Lesson 1 Explained

Lesson 1
Type:studio
Artist:E-girls
Cover:E-girls - Lesson 1 regular.jpeg
Border:yes
Caption:CD only cover
Recorded:2011–2013
Length:56:53
Language:Japanese
Label:Rhythm Zone
Next Title:Colorful Pop
Next Year:2014

Lesson 1 is the debut studio album of the Japanese super girl group E-girls. It was released on April 17, 2013 in two different editions.[1]

Background

The album was announced on February 26, via the group and LDH official websites. It was revealed the album prices and some details about the editions, being released in two editions: limited with a DVD and a regular CD only.[2] [3] On March 18, jacket covers and track list were revealed, the CD including fourteen tracks and DVD including all music videos released up to date and a bonus live video from EXILE's "EXILE Live Tour 2011 Tower of Wish ~Negai no Tou~". The album was also put in pre-order in Japan's iTunes Store, including an acoustic version of the song "Love Letter" as a special pre-order track only. The first press of the CD+DVD edition includes a 64-page photobook. First presses of both editions feature a special packaging and include a card with a serial code which give access to a free wallpaper download though their official website. If codes of the album and their previous release, "Candy Smile", are entered, the page also offers the download for an unreleased song.

Composition

The album is composed by fourteen tracks. It includes three new tracks: "Loving Bell", "Shiny Girls" and "Take it Easy!", all singles released up to date and some b-sides included on the singles.

Singles

Five songs from the album were released as singles:

The first and debut single of the group, "Celebration!", was released on December 28, 2011. The song featured all members from the groups Dream (with former member Sayaka), Happiness (with former member Mimu) and Flower. The single peaked at number seven in Oricons weekly chart with 18,720 copies sold in the first week.[4]

The second single, "One Two Three", was released on April 18, 2012. The song featured all members from the groups again but without Dream's Sayaka, who withdrawn from the group in March 2012 and Happiness' Mimu, who announced hiatus due to her studies. It is also the first single featuring the dancers Anna Suda and Risa Ikuta, both from EGD (a dance group of EXPG (EXILE' Dance Academy)). A special version of the b-side, "Tadaima!", was also included on the album. It peaked at number twelve in Oricon weekly chart, selling 18,123 copies in the first week. At the date, it is the group's lowest selling single.[5]

The third single, "Follow Me", was released on October 3, 2012. Due to the addiction of the non-debuted group Bunny and another member from EGD, the number of members increased to 32, which made LDH lead to a new system for the release of the single where the girls were required to undergo a period of training and afterwards, the girls who excelled and fit the image of the single would be chosen to participate. Sixteen members, four vocalists and twelve performers, from all five groups included on E-Girls were chosen for this single. All songs from the single were included on the album. It peaked at number two in Oricons weekly chart, selling with 30,008 copies in the first week.[6] Although the selling numbers of the physical single being below compared to the single "The Never Ending Story", it is classified as the most successful single of the group at the date due to its digital performance (250 000 downloads).

The fourth single, "The Never Ending Story", was released on February 20, 2013. The song is a cover of Limahl's "The NeverEnding Story". In early 2012 three members from Bunny left the group and the remaining twenty-nine members (except Happiness' Mayu, who went to a hiatus) were included on the single. The b-side, "Just in Love", was first released digitally on December 26, 2012,[7] and later included on the single. The song and its music video were included on the album. It peaked number two in Oricon weekly chart, selling 40,055 copies in its first week. It is currently the best selling single of the group physically.[8]

The fifth and final single, "Candy Smile", was released on March 13, 2013. The song features twelve members, four vocalists and eight performers, from all twenty-eight members. A special version of the b-side, "Love Letter", was included on the album. It peaked at number six in Oricon weekly chart, selling 34,764 copies in its first week.[9]

Personnel

Participating members

Vocalists

Performers (as seen on the music videos)

Music credits

Lyrics

Music

Arrangement

Instruments

Chart performance

The album debuted at number one on Oricon's daily chart with 18,038 copies sold on the first day and 57,337 copies sold in the first week.

Oricon

Oricon ChartPeakDebut salesSales totalChart run
Daily albums chart 118,038162,26949 weeks
Weekly albums chart[11] 157,337
Monthly albums chart393,973
Yearly Albums Chart40145,597

Sales and certifications

References

  1. Web site: Lesson 1 E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  2. Web site: 【E-girls】4/17(水)待望の1st album「Lesson 1」発売決定. LDH . Japanese . 2013-02-26 . 2013-04-25.
  3. Web site: E-girls、"e-"maのど飴ソング&待望1stアルバムを連投. . Japanese . 2013-02-28 . 2013-04-25.
  4. Web site: Celebration! E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  5. Web site: One Two Three E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  6. Web site: Follow Me E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  7. Web site: iTunes – ミュージック – E-girls「Just In Love – Single」. . Japanese . 2012-12-26 . 2013-04-25.
  8. Web site: THE NEVER ENDING STORY E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  9. Web site: CANDY SMILE E-Girlsのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE. . Japanese . 2013-04-25.
  10. Web site: DISCOGRAPHY / E-girls. LDH / Avex Trax. 2013-04-25.
  11. News: 2013年04月15日~2013年04月21日のCDアルバム週間ランキング(2013年04月29日付) (Oricon's Weekly chart for April 29). Oricon. 2013-04-24. 2013-04-25. Japanese.
  12. News: Billboard Japan Top Albums / Charts / Billboard JAPAN (Billboard Japan's Top Albums for April 29). Hanshin Contents Link. 2013-04-24. 2013-04-25. Japanese.
  13. Web site: ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2013年4月 . Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (April 2013) . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/201304.html . . Japanese . 2013-05-10 . 2013-05-14.