Hoshi no Yō ni... explained

Hoshi no Yō ni...
Cover:Hoshinoyouni.jpg
Type:Single
Artist:Misia
Album:Just Ballade
Label:Ariola Japan
Prev Title:Aitakute Ima
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Edge of This World
Next Year:2010

is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia, from her ninth studio album, Just Ballade.[1] It was released simultaneously with the album on December 16, 2009, through Ariola Japan.[2] "Hoshi no Yō ni..." is the theme song to the kaiju film .[3]

Background and composition

"Hoshi no Yō ni..." was released merely a month after Misia's previous single, "Aitakute Ima", and is her first re-cut single. The song was written by Misia, composed by Sinkiroh and arranged by Tohru Shigemi. It is composed in the key of B minor and set to a common time tempo of 75 beats per minute.[4] Misia's vocals span from A3 to C5 in modal voice, and to D5 in head voice. The song serves as theme song for the film Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009). Misia's involvement with the Ultra Series came about in September 2009, when the main character, Ultraman, became a mascot for the Child Africa project of the non-profit organization Mudef, of which Misia is a board member.[3]

The single includes a remix of "Hoshi no Yō ni...", of which an edited version is also featured on the film's soundtrack, that samples soundbytes of Ultraman's trademark "Shuwatch!" exclamations. The first pressing of the physical single came with a collector's figurine of Ultraman.[1]

Critical reception

CDJournal critics noted that, despite the collaboration with Ultraman seeming "incompatible at first glance", Misia succeeds at creating a "fantastic and fascinating" theme song that does the character of Ultraman justice.[5] They praised the song for "oozing pathos" and for "tugging at the heart" with its strings arrangement.[5]

Music video

The music video for "Hoshi no Yō ni..." features the original Ultraman and several popular Ultra kaiju.[6] It was directed by long-time collaborator Ukon Uemura and is the first music video produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the studio behind the Ultra Series.[6]

Chart performance

"Hoshi no Yō ni..." entered the daily Oricon Singles Chart at number 9, where it also peaked.[7] The single debuted at number 18 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, with 5,000 copies sold.[8] It charted for four weeks and sold a reported total of 6,000 copies during its run.[9]

Credits and personnel

Personnel[10]

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
Sales
Japan Daily Singles (Oricon)96,000<--6,204-->
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[11] 18
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[12] 8
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard)[13] 8
Japan Hot Top Airplay (Billboard)[14] 10
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[15] 27

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: ジュワッ!MISIA、ウルトラマンと地球を守る. Natalie. September 28, 2009. March 12, 2018.
  2. News: MISIA「星のように…」は、ウルトラマンファン必携. Barks. December 14, 2009. March 12, 2018.
  3. Web site: MISIAがウルトラマンとコラボ!劇場映画主題歌を担当. Oricon. September 29, 2009. March 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: 楽譜: 星のように… / MISIA : ピアノ(ソロ) / 中級. March 12, 2018.
  5. Web site: MISIA / JUST BALLADE. CDJournal. March 12, 2018.
  6. News: MISIA新作PVにウルトラマン&円谷プロが全面協力. March 12, 2018. December 9, 2009. Natalie.
  7. Web site: 福山雅治が前作を上回る好スタートで初日首位☆12/15付 シングルデイリー. December 16, 2009. June 14, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120322214451/http://blog.oricon.co.jp/earo/archive/3593/0. March 22, 2012.
  8. Web site: オリコン 2009.12.28. March 12, 2018.
  9. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」. Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju'. Oricon. subscription . March 12, 2018.
  10. Just Ballade . . 2009 . Booklet . . 4988017674932 . Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  11. Web site: 星のように… MISIA. March 12, 2018.
  12. Billboard Japan Hot 100 . Billboard. March 12, 2018.
  13. Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay . Billboard. March 12, 2018.
  14. Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay. https://web.archive.org/web/20100108032203/http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/top_airplay/page:2. Billboard. January 8, 2010. March 12, 2018. live.
  15. Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales . Billboard. March 12, 2018.