The Bird Without Wings

"The Bird Without Wings" is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. It was released as a double A-side single along with "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" on August 15, 2012. It was used as the theme song for the film Ushijima the Loan Shark.

"The Bird Without Wings"
"Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" / "The Bird Without Wings" single cover
Single by Superfly
from the album Force
ReleasedAugust 15, 2012 (2012-08-15)
Recorded2012
GenrePop, rock
Length5:26
LabelWarner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Shiho Ochi, Kōichi Tabo
Producer(s)Kōichi Tsutaya
Superfly singles chronology
"Stars"
(2012)		 "The Bird Without Wings"
(2012)		 "Force"
(2012)

Background and development

Superfly's fourth album Force was first announced on April 4, during a live streaming concert broadcast on Ustream and Niconico Douga.[1] In July 2012, Superfly released "Stars", a collaboration with Ulfuls lead singer Tortoise Matsumoto that was recorded for Fuji Television's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2]

The song was announced as the theme song of the film version of Ushijima the Loan Shark on June 20, 2012. Vocalist Shisho Ochi based the song's lyrics on the film, and gave the song a "fighting anxiety" theme.[3] Ochi was inspired to write about people moving on in their lives despite their own handicaps and anxieties.[3] The song's release as a double A-side single was announced on June 21, 2012.[4]

In 2014, for the film's sequel, Superfly was enlisted again, and the musical unit released the song "Live" for the theme song.[5]

Music video

A music video was produced for the song, directed by Shūichi Banba.[6] It features Ochi singing the song on a wooden structure on a plain, as well as scenes showing a frenetically moving man on the same plain.

Critical reception

Dai Tanaka of Rockin' on Japan praised the song's allegorical lyrical style, and felt that "The Bird Without Wings" was one of the stand-out songs on Force, calling it a "wonderful song that gives you the courage to accept yourself as you are".[7] CDJournal reviewers described the song as a rock song that hasg a comfortable tempo with a lightly developing structure, and similarly praised the song's message.[8] Aki Ito of EMTG praised the song for its comfortable and honest melody, and felt that the center of both this song and "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" was Ochi's bold and expressive voice. She noted the song's strong blues rock-sound, and felt that the guitar backing added to the song's distinctiveness.[9]

Track listing

All music is composed by Koichi Tabo, arranged by Koichi Tsutaya.

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" (輝く月のように, "Like the Shining Moon")Shiho Ochi, jam5:26
2."The Bird Without Wings"Shiho Ochi5:01
3."28" (Nijūhachi)Shiho Ochi4:12
Total length:14:39
Limited edition DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Hello Hello" ("Superfly tv" Studio Live 2012.4.4) 
2."Sasurai no Tabibito" ("Superfly tv" Studio Live 2012.4.4) 
3."Heisei Homo Sapiens" ("Superfly tv" Studio Live 2012.4.4) 
4."Ai o Komete Hanataba o" ("Superfly tv" Studio Live 2012.4.4) 

Chart rankings
Charts (2012) Peak
position
Japan Oricon weekly singles[10]
  • "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" / "The Bird Without Wings"
 6

Sales
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[11]
  • "Kagayaku Tsuki no Yō ni" / "The Bird Without Wings"
 29,000

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalog codes
Japan August 1, 2012 (2012-08-01)[12] ringtone Warner Music Japan
August 15, 2012 (2012-08-15)[13][14][15] CD single, CD/DVD, digital download WPCL-11185, WPZL-30427
September 1, 2012 (2012-09-01)[16] Rental CD WPCL-11185
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References
  1. Superfly、生配信で4thアルバム「Force」リリース告知 (in Japanese). Natalie. April 5, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  2. "Superfly＆トータス松本デュエット曲発売！フジ五輪テーマ". May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  3. Superfly、映画『闇金ウシジマくん』主題歌決定 (in Japanese). Oricon. June 20, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. Superflyシングルは日曜劇場＆映画ウシジマくんのW主題歌 (in Japanese). Natalie. June 21, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  5. Superfly「ウシジマくん」映画2作目も主題歌＆イメージ曲 (in Japanese). Natalie. February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  6. "The Bird Without Wings" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  7. Dai Tanaka. "加速し続けるスリル". Rockin' On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  8. "Superfly / Superfly BEST [デジパック仕様] [2CD]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  9. Aki Ito (August 17, 2012). "レビュー" (in Japanese). EMTG. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  10. 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.
  11. "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.
  12. "「The Bird Without Wings」着うた(R)、本日より配信スタート！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  13. "輝く月のように / The Bird Without Wings＜通常盤＞" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  14. "輝く月のように / The Bird Without Wings ［CD+DVD］＜初回限定盤＞" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  15. "「輝く月のように/ The Bird Without Wings」配信スタート！！" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  16. "輝く月のように／Ｔｈｅ　Ｂｉｒｄ　Ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ　Ｗｉｎｇｓ" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
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