YOASOBI, the musical unit that produces music impressed by novels, reveals no indicators of stopping. Their tune “Idol” — written because the opening theme tune of the TV anime【OSHI NO KO】— has taken high positions in 5 year-end Billboard Japan charts because it started streaming in April. Their subsequent single, “The Courageous,” is the opening theme of the favored TV anime Frieren: Past Journey’s Finish and continues to carry a excessive place within the charts. This yr, additionally they accomplished a Japanese enviornment tour and carried out abroad, in Los Angeles, in August. As one of the vital iconic artists of the J-pop scene, they’ve demonstrated great presence the entire yr lengthy.
On Nov. 18, YOASOBI launched its latest single, “Biri-Biri.” The tune was impressed by Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on the identical day. Composer Ayase has all the time been a giant fan of Pokémon, and the tune has little touches that may deliver a smile to any fan of the sport. “Biri-Biri” is already producing great buzz.
Billboard Japan invited Ayano Takeda, who wrote the novel the tune relies on, After the Rain With You, to speak with YOASOBI about their shared love of Pokémon and the making of “Biri-Biri.” After their dialogue, there was a “Commerce of Pokémon” ceremony and a particular commemorative photograph shoot. Famitsu.com can also be working an article with a larger deal with Pokémon.
Ayase, you’ve performed virtually each sport within the Pokémon sequence, however how about you, Ayano?
Ayano: I used to be largest into Pokémon once I was in elementary college, so I used to be enjoying Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. I’ve a brother who’s six years youthful than me, so we’d play collectively.
How about you, ikura?
ikura: The primary one I’ve actually correctly performed is Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. After I was a bit of child, although, I did watch relations play Pokémon Crimson and Inexperienced. I additionally performed a whole lot of Pokémon Ranger on the Nintendo DS.
That are your favourite Pokémon?
Ayano: My favourite is Vaporeon. After I was enjoying Pokémon Silver, my good friend’s older brother gave me a degree 96 Vaporeon, so was capable of simply lay waste to every little thing earlier than me. Ever since then, it’s been my favourite Pokémon.
ikura: For me, it’s Eevee. But when I had been to grow to be a Pokémon, I’d wish to be Charizard.
Ayase: For me, Mew. It’s cute, and I like its virtually legendary nature.
Ayano, what was your first impression once you heard “Biri-Biri?”
Ayano: My first impression that it was like a cool, cute Pokémon. The primary time I heard it, I used to be moved to tears. I noticed how all these totally different folks labored collectively to show a novel right into a tune. Additionally, I’d researched lots about Nemona with a purpose to write the novel, so there was a robust emotional connection. After I noticed the music video, I used to be like, “sure, that expression proper there!”
There’s a whole lot of nice Pokémon music, like sport soundtracks and anime theme songs. Did you get any inspiration from them?
Ayase: There are background music movies and playlists on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, and final yr, by likelihood, I used to be listening to them lots. After they approached me about writing the tune, I made a decision that I wished to attract on some motifs. What I did wasn’t precisely sampling, however as an alternative form of creating new preparations. This was the primary time we’d tried that form of homage-style strategy, so I wished to offer it a shot.
The intro is de facto an homage to battle music.
Ayase: I used to be enjoying Pokémon Violet, so I had this futuristic, mechanical picture. I spotted I wished to make a form of electrical [in Japanese, “biri-biri” is used to describe the feeling of electrical shock], techno-like really feel, and I spotted that battle music could be a great match for that.
Previous Pokémon titles are sprinkled by the lyrics. There, as nicely, there’s this sense of playful homage.
Ayase: At first, I wasn’t planning on placing the names of different works within the lyrics, however the phrases got here to thoughts as a result of how the elements of the tune slot in collectively. I believed I labored in a few of the titles in actually delicate methods, they usually’d be onerous to search out, however social media and YouTube feedback, folks discovered all of them actually shortly. You actually get a way of how a lot love folks have for Pokémon.
I feel this tune has additionally proven a brand new facet of YOASOBI. Had been there any artists or songs that impressed you with respect to the vocals?
ikura: For the high-pitched elements, as an alternative of straining, I attempted to let go and loosen up once I sang. Throughout the refrain, there’s a little bit of a cushion zone earlier than launching into a light-weight dance half, and I feel that approach for loosening up goes to grow to be a part of my repertoire.
What a part of the tune is your favourite, Ayano?
Ayano: I just like the “ABC and to XYZ” half. It feels actually good.
Ayase: In terms of actually feeling good, that’s the a part of the tune I’m most pleased with, too.
ikura: Singing that half is de facto enjoyable.
Not too long ago, you carried out at occasions Hong Kong and Taipei, the place you carried out “Biri-Biri” stay for the primary time.
Ayase: Performing “Biri-Biri” is nice. The stay parts actually work nicely.
ikura: The tune has a completely totally different tone than our different songs, so it fully modifications up the temper. Plus, it’s a blast to sing. It makes me really feel like dancing, and though we simply launched the tune, audiences are already singing alongside.
You’ve additionally launched an English model of “Biri-Biri.” What variations ought to folks preserve an eye fixed out for between the English and Japanese model?
ikura: That is additionally true for the entire previous English variations of our songs, however the best way the lyrics roll off the tongue, and the way they slot in with the music, feels nice. However, personally, even amongst all these songs, I feel “Biri-Biri” matches the perfect. I’ve felt that method since we had been recording. The velocity and stylishness of English meshes very well into the tune.
Ayase: In Hong Kong, “Biri-Biri” climbed excessive within the charts instantly after its streaming launch. Additionally, and it is a little bit of a tangent, however Taiwan opened their first Pokémon Heart, and we had been capable of go there earlier than it opened.
ikura: We had the chance due to this collaboration, or, I suppose, due to this connection we’ve established.
In closing, do you will have any final phrases for our readers?
Ayano: I really feel very proud to have been capable of be part of a giant IP like Pokémon. I hope anybody who’s by no means tried Pokémon earlier than tries it out, and that individuals get pleasure from each the novel and our tune.
YOASOBI: From the opposite works within the sequence to the current Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, Ayano Takeda’s novel, and “Biri-Biri,” Pokémon has really created a world of its personal, so we hope that everybody savors every little thing it has to supply.
Pokémon picture: ©2023 Pokémon. ©1995-2023 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are emblems of Nintendo.
This interview by Takuto Ueda first appeared on Billboard Japan.
Supply hyperlink