Kite (Arashi song) explained

Kite
Cover:Arashi - Kite.png
Type:single
Artist:Arashi
Album:This Is Arashi
Label:J Storm
Prev Title:In the Summer
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Whenever You Call
Next Year:2020

is the 58th single by Japanese boy band Arashi. It was released on July 29, 2020, through J Storm. The release was announced on their Johnny's official page,[1] as well as on their social media profiles.[2]

Background

The song "Kite" served as the theme song for NHK's coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics, including the special program hosted by the group.[3] It was first performed in 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, December 31, 2019.[4]

"Journey to Harmony", the other song included in the single, was performed as a celebratory song for the enthronement of the new Emperor, in November 2019.[5] It is the third part of a 13-minute composition called "Ray of water".

Content and promotion

"Kite" was released on July 29, 2020. The single was made available for pre-order on June 15, 2020. The limited edition comes in two versions, both held in an LP sized jacket and containing a DVD or Blu-ray with the music video and making-of video for "Kite", and a 16-page lyrics booklet.[6] A fan-club limited edition containing a 56-page book titled "2020 Arashi and Tokyo Sky" was also available for pre-order from June 15, 2020 to June 21, 2020, but sold out on the first day.[7] All three versions' covers were painted by member Satoshi Ohno.[8]

Arashi performed "Kite" on Music Station on July 24, 2020.[9]

Chart performance

"Kite" debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart on December 30, 2019, and rose to number 25 on January 13, 2020.[10] [11]

On July 28, 2020, the single debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart, selling 680,797 copies on its first day.[12] "Kite" debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, with 910,000 copies sold in its first week. It became Arashi's 47th consecutive and 54th overall number-one single, extending their record of the most number-one singles in Japan. It also marked Arashi's largest opening sales week, surpassing their previous record of 756,000 copies with "Calling / Breathless" (2013).[13] On August 29, the single sold additional 138,007 copies, becoming the group's first single to sell a million copies by selling 1,111,451 copies.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: June 15, 2020. ja:ニューシングル「カイト」2020年7月29日(水)発売決定!!. https://www.j-storm.co.jp/arashi/news/9082. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615024001/https://www.j-storm.co.jp/arashi/news/9082. June 15, 2020. June 14, 2020. j-storm.co.jp. ja.
  2. arashi5official . 1272348349744611330 . June 14, 2020 . ja:嵐のニューシングル「カイト」が2020年7月29日(水)に発売決定!#嵐 #ARASHI. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615021452/https://twitter.com/arashi5official/status/1272348349744611330. June 15, 2020.
  3. Web site: July 19, 2019. ja:『2020スタジアム』嵐が会見で大会への思いを語る!. https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/article/2020st/20190719/. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615045309/https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/article/2020st/20190719/. June 15, 2020. June 14, 2020. sports.nhk.or.jp. ja.
  4. Web site: June 15, 2020. ja:嵐、7・29米津玄師提供曲「カイト」発売 昨年の紅白で初披露から7ヶ月越し. https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20200615OR0026/?nv=ent. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615051546/https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20200615OR0026/?nv=ent. June 15, 2020. June 14, 2020. sakigake.jp. ja.
  5. Web site: November 10, 2019. ja:【天皇陛下式典】嵐の奉祝曲の発売や楽曲配信はいつ?署名運動でCD化は実現?. https://suntoranosuke.com/arashi-journey-to-harmony/. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200308144011/https://suntoranosuke.com/arashi-journey-to-harmony/. March 8, 2020. June 14, 2020. suntoranosuke.com. ja.
  6. Web site: 2020 . 2020.07.29 RELEASE / SINGLE カイト . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200615024017/https://www.j-storm.co.jp/arashi/discography/kite . June 15, 2020 . June 14, 2020 . j-storm.co.jp . ja .
  7. Web site: https://www.cyzowoman.com/2020/06/post_288921_1.html . ja:嵐、数量限定の新曲「カイト」が予約初日に“完売”! 「ファン舐めてるの?」「転売される」と批判まみれ . June 17, 2020 . June 30, 2020 . ja . Cyzo Woman .
  8. Web site: https://natalie.mu/music/news/383267 . ja:嵐ニューシングルは米津玄師の提供曲「カイト」、ジャケに大野智描き下ろし絵画 . June 15, 2020 . June 30, 2020 . . ja .
  9. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2167765/full/ . ja:嵐、今夜MステSPで新曲「IN THE SUMMER」初披露 TV初歌唱の瑛人は「脚がガクガク…」 . July 24, 2020 . July 30, 2020 . . ja .
  10. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 (December 30, 2019) . . ja . July 30, 2020 .
  11. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 (January 13, 2020) . . ja . July 30, 2020 .
  12. Web site: Oricon Daily Singles Ranking (July 28, 2020) . . ja . July 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200729162404/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2020-07-28/ . July 29, 2020 . dead.
  13. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2168568/full/ . ja:嵐、最新シングルが自己最高初週売上で初登場1位に 歴代1位の「通算1位獲得数」を54作に自己更新【オリコンランキング】 . Arashi's latest single debuts at number one with their highest first week sales; extends record of "most number-one singles" with 54 . . ja . August 4, 2020 .
  14. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 2020/8/10. Billboard Japan. ja. August 19, 2020.