Kuroi Shizuku

"Kuroi Shizuku"

A woman shaking her head, as black liquid falls off of her hair

The cover of "Kuroi Shizuku" and Coupling Songs: 'Side B'
Single by Superfly
Released November 18, 2015 (2015-11-18)
(see release history)
Format CD Single, digital download
Recorded 2015
Genre Pop, rock
Length 3:30
Label Warner Music Japan
Writer(s) Shiho Ochi, Jam
Producer(s) Kōichi Tsutaya
Superfly singles chronology
"On Your Side"
(2015)		 "Kuroi Shizuku"
(2015)

"Kuroi Shizuku" (Japanese: 黒い雫, "Black Droplet") is a song by Japanese musical act Superfly. Used as the theme song for the Fuji Television medical drama Mutsū: Mieru Me, it was released as a digital single on November 18, 2015, and as a physical single on December 2 as "Kuroi Shizuku" & Coupling Songs: 'Side B', a five-song extended play packaged with a B-side compilation album as a bonus disc.

Background and development

In May 2015, the fifth original album by Superfly was released, White. Taking a year to write, the album was partially recorded in Los Angeles, when vocalist Shiho Ochi traveled there to collaborate with Chris Cester, the former lead singer of Australian Jet.[1][2] Superfly worked together with American songwriters Jason Hill and Bonnie McKee, as well as Japanese singer-songwriter Bonnie Pink and the poet Bin Sugawara.[1] The album was promoted primarily with the song "Beautiful", which Ochi wrote for the Mother Game: Kanojo-tachi no Kaikyū. Released digitally on May 8,[3] the song was a commercial success, certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[4] From July 4 to December 14, Superfly performed a 39 date tour of Japan, entitled the White Tour.[5] Part way through the tour, Superfly released McKee's contribution to the album, the ballad "On Your Side", as a post-album single.[6]

Writing and inspiration

The large single and bonus album package was created to commemorate this release being Superfly's 20th physical single release.[7] This was the second time Superfly had released a package like this, after the drama theme song "Wildflower" and a compilation of Western cover songs, Cover Songs: Complete Best 'Track 3', were compiled together in 2010 to commemorate Superfly's 10th physical single.[8]

"Kuroi Shizuku" was commissioned specifically for the drama Mutsū: Mieru Me. Most of the song was written after the offer was received by vocalist Shiho Ochi, except for the chorus line, which was a pre-existing piece of music from Ochi's song stock.[7] Unlike many of Superfly's singles, Ochi composed the entire song. She was inspired to write the song after reading the text the drama was based on, Yō Kusakabe's 2005 novel Mutsū, influenced by the mysterious atmosphere of the novel.[7] "Kuroi Shizuku" was an exploration of Ochi's darker side that she found while recording White.[9] During the White writing process, Ochi felt free to incorporate new influences that she had not in Superfly's first four albums, which she felt she could continue with for "Kuroi Shizuku".[7] After experimenting with a "sexy" voice for "Iro o Hagashite" from White, Ochi felt inspired to sing in a "wicked woman" voice for "Kuroi Shizuku".[7]

Promotion and release

On November 18, "Kuroi Shizuku" was released as a stand-alone digital download.[10] Two weeks later, two physical editions of the single were released: the two-CD edition featuring the five-track "Kuroi Shizuku" single with Coupling Songs: 'Side B', as well as a two-CD and DVD edition, additionally featuring a visual recording of Superfly's free live performance at Ōsaka-jō Nishinomaru Kōen on May 30.[11][12] The "Kuroi Shizuku" single features a cover of Arrows' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (1975), which features a guest appearance by the Arrows' member and songwriter Alan Merrill on guitar, who traveled to Tokyo to record his part.[13] Also featured on the single are live recordings of the songs "Beautiful" and "On Your Side" from Superfly's performance at the Tokyo International Forum in September 2015.[13][5]

The cover artwork was inspired by the title of the song, and features black liquid droplets falling from Ochi's own hair; a recording process that took over two hours to photograph.[11] Ochi wears a dress created from vintage kimono cloth in the cover artwork.[11]

Music video

The music video was directed by Atsunori Toshi,[14] and was shot in a single 17-hour shoot.[15] It was unveiled publicly on November 25, 2015.[15] The video was themed around black and white, to contrast with the colorful theme of Superfly's most recent studio album, White (2015).[15] It features Ochi doing actions out-of-sync with an ensemble of six masked dancers, who perform a dance incorporating tutting. Ochi is dressed in clothing similar to the clothing she wore in the cover artwork, made from the same re-purposed vintage kimono.[15] Throughout the video, Ochi is shown with the tips of her right hand colored in black; an idea that Ochi created herself.[15]

Track listings

Digital download
No. TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s) Length
1. "Kuroi Shizuku"  Shiho Ochi, JamOchiKōichi Tsutaya 3:30
Total length:
 3:30
"Kuroi Shizuku" single
No. TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s) Length
1. "Kuroi Shizuku"  Ochi, JamOchiTsutaya 3:30
2. "Shin Sekai e" (新世界へ, "To the New World")Sally#CinnamonOchi, TsutayaTsutaya 3:48
3. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"  Jake Hooker, Alan MerrillHooker, MerrillTsutaya 3:39
4. "Beautiful (Live from Superfly White Tour 2015 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum)" (東京国際フォーラム, "Tokyo International Forum")Sally#CinnamonOchi, TsutayaTsutaya 5:48
5. "On Your Side (Live from Superfly White Tour 2015 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum)" (東京国際フォーラム, "Tokyo International Forum")Ochi, JamBonnie McKee, Michelle McCordTsutaya 7:05
Total length:
 23:50

Chart rankings

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[16] 4
Japan Oricon weekly albums[17]
  • "Kuroi Shizuku" & Coupling Songs: 'Side B'
 2

Sales

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[18]
  • "Kuroi Shizuku" & Coupling Songs: 'Side B'
 73,000

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalog codes
Japan November 18, 2015[10] digital download Warner Music Japan N/A
December 2, 2015[19][11] 2CD, 2CD/DVD, digital download (full-length) WPCL‐12280/1, WPZL-31130/2
December 19, 2015[20] Rental CD (2CD) WPCL‐12280/1

References

  1. 1 2 "Superfly、白ウィッグ＋カラフルメイクのAL『WHITE』ジャケット公開。". Barks. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Superflyのイメージを覆すアバンギャルドな新曲「A・HA・HA」のPV公開＆アルバム初回盤はカバー曲収録". Barks. March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "「Beautiful」（TBS火曜ドラマ『マザー・ゲーム～彼女たちの階級～』主題歌）のデジタル配信がスタート！". Warner. May 8, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ "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, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Superfly WHITE TOUR 2015". Warner Music. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Superfly、高校野球応援ソング「On Your Side」を新曲入りでシングル化". Natalie. June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Junichi Uchimoto (November 25, 2015). "深みを求めて進化を見せた20枚目のシングル" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Superfly洋楽カバーベストにクハラ、SOILメンバー参加". Natalie. July 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ Junichi Uchimoto. "Superfly 20th Single「黒い雫 & Coupling Songs: ‘Side B’」2015.12.2（wed）Release." (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "黒い雫 - Single" (in Japanese). Apple. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Superfly「黒い雫 & Coupling Songs:'Side B'」ジャケで体を張った撮影に挑戦" (in Japanese). F.B.Communications Inc. & Magnet Co.,Ltd. October 15, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Superflyニューアルバム記念フリーライブ、今回は初の大阪". Natalie. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Superfly「I Love Rock‘N’Roll」カヴァーに元祖アラン・メリルがゲスト参加" (in Japanese). CDJournal. November 4, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Superfly 黒い雫". Space Shower. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Superfly、NEWシングル『黒い雫』MV完成" (in Japanese). Nexus. November 25, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). December 9, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ 黒い雫 & Coupling Songs:‘Side B’ (in Japanese). Oricon. September 7, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  18. ↑ "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 9, 2015. (subscription required (help)).
  19. ↑ "黒い雫&Coupling Songs:‘Side-B’" (in Japanese). Apple. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ "黒い雫　＆　Ｃｏｕｐｌｉｎｇ　Ｓｏｎｇｓ：‘Ｓｉｄｅ　Ｂ’" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
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