Wandering (EP) explained

Wandering
Cover:Wandering Normal Edition cover.jpeg
Caption:Normal and digital special edition cover
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:JO1
Album:Kizuna
Language:Japanese
A-Side:
  • "Bokura no Kisetsu"
  • "Prologue"
Recorded:2021
Genre:J-pop
Length:
  • 13:26 (Limited edition A)
  • 13:35 (Limited edition B)
  • 13:58 (Normal edition)
  • 14:52 (Anime edition)
  • 24:27 (Special edition)
Label:Lapone Entertainment
Chronology:JO1
Prev Title:Stranger
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Midnight Sun
Next Year:2022

Wandering (stylized in all capitals) is an extended play (EP) marketed as the fifth single of Japanese boy group JO1. It served as the third single for their second studio album, Kizuna (2022), and is the group's first single that features double lead tracks, namely and "Prologue". The latter was used as the ending theme song of the anime series . Consisting of a total of seven songs, the EP single was released digitally by Lapone Entertainment on December 13, 2021, while the four physical editions were released on December 15, 2021. It features the participation of various Japanese and South Korean producers such as Alive Knob,, Full8loom, and others.

As part of the promotion, two B-side tracks were released as a digital single prior to the release of the EP single. "Run&Go", used as the theme song for Kit Kat Japan commercial, was released on September 15, while "We Alright" was pre-released on December 6. Wandering became the fifth single of the group that earned number one position on the Oricon Singles Chart and their first single that surpassed a half million copies sold in its release week according to Billboard Japan. It is also JO1's first release to be certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Background and release

On September 1, 2021, two weeks after releasing their fourth EP single Stranger, JO1 announced that they would release a new song titled "Prologue", to be used as the ending song for the anime series starting October 10 and released on the next day. It was followed by the release of "Run&Go" as part of Kit Kat Japan's campaign two weeks later. On October 9, Lapone Entertainment announced that member Sukai Kinjo, who had missed the group's first performance with a live audience at the KCON World Premiere: The Triangle, a joint concert with other post-Produce 101 Japan groups, would suspend his activities after being diagnosed with adjustment disorder and the group would continue their activities as 10 members. On the next day, JO1 announced that their fifth EP single, Wandering, was set to be released on December 15, with double lead tracks, and "Prologue". They also mentioned that prior to his break, Kinjo had managed to participate in the recording of the single except for the song "Oasis".

Wandering was said to contain the message saying that "it's okay to rest, it's okay to stand still, let's move forward slowly". The EP single consists of a total of seven songs that were released into five different editions; a digital special edition and four physical editions, which includes an anime edition with cover featuring characters from Boruto.[1] Each physical edition consists of four tracks with "Bokura no Kisetsu" and "Prologue" as the common tracks. The limited edition A comes with a DVD bundle consisting of a variety segment with the members called JO1: Find the Memory. The limited edition B and the normal edition come with a photo booklet and a CD-only, respectively. The special edition includes all songs in the EP single.

Lead tracks

The first lead track "Bokura no Kisetsu" is described as a "lyrical and gentle winter song". It was composed in the key of G-sharp major, 113 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 31 seconds.[2] The song was pre-released on November 22, 2021, supported by a week-long Line Music campaign.[3] The music video was released two days later and directed by Hidejin Kato,[4] who had worked with the group for performance videos of "Icarus" and "Freedom" from their previous single. The song debuted at number 22 and 21 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and Oricon Combined Singles Chart, respectively,[5] [6] before eventually peaked atop both charts after the single released.[7] "Bokura no Kisetsu" was performed for the first time on television on the annual FNS Music Festival on December 1.[8] JO1 then performed the song at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards Japan and the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards where they received the Best Dance Video for their previous lead track, "Real", and the Best Asian Artist (Japan) award, respectively.[9] [10] The song was also performed in several music shows, such as Shibuya Note,[11] Utacon,[12] and Music Fair.[13]

The second lead track "Prologue" is described as a medium-tempo ballad which expresses the idea that "it's okay to be slow, it's okay to stop, it's okay to hold hands and start walking together, and that determination marks the beginning of our journey". The song was produced by Japanese producer, who has worked with artists such as BTS, TVXQ, Exile, Koda Kumi, and others.[14] [15] It was composed in the key of F major, 94 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 37 seconds.[16] "Prologue" debuted at number 49 on Billboard Japan Hot 100 and charted for six weeks on its Hot Animation chart.[17] [18] A studio version video of the song was released on December 10 as part of a week-long commemoration of the group's second anniversary.[19]

Promotion

JO1 started the promotion for Wandering by performing "Run&Go" for the first time at the Best Hits Kayousai on November 11, 2021,[20] about two months after the song's digital release. Beside "Run&Go", three other songs from the single, "Bokura no Kisetsu", "Prologue", and "Never Ending Story", were performed for the first time at the group's first live concert, 2021 JO1 Live "Open the Door", at the Makuhari Messe on November 19–21. JO1 subsequently released performance videos for tracks "We Alright" and "Run & Go",[21] [22] directed by .[23]

On December 24, JO1 then held a commemorative Christmas live for the single at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. A total of 400 fans were invited to the event by lottery among the purchasers of Wandering. The group performed "Prologue", "We Alright", "Bokura no Kisetsu" as well as "Happy Merry Christmas" from their first studio album The Star.[24] JO1 later opened an exhibition at the Gallery AaMo in Tokyo Dome City Hall the next day until January 25, 2022, to commemorate the EP single's release and the group's second anniversary.[25] "Bokura no Kisetsu" was played as the background music of Tokyo Dome City Hall's main tree winter illumination starting on December 15.[26] [27]

  1. Find_the_JO1 campaign

#Find_the_JO1 is an out-of-home advertising campaign launched by JO1 and Lapone Entertainment in 47 prefectures of Japan, with one location in each prefecture except Aichi with two different locations, starting on December 6, 2021. On December 2, the official Twitter account of JO1 posted a mysterious tweet consisting the hashtag, a date "2021.12.6 -", and an image of 48 mysterious codes which led fans assumed they were coordinate numbers of train stations across Japan.[28] Three days later, an image of colored triangles scattered in 48 locations and arranged as if they were on a map of Japan was released, with eleven of the triangles were in official colors of JO1 members and indicated their hometowns. Fans had been posting tweets with the hashtag and photos of the advertisements taken from those locations since the early morning of December 6, which led the hashtag trended on Twitter. The most notable location was Kurihama Station in Kanagawa which station code is JO1. The black lines on the posters became the source of various theories among the fans, and they began to discuss its meaning. The black lines were actually a part of the group's message to their fans, which could be read if the posters were put together in the order of the lyrics attached. On December 11, all advertisements were up, and an image of the completed message saying was posted on the group's official Twitter.

According to Advertimes, the campaign was made with the idea of "JO1 goes to see fans in 47 prefectures who can not see them due to the COVID-19 pandemic". Advertising companies Dentsu and Ad Brain were in charge of its planning and production. In interview with Natalie, a representative of Lapone Entertainment explained that the campaign was made to express the group's and their gratitude to the fans for their support and warm messages in the light of the announcement regarding Kinjo's absent. They also stated that the "we" in the message had included JO1, fans, and Kinjo who was temporarily not together with them.

Commercial performance

Wandering debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart with 298,106 copies sold,[29] and eventually managed to be the group's fifth consecutive number-one on the Weekly Singles Chart with over 430,000 copies sold. It earned JO1 their highest first week physical and combined sales up to then, surpassing their debut single Protostar.[30] The single also set a new personal record on the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales, topping the chart with over a half million copies sold in its first week, and subsequently became JO1's first single to be certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[31] Due to its release date didn't fall in the aggregation period in 2021, Wandering ranked in sixth place on the Billboard Japans mid-year single sales chart of 2022 with 533,632 physical copies sold.[32]

Track listing

"Bokura no Kisetsu" and "Prologue" are common track 1 and 2 for limited edition A, limited edition B, and normal edition.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)1
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)1

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
Japan (Oricon)[34] 17
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[35] 29
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[36] 15

Release history

Release dates and formats for Wandering! Region! Date! Label! Format(s)! Edition! Catalog
VariousDecember 13, 2021Lapone EntertainmentSpecial
JapanDecember 15, 2021Limited AYRCS-90202
Limited BYRCS-90203
CDNormalYRCS-90204
CDAnimeYRCS-90205

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:JO1×『BORUTO』コラボジャケ写解禁 5thシングル「WANDERING」アニメ盤. JO1 x BORUTO collaboration jacket photos released for 5th single WANDERING anime edition. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2213130/full/. Oricon. 12 November 2021. ja. 8 November 2021. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112102506/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2213130/full/. live.
  2. Web site: Key, BPM of 僕らの季節 By JO1. Musicstax. 27 December 2021. en. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227061649/https://musicstax.com/track/na/0fiihHCigBcUjLcyPAhVWh. live.
  3. Web site: ja:JO1『あなたのお名前を呼ぶメッセージ動画』をプレゼント！「僕らの季節」を聴いて、限定キャンペーンに参加しよう. JO1 "Message Video Calling Your Name" for you! Listen to "Bokura no Kisetsu" and participate in the limited campaign!. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003459.000001594.html. PR Times. 6 December 2021. ja. 22 November 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206094428/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003459.000001594.html. live.
  4. Web site: ミュージックビデオサーチ. Space Shower TV. 28 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211228093347/https://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0150208&ch=0. 28 December 2021. ja.
  5. Web site: Bokura no Kisetsu. Billboard Japan. ja. December 1, 2021. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201054241/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2021&month=12&day=6. live.
  6. Web site: ja:週間 合算シングルランキング 2021年12月06日付. Weekly Combined Single Ranking as of Dec. 06, 2021. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2021-12-06/p/3/. Oricon. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211203035931/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2021-12-06/p/3/. 3 December 2021. ja.
  7. Web site: ja:JO1「僕らの季節」516,603枚を売り上げ、総合首位獲得. JO1 "Bokura no Kisetsu" sold 516,603 copies to reach the top spot overall. https://billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/107166/2. Billboard Japan. 23 December 2021. ja. 22 December 2021. December 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211223102137/https://billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/107166/2. live.
  8. Web site: ja:本日放送「FNS歌謡祭」第1夜のタイムテーブル＆全歌唱曲発表. Timetable and all songs announced for today's broadcast of "FNS Uta Matsuri" 1st night. https://natalie.mu/music/news/455723. natalie.mu. 6 December 2021. ja. 1 December 2021. December 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202025322/https://natalie.mu/music/news/455723. live.
  9. Web site: ja:JO1「REAL」MVがもっとも優れたダンスビデオに、最新曲「僕らの季節」も披露. JO1's "REAL" MV was the most outstanding dance video, and the latest song "Our Season" was also performed. https://natalie.mu/music/news/455055. natalie.mu. 15 December 2021. ja. 25 November 2021. November 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211126075535/https://natalie.mu/music/news/455055. live.
  10. Web site: ja:JO1とINIが「2021 MAMA」で受賞＆パフォーマンス、川尻蓮と木村柾哉はコラボでダンス披露. JO1 and INI receive awards and perform at "2021 MAMA"; Ren Kawajiri and Masaya Kimura dance in collaboration. https://natalie.mu/music/news/457275. natalie.mu. 14 December 2021. ja. 11 December 2021. December 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211212083453/https://natalie.mu/music/news/457275. live.
  11. Web site: 「JO1・ディーン・ RinaSawayama・OKAMOTO'S」. NHK. 6 December 2021. ja. 4 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206094234/https://www.nhk.jp/p/s-oto/ts/96KGYVYVVQ/episode/te/VJMK7M68J6/. 6 December 2021.
  12. Web site: ja:明日 12月7日 の『うたコン』は、スガシカオ、BORO、丘みどり、工藤静香、辰巳ゆうと、氷川きよし、細川たかし、坂本冬美、倖田來未、MAISONdes feat.asmi、JO1！「うたコン忘年会 2021」！ 大阪から生放送！. Tomorrow, December 7, Uta-Con will feature Sugashicao, BORO, Midori Oka, Shizuka Kudo, Yuto Tatsumi, Kiyoshi Hikawa, Takashi Hosokawa, Fuyumi Sakamoto, Kumi Koda, MAISONdes feat. asmi, and JO1! Live broadcast from Osaka! . https://musicguide.jp/information/31867/. Music Guide. December 6, 2021 . 15 December 2021. ja. December 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215091548/https://musicguide.jp/information/31867/. live.
  13. Web site: ja:今夜のMUSIC FAIR：出演者＆楽曲公開 JO1「僕らの季節」 Little Glee Monster、薬師丸ひろ子、TAEKOも. Tonight's MUSIC FAIR: Performers and Songs Revealed JO1 "Our Season" with Little Glee Monster, Hiroko Yakushimaru and TAEKO. https://mantan-web.jp/article/20211210dog00m200025000c.html. Mantan Web. 15 December 2021. ja. 11 December 2021. December 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215091542/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20211210dog00m200025000c.html. live.
  14. Web site: JO1 Prologue 歌詞. Uta-Net. 11 October 2021. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011081335/https://www.uta-net.com/song/308877/. 11 October 2021.
  15. Web site: Uta Profile. Tinyvoice Production. 7 December 2021. ja. October 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211010092416/http://tinyvoice.com/creator/uta/. live.
  16. Web site: Key, BPM of Prologue By JO1. Musicstax. 27 December 2021. en. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227061657/https://musicstax.com/track/prologue/5Xx5eH1rZts44wkbllMKAe. live.
  17. Web site: Prologue. Billboard Japan. ja. October 20, 2021. October 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020065402/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2021&month=10&day=25. live.
  18. Web site: Hot Animation. Billboard Japan. 7 December 2021. ja. 24 November 2021. December 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207080606/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=anime&year=2021&month=11&day=29. live.
  19. official_jo1. 1467471314495721473. 5 December 2021. 2021 JAM WEEK Contents Schedule #JO1 #2021JAMWEEK. ja. 24 November 2021. https://twitter.com/official_jo1/status/1467471314495721473. https://web.archive.org/web/20211211034227/https://twitter.com/official_jo1/status/1467471314495721473.
  20. Web site: ja:『ベストヒット歌謡祭』タイムテーブル 今夜2時間生放送. "Best Hit Uta Matsuri" Timetable: 2 hours live broadcast tonight. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2213439/full/. Oricon. ja. 11 November 2021. November 12, 2021. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112102522/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2213439/full/. live .
  21. Web site: 『We Alright』 PERFORMANCE VIDEO 公開！. JO1 Official Website. 29 March 2022. ja. 7 December 2021. March 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220329013706/https://jo1.jp/news/detail/1523. live.
  22. Web site: JO1、「Run＆Go」ダンスパフォーマンス動画を公開！. The First Times. 29 March 2022. ja. 20 December 2021. December 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221040007/https://www.thefirsttimes.jp/news/0000059790/. live.
  23. Web site: Parade Tokyo., Ltd. Official Facebook. Facebook. 28 December 2021. ja. 23 December 2021. March 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220329013625/https://www.facebook.com/Parade-TokyoLtd-997098600350635/. live.
  24. Web site: ja:JO1がJAMと過ごした特別なクリスマスイブの夜「みんなのサンタになれたらうれしいな」. JO1 spent a special Christmas Eve night with JAM: "I'd be happy to be everyone's Santa.". https://natalie.mu/music/news/459295. natalie.mu. 27 December 2021. ja. 24 December 2021. December 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211225065917/https://natalie.mu/music/news/459295. live .
  25. Web site: ja:JO1、12・25から結成以来最大の展覧会『JO1 EXHIBITION』開催 撮り下ろしアートメイク作品など展示. JO1's biggest exhibition "JO1 EXHIBITION" will be held from December 25, 2012, featuring newly shot art and makeup works. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2210012/full/. Oricon. 4 November 2021. ja. 12 October 2021. November 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104073848/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2210012/full/. live .
  26. Web site: ja:JO1の展覧会がイルミネーションとコラボ、メンバーの名前冠したスペシャルメニューも提供. JO1's exhibition collaborates with Illuminations, offers special menu with members' names. https://natalie.mu/music/news/457548. natalie.mu. 14 December 2021. ja. 14 December 2021. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214055918/https://natalie.mu/music/news/457548. live .
  27. Web site: JO1 EXHIBITION in Gallery AaMo. Gallery AaMo Official Website. 16 December 2021. ja. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214040427/https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/aamo/event/jo1_exhibition.html. live .
  28. Web site: ja:JO1、謎の予告“FIND THE JO1”に反響 「47都道府県で何かが始まる」暗号読み解くファン続々. JO1's mysterious announcement, "FIND THE JO1," has received a lot of attention. "Something will start in 47 prefectures," many fans read the code. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2895443. ModelPress. 16 December 2021. ja. 3 December 2021. December 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216101230/https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2895443. live .
  29. Web site: ja:デイリー シングルランキング 2021年12月14日付. Daily Single Ranking as of Dec. 14, 2021. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2021-12-14/. Oricon. 23 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216011006/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/d/2021-12-14/. 16 December 2021. ja.
  30. Web site: ja:JO1最新シングル「WANDERING」が「合算シングル」1位 自己最高週間ポイントを記録. JO1's latest single "WANDERING" ranked No.1 in "Combined Singles", recording the highest weekly point in its history. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2218857/full/. Oricon. 24 December 2021. ja. 24 December 2021. December 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211224043715/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2218857/full/. live .
  31. Web site: 嵐のライブ映像作品がゴールドディスクに認定 Ｓｎｏｗ Ｍａｎシングルとともにトリプル・プラチナに. Sanspo. 14 January 2022. ja. 14 January 2022. January 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220114074641/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20220114-AALNGR4WJNI2VF7J7UDVI5IJOA/. live.
  32. Web site: 【ビルボード 2022年上半期TOP Singles Sales】Snow Manが2年連続トップ2独占 INI／乃木坂46が続く. Billboard Japan . June 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610144238/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/113008/2 . June 10, 2022 . ja . live .
  33. Web site: ja:月間 シングルランキング 2021年12月度. Oricon Monthly Single Ranking 2021/12. https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2021-12/. Oricon. 13 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220113020719/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2021-12/. 13 January 2022.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Year-End 2022 . . December 9, 2022.

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