Beep!!

"Beep!!" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Sunshine Sunshine" in 2011, and was used as the theme song for the Hiroshi Shinagawa film Manzai Gang (2011).

"Beep!!"
"Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine" single cover
Single by Superfly
from the album Mind Travel
ReleasedMarch 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)
Recorded2010
GenrePop, rock
Length4:12
LabelWarner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Shiho Ochi, Kōichi Tabo, Jam
Producer(s)Kōichi Tsutaya
Superfly singles chronology
"Sunshine Sunshine"
(2011)		 "Beep!!"
(2011)		 "Rollin' Days"
(2011)

Background and development

In March 2010, Superfly released Wildflower & Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3', a two-CD set featuring a four-track single and a full-length cover album of classic rock songs. It was led by the song "Wildflower", the theme song for the drama Gold, and also featured "Tamashii Revolution", a song used to promote the NHK broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[1] Both songs were commercially successful, with "Wildflower" becoming certified Platinum for downloads by the Recording Industry Association of Japan,[2] and "Tamashii Revolution" certified platinum twice.[3][4] This was followed by "Eyes on Me", a ballad single released in December used as the theme song for the Square Enix shooting game The 3rd Birthday.[5]

"Beep!!" was written before "Sunshine Sunshine". Director Hiroshi Shinagawa wanted a Superfly song similar to the "high-paced feel" of "Alright!!" (2009) for the theme song for his film Manzai Gang (2011), so asked Ochi to write the theme song. Ochi was inspired to write about feelings of change after reading the script for the film and meeting with Shinagawa. Conceptually, the song was recorded with the style of American rock band The Knack as a basis.[6] Ochi wrote the lyrics together with musician Jam. At the time Ochi had wanted to write tender love songs such as "Eyes on Me", so had trouble mentally creating the lyrics. Together they wrote the song from the perspective of a big-sister like character, much like the lyrics of Superfly's song "Manifesto".[6]

Promotion and release

"Beep!!" was announced as the theme song for the Hiroshi Shinagawa film Manzai Gang in late December, 2011.[7] Superfly intended to perform "Beep!!" live at Music Station on March 11, 2011, however the program was cancelled due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[8][9]

The song was released as a single also featuring Superfly's song "Sunshine Sunshine" as the other A-side. The limited edition version of the single featured an additional DVD, with a performance from the Superfly & The Lemon Bats Special Live "Rock'N'Roll Muncher", a three-date tour in November 2010 commissioned by Switch! music magazine to celebrate the magazine's 25th anniversary.[10] The Lemon Bats are a group formed by Superfly, featuring Tatsuya Nakamura of Losalios, Kōichi Tsutaya, Kazuhiro Momo of Mo'Some Tonebender, Yoshiyuki Yatsuhashi and Hidekazu Hinata of Straightener.[11]

Music video

A music video was produced for the song, directed by Wataru Saitō.[12] The video begins in a bedroom set, featuring an indoor apple tree. Further scenes depict vocalist Shiho Ochi outside turning a fake pig on a spit, driving in a car surrounded by police men and her walking along train tracks. The police men are featured in later scenes shot at night, where they perform a dance routine.

Critical reception

Haruna Takekawa of Hot Express praised the song's heavy, simple riffs and edgy guitar sound, and noted Ochi's voice was powerful and full. She felt that the song had strong imagery of a woman with long hair driving wildly in a convertible. She noted that both "Sunshine Sunshine" and "Beep!!" were much more simple than her previous songs.[13] CDJournal reviewers described the song as a "wild rock tune" centred on hard rock-style guitar riffs. They praised Superfly's vocals as "excellent" and being the heart of the song, and felt that sound developed by the intertwining drums and guitars was "thrilling".[14][15] Tomoki Takahashi of Rockin' On Japan focused on the song's powerful chorus, and praised Ochi's vocals. He felt that the song showed Ochi as a strong-willed person, and was indicative of her ever-changing style of music.[16]

Track listing
"Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine" single
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Beep!!"Shiho Ochi, JamKōichi TaboKōichi Tsutaya4:12
2."Sunshine Sunshine"S. OchiK. TaboK. Tsutaya4:01
3."Different Ways"S. OchiS. OchiK. Tsutaya3:36
Total length:12:49
"Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine" single DVD: Superfly & The Lemon Bats "Rock'N'Roll Muncher"
No.TitleLength
1."tour document" 
2."Tanjō" 
3."live rehearsal" 
4."Manifesto" 
5."back stage" 
6."Free Planet" 
7."Alright!!" 

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from the liner notes booklet of Mind Travel.[17]

  • Mikio Hirama – electric guitar
  • Yutaka Odawara – drums
  • Shiho Ochi – lead and background vocals, tambourine
  • Tokie – bass
  • Yoshiyuki Yatsuhashi – electric guitar

Chart rankings
Charts (2011) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[18] 14
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[19] 5
Japan Oricon weekly singles[20]
  • "Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine"
 5
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[21] 29

Sales
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[22]
  • "Beep!!" / "Sunshine Sunshine"
 27,000

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalog codes
Japan March 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)[11][23] CD single, CD/DVD, digital download Warner Music Japan WPCL-10924, WPZL-30253/4 (DVD)
March 26, 2011 (2011-03-26)[24] Rental CD WPCL-10924
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References
  1. "18:10～「MUSIC JAPAN」出演決定！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  2. 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] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  3. レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  4. レコード協会調べ　6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 20, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  5. "Superfly、スクエニ新作テーマソングに王道バラード提供" (in Japanese). Natalie. October 27, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. Junichi Uchimoto (March 9, 2011). "ロックンロールとフォーキー、2種が並んだSuperflyの両A面シングル" (in Japanese). EMTG. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  7. "MステでSuperfly新曲初披露、5年ぶりケミ、aikoメドレー等" (in Japanese). Natalie. March 3, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  8. "MステでSuperfly新曲初披露、5年ぶりケミ、aikoメドレー等" (in Japanese). Natalie. March 3, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  9. "「MUSIC STATION」放送中止のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. March 11, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ""SWITCH" anniversary concert with Superfly announces new guests". Tokyo Hive. September 22, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  11. "「Beep!! / Sunshine Sunshine」初回特典DVD収録内容、カップリング曲決定！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. January 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  12. "Beep!!" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  13. Haruna Takekawa. "Superfly 映画「漫才ギャング」主題歌で強気な姿勢!?" (in Japanese). Hot Express. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  14. "Superfly / Mind Travel [デジパック仕様] [CD+DVD] [限定]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  15. "Superfly / Superfly BEST [デジパック仕様] [2CD]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  16. Tomoki Takahashi. "意志の歌、情愛の歌" (in Japanese). Rockin' On Japan. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  17. Mind Travel (Media notes) (in Japanese). Superfly. Tokyo, Japan: Victor Music Japan. 2011.CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). March 2, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  19. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 16, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  20. Superflyのシングル売り上げランキング [Superfly single sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  21. "レコード協会調べ 2011年03月09日～2011年03月22日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association report: 2011.03.09~2011.03.22 <abb. Reco-kyō Chart 'Chaku-uta Full'>] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. March 11, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  22. "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']. Oricon. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  23. "Beep!! / Sunshine Sunshine - Single" (in Japanese). Apple. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  24. "Ｂｅｅｐ！！／Ｓｕｎｓｈｉｎｅ　Ｓｕｎｓｈｉｎｅ" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
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