Gunjō Biyori

"Gunjō Biyori" (群青日和, "Ultramarine Weather"), also known by its English name "Ideal Days for Ultramarine",[1] is the debut single by Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen, led by musician Ringo Sheena. It was released on September 8, 2004, ten months after Sheena's solo single "Ringo no Uta".

"Gunjō Biyori"
Single by Tokyo Jihen
from the album Kyōiku
B-side
  • "Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki"
  • "Kao"
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2004 (2004-09-08)
Recorded2004
GenreAlternative rock, pop-rock
Length3:33
LabelToshiba EMI
Songwriter(s)
Ringo Sheena

H Zetto M

Tokyo Jihen singles chronology
"Gunjō Biyori"
(2004)		 "Sōnan"
(2004)

Background and development

Tokyo Jihen was first formed in 2003, after Ringo Sheena decided on members for her backing band for her Sugoroku Ecstasy tour.[2] It had been Sheena's intention to release music in a band since before she debuted in 1998.[2][3] The band's name was publicised during the tour,[4] however previous tours had featured backing bands with names, such as Gyakutai Glykogen for Gekokujyo Xstasy and Hatsuiku Status.

The band was officially announced as Sheena's main musical unit on May 31, 2004, and first performed at a series of summer music festivals: Meet the World Beat 2004 on July 25, 2004 at the Expo Commemoration Park in Osaka, July 30, 2004 at the Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata, and September 3, 2004 at the Fukuoka Sunset Live festival.[5][6]

Writing and production

All 17 of the songs for the Kyōiku era were recorded over a period of four days.[7] The song features lyrics by Sheena set to a melody composed by then band pianist H Zetto M. It was one of three songs from Kyōiku to be written in this style, the other two being "Genjitsu ni Oite" and "Service". The single's B-sides include a cover of the 1937 standard "The Lady Is a Tramp", and "Kao", a duet between Sheena and then guitarist Mikio Hirama, who wrote the song's music. Sheena stated that it had been "a dream of sorts" to release music that collaborated with a variety of songwriters.[8] The single's song lengths are all palindromic, much like Sheena's album Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana (2003). Pianist H Zetto M gave Sheena a collection of demos before recording sessions started, and "Gunjō Biyori" was the first song present. Sheena felt as if he had written the song specifically for Sheena, and everything she was experiencing.[9] "Kao" was a song Hirama initially gave Sheena during the Sugoroku Tour, though she felt she could not sing it. Eventually, the idea of singing the song as a duet was created, meaning the song became feasible.[9]

The single package and track list are created in the same pattern as the band's next single "Sōnan". Both releases feature an English language cover of an American song popular in the 1950s, and a B-side with a single kanji title. All song lengths on both singles are palindromic numbers. Both releases' Japanese catalogue codes are also palindromic: TOCT-4884 and TOCT-4994 respectively. Both singles' covers are from the same photoshoot, both featuring a white gradient.

Promotion and release

The song was used in a commercial campaign for the Sanyo-manufactured au W21SA range of cellphones.[10] Tokyo Jihen performed the song at Count Down TV on November 27, 2004, and at Music Station on the 2004 Christmas special, aired on December 24, 2004.[11][12]

The song was performed during the band's first four festival appearances in 2004, as well as their Dynamite! (2005), Domestic! Virgin Line (2006), Spa & Treatment (2007), Discovery (2011) and Bon Voyage (2012) tours.[13][14] The live performance from the Dynamite Out DVD was compiled on the album Tokyo Collection (2012). The live performances at the Dynamite Out and Bon Voyage tours were released as videos to promote their respective DVDs.[15][16] The B-sides were also performed by the band, "Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki" at their Yamabikari, Meet the World Beat and SunSet Live 2004 festival appearances, as well as at the Domestic! Just Can't Help It (2006) tour, while "Kao" was performed during their Dynamite tour, and in a medley with "Genjitsu ni Oite" during Domestic! Just Can't Help It.[13]

Music video

A music video was filmed for the song, directed by Masaaki Uchino.[17] It links directly into an additional video shot for the B-side "Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki", which were occasionally shown together on music video channels.[18] Both videos were made available on September 8, 2004, on Tokyo Jihen's official website.[19] Tokyo Jihen's next single "Sōnan" also featured a music video for the song's B-side that was a continuation of the leading song's video, also directed by Uchino.[20] It features the members of Tokyo Jihen in on a dark stage, Sheena soaked in water. As they perform the song, spotlights illuminates them. The video for "Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki" is performed on the same set, and features Sheena walking amongst the other band members. The camera angle is reversed, pointing towards the spotlights and the movie cameras.

Director Uchino made the theme of the video a band's first performance, as "Gunjō Biyori" was the debut song for the band. In order to capturea sense of a "real" Sheena, Uchino soaked Sheena in water, to emulate the effect of a musician sweating during a performance.[21]

The video won the Best Group award at the 2005 Space Shower Music Video Awards.[22] It was also nominated for the Best Buzz Asia from Japan award at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, however lost to Orange Range's "Locolotion".[23]

Critical reception

Listenmusic reviewer Kiyohiko Koike felt Hiizumi's melody was unlike something Sheena would create herself, however also noted the "profound lyrics based on old timey vocabulary" was a highlight, and still managed to convey Sheena's worldview. He further noted that Sheena felt at ease in the role of a vocalist.[24] CDJournal reviewers felt the song had a slightly different image to what Sheena had in her solo career, noting that listeners could hear the enjoyment Sheena had at being able to play in a band.[10][25] What's In? reviewers also noted the sense of freedom in the song present in the sound work not seen in Sheena's solo career.[26] Reviewer Yū Onoda called the single "vivid" and the band's sound "thrilling", impressed by the "punkish arrangement" of "The Lady Is a Tramp".[27]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Gunjō Biyori"Ringo SheenaH Zetto M3:33
2."Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki" (その淑女ふしだらにつき "The Lady Is a Tramp")Lorenz HartRichard Rodgers2:22
3."Kao" (顔 "Faces")R. SheenaMikio Hirama4:04
Total length:10:00

Chart rankings
Charts (2004) Peak
position
Japan Oricon daily singles[28] 1
Japan Oricon weekly singles[29] 2
Japan Oricon monthly singles[30] 5
Japan Oricon yearly singles[31] 42
Charts (2012) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[32] 75
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[33] 45
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[34] 46

Sales and certifications
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[35] 203,000
RIAJ physical shipping certification[36] Gold (100,000+)
RIAJ digital certification[37] Gold (100,000+)

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan September 8, 2004 (2004-09-08)[38][27] CD, digital download, rental CD Toshiba EMI TOCT-4884
Taiwan September 15, 2004 (2004-09-15)[39] CD Gold Typhoon 86781420
gollark: Enough to incubate herds of new releases...
gollark: you generally, I mean.
gollark: How do you have so many reds?
gollark: They're so small...
gollark: Plus two CB Silvers and a 3G SAltkin.

References
  1. "Ideal days for ultramarine / INCIDENTS TOKYO". Kronekodow. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. 東京事変オフィシャルインタビュー第一弾 [Tokyo Jihen official interview number one] (in Japanese). Toshiba EMI. August 11, 2004. Archived from the original on August 17, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  3. 東京事変"所信表明"コメント (in Japanese). Virgin Music. Archived from the original on July 2, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  4. 第18回 ─ 椎名林檎 実演ツアー 雙六エクスタシー＠渋谷公会堂 2003年8月24日（日） (in Japanese). Tower Records. September 4, 2003. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  5. "椎名林檎、"東京事変"のバンドヴォーカリストとして活動開始！" [Ringo Sheena, starting up as the vocalist for the band "Tokyo Jihen"]. Barks. May 31, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  6. フェスではじめまして。東京の夏、事変の夏 [Saying 'Hi' at festivals. Tokyo summer, Incident summer] (in Japanese). Kronekodow. Archived from the original on September 29, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  7. インタビュー 東京事変 (in Japanese). Tower Records. November 25, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  8. 最新作 [Newest works] (in Japanese). Kronekodow. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. 東京事変オフィシャルインタビュー第二弾 [Tokyo Jihen official interview number two] (in Japanese). Toshiba EMI. September 15, 2004. Archived from the original on September 15, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  10. ミニ・レビュー (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  11. "CDTV". Music TV. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  12. "主演者ラインップ" [Performer line-up]. TV Asashi. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  13. チャンネルガイド-東京事変オフィシャルブック- [Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kronekodow. February 29, 2012. pp. 186–187. ISBN 4884182987.
  14. 東京事変、“最期の生実演”を完全収録した映像作品6/13発売決定 [Tokyo Jihen, DVD footage of their final concert to be released on 6/13.] (in Japanese). Barks. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  15. "群青日和 from DVD「Dynamite out」" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  16. "群青日和 from DVD「Bon Voyage」" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
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  18. 群青日和 / その淑女ふしだらにつき (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  19. いよいよ・・・！ (in Japanese). Universal. September 8, 2004. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  20. 遭難 / ダイナマイト (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  21. チャンネルガイド-東京事変オフィシャルブック- [Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kronekodow. February 29, 2012. p. 137. ISBN 4884182987.
  22. "スペシャのビデオ･アワードBEST VIDEO OF THE YEARはRIP SLYME！". Barks. March 28, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  23. "Winners" (in Japanese). MTV Japan. Archived from the original on June 7, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  24. Kiyohiko Koike. 新譜レビュー > 東京事変／群青日和 (in Japanese). Listenmusic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  25. 02群青日和 (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  26. "J-Pop - Gunjo Biyori (Tokyo Jihen)". What's In? (in Japanese). Play Asia. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  27. 群青日和／東京事変 (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  28. 東京事変、デビューのスタートはいかに!? [Tokyo Jihen, their debut start is already!?] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 8, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  29. 「群青日和」 東京事変 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  30. "MUSICランキング(マンスリー TOP30) シングルランキング　2004/10 付" [Music Ranking (Monthly Top30) single ranking 2004 October edition] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 1, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  31. "シングルランキング (年間 TOP100) 2004 付" [Single ranking (yearly top 100) 2004 edition] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 12, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  32. "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  33. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  34. "レコード協会調べ 2012年01月18日～2012年01月24日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Investigation: January 18, 2012 to January 24, 2012 (For Short: Recokyō Chart (Chaku-uta Full))]. RIAJ (in Japanese). January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  35. "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 June 17, 2014.
  36. ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2004年9月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (September 2004)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. October 10, 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  37. "有料音楽配信認定" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  38. "【CDシングル】群青日和" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  39. 東京事變/ 群青日和 (in Chinese). G-Music. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
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