"Clāvis (Kagi)" (Clāvis -鍵-, lit. "Clāvis (A Key)") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo. It was released as a single by Pony Canyon on September 6, 2006. It served as the theme song to the tanpatsu dramas aired from July through September 2006 on AX's Drama Complex time slot.[1]
| "Clāvis (Kagi)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Shizuka Kudo | ||||
| Released | September 6, 2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:59 | |||
| Label | Pony Canyon | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Shizuka Kudo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
Background and composition
edit"Clāvis (Kagi)" was written by Miyuki Nakajima and arranged by Ichizō Seo.[2] It marks Kudo's first collaboration with Nakajima in eight years, since "Setsu Getsu Ka".[3] The title "Clāvis" is latin for "key". Nakajima wrote the song with Kudo in mind. She thought a song with latin influences should be sung by someone with a strong gaze, such as Kudo.[3] Lyrically, the song deals with the theme of self-realization and explores the social nature of people. Nakajima writes about a protagonist "braving seas and people alike" in quest for the "keys of life", which she concludes is an puzzling endeavor. The song is composed in the key of C minor and set to a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[4] Kudo's vocals span one octave, from B♭3 to B♭4.
Critical reception
editThe latin-inspired track was praised for Kudo's ringing vocals and Nakajima's strong storytelling skills; their collaboration was deemed "miraculous".[5] Kudo was praised as a three-dimensional, versatile vocalist; the single's B-side was described by critics as just as well-executed as the main track, in spite of being in a completely different thematic register from "Clāvis".[5]
Cover version
editIn 2006, Nakajima recorded a cover of the song for her album, Lullaby Singer.[6]
Chart performance
edit"Clāvis" debuted at number 67 on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 2,000 copies in its first week, and charted for three weeks.[7][8]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Clāvis (Kagi)" (Clāvis -鍵-, "Clāvis (A Key)") |
| 5:59 | |
| 2. | "Powder Snow" |
|
| 5:02 |
| 3. | "Clāvis (Kagi)" (Less Vocal) |
|
| 5:57 |
| Total length: | 16:58 | |||
Charts
edit| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[9] | 67 | 4,000[8] |
References
edit- ^ "工藤静香「Clavis -鍵-」-『Clavis -鍵-』収録". Recochoku. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "工藤静香、久々のニュー・シングルを発表！中島みゆき参加". CDJournal. August 4, 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "工藤静香、中島みゆきと８年ぶりコラボ…１年４か月ぶり新曲で". Sports Hochi. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "Clavis－鍵－ 楽譜:メロディ譜 工藤 静香". @Elise. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "工藤静香 / Clavis-鍵-". CDJournal. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "中島みゆき、TOKIOのヒット曲を歌う！". Oricon. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "1987.08.31 工藤静香 アイドル・ポップ・データベース". Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "工藤静香 - アーティスト別シングル売上補完". @wiki. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "Clavis-鍵- 工藤静香". Oricon. Retrieved December 23, 2017.