Hey What's Up? Explained

Hey What's Up?
Cover:	Hey What's Up? CD.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Jin Akanishi
Album:	JustJin
B-Side:	Key To Your Heart
Recorded:	2013
Genre:	Pop
Label:	Warner Music Japan
Prev Title:	Sun Burns Down
Prev Year:	2012
Next Title:	Ai Naru Hō e
Next Year:	2013

"Hey What's Up?" is the third physical solo single by Japanese singer-songwriter Jin Akanishi, released on August 7, 2013.^[1]

Background

In 2013 "Hey What's Up?" was chosen as the first official theme song for the Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show, which was held on the 31st of that same month at the Saitama Super Arena.^[2] In October was released the fifth single "Ai Naru Hō e" (To Where Love Rings),^[3] and in November his second studio album

1. JustJin

.

Release

The single was released in two different editions, the standard or regular edition, which opposite of the limited edition's only b-side song "Key To Your Heart", it additionally includes the song "Summer Loving".^[4] There three different limited editions; the edition A includes a DVD featuring the title track’s music video as well as its making-of video,^[4] edition B a DVD documenting the single's recording and jacket photo session,^[4] while the edition C is CD-only (not standard) and features a 24-page photo booklet.^[4] There are three different cover artworks for the limited edition.^[4]

Akanishi commented about the title track, "Since the theme is "summer party", I absolutely wanted to put in a party scene. I wanted to present the amusement of Japan".^[5]

Chart performance

The single was released on August 7, 2013 by Warner Music Japan, approximately a year and a half following his American debut studio album Japonicana.^[6]

In the first week it debuted at number two on Oricon weekly singles chart.^[7] It stayed on the charts for nine weeks,^[8] and with 127,000 copies sold it was the 52nd best-selling single of the year,^[9] and was certified Gold by RIAJ denoting over 100,000 shipments.^[10]

It has peaked at number two on the Billboards Japan Hot 100,^[11] and the Hot Singles Sales chart.^[12] It also peaked at number thirteen on Hot Top Airplay,^[13] and number eighteen on Adult Contemporary Airplay.^[14]

Charts

Charts (2013)	Peak position
Oricon Weekly Singles	2
Billboard Japan Hot 100	2
Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay	18

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jin Akanishi's New Song, 'Hey What's Up?' On Sale 8/7 . . July 19, 2013 . Barks . Global Plus . February 12, 2015.
2. Web site: Akanishi Jin's comeback single chosen as first official song for 'Tokyo Girls Collection' . . August 10, 2013 . Tokyohive . 6Theory Media.
3. Web site: Akanishi Jin to release a new single in October . . August 31, 2013 . Tokyohive . 6Theory Media.
4. Web site: New Single from Akanishi Jin . . June 26, 2013 . JaME World . Japanese Music Entertainment . February 12, 2015.
5. Web site: Jin Akanishi Reveals Short PV For Upcoming Single "Hey! What's Up?" . . July 21, 2013 . JpopAsia . February 12, 2015.
6. Web site: Jin Akanishi to Release First New Music Video in One Year, Five Months . . August 14, 2013 . Barks . Global Plus . February 12, 2015.
7. Web site: Oricon 2013 Week 33 . Jasy . August 15, 2013 . JaME World . Japanese Music Entertainment . February 12, 2015.
8. Web site: Hey What's Up? on Oricon . Oricon . February 12, 2015.
9. Web site: Oricon Top 100 2013: Singles . Jasy . December 30, 2013 . JaME World . Japanese Music Entertainment . February 12, 2015.
10. Web site: . ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2013年8月 . Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (August 2013) . . ja . September 10, 2013 . December 31, 2013.
11. Web site: Hey What's Up? on Japan Hot 100 chart . Billboard Japan . February 12, 2015.
12. Web site: Hey What's Up? on Hot Singles Sales chart . Billboard Japan . February 12, 2015.
13. Web site: Hey What's Up? on Hot Top Airplay chart . Billboard Japan . February 12, 2015.
14. Web site: Hey What's Up? on Adult Contemporary Airplay chart . Billboard Japan . February 12, 2015.