| Where Our Blue Is | |
| Artist: | Tatsuya Kitani |
| Cover: | WhereOurBlueIsNormal.jpg |
| Type: | EP |
| Genre: | |
| Language: | Japanese |
| Label: | Mastersix Foundation |
is the third EP by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuya Kitani. It was released on July 19, 2023, by Mastersix Foundation. The title track serves as the third overall opening theme song for the Jujutsu Kaisen anime television series.
It was released in two editions: the standard edition and the first press limited edition. The standard edition includes the title song, the self-cover version of the song "Love Song (featuring Eve)", and two other tracks. The first press limited edition includes the DVD of the live performance of the one-man tour "Unknot/Reknot" held at Zepp DiverCity (Tokyo) on October 15, 2022.[1] On June 26, the EP was available to pre-order on iTunes and pre-add or pre-save on Apple Music and Spotify. While the standard edition features a cover of two hands touching one another, the first press edition front and back covers show Jujutsu Kaisen character Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto instead. Anichoice praised the design of the cover.[2]
The title track "Where Our Blue Is" was pre-released as a single worldwide on July 7, 2023.[3] It peaked at number two in the Billboard Japan Hot 100,[4] the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart,[5] and the Billboard Japan Streaming Songs chart.[6] The music video for it was released on YouTube on July 13, 2023.[7] It was filmed in the desert of Dubai.[8]
The song is based on the concept of "farewell peculiar to youth". In producing the music, Kitani received an offer from the anime production side, "A song with a refreshing impression based on the theme of youth". He said it was difficult. The school chime (Westminster Quarters) phrase is used in part of the song. Revealing the changes that have sprouted in order to save memories of youth and "deliver".[9]
Kitani was able to quickly create something like the first seed for "Where Our Blue Is", but it was difficult after that. The first arrangement of this song was completely different, with a slower BPM, more sad elements, and a bit of a guitar on a club beat. The singer tried to make a version that was closer to that, and what he came up with was a guitar rock with a fast BPM and a sense of speed. When asking the director to listen to those two, he said, "It's about the middle." After all, the melody and lyrics are the same, but the finished product is different. Eve's "Kaikai Kitan" was a major inspiration for the song. "Scar", which he wrote as the first opening theme song for the anime television series, is one of them, and when he was writing the chorus of "Where Our Blue Is", Kitani was thinking about that. Straight as much as possible, twisted in other places. At the beginning of the song, there is a sound like "Corn!" which makes the listener feel like they are back in the womb. When people put in that kind of sound effect to attract the listener and help them grow up.[10]
For Jujutsu Kaisen, the video primarily deals with the youth of Gojo and Geto, with an emphasis on blue backgrounds, like the lyrics say. The opening contrasts with the ending theme, "Akari", which uses a more relaxed melody and also makes emphasis on Gojo and Geto's friendship. Collab Cafe praised the opening as it will make people listen to it several times.[11]
| Year | Award | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anime Grand Prix | 2024 | Best Theme Song | [12] | ||
| Crunchyroll Anime Awards | 2024 | Best Opening Sequence | [13] | ||
| Best Anime Song | |||||
| Japan Expo Awards | 2024 | Daruma for Best Opening | [14] |
All tracks mastered by Hidekazu Sakai.All tracks recorded and mixed at Sony Music Studios Tokyo (Minato, Tokyo, Japan)
| Peak position | ||
| Global 200 (Billboard)[15] | 85 | |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] | 2 | |
| Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[17] | 2 | |
| Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[18] | 3 | |
| Taiwan (Billboard)[19] | 2 | |
| US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] | 13 |
| Position | ||
| Japan (Oricon)[21] | 33 |
|---|
| Position | ||
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[22] | 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[23] | 9 | |
| Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[24] | 7 |