Mi (Flower Flower album)

Mi (実, "Fruit") is the debut studio album by Japanese band Flower Flower, released on November 26, 2014.[2]

Mi
CD/DVD limited edition and digital download editions' cover
Studio album by
Flower Flower
ReleasedNovember 26, 2014 (2014-11-26)
Recorded2013–2014
Genre
Length59:10
LanguageJapanese
LabelSony Music Records
ProducerFlower Flower
Flower Flower chronology
Mi
(2014)		 Shiki
(2015)
Singles from Mi
  1. "Tsuki"
    Released: July 3, 2013
  2. "Kamisama"
    Released: May 21, 2014
  3. "Subarashii Sekai"
    Released: October 1, 2014

Background and development

Flower Flower was first formed in early 2013.[3] It was the second musical project of vocalist Yui, who originally debuted as a solo artist in 2005. After five studio albums, Yui announced her intention to retire from music as a soloist after the release of her two greatest hits albums in December 2012.[4] The band started with recording sessions, followed by a series of secret lives across Japan in March 2013. The project was officially announced in April 2013, followed by a series of festival performances.[3] The group released their first single "Tsuki" digitally in June.[5]

Two more songs were released from the album as digital singles: "Kamisama", a stock song from their setlists, was released on May 21, and .[6] "Subarashii Sekai" was released on October 1, before the announcement of the album, however featured the album's cover artwork for its cover.[7]

Writing and production

The album was recorded at various recording studios in Tokyo.[8] All songs featured lyrics written exclusively by Yui, however most of the songs were composed by the band as a single entity. Three songs were composed solely by Yui: "Tōmei na Uta", "Ohayō no Kiss o" and "Kimi no Koto".[8] Yui felt that with Flower Flower, they could make any sound they wanted, but with Mi the strongest feeling she had was of destruction.[9] The song "Kamisama" was the first song where Yui played the electric guitar.[6]

The booklet and cover artwork were designed by Coa Graphics, and featured illustration by artist Natsuko Fujii.[8]

Promotion and release

In June 2013 the song "Tsuki" was used in a commercial campaign for cellphone provider au, which featured Yui personally as the spokesperson appearing in the advertisements.[5] The song "Subarashii Sekai" aired as the TV Tokyo drama Tamagawa-ku of the Dead's theme song, which started airing on October 3, 2014.[7]

The album was first announced on October 22.[10] Tracks from the album were released on a weekly basis in the build up to the album's release. The first song was "Tōmei na Uta" released on October 29, followed by "Kūki" on November 5, "Kimi no Koto" on November 12 and "Byebye" on November 19.[10][11][12]

Critical reception

Music magazine Musica featured three reviews of the album. Tohbo Sakuma felt that much of the album had a live music sound, and that the release had the feel of rock and roll, even though it was not in that genre. Akinori Yamamoto of the band Lite felt that Flower Flower was a project that shifted the focus of Yui's music away from the melody, and towards the entire composition of the songs. He noted most of the songs featured messages, and felt that the album was "serious and reassuring". Daichi Yajima noted the strong emotive quality of Yui's voice in the album's songs.[1]

Both Sakuma and Yajima praised "Hikari", with Sakuma feeling it was one of the most memorable songs on the album due to its shoegazing sound, Yui's "floating" vocals, and its message of facing up against absurdity in the world. Yamamoto singled out the song "Start Line" as having one of the most special compositions of the album. Yajima also singled out the song "Seki o Tatsu" for the "uneasy atmosphere" created by the song's "inorganic keyboard phrases".[1]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Yui.

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Negai" (願い, "Wish")Flower Flower6:15
2."Kamisama" (神様, "God")Flower Flower3:25
3."Kūki" (空気, "Air")Flower Flower5:06
4."Tōmei na Uta" (とうめいなうた, "Transparent Song")Yui5:21
5."Ohayō no Kiss o" (おはようのキスを, "Morning Kiss")Yui5:06
6."Suiteki" (水滴, "Drop of Water")Flower Flower5:11
7."Subarashii Sekai" (素晴らしい世界, "Wonderful World")Flower Flower3:42
8."Seki o Tatsu" (席を立つ, "Standing Up Out of His Seat")Flower Flower4:27
9."Hikari" (ひかり, "Light")Flower Flower7:07
10."Kimi no Koto" (きみのこと, "About You")Yui6:51
11."Start Line" (スタートライン Sutāto Rain)Flower Flower5:50
12."Tsuki" (月, "Moon")Flower Flower4:41
13."Byebye" (バイバイ Baibai)Flower Flower6:08
Total length:59:10
DVD: Live at Shibuya Club Quattro 2013.10.07
No.TitleLength
1."Seki o Tatsu" 
2."Kamisama" 
3."Start Line" 
4."Tsuki" 
5."Subarashii Sekai" 
6."Byebye" 
7."Negai" 

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Yankee's liner notes booklet.[8]

Performance credits

  • Mafumafu – bass
  • Mura Jun – keyboards, programming
  • Sacchan – drums
  • Yui – vocals, guitar

Technical and production

  • Flower Flower – arrangement, production
  • Uni Inoue – recording, mixing
  • Shigeo Miyamoto – mastering
  • Kunio Nishikawara – pre-production engineer
  • Jun Watanabe – assistant engineer

Chart rankings
Charts (2014) Peak
position
Japan Oricon weekly albums[13] 5
South Korea Gaon international weekly albums[14] 24

Sales
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[15] 34,000

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan November 26, 2014 (2014-11-26)[2][16] CD, CD/DVD, digital download, lossless digital download Sony Music Japan SRCL-8497, SRCL-8499
Taiwan November 28, 2014 (2014-11-28)[17][18] CD Sony Music Taiwan 88875047032
Asia digital download Sony Music
South Korea December 2, 2014 (2014-12-02)[19][20] CD, digital download Sony Music Korea 2465185
Worldwide December 3, 2014 (2014-12-03)[18] digital download Sony Music
Japan December 23, 2014 (2014-12-23)[21] rental CD Sony Music Japan SRCL-8499
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References
  1. "FLOWER FLOWER／『実』". Musica (in Japanese). Tokyo: Fact. 94 (December 2014). November 15, 2014. EAN 4910085211245.
  2. "実 ［CD+DVD］＜初回生産限定盤＞" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  3. "YUIが新バンドで音楽活動再開、5月にフェス＆イベント出演" [Yui starts works again with her new band, to perform at festivals and events in May.] (in Japanese). Natalie. April 3, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  4. "YUI、活動休止を発表「形は変わっていくかもしれませんが、大切な音楽を通して楽しいことをたくさんしていきたい」" [Yui announced her returement. "The form will probably change, but I want to keep making important music and do lots of fun things.] (in Japanese). Barks. November 19, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  5. "FLOWER FLOWER、au書き下ろしCMソング「月」配信" [Flower Flower releases "Tsuki" digitally, a song written especially for au's commercials] (in Japanese). Natalie. June 28, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  6. "FLOWER FLOWER、ライブ定番曲「神様」リリースへ" (in Japanese). Natalie. May 19, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  7. "FLOWER FLOWER、新曲がドラマ『玉川区役所 OF THE DEAD』EDテーマに決定" (in Japanese). Barks. September 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  8. Mi (Media notes) (in Japanese). Flower Flower. Tokyo, Japan: Sony Music Japan. 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "FLOWER FLOWER、ついに"丸いモノ"こと初のCDアルバム発売決定" (in Japanese). Barks. October 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  10. "1st album「実」（み）　11/26　リリース。先行配信も！". Sony Music Japan. October 22, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  11. "「空気」配信開始！". Sony Music Japan. November 5, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  12. "11/19～「バイバイ」配信！". Sony Music Japan. November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  13. "FLOWER FLOWERの作品" [Flower Flower works]. Oricon. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. "2014년 50주차 Album Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  15. "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 February 9, 2015.
  16. "1st album 「実」　ハイレゾ配信もあります！". Sony Music Japan. November 26, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  17. "FLOWER FLOWER / 實 (CD+DVD初回盤)" (in Chinese). Books.com.tw. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  18. "[海外向けinfo]International fans! FLOWER FLOWER first album "Mi" is released on November 26th in Japan! The album will also be available on iTunes store　etc world-wide". Sony Music Japan. November 26, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  19. "Mi" (in Korean). Bugs. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  20. "FLOWER FLOWER - MI" (in Korean). Kyobo Hot Tracks. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  21. "実" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
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