Gake no Ue no Ponyo (song)
Encyclopedia
is the eponymous theme song to the Studio Ghibli
film Ponyo, released on December 5, 2007 (though gaining popularity with the release of the film in August 2008). It was performed by folk group Fujioka Fujimaki
and then eight year old Nozomi Ōhashi
.
, with lyrics by the film's supervisor Katsuya Kondō
and director Hayao Miyazaki
. When Hisaishi originally saw the storyboards for the film, he immediately thought up the melody for the song. However, as he believed it was too simple a melody, he did not mention it for two to three months. He eventually showed the song to Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki
as he could not get it out of his head. They both believed such a simple song was fitting for the film.
. Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ōhashi performed the song on the new year's song contest Kōhaku Uta Gassen
, making Ōhashi the youngest participant after 59 years of airing.
's physical single charts. The song initially only charted for one week at #115 after its initial release in December 2007. It began charting again lowly in below the 100 mark at the beginning of July, and broke into the top ten at #6 by the end of July. The song then spent 11 weeks in the top 10, peaking at #3 for four weeks. The song charted in the top 50 for 15 further weeks (breaking into the top 20 around new years, due to Kōhaku Uta Gassen
), and finally stopped charting in the top 200 August 2009, spending more than an entire year on the charts.
On the Billboard Japan Hot 100
(combined physical sales and airplay), the song peaked at #4, and was the 17th most successful song in 2008. Digitally, the song peaked at #1 on RIAJ's monthly ringtone chart, and has been certified platinum for full-length cellphone downloads and double-platinum for ringtone downloads.
and Frankie Jonas
(siblings of Disney teen stars Miley Cyrus
and the Jonas Brothers
). The song was released as a digital download in May 2010, despite the film being released in North America
in August 2009.
Two versions of this cover were created: one, a direct stylistic cover of the original version, and another upbeat pop rock
remix of the song.
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
film Ponyo, released on December 5, 2007 (though gaining popularity with the release of the film in August 2008). It was performed by folk group Fujioka Fujimaki
Fujioka Fujimaki
is a Japanese folk band, created from two members of the 1970s novelty group , and . They are best known for their collaboration with then eight year old singer Nozomi Ōhashi for the theme song of the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo.-Biography:...
and then eight year old Nozomi Ōhashi
Nozomi Ōhashi
is a Japanese child actress and singer attached to the Central Kodomo Gekidan talent agency.-Career:She made her drama debut at the age of three. On December 5, 2007, she debuted as a singer with the theme song for the animated film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.-Personal Life:Nozomi Ōhashi is the...
.
Writing
The song was written in collaboration between veteran Ghibli composer Joe HisaishiJoe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
, with lyrics by the film's supervisor Katsuya Kondō
Katsuya Kondo
is a Japanese manga artist, character designer, animator and animation director. He is best known for his character design work on the Studio Ghibli films Kiki's Delivery Service and Ocean Waves, as well as the PlayStation game Jade Cocoon...
and director Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
. When Hisaishi originally saw the storyboards for the film, he immediately thought up the melody for the song. However, as he believed it was too simple a melody, he did not mention it for two to three months. He eventually showed the song to Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki
Toshio Suzuki (producer)
is a film producer of anime and a long-time colleague of Hayao Miyazaki, as well as the current CEO of Studio Ghibli. Suzuki is renowned as one of Japan's most successful producers after the enormous box office success of many Ghibli films. According to Miyazaki, "If it were not for Mr...
as he could not get it out of his head. They both believed such a simple song was fitting for the film.
Promotion
Other than being promoted in commercials and in the film Ponyo, the song was used in commercials for Mitsuya CiderMitsuya Cider
is a Japanese carbonated soft drink, created in 1884 and now produced by Asahi Soft Drinks. While branded as a "cider", the East Asian use of "cider" refers to a very different drink – the basic flavor can be described as a cross between Sprite and Ginger Ale, though Asahi has come out with...
. Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ōhashi performed the song on the new year's song contest Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
, making Ōhashi the youngest participant after 59 years of airing.
Chart reception
The song was an extremely successful long-seller on OriconOricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
's physical single charts. The song initially only charted for one week at #115 after its initial release in December 2007. It began charting again lowly in below the 100 mark at the beginning of July, and broke into the top ten at #6 by the end of July. The song then spent 11 weeks in the top 10, peaking at #3 for four weeks. The song charted in the top 50 for 15 further weeks (breaking into the top 20 around new years, due to Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
), and finally stopped charting in the top 200 August 2009, spending more than an entire year on the charts.
On the Billboard Japan Hot 100
Japan Hot 100
The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com ....
(combined physical sales and airplay), the song peaked at #4, and was the 17th most successful song in 2008. Digitally, the song peaked at #1 on RIAJ's monthly ringtone chart, and has been certified platinum for full-length cellphone downloads and double-platinum for ringtone downloads.
Track listing
Chart rankings
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... daily singles |
1 |
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... weekly singles |
3 |
| Oricon yearly singles | 14 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
4 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 yearly charts | 17 |
| RIAJ Reco-kyō monthly ringtone chart | 1 |
Sales and certifications
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales | 382,000 |
| RIAJ ringtone downloads | 500,000+ |
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | 250,000+ |
Chart procession and succession
Noah Cyrus & Frankie Jonas version
For the overseas release of the film, an English version retitled as "Ponyo On the Cliff By the Sea" was released, sung by Noah CyrusNoah Cyrus
Noah Lindsey Cyrus is an American child actress. Noah Cyrus followed the footsteps of older sister Miley Cyrus also an actress, and landed her first job portraying Gracie Herbert in television series Doc at age three...
and Frankie Jonas
Frankie Jonas
Franklin Nathaniel "Frankie" Jonas is an American actor, who had a recurring role on the Disney Channel sitcom, Jonas L.A.. His older brothers - Joe, Nick, and Kevin - are in the pop group the Jonas Brothers...
(siblings of Disney teen stars Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
and the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
). The song was released as a digital download in May 2010, despite the film being released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in August 2009.
Two versions of this cover were created: one, a direct stylistic cover of the original version, and another upbeat pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
remix of the song.
Track listing
Other cover versions
- Joe HisaishiJoe Hisaishi, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
(2009, self cover performed on piano, album Another Piano Stories: The End of the World) - Nana Hiwatari (2008, compilation album Ghibli the Best)
- Yūko Kanzaki & Kentarō Hayami, (2009, compilation album Kodomo no Uta: Gake no Ue no Ponyo Hi wa, Mata Noboru)
- MejaMejaMeja , is a Swedish composer, artist and singer. Among her best known songs are "I'm Missing You","All 'Bout the Money" and "Private Emotion"...
(2010, album AniMeja: Ghibli Songs) - Takashi Obara (2009, performed on piano on album Ghibli in Classic: Gake no Ue no Ponyo, Tonari no Totoro)
- Sumi ShimamotoSumi Shimamoto, real name , is a veteran Japanese voice actress born on December 8, 1954, in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she joined Gekidan Seinenza, a theatrical acting troupe...
(2009, album Sumi Shimamoto Sings Ghibli) - Yumiko Tamura, Takashi Irie (2009, compilation album Kazoku Minna no Family Song: Fāmi Son Gake no Ue no Ponyo)
- Kenji Yamahira, Keiichi Hosokawa (2008, performed on erhuErhuThe erhu is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, more specifically a spike fiddle, which may also be called a "southern fiddle", and sometimes known in the Western world as the "Chinese violin" or a "Chinese two-stringed fiddle". It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles...
, album Erhu Chūgoku Dentō Gakki de Kiku Studio Ghibli Sakuhinshū Best Selection)