"Stars" is the fifty-fourth single by the Japanese rock duo B'z. It was released on July 12, 2023, and is their first single in six years, after Seimei/Still Alive, making it the longest gap between singles.[1] It was released in commemoration of the band's 35th anniversary.[2]
| "Stars" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by B'z | ||||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | July 12, 2023 | |||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | Vermillion | |||
| Composer(s) | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Koshi Inaba | |||
| Producer(s) | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
It was released in four editions: a regular CD edition, a CD+DVD edition and a CD+Blu-ray edition, both of which include footage of the band performing three songs live from Tokyo FM Hall, and an edition with the CD and a Jenga-like balance game, which includes 54 blocks, each engraved with one of the band's singles.[3][4]
The single debuted atop the Oricon Singles Chart dated July 24, 2023, with sales of 117,600 copies, making this their 50th consecutive number 1 single.[5][6] It debuted at number 4 on Billboard Japan's Japan Hot 100.[7]
Background
editThe song "Stars" commemorates the band's 35th anniversary, with the band comparing the progress they've made, and where they still want to go, to stars, "The songs we've made so far, the fans who have supported us since our debut, and what lies ahead as B'z aims to go somewhere further—all of these irreplaceable existences are 'stars.'"[2][3] The song "Dark Rainbow" was written for the movie Omae no Tsumi o Jihaku Shiro.[8][9] The single also includes a rerecording of the band's 2nd single, "Kimi no Naka de Odoritai".[2]
Track listing
editAll lyrics are written by Koshi Inaba; all music is composed by Tak Matsumoto
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stars" | 3:55 |
| 2. | "Dark Rainbow" | 4:16 |
| 3. | "Painkiller (ペインキラー, Painkiller)" | 3:49 |
| 4. | "Kimi no Naka de Odoritai 2023 (君の中で踊りたい 2023, I Wanna Dance Inside You 2023)" | 3:25 |
| Total length: | 15:25 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dark Rainbow" | |
| 2. | "Kimi no Naka de Odoritai 2023" | |
| 3. | "Stars" |
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[14] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "B'z、6年ぶりシングル「STARS」リリース決定". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "B'z、デビュー35周年に生まれたニューシングル『STARS』リリース決定 | Daily News". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "B'z、6年ぶりシングル「STARS」を7月リリース". BARKS (in Japanese). June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "B'z、ニューシングル『STARS』リリース 数量限定盤には歴代シングルタイトル刻印の"B'zバランスゲーム"付属". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ a b オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年07月10日～2023年07月16日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking July 10, 2023 – July 16, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "B'z、オリコン史上初の「シングル」50作連続１位【オリコンランキング】". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). July 18, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2023/07/19". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "B'z、映画『おまえの罪を自白しろ』主題歌に新曲提供 主演・中島健人「ビリビリしびれる」". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). April 24, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "B'z、中島健人主演『おまえの罪を自白しろ』に主題歌「Dark Rainbow」書き下ろし". BARKS (in Japanese). April 24, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2023-07-24" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ "2023年度 オリコン年間 シングルランキング 51～60位". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Year End | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Japanese single certifications – B'z – STARS" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.