Life (Gen Hoshino song)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Life"
The digital single cover artwork to "Life". It consists of abstract colors, scattered with yellow and white dots and lines.
Digital single cover
Single by Gen Hoshino
LanguageJapanese
A-side"Why" (double A-side)
B-side
ReleasedAugust 14, 2023 (2023-08-14)
Genre
Length3:11
LabelSpeedstar
Songwriter(s)Gen Hoshino
Producer(s)Gen Hoshino
Gen Hoshino singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Your Ghost"
(2022) 		"Why" / "Life"
(2023)
Music video
"Life" (Official Video) on YouTube

"Life" (Japanese: 生命体, Hepburn: Seimeitai, lit. "Life" in the sense of organism) (Japanese pronunciation: [seːmeːtai]) is a song by Japanese musician Gen Hoshino. The song was first released by Speedstar Records on August 14, 2023, as a digital-exclusive single. It was self-produced and written by Hoshino as the main theme to TBS broadcast of the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 World Athletics Championships, which were hosted closely together as a result of rescheduling in the COVID-19 pandemic. With gospel influences, the track has an upbeat rock and R&B sound through a small instrumental line-up, led primarily by piano. Lyrically, the song discusses competition and the exhilaration felt on the field, with international themes applicable to everyday life.

Upon release, "Life" took No. 7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and No. 44 on Oricon's Combined Singles Chart. A digital-exclusive release, it took first place on both publications' download charts. A music video directed by GROUPN was premiered to Hoshino's YouTube channel the day of the single's release, featuring guest appearances from sprinter Yoshihide Kiryū, former Nogizaka46 member Asuka Saitō, and dancer THE D SoraKi. Throughout 2023, Hoshino promoted the song through five television performances, including at the 74th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on New Year's.

On December 27, 2023, "Life" was reissued as a double A-side with "Why", the ending theme to the anime film Spy × Family Code: White (2023). The re-release peaked at No. 2 on the Oricon physical sales and combined sales charts, and on Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales ranking.

Background[edit]

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 Asian Games were postponed by a year to September–October 2023,[4] only a month after the World Athletics Championships were held in August.[5] With the close scheduling, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) contacted Gen Hoshino requesting a theme song for their broadcast of both events. Hoshino accepted, feeling honored to have been asked in the unique circumstances.[6] Since prior an active viewer of the TBS' athletic sports YouTube channel, Hoshino said in an interview with the network that he was glad to have received the offer. The stationary nature of his musical work often made him want to watch other people move and noted sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as a favorite athlete.[7]

The theme song was written and self-produced by Hoshino.[8] Considering athletics as a particularly mental sport and "battle with oneself", Hoshino wanted to create a song that would bring an individual's physical and mental bodies into "perfect form", freed from pressures, ego, and all that binds the everyday: "a song that puts you in that mode, gives you that energy and the tension of your blood boiling." He thought this different from the typical fight song, that usually represent an "absolute justice". He chose the title "Life" (生命体, seimeitai, in Japanese, meaning "Life" in the sense of organism), and explained in an interview with Billboard Japan:

"I suddenly had this idea that people are put on this sort of race track almost immediately upon birth [...] It's almost as if something is decided in advance. Not just humans but even all microbes that we can't identify the feelings of, exist on this societal track. Even if they try to run, they can't escape it; living upon something already decided is a similarity shared by all living creatures. That's why I thought 'Life' was a perfect title. [...] I thought that the meaning of 'body of a living creature' perfectly aligned with [the song's] relation to physical sports."[6]

Writing and recording[edit]

When writing the song, Hoshino immediately thought that a form of gospel would best accommodate the feeling of an athlete entering their zone when competing. He took use of only a small line-up of instruments, which he felt made it easier to notice the unusual voicing and chord progressions. For the vocals, Hoshino sang in a key higher than usual, giving more attention to elements such as flow and singing style rather than to the delivery of the words' message. Several elements uncommon in Japanese music, such as a saxophone solo after the first chorus, are featured on the track; for this, Hoshino feared that the song might not be accepted, but chose to ignore these worries as the song was the type he would himself enjoy listening to.[6]

"Life" was mixed by Shojiro Watanabe at Victor Studio and mastered by Takahiro Uchida at Flair Mastering Works, both in Tokyo.[9] The song's recording is credited to Watanabe, Shu Saida, Hoshino, bassist and pianist Mabanua [ja], and saxophonist Satoru Takeshima [ja], with Satoshi Goto credited for assistance.[8] Watanabe wrote on his Instagram that the song was recorded in a Glyn Johns-style, and Hoshino told Billboard Japan that he had never seen Watanabe have so fun in their ten years of collaboration. Hoshino said that he had bored of the standard production process of "neatly" miking, recording, and mixing. Since Japanese mixing would usually focus on consistency, budget, and time, Hoshino instead wanted to make something irregular, which, for example, allowed Takeshima's saxophone to be recorded at home. Hoshino wanted the song to prove that sound doesn't need to be live to sound good, and included some pre-recorded handclaps.[6]

Hoshino collaborated with solo singer Ua (pictured in 2016) for "Life"'s background vocals

The song features backing vocals from Hoshino, Ryosuke Nagaoka, and solo singer Ua. Hoshino would usually sing the chorus with Nagaoka alone; after attempting to sing "Life", they felt that a different concept would be needed and considered calling in an outsider. Upon a suggestion from their mutual manager, Hoshino contacted Ua, thinking that she would fit due to her deep origins in soul music. Hoshino thought that Ua's voice may be mixed to be unrecognizable due to the amount of voices, but the manager said this would likely make it easier for Ua to have fun recording. According to Hoshino, Ua eagerly accepted.[6]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

"Life"
A sample to the end of the song's first chorus. Based in gospel music, "Life" has an upbeat R&B and rock sound with simple, piano and drum-led instrumentation.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Life" is three minutes and eleven seconds long.[1] Hoshino is credited with songwriting, vocals, and upright piano. He co-arranged the track with Mabanua, who also collaborated on upright piano and provided electric bass. Satoru Takeshima is credited on alto sax and Shun Ishiwaka [ja] is credited with drums. In addition to the background vocals, Hoshino worked together with Nagaoka and Ua for the track's handclapping.[8]

"Life" has a fast-paced R&B sound with basis in gospel. Apple Music lists the song as alternative music[1] and CDJournal categorized the double A-side release as Japanese rock and pop.[10] The song's small line-up of instruments is led primarily by the piano, broken as the lead instrument during only a solo on sax.[2][3] The drums serves as the track's drive, playing strong phrases in quick succession with occasional accented notes.[11] The high-pitched range of notes in the melody and the sax solo gives "Life" an exciting sound,[11] whereas the drums and Nagaoka and Ua's background chorus express a feeling of energy.[2]

Music critic Imdkm (Real Sound) described the personnel's work as continuing Hoshino's musical style from 2021 and onwards while still delivering a new kind of sound. He called the instrumentality simple and the development straightforward, with a gimmick-less sound that gives the feeling of "quickly running a short distance in high tension".[11] Rockin'On Japan's Emi Sugiura reviewed "Life" as a supportive song celebrating existence, the type of song that makes listeners understand the meaning of life.[2] In a review for the double A-side single, Sugiura felt that "Life" encouraged her to "start running before seeking for meaning." She wrote that the partner A-side "Why" felt like a continuation to the story of "Life", despite their different styles.[12]

Lyrically, "Life" opens with description of an athlete's competition and their liberation from it, while keeping similarities with international topics outside this specific competition ("Before I knew it, I was part of a race" / " 'Win!' 'Keep running!' they said"). In the chorus, the song adds the feeling of an athlete getting into zone and the exhilaration of the field ("My skin melds with the wind and melts away" / "Boundaries disappear"). The text is ended by a return to reality ("Without a doubt, you're here" / "And life goes on").[11] Imdkm (Real Sound) wrote that the lyrics combines the engage of sports with a "univeral message" also present in the everyday life of most listeners.[11] Tomoyuki Mori, also for Real Sound, described the lyrics as leading listeners towards "total freedom" by "transcending one's own conciousness".[3]

Promotion and release[edit]

"Life" was announced as the theme song to the World Athletics Championships and Asian Games in June 2023. For the Athletics Championships, it would take over as theme song after Yūji Oda's "All My Treasures", which had been in use since the 2007 event.[13] "Life" was announced for a single release on August 7, along with the publication of a new visual of Hoshino.[14] It was released as a digital-exclusive single by Speedstar Records a week later on August 14, 2023,[15] and marked Hoshino's first new song in almost a year.[14] To promote the release, label parent company Victor Entertainment hosted a campaign that allowed listeners to acquire phone wallpapers based on the cover art to "Life" and an original illustrated by Hoshino, and a two-set of postcards featuring Hoshino.[16]

On November 10, Hoshino announced a new double A-side single, to feature "Life" as the second lead track.[17] The partner A-side was revealed a month later to be "Why" (光の跡, Hikari no Ato),[18] the ending theme to the anime film Spy × Family Code: White (2023). "Why" / "Life" was released by Speedstar on December 27, as Hoshino's first CD single in almost two years, following "Fushigi" / "Create" (2021).[10][12] On the B-side, the single features "Odd Couple" – the main theme to the comedy tour Audrey no All Night Nippon in Tokyo Dome – and "Beyond the Sequence", an instrumental created by Hoshino for a series of UCC coffee commercials starring himself. First editions featured a Blu-ray disc of live performances, consisting of 12 songs from the 2021 online concert YP Live Streaming: Enkai, Hōō-hen and eight songs from Hoshino's acoustic setlist at Live the Speedstar in 2023.[19]

On the day of its digital release in August, Hoshino promoted "Life" through a live performance on a special for Count Down TV.[20] Hoshino returned to the program on September 18, performing "Life" and his debut single "Kudaranai no Naka ni".[21] He gave a third performance of "Life" three days later on September 21, appearing on NHK's music program SONGS.[22] Hoshino revisited Count Down TV for a third time in December, performing "Life" and "Comedy" as part of a Christmas special.[23] On New Year's Eve, he returned to NHK to perform the song for the 74th annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Hoshino sang from the roof of Toranomon Hills, marking his ninth Kōhaku appearance.[24] The New Year's performance was uploaded in full to YouTube on January 10, 2024.[25]

Music video[edit]

A music video to "Life", directed by GROUPN,[26] was premiered to YouTube on August 14, at 0:00 JST, with Hoshino participating in the live chat.[27] Filmed over the course of four days, the video is splitscreened to showcase various people living in the present to bring a "video overflowing life."[16] Among those featured in the video are Hoshino and several of his band members, sprinter Yoshihide Kiryū, former Nogizaka46 member Asuka Saitō, and dancer THE D SoraKi.[28] A behind the scenes video was posted the same day as the main release.[29] Standalone videos of Saitō and SoraKi's dance performances from the music video were uploaded to Hoshino's YouTube channel on August 29.[30]

Commercial performance[edit]

In its first week of charting, "Life" moved 13,713 digital sales according to Billboard Japan, opening at peaks of No. 44 on Oricon's Combined Singles Chart[31] and No. 7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.[32] Oricon accounted 13,821 sales, moved up to 15,919 after its second and final appearance on their chart.[31] "Life" secured first place on both Oricon's and Billboard's digital-only charts, becoming Hoshino's sixth song to top the Oricon Digital Singles ranking.[32][33]

The "Why" / "Life" double A-side single moved over 48,000 physical sales upon release, taking No. 2 on the Oricon Singles Chart, the Combined Singles Chart,[31] and Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales ranking. It took first place on Oricon's Anime Singles chart.[31] "Why" charted separately from the single, reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100[34] and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Animation.[35]

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Hoshino's website.[8]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Gen Hoshino.

Charts[edit]

"Life"[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Life" (2023)
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Japanese Combined Singles (Oricon)[31] 44
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)[36] 7

"Why" / "Life"[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Why" / "Life" (2024)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[37] 2
Japanese Combined Singles (Oricon)[38] 2
Japanese Anime Singles (Oricon)[31] 1
Japanese Top Single Sales (Billboard Japan)[39] 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Life - Single". Apple Music. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Sugiura, Emi (October 2023). "生きる意味を問うより先に体が動く" [The body moves before it can question the meaning of life]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Ishii, Eriko; Mori, Tomoyuki (August 19, 2023). "星野源、マカロニえんぴつ、BTS V、INI、AI、新しい学校のリーダーズ……注目新譜6作をレビュー" [Gen Hoshino, Macaroni Enpitsu, BTS V, INI, AI, and Atarashii Gakko! ... Review of 6 New Releases In Focus]. Real Sound [ja]. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Ansari, Aarish (May 6, 2022). "Asian Games 2022 in China postponed to 2023". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Athletics | World Championships 2023 | Budapest". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024. 19 to 27 August 2023
  6. ^ a b c d e Hoshino, Gen; Ikitake, Mariko. "<インタビュー> 細胞レベルで決められたレールと壁をぶち破る――星野源「生命体」を語る" [(Interview) Clashing with the laws decided at the cellular level – Gen Hoshino on "Seimeitai"]. Billboard Japan (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Yoshiaki, Takahashi. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Hoshino, Gen (June 30, 2023). 【星野源 独占インタビュー】世界陸上・アジア大会TBS系テーマ曲 『生命体』に込めた想い【ロングver】 [(Gen Hoshino Interview) The thoughts put into the TBS World Athletics Championships and Asian Games theme song "Seimeitai" (Long Version)] (Video interview). Interviewed by Etou, Ai. TBS. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b c d "Life". Amuse Inc. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Why / Life". Amuse Inc. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "星野源 / 光の跡 / 生命体" [Gen Hoshino / Hikari no Ato / Seimeitai]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Imdkm (September 5, 2023). "星野源、競争と熱狂の先で"個"に寄り添うメッセージ　スポーツを飛び越えて生活に重なる「生命体」の眼差し" [Gen Hoshino delivers a message of the individuality in competition and passion. A look at "Life", surpassing sports into everyday life]. Real Sound [ja]. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Sugiura, Emi (October 2023). "生きる意味ならわからない。けれどとても愛おしい" [Though I don't understand life's meaning, it is still incredibly dear]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "星野源、TBS 世界陸上&アジア大会テーマソング担当「腹の底から沸き上がってくるワクワク」" [Gen Hoshino in charge of World Athletics Championships and Asian Games theme song. "I feel excitement from the bottom of my heart"] (in Japanese). Oricon. June 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "星野源の約1年ぶりの新曲"生命体"が8月14日に配信リリース。最新ビジュアル公開" [Gen Hoshino will release "Life", first new song in almost a year, for streaming on August 14. New visual published] (in Japanese). Cinra [ja]. August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "星野 源 - 生命体" [Gen Hoshino - Seimeitai] (in Japanese). JVCKenwood Victor Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "星野源、『世界陸上』『アジア大会』テーマソング「生命体」MVプレミア公開　プレゼントがもらえる配信キャンペーンも". Real Sound [ja]. August 12, 2023. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "星野源、約2年半ぶりのシングルを12/27に発売" [Gen Hoshino to release first single in almost two years on December 27]. Barks [ja] (in Japanese). November 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "星野源、ニューシングル表題曲タイトルが「光の跡」に決定" [Lead track to Gen Hoshino's new single decided as "Hikari no Ato"]. Barks [ja] (in Japanese). December 5, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "光の跡／生命体 [CD+Blu-ray Disc] <初回限定盤A>" [Hikari no Ato / Seimeitai [CD+Blu-ray Disc] (First Edition A)] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "『CDTVライブ!』4時間半SP第2弾発表 星野源は3曲 キンプリはメドレー+「ichiban」 乃木坂46新曲TV初披露". Oricon. August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "「CDTV」2時間SPに.ENDRECHERI.、セクゾ、HYDE、三浦大知、ゆず、緑黄色社会". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). September 11, 2013. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  22. ^ "星野源、NHK『SONGS』で大泉洋とバーベキュー場へ　「恋」弾き語りバージョンなどパフォーマンスも". Real Sound [ja]. September 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "「CDTV」クリスマスSPにJO1、SixTONES、Snow Man、セカオワ、10-FEET、星野源、ミセス". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "星野源, 紅白で夜景バックに「生命体」歌唱　「生きたい人生を力強く...」込めた思い語る". Mynavi News [ja]. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "星野源の紅白ステージを何度でも". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  26. ^ GROUPN [@GROUPN2020] (August 17, 2023). "星野源「生命体」Music Video 監督しました🦾" [We directed Gen Hoshino's "Life" Music Video🦾] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2024 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "星野源、約1年ぶり新曲「生命体」ミュージックビデオのプレミア公開が決定　星野本人のチャット参加も予定". Spice (in Japanese). EPlus [ja]. August 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "星野源「生命体」MV、齋藤飛鳥／THE D SoraKi／桐生祥秀が出演". Billboard Japan. August 14, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  29. ^ "星野源、アジア大会TBS系テーマ曲「生命体」MVメイキング映像公開。桐生祥秀、齋藤飛鳥、THE D SoraKiのコメントも収録". Skream!. August 13, 2023. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  30. ^ "星野源が自ら編集、齋藤飛鳥／THE D SoraKiソロ出演の「生命体」ダンスビデオ同時公開". Billboard Japan. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d e f "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Taiju"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "【ビルボード】星野源「生命体」がDLソング首位デビュー, YOASOBI / INIが続く". Billboard Japan. August 23, 2023. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  33. ^ "星野源、最新作「生命体」で通算6作目の「デジタルシングル」1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon. August 23, 2023. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  35. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation". Billboard Japan. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  36. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 23, 2023. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  37. ^ "光の跡/生命体" [Hikari no Ato/Seimeitai] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  38. ^ "星野源の合算シングル売上TOP11作品" [Gen Hoshino's Top 11 Combined Singles by Sales] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  39. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Single Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Life_(Gen_Hoshino_song)&oldid=1219392198"