BLOWIN'

BLOWIN'
Single by B'z
Released	May 27, 1992
Promotions	#1 (Karubii Potato Chips CM) #2 (Station Eye Theme)
Length	8:49
Label	BMG Rooms Vermillion Records (2003 Remaster)
Producer	Tak Matsumoto
B'z singles chronology
09th Single ALONE (1991) 10th Single BLOWIN' (1992) 11th Single ZERO (1992)

B'z performing "BLOWIN'" on the flying stage during B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-. With over two decades of performances, the song ranks amongst the top ten most performed in their catalogue.

Koshi during "TIME" at Tokyo Dome during B'z LIVE-GYM 2010 "Ain't No Magic". The ballad has often been included in setlists, particularly during the 1990s, due to its popularity.

BLOWIN' is the tenth single by B'z, released on May 27, 1992. Unexpectedly, both the A-side and B-side became monumental hits for the band. As was the case with "Koi-Gokoro (KOI-GOKORO)" on the single for "ZERO", "TIME" established itself as one of the top B'z songs despite its place as a B-side. Since its initial release here, the song has earned spots in numerous LIVE-GYM setlists over the years as well as its appearance on a number of the band's compilation albums, including The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ in 2002 and B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" in 2008. The A-side was given the collection treatment on three occasions: 1998's best-selling B'z The Best "Treasure", 2008's B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" on which it appeared as a re-recording under the title "BLOWIN' -ULTRA Treasure Style-", and 2013's B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998.

The legacy of "BLOWIN'" is not to be understated, with the song remaining a constant fixture on the LIVE-GYM circuit even with the releases of hundreds of additional songs. The single has been performed enough to rank it within the top 10 of the band's most played tracks, with appearances on a large number of home video releases, including LIVE RIPPER, "BUZZ!!" THE MOVIE, Typhoon No.15, MONSTER'S GARAGE, GLORY DAYS, and C'mon. Typically, the song has been used early in setlists as both an opener and in the slot following Koshi's "Welcome to the B'z LIVE-GYM" (B'z no LIVE-GYM ni yoko so) message.

No music video was filmed for either tracks on the single. For the bonus DVD included in the limited edition copies of B'z The Best XXV 1988-1998 that featured the music videos for all contained singles, previously unreleased live footage from B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'92 "TIME" was used for the title track. When highlighted on televised music programs and in commercials, similar live footage is generally used for segments featuring the song.

The single's nearly 600,000 physical copies moved in its first week earned it the top spot on the Weekly Oricon Singles chart, being their sixth consecutive to do so. In addition to staying at the top for two weeks, it was also ranked first for the month of June 1992, fourth for July, and ninth for August. Ultimatley, the single was the third highest-selling of the entire year of 1992 after spending a total of 31 weeks on the charts in all. The release is one of the band's three highest-selling singles with over 1.76 million copies sold. As a result, "BLOWIN'" was certified Million by Recording Industry Association of Japan, and was named as one of the Best 5 Singles at the 7th Japan Gold Disc Awards.

The single was simultaneously remastered and re-released on March 26, 2003 along with nine other of the band's older singles and the then-latest single, "IT'S SHOWTIME!!". On the daily chart at launch, B'z held a monopoly over the chart's top eleven slots, with the new single ranking at the top and the re-issues covering the remaining ten. Ultimately, B'z would set a record that week for holding nine of the Top 10 slots for the week of release, with "BLOWIN'" coming in ninth place.

Track listing

1. BLOWIN'

   File:s10 01.ogg The song has been performed on over 15 tours, with its earliest appearance coming during B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'92 "TIME" and inclusion in all of the band's major anniversary shows in 2003, 2008, and 2013.

2. TIME

   File:s10 02.ogg Originally a non-album song, "TIME" was collected for the first time by fan demand on B'z The Best "Treasure" during which it was the fifth most popular choice. The sentimental favorite remains one of the band's and fans' favorites alike. The landscapes mentioned in the lyrics are sourced from Koshi's memory, with a port in Yokohama serving as the primary model. The song has been performed a great many times over the course of the band's history. One of the most recognizable performances came during B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'92 "TIME" that opened with Tak playing a special guitar intro and Koshi wearing a golden "TIME" necklace. While initially unavailable on home video, it was at last released on DVD as part of the live compilation DVD set B'z LIVE-GYM Hidden Pleasure ~Typhoon No.20~ in 2008.

Personnel

B'z

• Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
• Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition

Drums

• Ikkoh Tanaka: Drums (Track 2)

Production

• Masao Akashi: Arrangement
• B+U+M
• Chris Bellman: Remastering (2003 reissue, Bernie Grundman Mastering L.A., U.S.A.)