Soranji Explained

Soranji
Cover:Mrs. Green Apple - Soranji.webp
Type:single
Artist:Mrs. Green Apple
Album:Antenna
Language:Japanese
B-Side:"I'm Invincible"
"Floriginal"
Label:EMI
Prev Title:Dance Hall
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Boku no Koto (Orchestra ver.)
Next Year:2023

"Soranji" is a song by Japanese rock band Mrs. Green Apple. It was released as the band's tenth single on November 9, 2022, under EMI Records. The song was used as the theme song for Fragments of the Last Will (2022), the film adaptation of Jun Henmi's 1989 novel Farewell Notes from a Prison Camp.

Background and promotion

On August 17, 2022, it was announced that Mrs. Green Apple would be performing the theme song for Fragments of the Last Will, directed by Takahisa Zeze, to be released on December 9.[1] The film is an adaptation of Jun Henmi's 1989 novel Farewell Notes from a Prison Camp, about the notes a man's family received a decade after World War II following his death in a Russian prison camp in Serbia.[2] [3] This would be the band's first film theme song in four years since "Ao to Natsu" for Ao-Natsu.[4] On September 2, the group announced that the song would be released as a single on November 9, including "I'm Invincible", a cover of Ado's song of the same name written by Mrs. Green Apple vocalist Motoki Ohmori, from the soundtrack of , and "Floriginal", a song created from "Parfa Tune", a project to collaborate fragrance and music.[5] [6]

Ohmori appeared at the stage greeting of Fragments of the Last Will alongside the film's cast members at Toho Cinema in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya and performed "Soranji" while playing the guitar.[7]

Composition

"Soranji" is a personal and introspective ballad that uses simple words to convey the message of a desire to live against a background of strings.[8] Vocalist Motoki Ohmori, who wrote the song, said they were able to create the song "with an extraordinary feeling of exploring the meaning of life and touching the abyss" that people can relate to.[9] The title was inspired by the word, linked closely to Fragments of the Last Will.[10]

"I'm Invincible" was originally released on June 22 as the second song in the soundtrack album where Ado worked with seven artists for songs from .[11] Production began in the summer of 2021 during Mrs. Green Apple's hiatus[12] and was the first song they produced in this time.[13] Ohmori stated that he "wanted a hook that clearly showed who provided the music", and that the song was about the feelings of Uta but also "who we were at the time".

"Floriginal" is a collaboration song with Fitz Corporation's fragrance and music project "Parfa Tune", where the company creates perfumes inspired by artists' songs. They used an, a musical scale that originates in England from the 19th century, where 46 fragrances are assigned to notes. Volatile scents are assigned to high notes, and weaker scents are assigned to low notes.[14] The song was recorded without any rehearsals, with Ohmori saying that they "wanted to enjoy the feeling of reaching a slightly unexpected place, or having some kind of chemical reaction."[15] Sound effects like the cutting of cellophane tape, the sound of stapling, the sound of tearing paper, footsteps, and the sound of removing a cap, were recorded by Ohmori and interspersed in the song.[16]

Music video

The music video for "Soranji" premiered on November 2, 2022. Vocalist Motoki Ohmori, credited as the music video's planning director, came up with the original idea for the music video and worked together with the video's director Yoshiharu Seri.[17] The lyric video was released on December 22, with handwritten lyrics by Ohmori.[18]

Charts

Chart! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[19] 10
Japan Download Songs (Billboard Japan)[20] 14
Japan Streaming Songs (Billboard Japan)[21] 15
Japan (Oricon)[22] 6
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[23] 5
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[24] 15
Japan Streaming (Oricon)[25] 14
Chart! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[26] 19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE、12月9日より公開される二宮和也、北川景子ら出演映画『ラーゲリより愛を込めて』に主題歌“Soranji”書き下ろし . Mrs. Green Apple will write the theme song "Soranji" for the film Fragments of the Last Will starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa, which will be released on December 9th . https://tower.jp/article/news/2022/08/18/tg007 . 2023-12-02 . Tower Records.
  2. Web site: 2021-12-15 . ja:二宮和也主演、瀬々敬久監督作のタイトルは「ラーゲリより愛を込めて」に . The title of the film starring Kazunari Ninomiya and directed by Takahisa Zeze is "From Lagel with Love" . 2024-05-27 . . ja.
  3. News: 2011-09-23 . War fiction author Henmi dies at 72 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015063955/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20110923b2.html . 2012-10-15 . The Japan Times.
  4. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE、新曲“Soranji”を二宮和也、北川景子ら出演映画『ラーゲリより愛を込めて』主題歌に書き下ろし . Mrs. Green Apple writes new song "Soranji" as theme song for the film Fragments of the Last Will starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa . https://rockinon.com/news/detail/203825 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  5. Web site: 2022-09-02 . ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE、映画『ラーゲリより愛を込めて』主題歌「Soranji」シングルリリース 「私は最強」セルフカバーも収録 . Mrs. Green Apple releases single "Soranji", theme song for the film Fragments of the Last Will Also includes self-cover of "I'm Invincible" . https://realsound.jp/2022/09/post-1120246.html . 2023-12-02 . Real Sound . ja.
  6. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE「Soranji」を今晩配信リリース、30分後には「フロリジナル」MV公開 . Mrs. Green Apple "Soranji" will be released tonight, "Floriginal" MV will be released in 30 minutes . https://natalie.mu/music/news/500470 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  7. Web site: ja:二宮和也が「ラーゲリ」主題歌の生歌唱に感激、松坂桃李はストーブ囲んだ歓談振り返る . Kazunari Ninomiya was impressed by the live singing of the theme song for "Lager", Tori Matsuzaka looks back at the chat around the stove . https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/506125 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  8. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE『Soranji』/Mrs. GREEN APPLEの最新にして最強のバイブル誕生! 過去と未来を繋ぐシングル『Soranji』徹底合評 . Mrs. Green Apple "Soranji" / Mrs. Green Apple's latest and strongest bible is born! A thorough review of the single "Soranji" that connects the past and the future . https://rockinon.com/disc/detail/204608 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  9. Web site: ja:「ラーゲリより愛を込めて」 Mrs. GREEN APPLEの主題歌「soranji」 感動の予告映像が解禁 . Fragments of the Last Will Mrs. Green Apple's theme song "soranji" moving preview video released . https://hitocinema.mainichi.jp/article/f1dhp-jtlh . 2023-12-02 . Hito Cinema . ja.
  10. Web site: 2022-12-21 . ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE・大森元貴の主題歌生披露に、二宮和也ら感動! 「この歌に出会えてよかった」 松坂桃李は「最後のピースがハマる感じがした」映画『ラーゲリより愛を込めて』大ヒット御礼舞台挨拶 . Kazunari Ninomiya and others were moved by Mrs. Green Apple's Motoki Ohmori's live performance of the theme song! "I'm glad I came across this song." Tori Matsuzaka said, "I felt like the last piece was falling into place." Stage greeting to thank the movie Fragments of the Last Will for being a big hit . https://www.astage-ent.com/cinema/lageri-12.html . 2023-12-02 . Astage . ja.
  11. Web site: ja:Ado「ONE PIECE」新作映画で歌唱キャストに!中田ヤスタカ、ミセス、Vaundyらの提供曲を歌う(動画あり / コメントあり / 写真11枚) . Ado will be a part of the singing cast for new film "One Piece"! Singing songs provided by Yasutaka Nakata, Mrs., Vaundy, etc. (with video / with comments / 11 photos) . https://natalie.mu/music/news/480759 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  12. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLEはなぜ愛情と希望を歌い続けるのか?「ラーゲリより愛を込めて」主題歌「Soranji」に見える、バンドの真髄に迫る (2/3) - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー . Why does Mrs. Green Apple keep singing about love and hope? Approaching the essence of the band as seen in the theme song "Soranji" of "Fragments of the Last Will" (2/3) - Music Natalie Special Feature/Interview . https://natalie.mu/music/pp/mrsgreenapple03/page/2 . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  13. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE「実は休止中の1曲目」Adoが歌う新曲『私は最強』を楽曲提供 . Mrs. Green Apple "Actually, the first song during our hiatus" Ado will provide the new song "I'm Invincible" . https://tfm-plus.gsj.mobi/news/Oos0KIbN26.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20220614083511/https://tfm-plus.gsj.mobi/news/Oos0KIbN26.html . 2022-06-14 . Tokyo FM+.
  14. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE新曲「フロリジナル」表現した香水、ブラックティー×花々の可憐な香り . Perfume that expresses Mrs. Green Apple's new song "Floriginal", a lovely scent of black tea and flowers . 2023-12-02 . Fashion Press . ja.
  15. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLEはなぜ愛情と希望を歌い続けるのか?「ラーゲリより愛を込めて」主題歌「Soranji」に見える、バンドの真髄に迫る (3/3) - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー . Why does Mrs. GREEN APPLE keep singing about love and hope? Approaching the essence of the band as seen in the theme song "Soranji" of "Fragments of the Last Will" (3/3) - Music Natalie Special Feature/Interview . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  16. Web site: ja:【編集部コラム】PARFA TUNE×Mrs. GREEN APPLE スペシャルインタビュー #2 . [Editorial Column] Parfa Tune×Mrs. Green Apple Special Interview #2 . Fits Online Store.
  17. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE、映画『ラーゲリより愛を込めて』主題歌「Soranji」MV公開 . Mrs. Green Apple releases MV for "Soranji", the theme song for the film Fragments of the Last Will . https://www.thefirsttimes.jp/news/0000206218/ . 2023-12-02 . The First Times . ja.
  18. Web site: ja:Mrs. GREEN APPLE、映画"ラーゲリより愛を込めて"主題歌「Soranji」リリック・ビデオ公開。"映画と寄り添い合っている"と話題の歌詞を作者 大森元貴(Vo/Gt)自身が手書きで綴った映像に . Mrs. Green Apple releases lyric video for the theme song "Soranji" for the film Fragments of the Last Will. The much-talked-about lyrics, which are said to be "along with the movie", have been hand-written by songwriter Motoki Ohmori (Vo/Gt) himself. . https://skream.jp/news/2022/12/mrs_green_apple_soranji_lyric_video.php . 2023-12-02 . Skream!.
  19. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Charts . 2023-12-02 . Billboard JAPAN . ja.
  20. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Download Songs Charts . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  21. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Streaming Songs Charts . 2023-12-02 . . ja.
  22. Web site: ja:週間シングルランキング 2023年12月04日付 . Weekly single ranking as of December 4, 2023 . 2023-12-02 . Oricon.
  23. Web site: ja:Soranji (私は最強) / Mrs. GREEN APPLE 週間合算シングルランキング . Soranji (I'm Invincible) / Mrs. Green Apple Weekly Combined Singles Ranking . 2023-12-02 . Oricon.
  24. Web site: ja:週間デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 2023年12月04日付 . Weekly digital single (single song) ranking as of December 4, 2023 . 2023-12-02 . Oricon.
  25. Web site: ja:オリコン週間 ストリーミングランキング 2022年12月26日~2023年01月01日 11~20位 . Oricon Weekly Streaming Ranking December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023 11th to 20th . 2023-12-02 . Oricon.
  26. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End Charts . 2023-12-28 . . ja.