"Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii"
A woman in front of a blue sparkling curtain
Single by Superfly
from the album Box Emotions
ReleasedJuly 22, 2009 (2009-07-22)
Recorded2009
GenrePop, rock, disco, funk
Length4:42
LabelWarner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Shiho Ochi, Kōichi Tabo
Producer(s)Kōichi Tsutaya
Superfly singles chronology
"Alright!!"
(2009)		 "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii"
(2009)		 "Dancing on the Fire"
(2009)

"Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" (Japanese: 恋する瞳は美しい, "Loving Eyes Are Beautiful") is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Yasashii Kimochi de" in 2009, a month before Superfly's second studio album Box Emotions. An upbeat disco-inspired song that was a change in style from her previous sound, the song was used in commercials for Canon's Digital IXUS cameras in Japan.

Background and development

In 2009, Superfly recorded two songs for the Fuji Television drama Boss, starring Yūki Amami. The theme song, a ballad called "My Best of My Life", was released as a single by Superfly on May 13.[1] The drama's upbeat opening theme song "Alright!!" was released as a digital single a month later.[2] Both songs were successful commercially, with "Alright!!" becoming Superfly's biggest hit since "Ai o Komete Hanataba o" (2008).[3]

Promotion and release

The song was first unveiled in late February 2009, when it was used in commercials promoting Canon's Digital IXUS brand of cameras.[4] Superfly's next single "Dancing on the Fire" (2009) followed "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" as the second song used for this commercial campaign, which was created in the same style as "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii".[5][6] Superfly performed the song live at Music Station on August 7, and again at Music Japan on September 13.[7][8]

The song was released as a part of a four-track single on July 29, 2009. In addition to the two A-sides, the single featured a cover of Kuwata Band's 1986 song "Skipped Beat", a song Superfly had performed at Bokura no Ongaku and during her Rock'N'Roll Show 2008 tour. The song is a live recording taken from the tour final of the Rock'N'Roll Show at the NHK Hall on November 9, 2008. The remaining track is a cover of the title track from Jackson Browne's 1974 album Late for the Sky.[9]

Music video

Scenes from the music video were inspired by the clothing of Yoko Ono and John Lennon.

A music video was produced for the song, directed by Shūichi Banba.[10] The video is composed of two different scenes. The first features vocalist Shiho Ochi performing the song against a sparkly stage, alongside her bandmates surrounded by mirrorballs. The second is shot outside in sepia tones, featuring Ochi walking beside a man in a white suit. The final scenes show the couple walking into the club where Ochi is performing the song on stage, and they begin to dance.

The clothing used in the couple scenes was inspired by the clothing that Yoko Ono and John Lennon wore in the 1970s.[11]

Critical reception

Dai Tanaka of Rockin' On Japan described the song as "funky and dance-able", with a "cool vibe", feeling it was "full of punch" and refined pop music. He praised Ochi's musicianship, feeling that the single was an example of her skill as a vocalist.[12] The song was received well by CDJournal reviewers, who described the song as an "exhilarating upper dance tune" with a "'80s four-on-the-floor disco beat with rock guitar riffs". They praised the song's "catchy" chorus and lyrics, along with Ochi's "cool" "piercing, soulful vocals".[13][14][15]

Track listings

"Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" digital download
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii"Shiho OchiKōichi TaboKōichi Tsutaya4:42
Total length:4:42
"Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" / "Yasashii Kimochi de" single
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii"S. OchiK. TaboK. Tsutaya4:42
2."Yasashii Kimochi de" (やさしい気持ちで, "With Tender Feelings")S. OchiK. TaboK. Tabo, K. Tsutaya4:07
3."Skipped Beat (Live From NHK Hall)" (スキップ・ビート (Live From NHK Hall) Sukippu Bīto)Keisuke KuwataK. KuwataK. Tsutaya4:08
4."Late for the Sky"Jackson BrowneJ. BrowneK. Tsutaya5:33
Total length:18:28

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from the liner notes booklet of Box Emotions.[16]

  • Kōji Kusakari – electric guitar
  • Hideki Matsubara – bass
  • Hiroshi "Matsukichi" Matsubara – drums
  • Shiho Ochi – lead and background vocals
  • Kōichi Tabo – background vocals
  • Kōichi Tsutaya – keyboard, programming
  • Yoshiyuki Yatsuhashi – electric guitar

Chart rankings

Charts (2009) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[17] 1
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[18] 6
Japan Oricon weekly singles[19]
  • "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" / "Yasashii Kimochi de"
 6
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[20] 18

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[21]
  • "Koisuru Hitomi wa Utsukushii" / "Yasashii Kimochi de"
 23,000
RIAJ cellphone download certification[22] Gold (100,000)
RIAJ PC download certification[23] Gold (100,000)

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalog codes
Japan July 2, 2007[24] ringtone Warner Music Japan
July 22, 2007[22][25] digital download
July 29, 2007[26][27] CD single, digital download (EP) WPCL-10730

References

  1. ↑ "Superfly、次作はドラマのために書き上げた王道バラード大作" (in Japanese). Barks. March 27, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Superfly、ナナナの歌でお馴染み「Alright!!」を配信限定リリース" (in Japanese). Barks. May 28, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  3. ↑ レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Superfly、春先から耳馴染みの2曲がシングルに" (in Japanese). Barks. July 4, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Superfly早くも新作！恒例カバーはキャロル・キングのあの曲" (in Japanese). Natalie. October 2, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Superfly インタビュー" (in Japanese). Excite. November 1, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  7. ↑ 主演者ライナップ 2009/08/07 (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ Music Japan (in Japanese). Tokyo. September 13, 2009. NHK.
  9. ↑ "Superfly、話題のCMソング＆めざましソングを両A面化" (in Japanese). Natalie. July 1, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ "恋する瞳は美しい" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Superfly スペシャル ～all about 『Box Emotions』～". Music On! TV (Interview) (in Japanese). Tokyo. August 22, 2009.
  12. ↑ Dai Tanaka. "美しい乗りこなし". Rockin' On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Superfly / 恋する瞳は美しい / やさしい気持ちで [デジパック仕様]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Superfly / Box Emotions" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Superfly / Superfly BEST [デジパック仕様] [2CD]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ Box Emotions (Media notes) (in Japanese). Superfly. Tokyo, Japan: Victor Music Japan. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). August 5, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 5, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  19. ↑ Superflyのシングル売り上げランキング [Superfly single sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  20. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2009年07月22日～2009年07月28日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association report: 2009.07.22~2009.07.28 <abb. Reco-kyō Chart 'Chaku-uta Full'>] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  22. 1 2 レコード協会調べ 7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  23. ↑ レコード協会調べ 9月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: September Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. October 18, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  24. ↑ "What's New" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. July 2, 2009. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  25. ↑ "恋する瞳は美しい - Single" (in Japanese). Apple. 29 July 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  26. ↑ "恋する瞳は美しい / やさしい気持ちで". Tower Records Japan. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ "恋する瞳は美しい/やさしい気持ちで - EP" (in Japanese). Apple. 29 July 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
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