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"Kioku"
Single by Misia
from the album Soul Quest
Released	May 25, 2011 (2011-05-25)
Studio	RMT Studio Beethoven Studio Eastcote Studios Air Studios
Genre	Orchestral pop
Length	5:11
Label	Ariola Japan
Songwriter(s)	Misia Gorō Matsui BZ4U
Producer(s)	Shirō Sagisu
Misia singles chronology
"Edge of This World" (2010) "Kioku" (2011) "Koi wa Owaranai Zutto" (2012)
Music video
"Kioku" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Kioku" file help

"Kioku" (記憶（きおく）, lit. "Memory", stylized as "La Mémoire") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia for her tenth studio album, Soul Quest. It was released as the album's lead single by Ariola Japan on May 25, 2011. "Kioku" is the theme song to the EX drama series Iryū Sōsa, starring Takaya Kamikawa.

Background and release

"Kioku" is Misia's first single in nearly a year and a half, since "Hoshi no Yō ni..." (2009). The single includes a duet between Misia and JP, titled "Kono Mama de Tonight", as well as a cover of the 1967 Frankie Valli song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". The first pressing of the physical release features a remix of "Maware Maware" as bonus track.

Composition

"Kioku" was co-written by Misia and Gorō Matsui, composed by Korean composer and record producer BZ4U and produced by Shirō Sagisu. The song is composed in the key of B-flat major and set to a common time tempo of 65 beats per minute. Misia's vocals span from F₃ to E♭₅ in modal voice, and up to G₅ in head voice. TV Asashi producer Yumiko Miwa tasked Misia to write a song that would convey "hope and sympathy". Misia penned the lyrics to "Kioku" shortly following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and she describes thinking of recent events while writing the song.

Critical reception

CDJournal critics describe the song as a "majestic and beautiful" piano ballad with an orchestral arrangement. Misia received acclaim for the "presence" of her vocal performance, with critics noting "Kioku" as an example of Misia "showing herself at her best", and for writing lyrics with a strong message.

Music video

The music video for "Kioku" was directed by Electrotnik. It premiered on May 11, 2011 on Space Shower TV. The video features a collection of pictures of "fond memories", some submitted by fans through an online submission campaign set up by Misia's team. A picture of an infant Misia surrounded by her older brother and sister can be seen near the end of the video. A doll made of papier-mâché, animated in stop motion, also appears throughout the video.

Chart performance

"Kioku" entered the daily Oricon Singles Chart at number 14, where it also peaked. The single debuted at number 21 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, with 6,000 copies sold. It charted for four weeks and sold a reported total of 8,000 copies during its run.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Personnel

• Vocals – Misia
• Songwriting – Misia, Gorō Matsui, BZ4U
• Arrangement, production, percussion, conducting – Shirō Sagisu
• Piano – Yasuharu Nakanishi
• Drums – Eiji Shimamura
• Guitar – Takayuki Hijikata
• Bass guitar – Yasuo Tomikura
• Flute – Jonathan Snowden
• French horns – Richard Watkins, Nigel Black
• Orchestra – The London Studio Orchestra
• Soprano – Catherine Bott
• Alto – Deborah Miles-Johnson
• Tenor – Andrew Busher
• Bass – Michael George
• Engineering – Masahiro Kawaguchi, Shirō Sagisu, Philip Bagenal, Rupert Coulson
• Mixing – Eiji Uchinuma
• Mastering – Herb Powers Jr.

Charts

Release history

References

1. "MISIA 10th フルアルバム！". HMV. June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
2. "MISIA早くも新曲発表「君には嘘をつけない」". Natalie. May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
3. "MISIA、新曲「記憶」がドラマ『遺留捜査』主題歌に". Barks. February 15, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
4. ^ "MISIA×ドラマ主題歌の強力シングル「記憶」！". Music Lounge. May 23, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
5. "MISIA全国ライヴツアー再開!! 復興応援メッセージソング「明日へ」披露!!". Utamap. May 25, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
6. "楽譜: 記憶 / MISIA : ピアノ（ソロ） / 中級". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
7. "TRACK LIST MISIA SOUL QUEST". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
8. ^ "MISIA / 記憶". CDJournal. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
9. "MISIA 記憶". June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
10. "MISIA 「記憶」プロモーションビデオ写真募集". April 14, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
11. "MISIA、最新PVには赤ちゃんMISIAも登場". Barks. May 25, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
12. ^ "AKB48、発売1日で前作の初動売上に並ぶ94.2万／チーム・アミューズ2位☆5/24付 シングルデイリー". May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
13. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
14. "記憶【初回生産限定盤】･MISIA". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
15. Soul Quest (Booklet). Misia. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan: Ariola Japan. 2011. 4988017677391.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. "記憶(初回生産限定盤) MISIA". Retrieved February 27, 2018.
17. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
18. "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
19. "Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
20. "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
21. "情歌天后米希亞2011年全新單曲「記憶」". Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2011.

External links

• Kioku on Rhythmedia's official website

• 2011 singles
• 2011 songs
• Misia songs
• Songs written by Misia
• Songs with lyrics by Gorō Matsui
• Songs written by Shirō Sagisu
• Song recordings produced by Shirō Sagisu
• Japanese television drama theme songs
• Ariola Japan singles