Tsubomi (song)

"Tsubomi"
Single by Kobukuro
from the album 5296
ReleasedMarch 21, 2007 (2007-03-21)
Recorded2007
GenreFolk rock
Length6:03
LabelWarner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Kentarō Kobuchi
Kobukuro singles chronology
"Winding Road"
(2007) 		"Tsubomi"
(2007) 		"Aoku Yasashiku"
(2007)

"Tsubomi" (蕾 (つぼみ), "Flower Bud") is a song by Japanese folk rock band Kobukuro. It is their 15th single and is included on its ninth studio album 5296. The song was written and composed by Kentarō Kobuchi. The single was released on March 21, 2007, in two editions: a CD-only edition and a limited edition. It debuted at number two on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart before topping the chart the following week, and it was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), denoting shipment of 500,000 units. "Tsubomi" earned the Grand Prix award at the 49th Japan Record Awards.

Release and promotion

"Tsubomi" was released on March 21, 2007, in two editions: a CD-only edition;[1] and a limited edition which includes a DVD with the short film February 2007 Rehearsal & Live.[2] Marty Friedman pointed out that the song's arrangement was very simple and did away with the influence of the music of the Western culture.[3]

"Tsubomi" was used as the theme song for the television drama Tokyo Tower: Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki, Oton (2007).[4] It was also used as the entrance song for the 80th National High School Baseball Championship the following year.[5]

Chart performance and accolades

"Tsubomi" debuted at number two on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, selling 182,737 copies in its first week.[6] The single sold 69,737 copies and rose to number one the following week,[7] and was certified platinum by the RIAJ shipment of 250,000 units.[8] For the month of April, "Tsubomi" topped the monthly RIAJ Reco-kyō Chart for ringtones.[9] The single was certified double platinum in June.[10] "Tsubomi" became the third best-selling single on the 2007 Oricon yearly singles chart, selling 441,799 copies in Japan.[11] The single charted for 71 weeks and went on to sell 506,093 copies by the end of its chart run.[12][13]

At the end of the year, "Tsubomi" earned Kobukuro the Grand Prix award on Tokyo Broadcasting System's 49th Japan Record Awards.[14][15] On February 20, 2008, the song was certified by the RIAJ for selling three million digital ringtone downloads.[16]

Cover versions

Ayumi Nakamura recorded a cover version of "Tsubomi", which was included on her 2008 cover album Voice.[17] The song was also covered on Kyōko Abe's Yasashī Uta[18] and Shinichi Mori's Love Music.[19]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Kentarō Kobuchi.[20]

All editions[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Tsubomi (蕾 (つぼみ), Flower Bud)"6:03
2."Kanata e (彼方へ, To the Other Side)"4:16
3."Kazamidori (風見鶏, Weather Vane)"6:02
4."Tsubomi (蕾 (つぼみ), Flower Bud)" (Instrumental)6:03
5."Kanata e (彼方へ, To the Other Side)" (Instrumental)4:16
6."Kazamidori (風見鶏, Weather Vane)" (Instrumental)6:02
Limited edition[2]
No.TitleLength
1."February 2007 Rehearsal & Live" (short film) 

Chart history

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Oricon Singles Chart (Weekly)[7] 1
Oricon Singles Chart (Year-end)[11] 3
RIAJ Reco-kyō Chart[9] 1

References

  1. ^ a b "コブクロ 「蕾（つぼみ）」" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "コブクロ 「蕾（つぼみ）」" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  3. ^ 言われてみれば……コブクロとゆずみたいなデュオがアメリカにいない理由は？. Nikkei Trendy Net (in Japanese). Nikkei Business Publications. April 16, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "コブクロ、月9『東京タワー』主題歌の書き下ろし決定". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. December 4, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  5. ^ "コブクロ「蕾」が春のセンバツ入場テーマに決定". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 15, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  6. ^ "2007年03月19日～2007年03月25日のCDシングル週間ランキング （2007年04月02日付）". Oricon Weekly (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "2007年03月19日～2007年03月25日のCDシングル週間ランキング （2007年04月02日付）". Oricon Weekly (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  8. ^ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2007年3月" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）＜略称：4月度レコ協チャート（「着うた（R）」）＞" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. May 20, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  10. ^ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2007年6月" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "年間ランキング特集『2007年 年間シングルランキング大発表！』". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  12. ^ 蕾(つぼみ). Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  13. ^ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 －CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック－. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  14. ^ "受賞曲及び歌手一覧" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "第49回日本レコード大賞は、男性デュオ初のコブクロ「蕾」". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. December 31, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  17. ^ "カバー3部作の集大成！VOICE III～青春の光と影～" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  18. ^ "【楽天市場】やさしいうた / 阿部恭子" (in Japanese). Rakuten. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  19. ^ "森 進一、尾崎豊「I LOVE YOU」をカバー". Oricon Weekly (in Japanese). Oricon. November 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  20. ^ Tsubomi (liner notes). Kobukuro. Warner Music Japan. 2007. 1004632069.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Preceded by Japan Record Award Grand Prix
2007 		Succeeded by
"Ti Amo"
(Exile)