Uchouten
| Uchouten | ||||
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| Single by B'z | ||||
| from the album EPIC DAY | ||||
| Released | January 14, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||
| Promotions | #1 (Gakkou no Kaidan) | |||
| Length | 8:14 | |||
| Label | Vermillion Records | |||
| Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z singles chronology | ||||
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Uchouten (有頂天, Ecstasy) is the fifty-first single by B'z, released on January 14, 2015. It is their first since 2012's "GO FOR IT, BABY -Kioku no Sanmyaku-", ending the longest interval between singles in their career. The title song is expected to appear on their 2015 studio album EPIC DAY.
The song and release were first revealed in a newspaper advert that ran all over Japan on December 3, 2014. The night before, a popup on the official B'z website first teased the song. The reveal brought word that half of the show from 2013's B'z Special LIVE at EX THEATER ROPPONGI would be featured as a bonus DVD on the single's limited edition, thus making this release the first to premiere any footage from the event. Songs included in the performance ranged from rarities "Yasei no ENERGY", which had previously not been performed since 2003, to ACTION staples "Kuroi Seishun" and "ONE ON ONE", and rarely-performed single "BANZAI". Most notably, the 1994 album song "Yami no Ame" from the double-album The 7th Blues makes its home video debut here. Additionally, those that purchased the single in stores would be given a choice between two different B2 size posters while supplies lasted, while those that pre-ordered online would receive a single complete with a special cover.
To mark their return, B'z made several appearances on television to promote the release at the end of 2014 and early in 2015. This included showings on both Music Station SUPER LIVE 2015 and a year-end CDTV special during which "Uchouten" was their only song performed. For the January 18, 2015 appearance on LIVE MONSTER, B'z performed not only the title song from the single but also paired it with 2009's hit "Ichibu to Zenbu". This would be the most involved of the promotions for the single, featuring a full half-hour episode of the show dedicated to the band, including a sit-down interview alongside the performances.
The title song was featured as the theme to the NTV drama series Gakkou no Kaidan (The School's Staircase). This would be the first drama tie-in promotion for a single since 2009's "Ichibu to Zenbu". A short music video was premiered on the Yahoo! GYAO web service one week prior to release, featuring the band playing against a stylized, multi-colored backdrop complete with computer-generated elements.
Track listing
- Uchouten — Ecstasy, 有頂天
- Endless Summer
- The titular song from the band's 25th anniversary tour B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-, on which it served as the opener for the dome leg of the tour. While it could be heard in live form on the ensuing home video release, its inclusion here marks its studio debut.
Limited Edition (CD+DVD)
| B'z Special LIVE at EX THEATER ROPPONGI |
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Personnel
B'z
- Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
- Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition, Arrangement