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{{Ready}}
{{Infobox Album |
| Name        = GREEN
| Type        = Studio
| Artist      = [[B'z]]
| Cover       = 12a.jpg
| Released    = July 3, 2002
| Genre       = Hard rock
| Recorded    = January 2002 - Summer 2002
| Length      = 45:52
| Label       = [[Vermillion Records]]
| Producer    = [[Tak Matsumoto]]
| Reviews     = 
| Last album  = '''11th Album'''<br>[[File:11a.jpg|link=ELEVEN|border|65px|right]]<br>''[[ELEVEN]]''<br/>(2000)
| This album  = '''12th Album'''<br>[[File:12a.jpg|link=|border|65px|right]]<br>''[[GREEN]]''<br/>(2002)
| Next album  = '''13th Album'''<br>[[File:13a.jpg|link=BIG MACHINE|border|65px|right]]<br>''[[BIG MACHINE]]''<br/>(2003)
| Misc        = {{Singles
| Name         = GREEN
| Type         = studio
| single 1     = [[File:31s.jpg|link=ultra soul|border|28px|right]][[ultra soul]]
| single 1 date = March 14, 2001
| single 2     = [[File:33s.jpg|link=Atsuki Kodou no Hate|border|28px|right]][[Atsuki Kodou no Hate]]
| single 2 date = June 5, 2002
}}
}}

'''''GREEN''''' is the twelfth [[B'z Albums#Studio Albums|studio album]] by [[B'z]], released on July 3, 2002. The album was preceded by two singles, with the first being mega-hit "[[ultra soul]]" from March 2001 which was included here with an alternative guitar solo. The more recent single, released a month prior to the album, was "[[Atsuki Kodou no Hate]]". Another single released the previous August, "[[GOLD]]", was not collected here but was included on ''[[The Ballads ~Love & B'z~]]''—a special [[B'z Albums #Compilation Albums|compilation]] prepared for the winter holidays the same year. Its exclusion was due to another prominent ballad, "Everlasting", being written and recorded for the release.

In many ways, the release is the band rebounding from a heavier sound that resulted in previous studio albums ''[[Brotherhood]]'' and ''[[ELEVEN]]''. Roughly twenty songs were produced during the sessions, with others surfacing on future releases: "[[Yasei no ENERGY|Tabi☆EVERYDAY]]" was used for their [[Yasei no ENERGY|fifteenth anniversary single]] a year later in 2003 and "[[ARIGATO|Mou Hanasanai]]" emerged as the third beat for single "[[ARIGATO]]" in 2004. Compared to other B'z albums, there is a large concentration of love-oriented songs. Additionally, both [[Koshi Inaba]] and [[Tak Matsumoto]] were engaged in recording and releasing solo albums between the album's recording sessions. Tak released two solo albums he had constructed at the end of 2001, the critically-acclaimed ''[[Hana]]'' and the ''[[DRAGON FROM THE WEST]]'', on the same day in February. Koshi had also already begun work on preparing his second studio album ''[[Shian]]'', which would see release in October 2002 and top the Weekly Oricon Album chart.

The album was supported by [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"]] which ran from June to September and was released on home video shortly thereafter as ''[[a BEAUTIFUL REEL. B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~]]'' in November 2002. Three of the album's songs—"SIGNAL", "Utsukushiki Sekai", and "The Spiral"—have [[B'z Songs Never Performed Live|never been performed live]]. Initially, "FOREVER MINE" was not performed as part of the aforementioned album tour but was later premiered on two dates of the year-long [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION"]]. Notably, much of the album's songs were again performed as part of the first ever B'z tour of the United States, [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll"]], in the fall. Additionally, portions of the album were included as part of the legendary meeting of B'z and Aerosmith for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert]], in which the American rock legends met the best-selling act in Japanese history. The backstory that led to this encounter is covered in the article "[https://www.offthelock.com/2017/06/14/the-storied-history-of-bz-and-aerosmithwhen-the-top-rock-bands-in-japan-and-america-came-together/ The Storied History of B'z and Aerosmith: When the Top Rock Bands in Japan and America Come Together]".

With regard to future [[B'z Albums#Compilation Albums|compilation albums]], only the two singles have been collected with both appearing on ''[[B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure"]]'' in 2008 and ''[[B'z The Best XXV 1999-2012]]'' in 2013. "[[ultra soul]]" has been the subject of [[B'z Reversioned Songs|numerous reversions]] including an English version on 2012's [[B'z (International EP)|self-titled international debut]] and remains, arguably, the band's most well-known song. "[[Atsuki Kodou no Hate]]" has had less of a legacy in the intervening years apart from its compilation appearances, though it was revived with a new arrangement for a spotlight performance during [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT-]] and appeared on its [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- (Home Video)|home video release]] as well.

Upon release, ''GREEN'' debuted at the top of the Weekly Oricon Album chart with 800,120 physical copies sold which would be nearly 50,000 more than previous studio album ''[[ELEVEN]]''. The album would go on to rank at number 7 on the year end chart. To date, the album has sold in excess of 1,131,800 physical copies, qualifying it for a Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. This would be the final B'z studio album, with the advent of digital filesharing, to sell over 1,000,000 physical copies. In 2018, the album was reissued as a two vinyl set made available to visitors of their thirtieth anniversary public exhibition entitled [[B'z 30th Year Exhibition "SCENES" 1988-2018|"SCENES"]] alongside all other studio albums to that point.

== Production information ==

The decision to begin recording what would become ''GREEN'' came during the previous year's tour, [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN"]]. The band elected to return to the studio in the new year, so after the January holidays, work began. At the time, B'z had no set "theme" in mind for their albums—the only goal was to create a new album. Song after song presented themselves, according to Tak, and thus they recorded them in that order.

''GREEN'' would also be the last album before [[Shane Gaalaas]] became the band's foremost support drummer on their studio recordings. While he did not participate in recording this album—his first appearance on a B'z studio work was B-side "[[Atsuki Kodou no Hate|Yoru yo Akenaide]]" from the previous month's single "[[Atsuki Kodou no Hate]]"—he did perform on all dates of the [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"|ensuing tour]] after responding to an open audition in Los Angeles.

Incidentally, it was the previous year's single "[[ultra soul]]" that would inform the direction of ''GREEN''. Koshi recalled as much, saying, "I think it was starting from [ultra soul] that the concept and direction of this album began to form". The song was a massive success at the time and remains, undoubtedly, one of their most popular songs. It has been performed at nearly every live show held by the band since its release, so it comes as no surprise it would be collected on this album even a year later. Here, the song remains the same apart from an all-new guitar solo prepared by Tak.

With regard to the album's celebrated and varied lyrical content, Koshi responded in a contemporary interview:
{{cquote|I don't really have any special thought on life. There's the perception of discovering what it entails and tying it up with what's on the surface outside. Maybe that influences [what I write] and gets represented in the lyrics. In everyday life, everything can be source material. Conversations with others, my own experiences, watching movies, reading books. I think all of these can be considered inspirations for me.}}
Koshi further related that just as Tak has a stock of melodies for potential songs, he has an unrelated stock of prospective lyrical lines, themes, and images he wants to get across. He brought to Tak the lyrics he had in mind for what would become "Warp" after having them in mind for some time. Typically, Koshi clarified, "the usual B'z style is 'song first', but for this one, matching the melody with the lyrics was an extremely rare case." Here, Tak said that "reading those lyrics and then coming up with a melody to match turned out to be really interesting!"

During the same talk, it was noted that the title of the album was sourced from the first track on the album after the latter's completion:
{{cquote|It's actually happened a lot lately, that we decide on the title only in the back half of producing an album. When we felt, "Okay, it's time to decide on a title," the word "green" was just there. [The opening track] "STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~" had already been completed. For its content, we confronted the immature part of ourselves and showcased the associated sort of distress. With that in mind, we used the English word "green" to describe that juvenile part of ourselves. I definitely think it's a good thing, to have that drive to continue working on things you haven't yet completed. And, as a title, the word "green" makes you think of flora growing and luxuriating—that sort of lively youth. I think because there's a broad visual element to that word, the image just rushes forward to the imagination.}}
Tak also added his feelings on the title:
{{cquote|When I first heard that word, "green", I thought it was a really wonderful choice. It's easy to understand and exudes a really fresh feeling. And as [Koshi] said, the band continues to exist, both as "a person" and "a musician". Until the last moment, we will never think, "We're the best!" or go along with that kind of thinking. There are plenty of times that we think to ourselves, "We're not there yet." With such a meaning to it, in my opinion, "green" is a great title to describe the present condition of B'z.}}
Somewhat unusually for the band's older works, non-singles from the album continue to be performed live on occasion. Namely, "STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~", "Blue Sunshine", "FOREVER MINE", and "GO★FIGHT★WIN" have all been performed in subsequent years long after the album's initial release.

== Track listing ==
All music and guitar by [[Tak Matsumoto]]. All lyrics and lead vocals by [[Koshi Inaba]].

#'''[[STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ (Lyrics)|STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~]]''' — ''Can't Stop this Juvenile Journey'', 未熟な旅はとまらない
#: [[File:a12_01.ogg]] As the shortest song on the album but also one of its fastest-paced, "STAY GREEN" only runs for just over three minutes. A version with the chorus attached to the outro can be heard during home video ''[[a BEAUTIFUL REEL. B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~]]''. Incidentally, while the song was still in demo stages, the phrase "GREEN BOY" was used in the chorus. Although it went unplayed for some time after the album tour, it was revived after eleven years dormant for the hall portion of [[B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-]].
#'''[[Atsuki Kodou no Hate (Lyrics)|Atsuki Kodou no Hate]]''' — ''The Result of this Hot Heartbeat'', 熱き鼓動の果て
#: [[File:a12_02.ogg]] {{Atsuki Kodou no Hate Song}}
#'''[[Warp (Lyrics)|Warp]]'''
#: [[File:a12_03.ogg]] Once voted as the most romantic B'z song, "Warp" was created in a way that differs from most of the band's output. Instead of Tak proposing a melody and Koshi supplying matching lyrics, the process was reversed. Some small changes were made once Tak supplied the melody to ensure everything meshed. Also unusually, the song ends on a raw drum pattern performed by [[Hideo Yamaki]]. Tak proposed the idea of having a song that feels it will "continue" and Yamaki recorded the part after the rest of the song had been completed. The lyrics are centered around the rekindling of a lost relationship and the awkward encounters that lead to it.
#'''[[SIGNAL (Lyrics)|SIGNAL]]'''
#: [[File:a12_04.ogg]] Utilized as the opening theme to a female-oriented dating simulation video game titled ''Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side'', "SIGNAL" was one of the times B'z provided a theme to a video game. Notably, fellow album track "Utsukushiki Sekai" was used as the game's ending theme. In 2012, "[[Into Free -Dangan-]]" was used as the theme to Capcom video game ''Dragon's Dogma'' and became their most recognized song internationally. The full song was originally produced during ''[[ELEVEN]]'' in 2000. When they recorded for this album, Tak inserted a different guitar solo and left the rest intact. The song has [[B'z Songs Never Performed Live|never performed live]] or collected on any [[B'z Albums#Compilation Albums|compilation]].
#'''[[SURFIN' 3000GTR (Lyrics)|SURFIN' 3000GTR]]'''
#: [[File:a12_05.ogg]] As with some of the album's other tracks, "SURFIN '3000GTR" was originally created during sessions for previous studio album ''[[ELEVEN]]''. Its original title was "SURFIN' 2000" after the year in which it was recorded. The "GTR" added is a reference to a popular car designation. The original version recorded as a candidate for ''ELEVEN'' had more of a "full band" sound, but the version found here was revised to have more of a digital presence with the drums now being digital beats instead.
#'''[[Blue Sunshine (Lyrics)|Blue Sunshine]]'''
#: [[File:a12_06.ogg]] Although now a gentle ballad by nature, "Blue Sunshine" originally had a harder, more rock-oriented arrangement. This was changed to the acoustic-laden version found on the album in order to better mesh with the overall tone. The original hard rock version was prepared by [[Shane Gaalaas]] and [[Billy Sheehan]] and featured slightly different lyrics. Unusually, all of the song's live appearances have featured Koshi on acoustic guitar alongside Tak playing the electric guitar part. The song appeared not only on the album tour but later during [[B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town-]] and [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT-]] as well.
#'''[[ultra soul (Lyrics)|ultra soul (Alternative Guitar Solo ver.)]]'''
#: [[File:a12_07.ogg]] {{ultra soul Song}} The version of the song here featured a revised guitar solo which would be what Tak opted to perform for numerous [[LIVE-GYM]] shows later. The song has been reworked and revised numerous times since release, with an [[GOLD|acoustic version]], this alternative guitar solo version, a [[B'z (International EP)|LIVE-GYM-based studio version]], a [[C'mon|hard rock version]], and an [[B'z (English Album)|entirely English version]].
#'''[[Utsukushiki Sekai (Lyrics)|Utsukushiki Sekai]]''' — ''Beautiful World'', 美しき世界
#: [[File:a12_08.ogg]] First heard as the ending theme to dating simulation game ''Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side'' that released a few weeks earlier, "Utsukushiki Sekai" was originally given a demo during the ''[[ELEVEN]]'' sessions but was not completed until "[[ultra soul]]" was recorded in March 2001. Notably, fellow album track "SIGNAL" was used as the aforementioned game's opening theme. While [[B'z Songs Never Performed Live|never performed live]], the song was used as an [[Ending SE]] for [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN"]].
#'''[[Everlasting (Lyrics)|Everlasting]]'''
#: [[File:a12_09.ogg]] Used as their second ''Detective Conan'' film theme—this one for the sixth entry subtitled ''The Phantom of Baker Street''—"Everlasting" was originally a looser power ballad. Later in production, strings were added to give it its present sound. A ballad single from August 2001 titled "[[GOLD]]" was not included on this album due to the presence of this song, with Tak feeling the album did not need both due to this one being particularly relevant at the time due to its [[B'z Tie-in Promotions|tie-in promotion]]. Both songs would be included later in the year on ''[[The Ballads ~Love & B'z~]]'' which is the only [[B'z Albums#Compilation Albums|compilation]] on which this song was collected.
#'''[[FOREVER MINE (Lyrics)|FOREVER MINE]]'''
#: [[File:a12_10.ogg]] A fast-paced, kenetic rock song with digital drums, "FOREVER MINE" combines hard rock with a labyrinthine romance. The track underwent numerous reversions during recording, with one version being described as akin to 70's-style disco before they decided on the released version. Tak also said this track and "SURFIN' 3000GTR" were his favorites from the album. Due to its pace and complex, tiring guitar fretwork, Tak once jokingly lamented, "Why did I make such a difficult song?" The song was not performed on the album tour but was performed twice as part of [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION"]] which remain its only live appearances to date.
#'''[[The Spiral (Lyrics)|The Spiral]]'''
#: [[File:a12_11.ogg]] As a song that alternates between being a proper ballad and driven rock song, "The Spiral" is an interesting entry in the B'z discography. The ballad and rock parts of the song are alternated until the song ends with only Koshi's vocals. The song has [[B'z Songs Never Performed Live|never performed live]] or collected on any [[B'z Albums#Compilation Albums|compilation]].
#'''[[GO★FIGHT★WIN (Lyrics)|GO★FIGHT★WIN]]'''
#: [[File:a12_12.ogg]] While occasional support member [[Hideo Yamaki]] was credited with playing drums on the track, almost all of the drumming on "GO★FIGHT★WIN" is programmed with his contribution being solely the live cymbals. Before the album title was decided and added later, the tour was originally to be titled B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "~GO★FIGHT★WIN~". Additionally, while the album closed with this song here, it was used to open the [[B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"|LIVE-GYM tour]]. Although the song has not been [[B'z Albums#Compilation Albums|compiled elsewhere]] in the years since, it was revived for [[B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -B'z In Your Town-]].

== Reversion history ==
{{Main|B'z Reversioned Songs}}
{|class=wikitable width="90%"
|-
! width="30%"| Original Song
! width="70%"| Reversion History
|-
{{ultra soul Versions}}
|}

== Live appearances ==
===Live Performances===
{{STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ Live}}
{{Atsuki Kodou no Hate Live}} 
{{Warp Live}}
{{SIGNAL Live}}
{{SURFIN' 3000 GTR Live}}
{{Blue Sunshine Live}}
{{ultra soul Live}}
{{Utsukushiki Sekai Live}}
{{Everlasting Live}}
{{FOREVER MINE Live}}
{{The Spiral Live}}
{{GO★FIGHT★WIN Live}}

===Home Videos===
{{STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ Video}}
{{Atsuki Kodou no Hate Video}}
{{Warp Video}}
{{SIGNAL Video}}
{{SURFIN' 3000 GTR Video}}
{{Blue Sunshine Video}}
{{ultra soul Video}}
{{Utsukushiki Sekai Video}}
{{Everlasting Video}}
{{FOREVER MINE Video}}
{{The Spiral Video}}
{{GO★FIGHT★WIN Video}}

== Sales data ==
{{Main|B'z Sales Records}}

{|class=wikitable width="85%"
|-
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:50px;" rowspan="2" | No.
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:45px;" rowspan="2" | Cover
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:370px;" rowspan="2" | Album
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:150px;" colspan="2" | Physical Copies Sold
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:150px;" colspan="3" | Chart Positions
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff; width:110px;" rowspan="2" | Certification

|-
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff;" | <small>FIRST WEEK</small>
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff;" | <small>LIFETIME</small>

!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff;" | <small>WEEK</small>
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff;" | <small>MONTH</small>
!style="color:black; background-color:#e6f2ff;" | <small>YEAR</small>

{{GREEN Sales}} 

|}

== Personnel ==
'''B'z'''
*[[Tak Matsumoto]]: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
*[[Koshi Inaba]]: Vocals, Lyric Composition, Arrangement

'''Support Members'''
*[[Hideo Yamaki]]: Drums <small>(Tracks 1-3, 6, 9, 11, 12)</small>
*[[Ken Yoshida]]: Bass <small>(Track 1)</small>
*[[Akihito Tokunaga]]: Bass <small>(Tracks 2-5, 7, 10-12)</small>, Arrangement <small>(Tracks 1-5, 7, 9-12)</small>
*[[Vagabond Suzuki]]: Bass <small>(Track 6 & 9)</small>
*[[Naoki Watanabe]]: Bass <small>(Track 8)</small>
*[[Akira Onozuka]]: Piano <small>(Track 8, 9, 11)</small>, Hammond B-3 <small>(Track 6)</small>
*[[Shinozaki Strings]]: Strings <small>(Track 9)</small>

'''Production'''
*[[Daisuke Ikeda]]: Arrangement <small>(Track 1, 6, 8, 9)</small>