To Love (Kana Nishino album) explained

To Love
Type:studio
Artist:Kana Nishino
Cover:NishinoKanatoLOVEcdonly.jpg
Caption:Regular edition cover
Recorded:2009–2010
Genre:
Length:57:20
Label:SME Records
Prev Title:Love One.
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Thank You, Love
Next Year:2011

To Love (stylized as to LOVE) is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Kana Nishino. It was released on June 23, 2010, by SME Records. Beginning sometime in 2009, the album's production was handled by several music producers, such as Jeff Miyahara, Giorgio Cancemi, Daniel Sherman, Mats Lie Skåre, ViVi, Andreas Levander, among others. It also features a guest appearance from Japanese hip-hop and reggae musician Minmi. Nishino contributed towards the album as the executive songwriter. To Love is primarily a J-pop album with numerous elements of dance-pop, pop rock, R&B, electropop and adult contemporary.

Music critics gave To Love positive reviews, praising the album's overall sound, production quality and Nishino's vocals. A commercial success, To Love became her first number-one album in Japan, premiering at the top spot with first week sales of over 290,000 units. This made Nishino the first soloist born in the Heisei era to top the Oricon Albums Chart. It became the year's best-selling album by a female soloist. To Love is Nishino's most successful album to date, selling over 750,000 copies and receiving a triple platinum certification from Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The album's critical and commercial success earned Nishino the Excellent Album Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.

The album spawned four top ten hits on the Oricon Singles Chart: "Motto...," "Dear.../Maybe," "Best Friend" and "Aitakute Aitakute." All of these singles went on to be certified "million" for full song downloads of over one million copies by the RIAJ, consequently establishing Nishino as a force to be reckoned with on music charts and digital platforms. "Aitakute Aitakute" in particular is one of the best-selling multi-format singles in Japan. Nishino promoted To Love by embarking on the Kanayan Tour 2010 〜Autumn〜 hall tour, which ran from early to mid September 2010.

Background and production

On June 24, 2009, Nishino released her debut album, Love One..[1] Despite its initial singles not seeing much success,[2] the songs promoted around the album's release ("Tookutemo" feat. Wise, "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara" and "Kimi no Koe o" feat. Verbal (M-Flo)) were gradual hits in the digital market.[3] Love One. fared well commercially, peaking at number four on the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified platinum for selling up to 250,000 copies.[4] [5] After Love One. was released, Nishino started work on its follow-up, To Love. For the album, Nishino's record label SME Records hired an array of Japanese and western musicians such as Jeff Miyahara, Giorgio Cancemi, Daniel Sherman, Mats Lie Skåre, ViVi, Andreas Levander, among others to work on it.[6] For the album, Nishino contributed as the main and background vocalist, along with being the album's primary lyricist.[6] Much like her first album, To Love is centered around the theme of love. As exactly one year had passed from her previous album, Nishino wanted to express the growth in her values and view on love.[7]

In an interview with Yahoo! Japan, Nishino explained in full detail on how she wrote the album's lyrics:

Writing and composition

"＊Prologue＊〜What a nice〜" is the minute and a half opener for the album, which she sings in a whisper while praying to the stars for a prince to appear.[8] "Best Friend" is a song that expresses love with a falsetto that floats over a bouncy, sparkling melody.[8] "Summer Girl" is party tune filled with a sense of the summer season;[8] the song is performed as a duet with Japanese reggae musician Minmi.[9] "Hey Boy" is a surf rock tune.[8] "Motto..." carries sparkling strings and scratchy keys in its production.[8] "Love & Smile" is a message song that wishes to continue to deliver these two elements for happiness.[8]

"Kono Mama de" is a midtempo love ballad that expresses special feelings for a loved one.[8] "Maybe" is an upbeat track combining keyboards and electronica influences.[8] "Wrong" is a rock-tinged number depicting the desire to sever ties with a man who is all talk.[8] "Come On Yes Yes Oh Yeah!!" is a dance pop tune with a hook that is reminiscent of Daft Punk's "One More Time."[8] "Dear..." is a pop ballad that utilizes the violin and keyboard.[10] "Aitakute Aitakute" is a power ballad that sing about longing for someone, with the melody played by the delicate keyboard and violin.[8] "You Are the One" is a melodious medium tempo love ballad.[8] "*Epilogue*～to LOVE～" is the closer of the album; like the prologue, it is a romantic piece that prays to the stars for a wonderful surprise for meeting someone.[8]

Release and formats

To Love was released on June 23, 2010, her second studio album overall.[6] [11] The album contains 14 songs totaling over 57 minutes in length. The first limited edition version of To Love included a bonus DVD with six music videos along with accompanying behind-the-scenes footage.[12] [13] Tomoya Nagatani shot the album artwork and photoshoot; the artwork for the regular edition depicts Nishino sitting on a settee in a garden, while the limited edition artwork is just a close up of Nishino's face.[6]

Promotion

Singles and other song

To Love spawned four singles. "Motto..." was released as the album's lead single on October 21, 2009.[14] It served as the theme song for the Nippon Television dorama Detective M.[15] "Motto..." debuted atop the RIAJ Digital Track Chart.[16] The RIAJ certified the track triple platinum for ringtone downloads of over 750,000 units.[17] By February 2014, "Motto..." was certified million for full-length downloads of over one million units.[18] The double A-side single "Dear.../Maybe" was released on December 2, 2009.[19] "Dear.." served as the official theme song for NTT DoCoMo's exam support project "Ganbare Jikkou ’09-'10.”[20] "Maybe” served as the commercial song for Maybelline New York's ‘Volume Express Magnum’ featuring Nishino herself.[21] "Dear..." was certified triple platinum by the RIAJ for ringtone downloads of over 750,000 units,[22] while also being certified million for selling over one million full-length downloads.[23]

"Best Friend" was released on February 24, 2010.[24] Like the previous song, it also served as the second installment of NTT Docomo's “Ganbare Jikkou ’09-'10” campaign song.[25] "Best Friend" was certified million in two different categories by the RIAJ for selling over one million ringtone downloads,[26] along with selling one million full-length downloads.[18] May 21, 2010, saw the release of the album's final single, "Aitakute Aitakute."[27] The song became her biggest hit to date and was named the hottest selling digital song of the year 2010.[28] "Aitakute Aitakute" is listed as one of the best-selling multi-format singles in Japan, with total sales exceeding 5.097 million units (5,000,000 downloads and 97,000 physical units).[29] "Aitakute Aitakute" also served as Gemcerey's TV-CF song.[25] The song "Maybe" has been downloaded on cellphones more than 100,000 times, along with a B-side to "Best Friend" "One Way Love" that is not present on the album.[30] [31]

Live performance

Nishino promoted To Love with a series of live performances and appearances throughout Japan. In July 2010, Nishino held a tour of “love spots” in Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto called Kana Nishino to LOVE Kansai to celebrate her album reaching number one on the weekly Oricon Albums Chart.[32] In Kyoto, the final stop, she performed “Dear...” in front of 3,000 people.[32] She held her first nationwide Zepp Tour titled Kanayan Tour 2010 〜Autumn〜 from September 3, 2010, to September 18, 2010.[33] She also performed a one-off performance at Tokyo International Forum Hall A (Tokyo) on December 6, 2010, which was titled Kanayan X'mas.[34] Furthermore, at the end of December, she made her first appearance at the 61st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen with the song "Best Friend."[35]

Reception

Upon its release, To Love received positive reviews from most music critics. Adam Greenberg of AllMusic awarded the album three stars out of five. He described Nishino's vocals throughout the record as "strengthening" and praised her for showcasing her newfound strength. He stated: "The album is strong, easily on par with other entries in the post-idol J-pop scene." Koji Izushima of bounce magazine stated that the album showed off her true potential and stated that there were many great songs, highlighting the numbers "Summer Girl," "Wrong" and "Come On Yes Yes Oh Yeah!!" as its standouts.[36]

On December 30, 2010, To Love won the Excellence Album Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.[37]

Commercial performance

To Love debuted at number one on Oricon's daily albums chart, selling 71,000 units on its first day. It stayed at number one for the first week, selling 290,048 units.[38] The album stayed at number one for a second consecutive week, shifting 112,724 units.[39] [40] The album spent the next two weeks at number three, shifting 67,697 units on its third week,[41] as well as 36,814 units on its fourth.[42] To Love stayed in the top five one last week, ranking at number four and selling 24,462 units.[43] It slid to number eight the following week, selling 17,976 units.[44] On its seventh week, the album plummeted to number ten on the chart, shifting 14,120 units.[45] On its eighth week, it climbed up to number seven on the chart, selling 15,923 units.[46] To Love stayed in the top ten one last week, ranking at number nine and selling 9,894 units.[47]

The album continued to rank for an astonishing 104 weeks, staying in the top 300 for two years.[48] To Love was a commercial success for Nishino; it sold 645,417 copies in 2010, making it the third best-selling album of the year, as well as the year's best-selling album by a female soloist, beating out two chart entries by Namie Amuro and Kaela Kimura.[49] It received a triple platinum certification by the RIAJ for selling more than 750,000 copies nationwide.[50] The album also performed well in rental sales, ranking eighth in Tsutaya's Heisei era album rental rankings.[51]

Many album tracks were popular enough to chart digitally after the album's release. "Love & Smile," released a week before the album, was the most successful, peaking at number five.[52] Others included "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi (number eight), "Kono Mama de" (number fourteen) and "You Are the One" (number sixty-four).[53] The track "Kono Mama de" has been certified platinum for selling over 250,000 downloads.[54] The song "Love & Smile" has been certified gold for over 100,000 downloads.[55]

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Love One.. Kana Nishino. 2009. Kana. Nishino. Liner notes. SME Records. SECL-792. Japan.
  2. Web site: アーティスト： 西野カナ . . 2010-07-04.
  3. Web site: レコード協会調べ　4月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：4月度認定＞. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. December 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20090523094115/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090520.html. May 23, 2009.
  4. Web site: LOVE one. 西野カナ. Oricon. 4 June 2024.
  5. Web site: ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2010年04月. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. December 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183530/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/201004.html. May 16, 2010.
  6. Citations regarding the physical formats of To Love:
  7. Web site: 西野カナ 『to LOVE』 インタビュー . Japanese. June 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20100710232155/http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/interview/nishinokana_100622/. July 10, 2010.
  8. Kana Nishino / To Love . CDJournal . Japan . Japanese . June 6, 2024.
  9. Sugioka . Yuki . Takekawa . Haruna . Kana Nishino "To Love" interview . . Japan . Japanese . June 6, 2024.
  10. Kana Nishino / Dear… / MAYBE . CDJournal . Japan . Japanese . June 6, 2024.
  11. Web site: Sony Music Shop. Sony Music Japan. Japanese.
  12. Web site: 2010-06-02 . 西野カナ、前作に続き色々な〈LOVE〉を表現した新アルバムを発表 . 2024-06-06 . tower.jp . ja.
  13. Web site: 西野カナ、着うたヒット曲満載の2ndアルバム「to LOVE」 . 2024-06-06 . natalie.mu . ja.
  14. もっと…. Kana Nishino. 2009. Kana. Nishino. Liner notes. SME Records. SECL-818. Japan.
  15. Web site: EXILEのMAKIDAIが主演を務めるドラマ『探偵M』の主題歌は？. CDJournal. Japanese. June 4, 2024.
  16. Web site: RIAJ Digital Track Chart between October 14, 2009 and October 20, 2009. RIAJ. 2009-10-23. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722110403/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2009s&weeklyCd=20091020&rankKbn=50. July 22, 2011.
  17. Web site: レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定. RIAJ. 2024-06-04. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150325115230/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100322.html. 25 March 2015.
  18. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 . Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140228.html . . Japanese . 28 February 2014 . 4 June 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305015635/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140228.html . 5 March 2014 .
  19. Dear... / Maybe. Kana Nishino. 2009. Kana. Nishino. Liner notes. SME Records. SECL-831. Japan.
  20. Web site: 西野カナの新作に受験生応援歌＆メイベリンCM曲収録 . 2024-06-06 . natalie.mu . ja.
  21. Web site: 2009-11-03 . 西野カナ、新製品マスカラとコラボ ～写真編～ . 2024-06-04 . barks.jp . ja.
  22. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100620.html . . Japanese . 4 June 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150325091457/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100620.html . 25 March 2015 .
  23. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定 . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140520.html . . Japanese . 4 June 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032505/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140520.html . 21 May 2014 .
  24. Best Friend. Kana Nishino. 2010. Kana. Nishino. Liner notes. SME Records. SECL-855. Japan.
  25. Web site: 2010-06-19 . 西野カナ、待望のセカンド・アルバムいよいよ発売 . November 9, 2023 . tower.jp . ja.
  26. Web site: レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定. RIAJ. 2024-06-04. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110506155525/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110420.html. 6 May 2011.
  27. 会いたくて 会いたくて. Kana Nishino. 2010. Kana. Nishino. Liner notes. SME Records. SECL-864. Japan.
  28. Web site: 2010年 年間１位は西野カナ「会いたくて　会いたくて」～「着うたフル（R)」有料音楽配信年間チャート発表！～. RIAJ. 2024-06-04. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101223033411/http://riaj.or.jp/release/2010/pr101220.html. 23 December 2010.
  29. Web site: BIOGRAPHY｜西野カナ オフィシャルサイト . 2023-10-15 . nishinokana.com . ja.
  30. Web site: レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：5月度認定＞. RIAJ. 2024-06-06. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100625123558/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100620.html. 25 June 2010.
  31. Web site: レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：3月度認定＞. RIAJ. 2024-06-06. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100426213142/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100420.html. 26 April 2010.
  32. News: 2010-07-07 . 西野カナがアルバム「to LOVE」1位獲得記念で、関西ラブスポット巡りを敢行 . 2024-06-06 . . ja.
  33. News: September 20, 2010 . 西野カナ、Zepp東京にてツアー・ファイナル . June 6, 2024 . barks.jp . ja.
  34. Web site: 西野カナ、サプライズ満載のXmasライブで5000人を魅了 . 2024-06-06 . natalie.mu . ja.
  35. Web site: http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/101125_hy/ . ja:◆HY 西野カナやAAAと共に「NHK紅白歌合戦」へ初出場！ . Hot Express . ja . 2010-11-25 . 2024-06-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110212031217/http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/101125_hy/ . 2011-02-12 . dead .
  36. Web site: to LOVE＜通常盤＞ / 西野カナ . . Japan . Japanese . 2024-06-29.
  37. News: 【フォトレポート】EXILE、AKB48、少女時代が揃って登場 ／ 日本レコード大賞. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313210804/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5252752/. 2014-03-13. Livedoor News. 2011-01-07. 2024-06-29.
  38. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 5, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . July 5, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014833/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100705a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  39. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 12, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . July 12, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014833/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100712a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  40. News: 2010-07-06 . 西野カナ、絢香以来今年初のアルバム2週連続首位 . 2024-06-06 . . ja.
  41. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 19, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . July 19, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014832/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100719a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  42. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 26, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . July 26, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014832/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100726a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  43. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 2, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 2, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014831/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100802a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  44. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 9, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 9, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014831/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100809a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  45. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 16, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 16, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014830/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100816a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  46. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 23, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 23, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014830/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100823a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  47. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 30, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 30, 2010. June 4, 2024. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014830/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100830a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  48. Web site: to LOVE 西野カナ. Oricon. June 4, 2024.
  49. Web site: 2010年　アルバム年間TOP100. March 3, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331111606/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/2010a.html. March 31, 2019. dead.
  50. Web site: ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2010年08月. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. June 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913122141/https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/201008.html. September 13, 2010.
  51. Web site: 平成で最もレンタルされた映画／音楽は？ TSUTAYAがランキング発表. mora. Japanese. June 29, 2024.
  52. Web site: レコード協会調べ2010年06月16日～2010年06月22日＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞. RIAJ. 2024-06-06. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120311125724/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2010f&weeklyCd=20100622&rankKbn=50. March 11, 2012.
  53. Web site: レコード協会調べ2010年06月23日～2010年06月29日＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞. RIAJ. 2024-06-06. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120311125728/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2010f&weeklyCd=20100629&rankKbn=50. March 11, 2012.
  54. Web site: レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：5月度認定＞. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. June 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103164610/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w120620.html. November 3, 2012.
  55. Web site: レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：8月度認定＞. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. June 4, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083004/https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140919.html. October 6, 2014.

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