The Book 3 Explained

The Book 3
Type:EP
Artist:Yoasobi
Cover:Yoasobi - The Book 3.png
Alt:A silhouette of a skyline with a yellow background, showing "YOASOBI" / "NOVEL INTO MUSIC" on the left-top corner, and a black circle on the right-top corner
Released:October 4, 2023
Genre:
Length:29:31
Language:Japanese
Label:Sony Japan
Producer:Ayase
Prev Title:Hajimete no – EP
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:E-Side 3
Next Year:2024

The Book 3 is the third Japanese-language EP (sixth overall) by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released on October 4, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, one year and ten months after their second EP The Book 2 (2021). Continuing with the "reading CD" concept as previous records, the EP spans electropop and synth-pop genres, comprising ten tracks, which were solely written and produced by one half of the duo Ayase.

Eight singles preceded The Book 3, including top-five anime opening theme songs: s "Shukufuku", Oshi no Kos "Idol", and Frieren: Beyond Journey's Ends "Yūsha". Commercially, The Book 3 peaked at number two on both the Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 100,000 units. The EP won Finalist Award (Red) at the 16th CD Shop Awards.

Background and release

Yoasobi released their first two extended plays in 2021—The Book and The Book 2—with the concept of a "reading CD" with a binder package.[1] [2] The EPs landed at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart,[3] [4] In 2021, the duo collaborated with Naoki Prize-winning four novelists Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori for the short story collection Hajimete no, published in March 2022. It inspired four songs "Mr.", "Suki da", "Umi no Manimani", and "Seventeen", which were included on a companion EP.[5] Apart from the project, the duo released the theme song for Universal Studios Japan's 2023 Unibaru campaign "Adventure",[6] and two anime series opening themes: "Shukufuku" for and "Idol" for Oshi no Ko, which the latter became the longest-running number-one song in the Billboard Japan Hot 100 history for 22 non-consecutive weeks.[7]

On September 1, 2023, Yoasobi announced their third extended play, titled The Book 3, alongside its track list and album cover, set to be released on October 4. Pre-orders of the EP began on the same day, being made available only as a limited-edition binder package.[8] The Book 3 consists of all singles from 2022 to then-recent September 2023, including all songs from Hajimete no – EP; and three new tracks, which two are interludes "Awakening" and "Worship", an intro of "Shukufuku" and "Idol", respectively, and another is an opening theme for anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, titled "Yūsha", which was announced the same day as the EP via a promotional video of the anime.[9] The song was released as a single ahead of the EP on September 29.[10] The Book 3s trailer was uploaded on October 1.[11] The vinyl format was released by Sony Music Germany and Black Screen Records on July 26, 2024.[12]

Music and lyrics

The Book 3 is an electropop and synth-pop record, and contains ten tracks. The opening track "Yūsha" incorporated the Frieren titular character's emotional changes and memories towards the hero Himmel.[13] Despite funky and upbeat music,[14] it expresses the lonely and melancholy atmosphere of the anime.[15] "Shukufuku" narrates perspective from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercurys character XVX-016 Gundam Aerial to its host Suletta Mercury to fight alongside her and watch her lead-up to the events of the anime.[16] "Umi no Manimani" talks about a girl who runs away from home and gets off at a train station by the sea at night, and she is called out to by a mysterious girl.[17] Described as a "painfully ephemeral" city pop track, "Mr." is about the desire of an android towards their owner.[18]

A combination of Japanese idol-styled pop, hip hop, rock, and video game music,[19] "Idol" depicts the two-faced nature of idols in the entertainment industry[20] via various perspectives on Oshi no Kos character Ai Hoshino from her fans, her groupmates, and herself.[21] It is followed by "Seventeen", expressing a 17-year-old girl who decided to bid farewell to the world she lived in and her parents to save the crisis in the parallel world.[22] "Adventure" is described as "a bright and refreshing spring-like song packed with fun memories at the [Universal Studios Japan] park."[23] The Book 3 concluded with "Suki da", telling the protagonist's fourth attempt to confess her crush, who is her childhood friend while struggling across space and time to erase her past love confessions.[24] [25]

Promotion

After The Book 3 announcement, on September 14, 2023, Yoasobi appeared at the television special NHK Music Expo 2023, where they discussed their favorite music with South Korean acts Seventeen's Woozi and NewJeans,[26] and broadcast the performance of "Idol" filmed at the 2023 Summer Sonic Festival.[27] The duo performed "Idol" on television for the first time at South Korean music show M Countdown on September 21.[28] They also gave interviews and appeared on magazine covers for NME,[29] Rockin'On Japan,[30] Separate Volume Kadokawa,[31] Rolling Stone Japan with Bring Me the Horizon's Oliver Sykes,[32] Anan,[33] and only interview with With.[34]

Just like with their previous EPs, Yoasobi commemorated the release with the telephone campaign Denwa o "Yoru ni Kakeru" Shisaku for commentaries of each track from The Book 3 from September 27 to October 4; on the last day, fans were able to call the duo directly.[35] The duo appeared on several television shows during the promotion, such as Mezamashi TV,[36] Nichiyōbi no Hatsumimi-gaku,[37] Ano-chan no Den Den Denpa,[38] and Ogen-san no Sabusuku-dō.[39] They first performed "Adventure" on television at CDTV Live! Live! on December 18,[40] and gave the televised performance of "Idol" at the 74th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on the 31st.[41] In support of the EP, Yoasobi embarked on their first Asia Tour from December 2023 to January 2024, including appearances at Clockenflap in Hong Kong and Simple Life Festival in Taiwan,[42] and continued with the Pop Out Zepp Tour in Japan between January and March 2024.[43]

Critical reception

Mie Sugiura from Rockin'On Japan praised The Book 3 as a "wonderful EP" with an "ultimate level of perfection", and a "collection of short stories expressed through magnificent yet delicate music."[44] Financial Timess critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney rated the EP three out of five stars for the "manic coding sessions, at once hectic and precisely put together." Sara Delgado of Teen Vogue listed the EP as one of the fifteen best non-English albums of 2023.[45]

Accolades

+ Awards and nominations for The Book 3CeremonyYearCategoryResult
CD Shop Awards2024Grand Prize (Red)[46]
Finalist Award

Commercial performance

In Japan, The Book 3 debuted at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 71,556 copies, behind only Mr. Children's Miss You. It also topped the Digital Albums Chart, Yoasobi's fourth album to do so, gaining 11,021 downloads in its first week,[47] and topping for four non-consecutive weeks.[48] Overall, the EP landed at number two on the Combined Albums Chart.[49] The Book 3 entered the Billboard Japan Hot Albums at number two, blocked from Miss You.[50] In its first week, the EP earned 72,927 CD copies (number two on the Top Albums Sales),[51] and 9,094 downloads (number one on the Download Albums); the latter was the second biggest digital sales week in 2023, behind 15,190 units of Kessoku Band's self-titled album,[52] and topped for three consecutive week.[53] In November, The Book 3 received gold certification for physical format from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), exceeding 100,000 shipments.[54]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[55] 2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[56] 2

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[57] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[58] 42
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[59] 2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[60] 30

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousOctober 4, 2023Sony Japan[61]
JapanCD
TaiwanOctober 20, 2023Sony Taiwan[62]
VariousJuly 26, 2024Vinyl[63]

Notes and References

  1. News: YOASOBI、1st EP『THE BOOK』は"読むCD" . March 18, 2024 . Barks . November 11, 2020 . ja.
  2. News: YOASOBI、12月に新作EP『THE BOOK 2』リリース&日本武道館ライブ開催 . March 18, 2024 . . October 1, 2021 . ja.
  3. News: 1/18付週間アルバムランキング1位はSixTONESの『1ST』 . March 18, 2024 . . January 15, 2021 . ja.
  4. News: 12/13付週間アルバムランキング1位はHKT48の『アウトスタンディング』 . March 18, 2024 . . December 12, 2021 . ja.
  5. News: YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ・プロジェクト"はじめての"楽曲4曲と小説まとめた『はじめての - EP』数量限定CDリリース決定 . March 18, 2024 . Skream! . March 27, 2023 . ja.
  6. News: YOASOBI制作「ユニ春」テーマ曲の配信決定、原作エピソード公開も . March 18, 2024 . . February 12, 2023 . ja.
  7. News: 【ビルボード】YOASOBI「アイドル」19週ぶりの総合首位奪還、『葬送のフリーレン』新OPヨルシカ「晴る」がトップ10入り . March 18, 2024 . . January 17, 2024 . ja.
  8. News: YOASOBI、TVアニメ『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマ「勇者」を担当! 3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』の発売も決定 . September 1, 2023 . The First Times . September 1, 2023 . ja.
  9. News: YOASOBI、新曲「勇者」がTVアニメ"葬送のフリーレン"OPテーマに決定。同曲収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』10/4リリース . September 1, 2023 . Skream! . September 1, 2023 . ja.
  10. News: YOASOBI、『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマをリリース . September 27, 2023 . Barks . September 27, 2023 . ja.
  11. News: 結成4周年迎えたYOASOBI、初のZeppツアー開催 . October 1, 2023 . . October 1, 2023 . ja.
  12. News: Höpfler . Melanie . YOASOBIs THE BOOK Alben erscheinen erstmals auf Vinyl . April 20, 2024 . . April 19, 2024 . de.
  13. News: 【イベントレポート】アニメ「葬送のフリーレン」長命のフリーレンに種崎「いろんな日があっていいじゃない」 . February 17, 2024 . . September 23, 2023 . ja.
  14. News: Melo . Cathlyn . Frieren Opening: Song Name, Artist, Lyrics, & Where to Listen Online . February 17, 2024 . Epicstream . October 2, 2023.
  15. News: YOASOBI『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマ「勇者」配信リリース! MVプレミア公開も決定 . February 17, 2024 . The First Times . September 29, 2023 . ja.
  16. News: Tsuki no Hito . 米津玄師、Official髭男dism、YOASOBI、Ado、藤井風……2022年後半に迎えたリリースラッシュ、重要楽曲をピックアップ . February 16, 2024 . Real Sound . October 28, 2022 . ja.
  17. News: YOASOBI、直木賞作家とのコラボプロジェクト『はじめての』第3弾楽曲「海のまにまに」MV公開 . February 16, 2024 . The First Times . March 21, 2023 . ja.
  18. News: YOASOBI、島本理生書き下ろし小説を原作にした「ミスター」ティザー映像公開 . February 16, 2024 . . February 8, 2022 . ja.
  19. News: Kitagawa . Yohei . Yoasobi Shows 'Strong and Unrivaled' Presence in Music Scene; Puts Unique Origins to Good Use . March 29, 2024 . . March 29, 2024.
  20. News: Guan . Danny . 10 Best Anime Opening Songs Of Spring 2023, Ranked . February 16, 2024 . . April 21, 2023.
  21. Web site: MarSali . YOASOBI「アイドル」歌詞の意味を考察! 人気アイドルの本当の姿とは? . UtaTen . February 16, 2024 . ja . April 27, 2023.
  22. Web site: MarSali . YOASOBI「セブンティーン」歌詞の意味を考察! 17歳の少女の想いとは? . UtaTen . February 16, 2024 . ja . May 18, 2023.
  23. News: YOASOBI、ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン"ユニ春"テーマ・ソング「アドベンチャー」2/15配信リリース決定。ティーザー映像、配信ジャケット、原作エピソード公開 . February 16, 2024 . Skream! . February 12, 2023 . ja.
  24. Billboard Japan . Billboard Japan . Japan's YOASOBI Releases New Song 'Sukida' Alongside Story by Eto Mori . February 16, 2024 . . May 31, 2022.
  25. News: YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ・プロジェクト第2弾楽曲「好きだ」配信リリース . February 16, 2024 . CDJournal . May 30, 2022 . ja.
  26. News: YOASOBI×NewJeans×SEVENTEENウジが音楽トーク ウジの「怪物」歌唱、ミンジの流ちょうな日本語にも反響 . September 14, 2023 . . September 14, 2023 . ja.
  27. News: YOASOBI&NewJeans、相思相愛を告白 Ayase「ただのオタクです」 MINJI「夜に駆けるが特に好き」 . September 14, 2023 . . September 14, 2023 . ja.
  28. News: Jang . In-young . '최애의 아이돌' 왜 여기서 나와…日 요아소비 "감사합니다"→반쪽하트까지 (엠카) . September 21, 2023 . Xportsnews . September 21, 2023 . ko.
  29. News: Soo . JX . YOASOBI: the "ultimate J-pop unit" faces the world . September 4, 2023 . . September 4, 2023.
  30. Yamasaki . Yōichirō . JAPAN、次号の表紙と中身はこれだ!YOASOBI/ELLEGARDEN/WANIMA/Eve/ヨルシカ n-buna/UNISON SQUARE GARDEN/Official髭男dism/BE:FIRST/go!go!vanillas/ヤングスキニー かやゆー2万字 . September 25, 2023 . . September 25, 2023 . ja.
  31. 「別冊カドカワ 総力特集 YOASOBI」2023年10月4日(水)発売へ!"読むCD"3枚目となるEP『THE BOOK 3』と同日発売でYOASOBIの原点から現在地まで丸ごと1冊の総力特集 . September 1, 2023 . . September 1, 2023 . ja.
  32. YOASOBIとブリング・ミー・ザ・ホライズンが表紙のRSJ最新号、川谷絵音は2023年の音楽を総括 . December 13, 2023 . . December 13, 2023 . ja.
  33. News: YOASOBI、『anan』スペシャルエディション表紙に初登場 . December 15, 2023 . The First Times . December 15, 2023 . ja.
  34. Asahara . Satoshi . 【全文公開】成田悠輔と愛すべき非生産性の世界 対談: ミュージシャン・YOASOBI . December 31, 2023 . With . December 30, 2023 . ja.
  35. News: YOASOBI、アニメ『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマを配信へ 生電話チャンスあり「電話を"夜に掛ける"施策」開始 . September 27, 2023 . . September 27, 2023 . ja.
  36. News: Kandagawa . Nozumi . YOASOBI、ロサンゼルスに移住!?「住みたいって思った」「不動産紹介してもらいました」 . October 8, 2023 . Coconuts . October 5, 2023 . ja.
  37. News: 神木隆之介がYOASOBIに謝罪! 完全プライベートでコンサートに訪れた際に起こった仰天エピソードとは?! . October 8, 2023 . RBB Today . October 6, 2023 . ja.
  38. News: YOASOBIが私生活ぶっちゃけ お金トークにAyase苦笑い「税金はヤバい ヤバいからちゃんと」 . October 11, 2023 . . October 11, 2023 . ja.
  39. News: YOASOBI「おげんさんのサブスク堂」ゲスト出演 番組史上初の試みも . February 22, 2024 . Modelpress . February 22, 2024 . ja.
  40. News: 『CDTVライブ!ライブ!クリスマスSP』第2弾アーティスト発表 Ado、YOASOBI、新しい学校のリーダーズら今年の顔ズラリ . December 11, 2023 . Encount . December 11, 2023 . ja.
  41. News: 【紅白】YOASOBI、満を持して「アイドル」国内テレビ初披露 出演者11組と . January 9, 2024 . . December 31, 2023 . ja.
  42. News: L . Vincent . YOASOBI Announces Concert Tour in Asia Countries, Including Malaysia, Singapore, and More . September 19, 2023 . GamerBraves . September 19, 2023.
  43. News: 結成4周年迎えたYOASOBI、自身初のZeppツアー来年1月より開催決定。3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』全曲トレーラーも公開 . October 1, 2023 . Skream! . October 1, 2023 . ja.
  44. Sugiura . Mie . YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』/壮大にして繊細な音楽で表現する「短編小説集」 . December 12, 2023 . . October 3, 2023 . ja.
  45. Delgado . Sara . 15 Best Non-English Albums of 2023 . December 12, 2023 . . December 11, 2023.
  46. Web site: 第16回CDショップ大賞2024 . . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308074212/http://www.cdshop-kumiai.jp/taisho/about/ . March 8, 2024 . ja . March 8, 2024.
  47. News: YOASOBI、デジタル2冠達成 シングル「勇者」、アルバム『THE BOOK 3』ともに1位【オリコンランキング】 . October 11, 2023 . . October 11, 2023 . ja.
  48. News: オリコン週間デジタルアルバム11/20~11/26、YOASOBI「THE BOOK 3」5週ぶりの1位返り咲きで通算4週目の1位 . November 29, 2023 . Musicman . November 29, 2023.
  49. News: Mr.Children、最新作『miss you』が通算3作目の合算アルバム1位【オリコンランキング】 . October 13, 2023 . . October 13, 2023 . ja.
  50. News: 【ビルボード】Mr.Children『miss you』総合アルバム首位獲得 YOASOBI/JO1が続く . October 11, 2023 . . October 11, 2023 . ja.
  51. News: 【ビルボード】Mr.Children『miss you』アルバムセールス首位獲得 . October 11, 2023 . . October 9, 2023 . ja.
  52. News: 【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』が前作を上回る初週ダウンロード数でDLアルバム制す . October 11, 2023 . . October 11, 2023 . ja.
  53. News: 【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』が3週連続の首位、谷村新司/アリスの作品が浮上 . October 25, 2023 . . October 25, 2023 . ja.
  54. News: 【団体】レコ協、23年10月度ゴールドディスク認定発表 . November 29, 2023 . . November 10, 2023 . ja.
  55. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-10-16 . . October 13, 2023 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013023155/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2023-10-16/ . October 13, 2023.
  56. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of October 11, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. October 11, 2023.
  57. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-10 . . November 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108035959/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2023-10/ . November 8, 2023 . ja.
  58. Web site: Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2023 . . December 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220061836/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2023/p/5/ . December 20, 2023.
  59. News: 【オリコン年間ランキング2023】King & Prince、「シングル」「アルバム」ともにミリオン達成で「音楽」3ジャンルで首位 YOASOBI「アイドル」が3冠 デジタルアルバム 1位~10位 . December 20, 2023 . . December 20, 2023 . ja.
  60. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – 2023 Year-End. Billboard Japan. ja. December 8, 2023.
  61. Web site: 9/29 金曜ロードショーで放送開始のTVアニメ『葬送のフリーレン』オープニングテーマを担当!タイトルは「勇者」、原作者 山田鐘人監修の小説をもとに楽曲を制作!さらに新曲「勇者」を収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』が10/4(水)にリリース決定! . Yoasobi Official Website . September 1, 2023 . ja . September 1, 2023.
  62. Web site: YOASOBI / THE BOOK 3【Limited Edition】 . . April 19, 2024 . zh-tw.
  63. Web site: YOASOBI • THE BOOK III • Vinyl . Black Screen Records . April 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419160322/https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/the-book-3?variant=45455321366794 . April 19, 2024.