Midnight Sun (JO1 EP) explained

Midnight Sun
Cover:Midnight Sun Normal Edition cover.jpg
Caption:Normal and digital special edition cover
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:JO1
Album:Equinox
Language:Japanese
A-Side:SuperCali
Recorded:2022
Genre:J-pop
Label:Lapone Entertainment
Prev Title:Wandering
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Tropical Night
Next Year:2023

Midnight Sun is an extended play (EP) marketed as the sixth single of Japanese boy group JO1, featuring lead track "SuperCali". It also served as the lead single of their third studio album, Equinox (2023).[1] Consisting of four songs and four instrumental version, the EP single was released digitally by Lapone Entertainment on October 10, 2022, while the three physical editions were released on October 12, 2022. It features the group's frequent collaborators such as Teito, Jung Ho-hyun, Full8loom, Nmore, and Poptime.

Midnight Sun became the sixth single of JO1 that earned number one position on the Oricon Singles Chart. It is also their first single that surpassed 600,000 copies sold in its release week according to Billboard Japan, with "SuperCali" became the group's first song that spent two weeks in top six of Japan Hot 100.

Background and release

On August 25, 2022, during a live Instagram talk session, JO1 announced that their sixth EP single, Midnight Sun, was set to be released on October 12.[2] The concept of the single was set "between dreams and reality" and centered around the message that "in this strange world, we can do everything". It expressed "the pain felt in the process of growing up by likening it to the fear felt in a strange world where night and day is uncertain".[3]

The EP single consists of four songs accompanied with the instrumental version of each song, which were released into three physical editions.[4] The two limited editions each features four tracks and comes with a DVD bundle consisting a variety segment called Weird World (Weird House) and Weird World (Weird Spell), respectively. The normal edition comes with a CD-only and consists of six tracks. A special digital version consisting all songs and an instrumental version of "SuperCali" was released on October 10, 2022.[5]

Lead track

The lead track "SuperCali" is described to contain "a strong conviction that JO1 will continue to grow and burn with passion in every cell of their body".[6] It was composed in the key of G-sharp minor and 144 beats per minute.[7] The title is abbreviation for the English compound word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",[8] popularized by the 1964 film Mary Poppins.[9] The word was introduced as one that "makes infinite possibilities come true" before the song was performed for the first time at the last Fukuoka show of the 2022 JO1 1st Arena Live Tour "Kizuna" on September 22, 2022. "SuperCali" was made available for streaming on midnight the next day along with its performance video, which gained 10 millions views in just two weeks.[10] It was debuted for public on NHK's Utacon on October 4, 2022.[11] A music video was released on the same day as the release of the single physical editions, which eventually became the first music video of the group to surpass 20 millions views,[12] and went on to reach 39 millions views by the end of October 2022.[13]

The song peaked at number 18 the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and number 14 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart,[14] [15] before earning second and first place on the two charts, respectively, after the CD release.[16] "SuperCali" topped four chart components on Japan Hot 100 for CD sales, look-up, radio, and Twitter, but lost just shy of 30 points overall "in a fierce battle" against Kenshi Yonezu's "Kick Back".[16] "SuperCali" eventually became the group's first song that spent two weeks in top six of Japan Hot 100.[16] [17]

Promotion

As part of the promotion, JO1 performed "SuperCali" at Rakuten GirlsAward 2022 Autumn/Winter on October 8, 2022.[18] They also performed the Korean version of "SuperCali" and debuted another track from the single "Rose" at KCON 2022 Japan on October 15, 2022.[19] The song was also performed during the group's appearance at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and the 2022 MAMA Awards where they received an award for Best Live Performance and Favorite Asian Artist, respectively.[20] [21] Performance videos for the tracks "Rose" and "Phobia" were also subsequently released.[22] [23]

Furthermore, JO1 was selected as the ambassador for the Halloween hashtag event on TikTok Japan, starting from October 17 to November 2, which includes several promotional stunts to further promote "SuperCali".[24] They also held a showcase event in Tokyo on November 4 where they performed three songs from the single alongside one song from their previous single, Wandering, in front of 1,000 fans.[25]

Commercial performance

Midnight Sun debuted at number one on Oricon Daily Singles Chart with 365,602 copies sold.[26] It eventually managed to be the group's sixth consecutive number-one on the weekly chart with 492,000 copies sold, surpassing their previous single, Wandering, and set a personal record for both physical and combined sales.[27] It also earned JO1 their new personal record on Billboard Japan, topping Top Singles Sales as the group's first single with over 600,000 copies sold on its first week.[28] It was subsequently certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. By the end of 2022, the single ranked ninth on the Billboard Japans annual single sales chart with 664,550 physical copies sold.[29]

Track listing

"SuperCali" and "Phobia" are common tracks 1 and 2 for all editions.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[30] 1
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)1

Monthly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[31] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
Japan (Oricon)[32] 11
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[33] 23
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)9

Release history

Release dates and formats for Midnight Sun! Region! Date! Label! Format! Edition! Catalog
VariousOctober 10, 2022Lapone EntertainmentSpecial
JapanOctober 12, 2022Limited AYRCS-90220
Limited BYRCS-90221
CDNormalYRCS-90222

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JO1、3rdアルバム『EQUINOX』9・20リリース 概要発表、モチーフロゴ公開も . . 29 June 2023 . ja . 29 June 2023 .
  2. Web site: JO1、6thシングル『MIDNIGHT SUN』10・12リリース「僕らはなんだってできる」. Oricon. 15 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915032948/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2247078/full/. 15 September 2022.
  3. Web site: JO1が6thシングル「MIDNIGHT SUN」を10月リリース、東阪でのイベントも決定. Natalie. 15 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915034731/https://natalie.mu/music/news/491075. 15 September 2022.
  4. Web site: JO1、ニューシングル『MIDNIGHT SUN』10/12リリース. Billboard Japan. 15 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915041220/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/115966/2. 15 September 2022.
  5. Web site: Key/Tempo Midnight Sun (Special Edition) (Album) By JO1. Musicstax. 5 April 2023. en.
  6. Web site: JO1、ニューシングルのリード曲「SuperCali（スパカリ）」をサプライズで初披露 アリーナツアー福岡公演. Chunichi. 27 September 2022. ja. 23 September 2022. September 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927095711/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/550293. live.
  7. Web site: Key, BPM of SuperCali By JO1. Musicstax. 27 December 2021. en. September 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927092424/https://musicstax.com/track/supercali/4pW4sNCWGUG9D9EjACfkvK. live.
  8. Web site: JO1が福岡で新曲「SuperCali」初披露、地元凱旋の川尻蓮は「JAMは0を1にする力がある」と涙. Natalie. 27 September 2022. https://archive.today/20220927082549/https://natalie.mu/music/news/494733. 27 September 2022. 23 September 2022.
  9. Web site: Home : Oxford English Dictionary. 4 March 2016. September 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220929024038/https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/194228. live.
  10. Web site: JO1、最新曲「SuperCali」PV1000万回再生突破 自身最速記録. Modelpress. 7 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221007101405/https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/3393796. 7 October 2022. 7 October 2022.
  11. Web site: 生放送!JO1テレビ初披露▼由紀さおり×松坂慶子デュエット. NHK. 6 October 2022. ja. October 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006062817/https://www.nhk.jp/p/utacon/ts/1J9MXY5QX2/episode/te/BPZ7YYRQN9/. live.
  12. Web site: MV3000万回再生、Spotify「国内バイラルチャート」1位…JO1がかつてない快進撃を見せている「SuperCali」旋風とは？. QJWeb. 1 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101124701/https://qjweb.jp/news/77770/. 1 November 2022. 1 November 2022.
  13. Web site: 【YouTubeランキング】月間動画再生数~"JO1"圧倒的1位/チェンソーマン上位~＜10月＞. PR TIMES. 4 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104103847/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000114.000042106.html. 4 November 2022. 4 November 2022.
  14. 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 Big Tree' (as of 10/10/2022). Japanese. Oricon. subscription. October 5, 2022. April 9, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040409011503/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/. live.
  15. Web site: October 10, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. October 5, 2022. October 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005043600/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2022&month=10&day=10. live.
  16. Web site: 【ビルボード】米津玄師「KICK BACK」、JO1／Official髭男dism／藤井 風／Adoを抑え初登場総合首位獲得. Billboard Japan. 19 October 2022. https://archive.today/20221019094238/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/117859/2. 19 October 2022 . 19 October 2022.
  17. Web site: 【ビルボード】Official髭男dism「Subtitle」急伸、米津玄師「KICK BACK」を抑え総合首位奪取. Billboard Japan. 30 November 2022. https://archive.today/20221130093943/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/118108/2. 30 November 2022. 26 October 2022.
  18. Web site: 【GirlsAward】JO1、デビュー曲から新曲「SuperCali」まで披露 圧巻ステージで大トリ飾る【セトリ掲載】. Oricon. 15 October 2022. ja. 9 October 2022. October 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221015123528/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2252045/full/. live.
  19. Web site: JO1、『KCON』で初披露曲連発 新曲「SuperCali」韓国語ver&「Rose」. Oricon. 15 October 2022. ja. 15 October 2022. October 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221015123528/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2253197/full/. live.
  20. Web site: JO1「昨日のことのように思い出せます」11人での"初有観客デビュー曲ステージ"での感動とは＜MTV VMAJ 2022＞. Modelpress. 2 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221102144301/https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/3435680. 2 November 2022. 2 November 2022.
  21. Web site: 【MAMA】JO1「FAVORITE ASIAN ARTIST」受賞 與那城奨が涙のスピーチ「びっくりしすぎて言葉にできない」. . 29 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221129135049/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2258688/full/. 29 November 2022. ja.
  22. Web site: JO1が赤い薔薇を表現し情熱的に舞う「Rose」PV公開 . Natalie. 19 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019132341/https://natalie.mu/music/news/498200. 19 October 2022. 19 October 2022.
  23. Web site: JO1、"君"を失う恐怖心描く新曲「Phobia」のパフォーマンスビデオ公開 . Natalie. 28 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221028134452/https://natalie.mu/music/news/499401. 28 October 2022. 28 October 2022.
  24. Web site: TikTok、10/17より「#ハロウィン」を開催！アンバサダー「JO1」による怖い話や、「貞子DX」、「池ハロ2022」とのコラボ企画など盛りだくさんのコンテンツをお届け！. PR TIMES. 17 October 2022. ja. 17 October 2022. October 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221017035451/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000785.000030435.html. live.
  25. Web site: JO1「MIDNIGHT SUN」ショーケースで「Phobia」初パフォーマンス リズムゲームの進化版には悪戦苦闘. Modelpress. 7 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221107014155/https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/3441274. 7 November 2022. ja. 5 November 2022.
  26. Web site: デイリー シングルランキング 2022年10月11日付. Oricon. 12 October 2022. https://archive.today/20221012091517/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2022-10-11/. 12 October 2022.
  27. Web site: JO1、デビューから6作連続「シングル」1位 自己最高初週売上となる49.2万枚を記録 . Oricon. 18 October 2022. https://archive.today/20221018005327/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2253409/full/. 18 October 2022. 18 October 2022.
  28. Web site: 【ビルボード】JO1『MIDNIGHT SUN』初週60万枚でシングル・セールス首位、自己最高スタート. Billboard Japan. 18 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018070531/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/117768/2. 18 October 2022. 18 October 2022.
  29. Web site: 【ビルボード 2022年 年間TOP Singles Sales】Snow Manがトップ3独占、2年連続の首位に . Billboard Japan. December 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221209135139/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/119616/2. December 9, 2022. ja.
  30. Web site: ja:週間 合算シングルランキング 2022年10月24日付. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2022-10-24/. Oricon. 21 October 2022. https://archive.today/20221021053157/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2022-10-24/. 21 October 2022. ja.
  31. Web site: ja:月間 シングルランキング 2022年10月度. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2022-10/. Oricon. 16 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116065422/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2022-10/. 16 November 2022. ja.
  32. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2022/p/2/. ja:年間　シングルランキング 2022年度. Oricon. ja. Annual Single Ranking 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221222012617/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2022/p/2/. December 22, 2022. live. December 22, 2022.
  33. 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 Big Tree' (Annual Combined Singles Ranking 2022). ja. Oricon. subscription. December 22, 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Midnight Sun (JO1 EP)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.