Rainbows (Alice Nine song)
Encyclopedia
"Rainbows" is the 13th maxi single
by Alice Nine. It was released on August 6, 2008 in three different versions. Each version contains the title track and a B-side, which may include a booklet, a music video, or another bonus track, respectively within the three versions.
The single marks a significant change in the bands overall dress style which no longer resembles their original Visual Kei look.
In Japan, the single went straight to #3 on the Oricon daily charts, selling over 3,500 copies on its first day and marking their highest position on a mainstream Japanese music chart to date. On the Oricon weekly charts, it ranked at #6, having sold a total of 15,921 copies during its first week.
Saga during a period in which the band members were creating songs without an overall motif. An early version of "Rainbows" was chosen out of a total of 17 songs from this period.
Saga mentions in an interview with Shoxx Magazine
that the song's early sound had strong electronic influences at first, which faded as the band introduced and increased live instrumentation during production. Another characteristic that contributed to a more mechanical sound was a drum loop, but this was eventually replaced with live drum work as well.
For the lyrics, vocalist Shou envisioned an image of the band playing in a laser beam-filled disco after listening to the demo tape and created the theme of "shouting strongly from the darkness to the light" from there. The symbol for this theme was eventually realized as a rainbow
.
Hiroto handled songwriting duties for the following songs on the single, with different approaches to each. "Strawberry Fuzz" came to life as a song that he wanted to perform live, while "Kochouran" pushed him to search for female vocals, bringing an R&B feel to the song.
The titles for each song came about as themes pervading their lyrics. Shou explains the title of "Strawberry Fuzz" as a symbol for the embarrassment that a person experiences when they begin to pursue a dream. He chose the color pink to represent this, which in turn led to the word "strawberry." The "fuzz" of the title refers to hiding this intent from others. For "Kochouran," he elaborates that the theme is "people’s weaknesses and inferiority complexes about beauty," which came to be represented by flowers and butterflies.
Version 2 (CD and DVD) (Limited Edition)
Version 3 (CD only)
. The video often "glitches" at various points: pausing when the scene changes, stuttering, rewinding for a few seconds, or speeding up.
A making-of documentary aired with a live interview on Yahoo! Japan
also shows a common video trick in which the band performs to a slowed-down version of the song, and the footage is later sped up. This results in the band members moving faster while maintaining lip-synching
at normal speed.
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
by Alice Nine. It was released on August 6, 2008 in three different versions. Each version contains the title track and a B-side, which may include a booklet, a music video, or another bonus track, respectively within the three versions.
The single marks a significant change in the bands overall dress style which no longer resembles their original Visual Kei look.
In Japan, the single went straight to #3 on the Oricon daily charts, selling over 3,500 copies on its first day and marking their highest position on a mainstream Japanese music chart to date. On the Oricon weekly charts, it ranked at #6, having sold a total of 15,921 copies during its first week.
RAINBOWS
The title track was conceptualized by bassistBassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Saga during a period in which the band members were creating songs without an overall motif. An early version of "Rainbows" was chosen out of a total of 17 songs from this period.
Saga mentions in an interview with Shoxx Magazine
Shoxx magazine
Shoxx is a Japanese music magazine published monthly by Ongakusenkasha. It focuses on Japan's visual kei scene, featuring its most popular bands as well as new ones. It is advertised as a "Visual and Hard Shock" magazine on each cover....
that the song's early sound had strong electronic influences at first, which faded as the band introduced and increased live instrumentation during production. Another characteristic that contributed to a more mechanical sound was a drum loop, but this was eventually replaced with live drum work as well.
For the lyrics, vocalist Shou envisioned an image of the band playing in a laser beam-filled disco after listening to the demo tape and created the theme of "shouting strongly from the darkness to the light" from there. The symbol for this theme was eventually realized as a rainbow
Rainbow
A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc...
.
Strawberry Fuzz, Kochouran
GuitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Hiroto handled songwriting duties for the following songs on the single, with different approaches to each. "Strawberry Fuzz" came to life as a song that he wanted to perform live, while "Kochouran" pushed him to search for female vocals, bringing an R&B feel to the song.
The titles for each song came about as themes pervading their lyrics. Shou explains the title of "Strawberry Fuzz" as a symbol for the embarrassment that a person experiences when they begin to pursue a dream. He chose the color pink to represent this, which in turn led to the word "strawberry." The "fuzz" of the title refers to hiding this intent from others. For "Kochouran," he elaborates that the theme is "people’s weaknesses and inferiority complexes about beauty," which came to be represented by flowers and butterflies.
Track listing
Version 1 (CD and booklet)- "RAINBOWS."
- "Strawberry Fuzz"
- A 40-page supplementary booklet and a slipcaseSlipcaseA slipcase is a four or five-sided box, usually made of high-quality cardboard, into which binders, books or book sets are slipped for protection. Special editions of books are often slipcased...
- A 40-page supplementary booklet and a slipcase
Version 2 (CD and DVD) (Limited Edition)
- "RAINBOWS."
- "Strawberry Fuzz"
- "Rainbows" music video
Version 3 (CD only)
- "RAINBOWS."
- "Strawberry Fuzz"
- "Kochouran" ' onMouseout='HidePop("97982")' href="/topics/Butterfly_Orchid">Butterfly OrchidButterfly OrchidButterfly orchid may refer to:* Psychopsis, any species* Sarcochilus, several species* Anacamptis papilionacea * Encyclia tampensis* Epidendrum venosum* Habenaria psycodes* Oncidium papilio...
)
Music video
The music video for Rainbows shows the band on the walkway-like stage lit with fluorescent lights on the ceiling and floor. The band appears in mostly bright, casual street clothing, with vocalist Shou even appearing in white Shutter ShadesShutter Shades
Shutter Shades are a design of slatted sunglasses commercially available since the 1980s, designed by Alain Mikli.Instead of having lenses, the design is characterized by its "shutter" motif, which is part of the frame, and are marketed as suitable for both men and women. The shades are available...
. The video often "glitches" at various points: pausing when the scene changes, stuttering, rewinding for a few seconds, or speeding up.
A making-of documentary aired with a live interview on Yahoo! Japan
Yahoo! Japan
is a Japanese internet company formed as a joint venture between the American internet company Yahoo! and the Japanese internet company SoftBank. It is headquartered at Midtown Tower in the Tokyo Midtown complex in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo.-History:...
also shows a common video trick in which the band performs to a slowed-down version of the song, and the footage is later sped up. This results in the band members moving faster while maintaining lip-synching
Lip sync
Lip sync, lip-sync, lip-synch is a technical term for matching lip movements with sung or spoken vocals...
at normal speed.