To Love
Encyclopedia
To Love is Japanese R&B
singer-lyricist
Kana Nishino
's second studio album. It was released on June 23, 2010 by SME Records
. The album spawned four Oricon
Top 10 singles, "Motto...", "Dear.../Maybe
", "Best Friend
" and "Aitakute Aitakute
".
" and "Kimi no Koe o" feat. Verbal (M-Flo
)) were gradual hits in the digital market. Since then, all of her singles have hit No. 1 on RIAJ's Digital Track Chart
, which tracks full-length song downloads to cellphones. "Best Friend
" stayed at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks, while "Aitakute Aitakute
" and "Motto..." reached No. 1 for two.
Currently, "Aitakute Aitakute", "Best Friend," "Dear..." and "Motto..." are all certified for 750,000+ ringtone downloads and 500,000+ full-length cellphone downloads. "Maybe" has been downloaded on cellphones more than 100,000 times, along with a B-side to "Best Friend
" "One Way Love" that is not present on the album.
, Nishino stated that for the lyrics on the album she "makes an image from the music, then creates a short film made of images in her head, and from there creates the basis for the scenario for the lyrics.
Many of the songwriters from Nishino's first album worked with her again for To Love. Sizk, who worked on the prologue/epilogues from her first album worked on the second albums, while the singles were created with Giorgio Cancemi (who worked with Nishino on 2/3 of the later promotional tracks from Love One., "Tōkutemo" and "Kimi no Koe o"). One song was written by Australian songwriters Nervo
("Hey Boy"), much like the songs "Girlfriend" and Nishino's debut single "I"). Jeff Miyahara
also returned to work with Nishino once again (after producing the single "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara
"), with "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi
.
Many album tracks were popular enough to chart digitally after the album's release. "Love & Smile", released a week before the album, was the most successful, peaking at No. 3. Others included "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi
(No. 8), "Kono Mama de" (No. 14) and "You Are the One" (No. 64).
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer-lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Kana Nishino
Kana Nishino
is a J-Pop singer and lyricist signed with SME Records' Newcome Inc. She debuted on February 20, 2008, with the single "I". CNN said that she was the favorite singer of teenage girls in Shibuya, Tokyo.- Life and career :...
's second studio album. It was released on June 23, 2010 by SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
. The album spawned four 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...
Top 10 singles, "Motto...", "Dear.../Maybe
Dear.../Maybe
-Chart performance:On the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart with the issue date December 7, 2009, "Dear..." appeared on the chart at number 92. The following week "Dear..." peaked at number three jumping 89 spots.-Charts:...
", "Best Friend
Best Friend (Kana Nishino song)
-Oricon Charts :...
" and "Aitakute Aitakute
Aitakute Aitakute
is a song by Japanese pop singer Kana Nishino. It was released as her 10th single on May 19, 2010. The song is produced by Giorgio Cancemi, writer of many of Nishino's hit songs . The B-side "Love Is Blind" is produced by contemporary R&B producer Hiro...
".
Background
"To Love" is Nishino's first album released after she solidified her popularity in the digital market. Despite Nishino's initial singles for her first album, Love One., not seeing much success, the songs promoted around the album's release ("Tōkutemo" feat. Wise, "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru KaraKimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara
is a single released by Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter Kana Nishino. It was released on June 3, 2009 by her record label SME Records.-Track listing:...
" and "Kimi no Koe o" feat. Verbal (M-Flo
M-flo
is a Japanese hip hop group consisting of producer and DJ Taku Takahashi and emcee Verbal.Former member Lisa left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career, and the remaining members then started the M-Flo Loves... project working different vocalists for each song over three albums, including the...
)) were gradual hits in the digital market. Since then, all of her singles have hit No. 1 on RIAJ's Digital Track Chart
RIAJ Digital Track Chart
The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads ....
, which tracks full-length song downloads to cellphones. "Best Friend
Best Friend (Kana Nishino song)
-Oricon Charts :...
" stayed at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks, while "Aitakute Aitakute
Aitakute Aitakute
is a song by Japanese pop singer Kana Nishino. It was released as her 10th single on May 19, 2010. The song is produced by Giorgio Cancemi, writer of many of Nishino's hit songs . The B-side "Love Is Blind" is produced by contemporary R&B producer Hiro...
" and "Motto..." reached No. 1 for two.
Currently, "Aitakute Aitakute", "Best Friend," "Dear..." and "Motto..." are all certified for 750,000+ ringtone downloads and 500,000+ full-length cellphone downloads. "Maybe" has been downloaded on cellphones more than 100,000 times, along with a B-side to "Best Friend
Best Friend (Kana Nishino song)
-Oricon Charts :...
" "One Way Love" that is not present on the album.
Writing
Much like her first album, To Love is centred around a theme of love. As exactly one year had passed from her previous album, Nishino wanted to express the growth in her values and view on love. In an interview with Yahoo! JapanYahoo! 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:...
, Nishino stated that for the lyrics on the album she "makes an image from the music, then creates a short film made of images in her head, and from there creates the basis for the scenario for the lyrics.
Many of the songwriters from Nishino's first album worked with her again for To Love. Sizk, who worked on the prologue/epilogues from her first album worked on the second albums, while the singles were created with Giorgio Cancemi (who worked with Nishino on 2/3 of the later promotional tracks from Love One., "Tōkutemo" and "Kimi no Koe o"). One song was written by Australian songwriters Nervo
Nervo (band)
The Nervo Twins or Nervo are Australian twin sisters, Miriam and Olivia Nervo, who work as fashion models, musicians and songwriters from Australia.-Background and early career:...
("Hey Boy"), much like the songs "Girlfriend" and Nishino's debut single "I"). Jeff Miyahara
Jeff Miyahara
Jeff Miyahara is a Japanese-Korean record producer and song-writer raised in Los Angeles, today based in Tokyo, Japan.Since moving to Japan in 1999 to begin his career in the music industry, he has worked with many Japanese artists such as Spontania, JUJU, Miliyah Kato, Namie Amuro as well as...
also returned to work with Nishino once again (after producing the single "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara
Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara
is a single released by Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter Kana Nishino. It was released on June 3, 2009 by her record label SME Records.-Track listing:...
"), with "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi
Minmi
is a Japanese hip-hop, soca, and reggae musician, as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to , a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze....
.
Chart ranking
The album debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's daily albums chart, selling 71,000 copies on its first day. It stayed at No. 1 for the first week, selling 290,000 copies. The album's first week sales are currently the highest for a solo artist in 2010.Many album tracks were popular enough to chart digitally after the album's release. "Love & Smile", released a week before the album, was the most successful, peaking at No. 3. Others included "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi
Minmi
is a Japanese hip-hop, soca, and reggae musician, as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to , a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze....
(No. 8), "Kono Mama de" (No. 14) and "You Are the One" (No. 64).
Track listing
Charts
| 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 album chart |
1 |
| Oricon weekly album chart | 1 |
| Oricon monthly album chart | 1 |
| Oricon yearly album chart | 3 |
Sales and certifications
| Country | Provider | Physical sales | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | RIAJ Recording Industry Association of Japan The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry... |
646,000 | Triple Platinum |
Chart procession and succession
Personnel
- Bachlogic - arrangement/music/production/programming (#9)
- Giorgio Cancemi - arrangement/music/production/recording (#2, #5, #8, #11-12), lyrics (#8, #12)
- DJ Mass (Vivid Neon*) - cuts/lyrics/music (#10), instruments (#4)
- Kotaro Egami (Supa Love) - arrangement/production (#7)
- Exxxit - music (#10)
- Grumpy (Digz, inc) - mixing (#6)
- Takuya Harada - vocal direction (#9, #13)
- Yuki Hasegawa - child chorus member (#6)
- Kenji "Jino" Hino - arrangement/music (#3)
- HiroHiro (music producer)Hiro is a Japanese music producer, associated with production company Digz, inc.. He began producing songs in 2007, beginning with dance group PaniCrew's single "Growing & Leaning." His most successful song is currently Kumi Koda's "Taboo," which reached #1 on Oricon's single charts in 2008...
(Digz, inc) - vocal direction (#6) - Satoshi Hosoi - mixing (#3-4, #9-10, #13)
- Marin Iitsuka - child chorus member (#6)
- Yuma Iitsuka - child chorus member (#6)
- Gonta Kawamoto - mixing (#7)
- Yuki Keity (Exxxit) - lyrics (#10)
- Kgro (Digz, inc) - recording (#6)
- Masa Kohama - arrangement/music (#3)
- Andreas Levander - music (#4)
- Mats Lie Skare - music (#13)
- Yasuo Matsumoto - mastering/mixing (#5)
- MinmiMinmiis a Japanese hip-hop, soca, and reggae musician, as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to , a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze....
- lyrics/music/vocals (#3) - Jeff MiyaharaJeff MiyaharaJeff Miyahara is a Japanese-Korean record producer and song-writer raised in Los Angeles, today based in Tokyo, Japan.Since moving to Japan in 1999 to begin his career in the music industry, he has worked with many Japanese artists such as Spontania, JUJU, Miliyah Kato, Namie Amuro as well as...
- arrangement/music (#3) - Toshihiko Miyoshi - mastering (#2, #8, #11), mixing (#2, #8, #11-12)
- Miriam Nervo - music (#4)
- Olivia Nervo - music (#4)
- Kana Nishino - lyrics (all tracks), vocals (all tracks)
- Jonas Nordelius - music (#4)
- Mitsuki Ogasawara - child chorus member (#6)
- Kazuma Ogawa - child chorus member (#6)
- Shinquo Ogura - music (#11)
- Saeki Youthk - music (#7)
- Kazuhito Saito - mixing (#7), recording (#1, #4, #6, #9-10, #13-14)
- Hidekazu Sakai - mastering (all tracks)
- Winston Sela - music (#9)
- Daniel Sherman - music (#9)
- Sizk (Star Guitar) - arrangement/mixing/production (#1, #14)
- Rock Sakurai (Exxxit) - instruments (#4)
- So-Hey! (Nerdhead) - violin (#11-12)
- Himari Suzuki - child chorus member (#6)
- Toiza71 (Digz, inc) - arrangement/music (#6)
- ViVi - music (#1, #14)
- Vivid Neon* - arrangement/production (#4, #10)
- Yamachi - guitar (#2)
- Yuichi Yamada (Nerdhead) - keyboard (#2, #5, #8, #11-12)
- Takashi Yamaguchi - guitar (#4, #6)
- Zetton - arrangement/music/programming (#13)