Be the Naked

"Be the Naked" (stylized as Be the NAKED) is the thirtieth single by Japanese hip-hop group Lead. The single was announced in December 2018, two weeks before the release of their concert DVD Lead Upturn 2018: Milestone.[1] It debuted in the top ten on the Oricon charts at No. 7.

"Be the Naked"
Single by Lead
from the album Singularity
ReleasedJanuary 30, 2019
Recorded2019
Genre
LabelPony Canyon
PCCA-04746 (CD)
PCCA-04744 (Type A, CD+DVD)
PCCA-04745 (Type B, CD+DVD)
PCCA-70536 (Type C, CD+Booklet)
Lead singles chronology
"Bumblebee"
(2018)		 "Be the Naked"
(2019)		 "Summer Vacation"
(2019)

The single is their first release following their album Milestone, and released eight months after their previous single "Bumblebee".

The single was released in four formats: a standard CD, two CD+DVD editions, and a CD+booklet edition. Each edition also received a limited edition version that held concert tickets to their upcoming live.

Information

Be the Naked is the thirtieth single released by the Japanese hip-hop group Lead on January 30, 2019. It was their first single of the year, and the first single following their 2018 studio album Milestone.[2] Be the Naked debuted in the top ten on the Oricon Singles Charts at No. 7 and climbed to the No. 6 spot by the third day.[3][4] However, before the end of the first week, the single fell out of the top 20 to No. 22,[5] giving it a weekly ranking of No. 9 and ending the first week with 18,243 units sold.[6]

The single was released in four formats: a standard CD, two CD+DVD editions, and a CD+booklet edition. The first press editions included tickets to their upcoming live performance. The CD only version held three songs: the title track "Be the Naked", and the two coupling tracks "Drop in the box" and "99.9%".[7] The CD+DVD editions contained the title track and the coupling track "99.9%". The type A edition carried the music video of "Be the Naked", along with the behind-the-scenes making video of both the music video and the cover art.[8] The type B DVD housed the group's "Lead Challenge 30", which was a game show featuring the members.[9] The CD+booklet edition held "Be the Naked" and the track "Drop in the box", along with a 24-page photo book.[10]

"Be the Naked" was arranged by songwriters Obi Mhondera, Kyler Niko and Coach & Sendo, the later of which performed the music. The lyrics were written by Saeki Yuusuke (also known by his stage name 佐伯youthK or Saeki youthK), while Lead's own Shinya Tanuichi wrote the rap portion of the song.[11] "99.9%" was written and composed by Carlos Okabe. Both Okabe and Hali Awani performed the piece.[12] The lyrical portion was written by lyricist Kelly. The track "Drop in the box" was written, composed and performed by RYUJA and rapper KM-MARKIT, the latter of which who had worked with Lead in the past for their 2017 song "Shampoo Bubble".[13] The lyrics were written by Lead members Shinya Tanuichi and Akira Kagimoto.[14]

Cover art

For the type A and standard editions, Shinya, Keita and Akira posed with live flames. The fire and dark tones of the various covers were to portray the intensity and darkness of the title track.[15]

Promotional advertisements

To help promote the single, the song "Be the Naked" was used as the theme song to the second opening of the anime television show Hinomaru Sumo, which began January 25, five days before the single's physical release.

The series currently airs on Fridays at ten o'clock PM on Tokyo MX, AbemaTV, BS11, Sun Television, Aichi TV and TVQ Kyushu.[16]

Aiding in promotions, those who preordered the single from various Tower Records stores throughout Japan were able to obtain a special poster, based on a first-come first-served basis. For stores outside of Tower Records, a special postcard set was available, which included solo postcards featuring each member. The stores participated were HMV, Amazon Japan, Tsutaya Records and various CD shops.

Music video

The music video to "Be the Naked" opens with Keita dragging a broken chair through what appears to be an abandoned building before cutting to all three members utilizing their skills in break dancing, using the interior of building as the location. The video cuts to various shots of the individual members both in rooms and on the roof of the building, overlooking a city during sunset. During the chorus, when the group sings "be the naked", they motion over their genitals. Shots performed in what appears to be an abandoned theater are overlaid with a mirror effect of two members dancing in the background, while one member sings their lines in the front.

For the video, Keita dons short, blonde hair, a style none of the members have utilized throughout their career.

On December 30, 2018, Pony Canyon's official YouTube for the group uploaded the music video to assist in promotion.[17]

Track listing
CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Be the Naked"Saeki Yuusuke • Shinya Tanuichi (rap)Coach & SendoObi Mhondera • Kyler Niko • Coach & Sendo4:05
2."99.9%"KellyCarlos OkabeHani Alwani • Carlos Okabe3:34
3."Drop in the box"Shinya Tanuichi • Akira KagimotoKM-MARKIT • RYUJAKM-MARKIT • RYUJA3:31
Total length:11:10
Type A
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Be the Naked"Saeki Yuusuke • Shinya Tanuichi (rap)Coach & SendoObi Mhondera • Kyler Niko • Coach & Sendo4:05
2."99.9%"KellyCarlos OkabeHani Alwani • Carlos Okabe3:34
Total length:7:39
Type A: DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Be the Naked" (Music Video)4:07
2."Be the Naked" (Behind the Music Video) 
3."Be the Naked" (Behind the Jacket Shooting) 
Type B
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Be the Naked"Saeki Yuusuke • Shinya Tanuichi (rap)Coach & SendoObi Mhondera • Kyler Niko • Coach & Sendo4:05
2."99.9%"KellyCarlos OkabeHani Alwani • Carlos Okabe3:34
Total length:7:39
Type B: DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead Challenge 30" 
Type C
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Be the Naked"Saeki Yuusuke • Shinya Tanuichi (rap)Coach & SendoObi Mhondera • Kyler Niko • Coach & Sendo4:05
2."Drop in the box"Shinya Tanuichi • Akira KagimotoKM-MARKIT • RYUJAKM-MARKIT • RYUJA3:31
Total length:7:36

Charts
Release Chart Peak position Total sales
January 30, 2019 Oricon Daily Charts 6
Oricon Weekly Chart 9 20,628
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References
  1. "「Be the Naked」". Lead Official. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  2. "Lead：New Single「Be the Naked」1月30日発売決定！【発売記念イベント開催！】". RisingProduction. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  3. "オリコンデイリー　シングルランキング2019年01月29日付". Oricon. January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  4. "オリコンデイリー　シングルランキング2019年01月31日付". Oricon. January 29, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. "オリコンデイリー　シングルランキング2019年02月03日付". Oricon. February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  6. "オリコン週間　シングルランキング2019年02月11日付（2019年01月28日～2019年02月03日）". Oricon. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  7. "Be the Naked [Regular Edition]". CDJapan. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  8. "Be the Naked [w/ DVD, Limited Edition / Type A]". CDJapan. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  9. "Be the Naked [w/ DVD, Limited Edition / Type B]". CDJapan. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  10. "Be the Naked [Limited Edition / Type C]". CDJapan. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  11. "Be the NAKED 歌詞【Lead】". UtaTen. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  12. "Lead – 99.9% 歌詞 / JP & KP Romanizacion 歌詞". MangaLyrics. January 30, 2019. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  13. "Lead Shampoo Bubble 歌詞". J-Lyric. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  14. "Drop in the box 歌詞 Lead ※ Mojim.com". Mojim. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  15. "New Single「Be the NAKED」1月30日発売決定！【新ビジュアル＆詳細公開！/TVアニメ「火ノ丸相撲」新オープニングテーマに決定！】". Lead Official. December 22, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  16. "Hinomaru Sumo TV Anime Listed With 24 Episodes". Anime News. October 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. "Be the NAKED / Lead【Music Video】". Lead Official YouTube. December 30, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
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