Aitakute Ima

"Aitakute Ima"
Single by Misia
from the album Just Ballade
ReleasedNovember 18, 2009 (2009-11-18)
Studio
  • Sony Music Studios
  • Bunkamura Studio
  • RM Studio
Genre
Length6:02
LabelAriola Japan
Songwriter(s)
Misia singles chronology
"Ginga" / "Itsumademo"
(2009) 		"Aitakute Ima"
(2009) 		"Hoshi no Yō ni..."
(2009)
Music video
"Aitakute Ima" on YouTube
Audio sample

"Aitakute Ima" (逢（あ）いたくていま, lit. "Missing You Now") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia, from her ninth studio album, Just Ballade.[1] It was released by Ariola Japan as the album's sixth single on November 18, 2009. "Aitakute Ima" is the theme song to the first season of the TBS drama series Jin.[2]

Background and release

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"Aitakute Ima" was released five months after the previous double A-side single "Ginga" / "Itsumademo".[3] It is Misia's first Japanese television drama tie-in in five years, since the Singer for Singer track "Hoshizora no Katasumi de" served as theme song to the CX drama series Minna Mukashi wa Kodomo Datta (2004).[4] The first pressing of the physical release came housed in a sleeve case with a see-through cutout.[3] The track was released in truetone format prior to the official release date, in sized-down version on October 18, 2009 and in full on November 9, 2009.[2][5]

Composition

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"Aitakute Ima" was written by Misia, while the composition and arrangement were handled by Jun Sasaki. It is composed in the key of G-flat major and set to a common time tempo of 70 beats per minute.[6] Misia's vocals span from F♯3 to C♯5. Akihiko Ishimaru, the producer of Jin, stated that he chose Misia to sing the theme song because, when imagining the music for the series, he pictured her "powerful and bittersweet" voice.[1] In an interview with Excite, Misia explained that one of directives given to her by Ishimaru was to not read the original Jin manga series, in order to avoid giving away potential spoilers in the song, she posits. The lyrics were therefore inspired solely by the story's theme of longing and nostalgia.[7] Musically, Ishimaru requested a ballad that utilizes a major cord and that is "emotional but not dark".[7]

The song was recorded while on the Hoshizora no Live V Just Ballade tour. Misia remarked to Excite that she usually tries to take a few days off from singing before a concert, but had to make do with less vocal rest because of her busy recording schedule. She expressed being surprised that the final vocal take for "Aitakute Ima" turned out so well, despite the less than ideal conditions.[7]

Critical reception

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CDJournal described the song as a "punchy piano ballad" that "speaks of the fundamental theme of love across time" and praised it for its "evocative power".[8] The Japan Maritime Daily called the song "a beautiful ballad" and praised Misia's "well-matched soulful vocal performance".[9] "Aitakute Ima" won the Television Drama Academy Award for Best Drama Song, off the strength of its popularity with both viewers and critics.[10] In a nationwide poll conducted by Music Station in April 2011, the song was ranked the 19th most memorable theme song to a TV series.[11]

Music video

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As of March 2018, the music video for "Aitakute Ima" is the second most viewed video on Misia's official YouTube channel, behind the music video to "Everything", with over 39 million views.[12]

Chart performance

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"Aitakute Ima" entered the daily Oricon Singles Chart at number 9.[13] It peaked four days later at number 6.[14] The single debuted at number 9 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, with 16,000 copies sold in its first week,[15] making it Misia's first top-ten debut in two years, since "Royal Chocolate Flush" in December 2007.[16] "Aitakute Ima" debuted on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and Hot Singles Sales charts at number 3 and 9, respectively.[17][18] The song also appeared on iTunes Japan Store and Mora year-end charts, at number 85 and 44, respectively.[19][20] The single charted for twelve weeks on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold a reported total of 47,000 copies during its run.[21] The song was certified double platinum, for sales of 500,000 truetones,[22] and triple platinum,[23] for sales of 750,000 of single track downloads, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[24]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."Aitakute Ima" (逢いたくていま, "Missing You Now")
  • Sasaki
6:02
2."Kuchibiru to Kuchibiru" (唇と唇, "Lip on Lip")
  • Hinata
  • Sinkiroh
  • Tohru Shigemi
4:55
3."Love Truly"
  • Mayumi Satō
  • Toshiaki Matsumoto
  • Shigemi
4:14
4."Aitakute Ima" (Instrumental)
  • Sasaki
  • Sasaki
5:58
Total length:21:09

Credits and personnel

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Personnel[25]

Charts

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Chart (2009–17) Peak
position
Japan Daily Singles (Oricon)[13] 6
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[26] 9
Japan Monthly Singles (Oricon)[21] 21
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[17] 3
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard)[27] 10
Japan Hot Top Airplay (Billboard)[28] 3
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 9
Japan Download Songs (Billboard)[29] 25
Japan Streaming Songs (Billboard)[30] 20
Japan Weekly Singles (SoundScan)[31] 12
Japan Yearly Albums (Mora)[20] 44
Taiwan Weekly J-pop Albums (Five Music)[32] 19

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan — 47,000[21]
Japan (RIAJ)[23]
single track 		Million 1,000,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[22]
Ringtone 		2× Platinum 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan November 18, 2009 (2009-11-18)
Ariola Japan [33]
Taiwan December 4, 2009 (2009-12-04)
Sony Music Taiwan [34]

References

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  1. ^ a b "日曜劇場『JIN-仁-』に、MISIA王道のバラード". Barks. March 12, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "MISIA、話題の歴史SFドラマに王道バラード提供". Natalie. October 3, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "MISIAが前作「銀河／いつまでも」から5ヵ月ぶりとなるニューシングルをリリース！". Oricon. November 16, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "MISIA、5年ぶりドラマ主題歌を10/23にリリース". Oricon. October 5, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "MISIA、ドラマ「JIN-仁-」で話題の新曲着うたフル配信". Natalie. November 9, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  6. ^ "楽譜: 逢いたくていま / MISIA : ピアノ（弾き語り） / 中級". Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "MISIA(ミーシャ) - 女性的な想いの詰まった3曲です。 - インタビュー". Excite. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "MISIA / 逢いたくていま". CDJournal. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "MISIA/逢いたくていま". Tower Records. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "ザテレビジョン ドラマアカデミー賞: 【第63回 ドラマソング賞】「逢いたくていま」MISIA". The Television. February 17, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  11. ^ "アーティストイメージ一斉調査春の国民投票SP". TV Asahi. April 29, 2011. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  12. ^ "RhythmediaChannel's Channel". YouTube. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  13. ^ a b "山下智久、3年半ぶりソロシングルが初日首位発進☆11/17付 シングルデイリー". November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  14. ^ "EXILE、嵐がデイリー再浮上☆11/21付 シングルデイリー". November 22, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "オリコン 2009.11.30". Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "NEWS・山下智久、3年半ぶりソロシングルで2作目も首位獲得". Oricon. November 24, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "iTunesが2010年間ランキングを発表". Barks. December 9, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  20. ^ a b "2010年 年間トップ100 ダウンロード・ランキング". Mora. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  21. ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Japanese ringtone certifications – 家族になろうよ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2013年9月 on the drop-down menu
  23. ^ a b "Japanese digital single certifications – 家族になろうよ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2019年1月 on the drop-down menu
  24. ^ "MISIA 新曲が劇場版アニメ主題歌に". Biglobe. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  25. ^ Just Ballade (Booklet). Misia. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan: Ariola Japan. 2009. 4988017674932.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ "逢いたくていま MISIA". Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  28. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 11, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  29. ^ "Billboard Japan Download Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  30. ^ "Billboard Japan Streaming Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  31. ^ "週刊 CDソフト TOP20". Nielsen SoundScan. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  32. ^ "Five Music-5大唱片 - 第50 週 統計時間：2009/12/4 - 2009/12/10". Five Music. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  33. ^ "逢いたくていま･MISIA". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  34. ^ "再見你一次". Sony Music Taiwan. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
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