Tomoko Kikuchi.[7] The song was later included on Yoasobi's EPs Hajimete no – EP and The Book 3, released on May 10 and October 4, 2023, respectively.[8][9] The English version, "Mister", appeared on their third English-language EP E-Side 3, released on April 12, 2024.[10]

Composition

"Mr." is described as a "painfully ephemeral" city pop song about the desire of an android for their owner, written by Ayase, a member of Yoasobi.[3] The duo's band member Zaquro Misohagi participates in the song's chorus.[11] It was composed in the key of C♯ minor, 120 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and seven seconds.[12] Shimamoto commented the song "gently evoked memories of people I could not meet anymore."[6]

Commercial performance

"Mr." entered the Oricon Combined Singles Chart at number 19[13] and the Digital Singles (Single Track) Chart at number two with 18,914 downloads in its first week.[14] For Billboard Japan, the song debuted at number 11 on the Japan Hot 100. It sold 16,227 download units in its first week, charting at number two on the Download Songs, behind only Aimer's "Zankyōsanka".[15] The song also debuted at number 46 on the Streaming Songs,[16] and peaked at number 33.[17] Globally, "Mr." reached number 143 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S.[18]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Mr." was premiered on May 22, 2022, at 8:00 PM (JST), preceded by the teaser video on May 9.[19] Produced by Ijigen Tokyo, who previously handled Yoasobi's "Halzion" music video,[20] the music video depicts the android Boku reminiscing a memory with their owner Mr. Naruse before the owner is severely injured and dies in a large-scale catastrophe.[21] The music video for the song's English version was uploaded on November 8, 2024.[22]

Live performances

Yoasobi gave the debut performances of "Mr." at 2022 Rock in Japan Festival on August 6, 2022, and Rising Sun Rock Festival on the 12th.[23][24]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Mr."
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[28] Gold 50,000,000†

† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Mr."
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 16, 2022
Sony Japan [29]

References

  1. ^ "YOASOBI 4人の直木賞作家とコラボ 書き下ろし原作に楽曲を発表". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Mugi (December 31, 2021). "Hit duo YOASOBI teams up with 4 Naoki Prize-winning novelists for new song project". Grape. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "YOASOBI、島本理生書き下ろし小説を原作にした新曲「ミスター」を『オールナイトニッポンX』でOA解禁". The First Time (in Japanese). February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Yoasobi [@YOASOBI_staff] (January 26, 2022). "【クイズ】 / 島本理生さん「私だけの所有者」を原作としたYOASOBI新曲「ミスター」の配信日はいつでしょう？ / #はじめての #YOASOBIANNX" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ YOASOBI [@YOASOBI_staff] (February 7, 2022). "新 曲 解 禁 / 明日 #めざましテレビ さんにて！ / 早起き必至！よろしくお願いします🕴 / #はじめての #ミスターYOASOBI" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved February 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ a b "YOASOBI×直木賞作家のプロジェクト始動、第1弾「ミスター」原作は島本理生". Natalie (in Japanese). February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  7. ^ Yoasobi [@YOASOBI_staff] (February 17, 2022). "「ミスター」ジャケットデザインを手掛けてくださったのはきくちともこさん(@KIKU_1990 )💐" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボプロジェクト4曲＆小説入り『はじめての - EP』数量限定でリリース". Barks (in Japanese). March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "YOASOBI、新曲「勇者」がTVアニメ"葬送のフリーレン"OPテーマに決定。同曲収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』10/4リリース". Skream! (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "YOASOBIの英語版EP第3弾『E-SIDE 3』が明日配信リリース". Cinra (in Japanese). April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Yoasobi [@YOASOBI_staff] (February 16, 2022). "新曲「ミスター」聴いてくださってますか？ / ラララ〜が印象的なコーラスにはYOASOBIバンドでもおなじみ、ミソハギザクロ(@mshg_png )も参加してくれています🎹" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Key, BPM of ミスター by YOASOBI". Musicstax. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-02-28" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2022年02月28日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. February 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "【ビルボード】Aimer「残響散歌」がDLソング首位返り咲き、YOASOBI新曲初登場2位". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "【ビルボード】Aimer「残響散歌」5度目のストリーミング首位 Saucy Dog「シンデレラボーイ」自己最高の4位". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Streaming Songs [2022/03/02 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Billboard Global Excl. US – Week of March 5, 2022". Billboard. March 5, 2022. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "YOASOBI、楽曲「ミスター」MVティザー映像を公開 本編は5/22にプレミア公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ第1弾の楽曲「ミスター」MVを本日20時プレミア公開。原作小説の島本理生 著"私だけの所有者"電子版配信もスタート". Skream! (in Japanese). May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Topham, Michelle (May 26, 2022). "YOASOBI's 'Mr' music video tells sad story of Boku the android and Mr. Naruse his owner — Watch". Leo Sigh. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "YOASOBI、直木賞作家4名の小説書き下ろしプロジェクト『はじめての』収録4曲の英語版MVを連続公開". The First Times (in Japanese). November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "YOASOBI／ミセス／サウシーら出演 【ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2022】1日目まとめレポ". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  24. ^ "『RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL2022 in EZO』観戦記". Oricon (in Japanese). August 18, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  25. ^ "Yoasobi Chart History (Global Excl. US)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of February 23, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). February 23, 2022. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  27. ^ "Billboard Japan Download Songs Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – YOASOBI – ミスター" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 27, 2023. Select 2023年8月 on the drop-down menu
  29. ^ "2/16(水)直木賞作家コラボプロジェクト第1弾・新曲「ミスター」配信リリース決定！今夜の『YOASOBIのオールナイトニッポンX(クロス)』にて初フルオンエア！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.