Change Myself (song)

"Change Myself" is Japanese/Korean musician Iconiq's second Japanese digital single, and the title track of her debut album, Change Myself. The song was central to much of the album's promotion, such as its use in commercials for Shiseido's Maquillage cosmetics range. The song's lyrics influenced the change theme to Iconiq's debut. The song was somewhat successful in the digital market, peaking at #1 on Recochoku's weekly ringtone ranking chart.[1] However, the song only received moderate success as a full-length download, peaking at #20 on RIAJ's Digital Track Chart.[2]

For 1991 single and electronic video "Change Myself" by Todd Rundgren, see 2nd Wind.
"Change Myself"
Album Change Myself cover
Single by Iconiq
from the album Change Myself
ReleasedMarch 3, 2010 (2010-03-03)
GenreJ-pop, R&B
Length4:05
LabelRhythm Zone
Songwriter(s)Hiro
Producer(s)Hiro
Iconiq singles chronology
"I'm Lovin' You"
(2010)		 "Change Myself"
(2010)		 "Bye Now!"
(2010)

Release

The song was first released as a ringtone on January 20, 2010.[3] A 1:39 edit of the song was released as B-side on Iconiq's "I'm Lovin' You" rental single, on January 27, 2010.[4] A shorter edited version of the song was released as a digital download to cellphones on March 3, 2010,[5] with the full-length version released simultaneously in cellphone and PC digital stores on March 31, 2010.[6]

The song appears on both Iconiq's debut album Change Myself, released March 10, 2010, and on her debut extended play, Light Ahead, released September 15, 2010.

Writing

The song is a mid-tempo R&B song, written by Hiro of Digz, inc.. The lyrics describe a woman who has just come out of a relationship, whose only escape from sadness and reality is the MP3s she plays. She decides that she will not "live for nobody else but me" and changes things about herself.[7] According to Iconiq, the song tries to express the message "From now I'll keep trying, and walk forward."[8]

Because Iconiq and her team believed the song's message was strong, "Change Myself" also became the title of Iconiq's debut album.[8] Furthermore, the lyrics of the song, such as the chorus line "no datte yes ni kaete ikeru" (NOだってYESに変えて行ける, If it's a no, I'll change it to a yes.), became the basis for concepts and catch phrases that were the centre of promotion around the album.[3]

Promotion

The song was announced in a press conference on the 19th of January, which announced the song as being used for Shiseido's Maquillage cosmetics range. Iconiq's debut digital single "I'm Lovin' You" had been used for the same promotions in late 2009,[9] however these commercials featured Iconiq personally, instead of just using her music. The song was also used in commercials for Recochoku.[10]

During album promotions, Iconiq promoted products from seven different companies simultaneously: All Nippon Airways, US fashion brand Kitson, Italian car manufacturer Maserati, Rhythm Zone, music download site Mu-Mo, Shiseido and Starbucks.[11] Each commercial had two versions: one featuring "Change Myself" as background music, along with versions using "Bye Now!."[12]

Iconiq performed this song as a per of her set at the 2010 A-Nation concerts.[13]

Music video
Iconiq walking against the Tokyo cityscape in the music video.

The music video was directed by Yasuhiko Shimizu.[14] The video begins with grey-scale shots of Iconiq walking through deserted heights of a building in the Tokyo skyline. Interspersed through these shots are scenes of Iconiq posing in fashionable clothing, as if for a photoshoot. The video then focuses on scenes of Iconiq against a shimmering, changing background. The background shows such things as stylised lettering of the song's title and geometric patterns. She poses, or dances like a butterfly[8] against the screen. Eventually, different primary colors are added to the patterns on the screen. The final scene shows Iconiq herself in color.

The music video attempts to express a woman with a strong will.[8]

Chart rankings
Chart Peak
position
Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[15] 77
Billboard Japan Hot 100[16] 73
RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100[2]
  • Special edit version
 20
RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100[17] 34

Release history
Region Date Format
Japan January 20, 2010 (2010-01-20)[3] Ringtone
March 3, 2010 (2010-03-03)[5] Cellphone download (special edit version)
March 31, 2010 (2010-03-31)[6] PC download, cellphone download (full-length version)
gollark: I'm hoping iGPUs will get good enough in a few years for my GPU to become unnecessary.
gollark: Practically you need a GPU, if just a minimal one, but you don't need a graphics card. My CPU has no iGPU, you see.
gollark: GPU != graphics card.
gollark: You can play some text adventure over the serial port.
gollark: Strictly speaking it doesn't.

References
  1. "ICONIQ、レコチョクウィークリーも2作品連続1位獲得" (in Japanese). Barks. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  2. "レコード協会調べ 2010年03月03日～2010年03月09日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞". RIAJ. February 12, 2010. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  3. "ICONIQ、資生堂「マキアージュ」CM発表会にて初お披露目＆初ライヴ" (in Japanese). Barks. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  4. "ICONIQ、2作連続レコチョクデイリー1位" (in Japanese). Barks. 2010-01-22. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  5. "資生堂「マキアージュ」TVCFソング「BYE NOW!」配信情報". Rhythm Zone. March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  6. "3/31（水）より「CHANGE MYSELF」収録曲着うたフル®、PC配信スタート！". Rhythm Zone. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  7. "Change Myself - ICONIQ". Goo Music (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  8. "ICONIQ 新しいスタートと変化への欲望" (in Japanese). Yahoo. 2010-03-05. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  9. "ATSUSHI（EXILE）の心を動かした新人・ICONIQが、2009年新人最高DL記録を樹立" (in Japanese). Barks. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  10. "レコチョク 楽曲検索 ICONIQ Change Myself" (in Japanese). Recochoku. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  11. "ICONIQがMASERATI、スターバックス、kitsonら7企業とコラボCMを制作" (in Japanese). Barks. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  12. Avex Network (March 8, 2010). "ICONIQ 企業コラボCM" (in Japanese). Youtube. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  13. "ＩＣＯＮＩＱ短髪ええやん！！". Daily Sports. August 23, 2010. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  14. "ICONIQ 楽曲名 Change Myself". Space Shower (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  15. "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard Japan. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-08-08. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  16. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-07-24. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  17. "レコード協会調べ 2010年03月31日～2010年04月06日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞". RIAJ. April 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
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