Monotone (song)

For the Splender song, see Halfway Down the Sky.
"Monotone"
Mysterious creature Fureru laying on the pillow
Single by Yoasobi
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedOctober 1, 2024
Genre
Length3:30
Label
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Butai ni Tatte"
(2024) 		"Monotone"
(2024) 		"New Me"
(2024)
Music video
"Monotone" on YouTube

"Monotone" (Japanese: モノトーン, Hepburn: Monotōn) is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi for the 2024 Japanese animated film Fureru as a theme. It was released as a single on October 1, 2024, by Echoes and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The song was written by Ayase and based on the short story Fureru. no, Zen'ya. written by the film's writer Mari Okada.

Background and release

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The animated film Fureru, directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Mari Okada, was first announced in December 2023.[1] Alongside casts and premiere date, on July 5, 2024, the film unveiled the accompanied theme song performed by Yoasobi, titled "Monotone", which first featured on the film's first trailer.[2] The different snippet was later featured on the second trailer on September 4.[3] Nagai revealed in the press release that he believed only Yoasobi could create music with unique lyrics that really "touches" people's heart.[4]

"Monotone" premiered on September 9 on the radio show, Nippon Broadcasting System 70th Anniversary All Night Nippon Music Week, where Yoasobi hosted.[5] On September 24, the duo gave an interview about the theme song at the Fureru special program broadcast via Abema.[6] Shortly after the program ended, Yoasobi announced that the song would be available for digital music and streaming platforms on October 1, the duo's fifth anniversary, as well as the English version the next day.[7] The CD single was released on October 2, two day before the film release, which includes picture book-styled booklet about the legend of the film's titular mysterious creature.[8]

Composition

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Fureru writer Mari Okada wrote the short story on which "Monotone" is based, titled Fureru. no, Zen'ya. (ふれる。の、前夜。, lit. 'The Night Before Fureru').[9] It was first published via the anime official website on September 25, 2024.[10] The song is a pop track[11] with catchy synth obbligato melody that can be found on Yoasobi's songs in early career such as "Yoru ni Kakeru" and "Gunjō".[12] It is centered on the theme of "people are always alone" and the "delicate feelings toward loved ones."[11] According to Yoasobi, "Monotone" was inspired by the "relationships between people" depicted in the film, expressing loneliness and feelings of missing someone in their own life.[13] Tomoki Takahashi from Rockin'On Japan described that the song's "oriental and rhythmic melodies create a cheerful, yet sad, insane sentiment that even exudes a sense of mystery."[14]

Music video

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A music video for "Monotone" premiered on October 1, 2024, at 20:00 JST. Directed by Toshitaka Shinoda and produced by Ijigen Tokyo, the music video depicts the same visual as the film, showing of Fureru and childhood friends Aki, Ryō, and Yūta, that not features on the film.[15][16]

Live performances

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Yoasobi included "Monotone" on the setlist of their Chō-genjitsu Dome Live, where they performed live for the first time at Kyocera Dome Osaka for the Osaka show on October 26, 2024.[17]

Track listing

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  • Digital download and streaming
  1. "Monotone" (モノトーン) – 3:30
  • Digital download and streaming – English version
  1. "Monotone" (English version) – 3:30
  • CD single
  1. "Monotone" – 3:30
  2. "Monotone" (English version) – 3:30
  3. "Monotone" (movie edit) – 4:41
  4. "Monotone" (instrumental) – 3:30

Credits and personnel

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  • Ayase – songwriter, producer
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Mari Okada – based story writer
  • Konnie Aoki – English lyrics
  • Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording (original)
  • Kunio Nishikawara – vocal recording (English version)
  • Masahiko Fukui – mixing
  • Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

Charts

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Chart performance for "Monotone"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[18] 22
Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[19] 5
Japan (Oricon)[20] 16
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[21] 24
Japan Anime Singles (Oricon)[22] 5
South Korea Download (Circle)[23] 160

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Monotone"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various October 1, 2024
Original
[24]
October 2, 2024 English
Japan CD single Limited [25]

References

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  1. ^ "『あの花』スタッフが再度集結、映画『ふれる。』2024年秋公開決定 特報&ティザービジュアル解禁". Spice (in Japanese). December 6, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "劇場アニメ「ふれる。」メインキャストに永瀬廉、坂東龍汰、前田拳太郎 主題歌は「YOASOBI」がアニメ映画初タイアップ". Eiga.com (in Japanese). July 5, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "映画『ふれる。』新予告が公開 永瀬廉"秋"&坂東龍汰"諒"&前田拳太郎"優太"に起きる切なくて愛おしい奇跡". Oricon (in Japanese). September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "アニメ映画『ふれる。』キンプリ永瀬廉が声優として初主演 主題歌はYOASOBI". Kai-You (in Japanese). July 5, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "YOASOBI、10/2リリースの映画"ふれる。"主題歌「モノトーン」CDの映画公式描き下ろしジャケ写公開。本日9/9放送の"オールナイトニッポン MUSIC WEEK"にてフル尺初オンエア". Skream! (in Japanese). September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "映画『ふれる。』の特別番組が9月24日(火)にABEMAにて放送決定! メインキャスト&豪華スタッフ陣が『ふれる。』の魅力を徹底解説". Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "YOASOBI オリジナル長編アニメーション映画『ふれる。』主題歌「モノトーン」が、YOASOBI結成5周年記念日となる10/1(火)に、英語版「Monotone」が10/2(水)に2日連続配信リリース決定! さらにJK写が公開!". Entameclip (in Japanese). September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "YOASOBI 10月公開アニメ映画『ふれる。』主題歌となる新曲「モノトーン」10/2(水)CDリリース決定!". Encore (in Japanese). August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  9. ^ "YOASOBI、『ふれる。』主題歌「モノトーン」&英語版「Monotone」2日連続で配信リリース". Cinema Life (in Japanese). September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "【ふれる。】主題歌『モノトーン』の原作小説『ふれる。の、前夜。』公開". Animage Plus (in Japanese). September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Mori, Tomoyuki; Ishii, Eriko (October 4, 2024). "Official髭男dism、King & Prince、YOASOBI、女王蜂、星街すいせい、宮本浩次......注目新譜6作をレビュー". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Shiba, Tomonori (October 14, 2024). "結成5周年を迎えたYOASOBI、新曲「モノトーン」でその"深化"続く". Yahoo! News Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "YOASOBI、新曲「モノトーン」が映画『ふれる。』主題歌に メインキャラ声優は永瀬廉·坂東龍汰·前田拳太郎". CDJournal (in Japanese). July 5, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Takahashi, Tomoki (October 1, 2024). "YOASOBI『モノトーン』 / 灰色の想いも鮮やかに息づく、歌と音の精緻な筆致". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  15. ^ "YOASOBI結成5周年記念日にアニメ映画『ふれる。』主題歌「モノトーン」を配信リリース! MV公開決定". The First Times (in Japanese). October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (October 2, 2024). "YOASOBI Releases Fureru Anime Film Theme Song "Monotone" Music Video". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "結成5周年を記念した、自身初のドームライブ「YOASOBI 5th ANNIVERSARY DOME LIVE 2024 "超現実"」 2days大阪公演を敢行!". Entameclip (in Japanese). October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of October 9, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of October 9, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  20. ^ モノトーン – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2024-10-14" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Oricon Top 20 Anime Singles: 2024-10-14" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "Download Chart – Week 40 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "オリジナル長編アニメーション映画『ふれる。』主題歌「モノトーン」が、YOASOBI結成5周年記念日となる10/1(火)に、英語版「Monotone」が10/2(水)に2日連続配信リリース決定! さらにJK写が公開!". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "10月公開アニメ映画『ふれる。』主題歌となる新曲「モノトーン」10/2(水)CDリリース決定! 映画脚本を手掛けた岡田麿里書き下ろし小説『ふれる。の、前夜。』収録、映画公式描き下ろしイラストをあしらった絵本型ブックレット仕様。". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). September 25, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
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