Lead the Best
| Lead the Best | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | July 31, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2002–2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Pony Canyon | |||
| Lead chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Lead the Best | ||||
| ||||
Lead the Best "Michishirube" (導標 (みちしるべ) / Guidepost) is the second compilation album by Japanese hip hop group Lead, released on July 31, 2022. The album debuted at No. 6 on Oricon.[1]
The collection includes their most recent singles "Tuxedo" and "Sonic Boom", along with a new song recorded for the album titled "Michishirube".
Between April 29 and June 9, whichever songs were the most popular between twelve streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Rakuten Music and KKBOX, were included on the fourth CD.[2][3]
Information
[edit]Lead the Best "Michishirube" was released on July 31, 2022, and is the group's first compilation album since Lead Tracks: Listener's Choice, which was released in 2008.[4]
The album debuted at No. 6 on the Oricon Albums Charts before reaching a peak of No. 5 on the second day.[5] The album took No. 34 on the weekly charts with a first week sales of 2,482.[6]
The album was released in three editions: 3CD, 4CD+DVD and 4CD+DVD+Photobook. The first three discs house every single the group has released since their debut with "Manatsu no Magic" (2002) until their most recent single "Sonic Boom" (2021). The fourth disc contains a selection of the most popular songs that were streamed on various platforms between April 29 and June 9. The DVD contains a selection of live performances from various tours the group had performed throughout the years.[7] The photobook edition was available through pre-orders on Pony Canyon's online shop between the months of April and June.[8]
Promotional activities
[edit]Prior to the album's release, Lead released two singles, "Tuxedo" and "Sonic Boom".
"Tuxedo" was the thirty-third single released Lead on September 23, 2020, and first post their ninth studio album Singularity.[9] It debuted at No. 5 on Oricon.[10] It was released as a standard CD, in two CD+DVD editions, and in a CD+booklet edition. Both CD+DVD editions include "Tuxedo" and coupling track "Kangoku Rokku", while the CD+Booklet contains "Tuxedo" and "Wild Fight". The Type A DVD includes the music video and making video of the title track. The Type B DVD carried their Lead Special Winter Live, which was performed on February 18, 2020, at Harevutai in Tokyo.[11] The song "Kangoku Rokku" was a cover of Elvis Presley's 1957 song "Jailhouse Rock". It became the first time Lead had released a song completely performed in English since their debut in 2002.[12] Its corresponding music video was later released on the streaming platform YouTube.[13]
"Sonic Boom" was their thirty-fourth single released on August 25, 2021, and was their only single released in 2021.[14] It debuted at No. 10 on Oricon.[15] The DVD contained excerpts from their Lead Special Winter Live, which was performed on February 18, 2020, at Harevutai in Tokyo.[16]
The song "Michishirube" from Lead the Best was used as the ending theme for the television show Machicomi beginning September 1.[17] It would also receive a music video on the group's official YouTube on July 20.[18] The music video consisted of the members singing in the studio with clips of the group throughout the years interspersed between cuts - including footage with former member and leader Hiroki Nakadoi.
Commemorative performance
[edit]On the album's day of release, Lead held their first public lives since 2019 due to COVID-19. They held two daytime performances and two nighttime performances at Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tachikawa, Tokyo.[19] The songs performed at the venue were those chosen by fans, with the exception of the first song, "Manatsu no Magic". Hiroki Nakadoi, the group's previous leader who graduated in 2013, made an appearance during one of the evening shows.[20]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Manatsu no Magic" | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Show Me the Way" | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Fly Away" | Yasushi Sasamoto • Katsu | Yasushi Sasamoto • Gen Ittetsu | Yasushi Sasamoto | 5:04 |
| 4. | "Funky Days!" | Atsuyuki Enokido | Shinji Tamura • Nozomi Furukawa • MATARO MISAWA | Shinji Tamura | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Get Wild Life" | Shinji Tamura • Katsu | Shinji Tamura | Shinji Tamura | 3:39 |
| 6. | "Night Deluxe" | Shōko Fujibayashi | Daisuke "D.I" Imai | Daisuke "D.I" Imai | 4:11 |
| 7. | "Tenohira o Taiyō ni" | Takashi Yanase | Hisashi Nawata | Izumi Taku | 3:04 |
| 8. | "Delighted" | Shōko Fujibayashi • Mr. Blistah (rap) | Tatsuyuki Okawa | Tatsuyuki Okawa | 4:35 |
| 9. | "Atarashii Kisetsu e" | Kyogo Kawaguchi | Yoshiaki Mutou | Kyogo Kwaguchi | 5:18 |
| 10. | "Baby Runnin' Wild" | Satori Shiraishi | Satori Shiraishi | Satori Shiraishi | 2:47 |
| 11. | "Virgin Blue" | Sagara Yoshiaki | Haya | Suzuki Kisaburo | 3:44 |
| 12. | "Summer Madness" | Nice Hashimoto | Motonari Murakawa | Nice Hashimoto • Yasunori Tanaka | 4:39 |
| 13. | "Drive Alive" | Lisa | Y.T.H | Kenji Ijima • Daisuke Kahara | 3:31 |
| Total length: | 52:34 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Umi" | MJ | Seiji Motoyama | MJ | 5:23 |
| 2. | "Stand Up!" | Hiroki Nakadoi • Shinya Taniuchi • Keita Furuya • Akira Kagimoto | Seiji Motoyama | Seiji Motoyama | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Sunnyday" | Hiroki Nakadoi • Shinya Taniuchi • Keita Furuya • Akira Kagimoto | Seiji Motoyama | Seiji Motoyama | 4:15 |
| 4. | "GiraGira Romantic" | leonn | Hirofumi Hibino • Toru Watanabe | Hiroaki Serizawa | 4:02 |
| 5. | "Speed Star" | Lantana • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Yuki Saki | Suzuki Kisaburo | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Hurricane" | Hirofumi Asamoto • Shinya Tanuichi | Seiji Motoyama | Hirofumi Asamoto | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Wanna Be with You" | Hiroki Nakadoi • Shinya Taniuchi • Keita Furuya • Akira Kagimoto • Seiji Motoyama | Vincent Degiorgio • David Fremberg | Seiji Motoyama | 3:34 |
| 8. | "Still" | Hiroki Nakadoi • Shinya Taniuchi • Keita Furuya • Akira Kagimoto | Seiji Motoyama | Vincent Degiorgio • Anderz Wrethov | 3:40 |
| 9. | "Upturn" | Keita Furuya • Shinya Taniuchi | Vincent DeGiorgio • Johan Rohr | Seiji Motoyama | 4:38 |
| 10. | "Green Days" | AnDiSM | AnDiSM | MEG.ME | 4:06 |
| 11. | "Strings" | Shinya Taniuchi | Yukiyoshi | Yukiyoshi | 4:59 |
| 12. | "Sakura" | AnDiSM | Yukiyoshi | Yukiyoshi | 4:05 |
| 13. | "Omoide Breaker" | Satori Shiraishi | Satori Shiraishi | Nao Harada | 4:31 |
| Total length: | 54:04 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My One" | Shibu | Shibu | Yōsuke Yamashita | 4:43 |
| 2. | "Yakusoku" | AnDiSM • Shinya Taniuchi | nishi-ken | nishi-ken | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Tokyo Fever" | Saeki Yuusuke • Clarabell • Shinya Tanuichi | Clarabell | Clarabell | 3:54 |
| 4. | "Beautiful Day" | Lead | Drew Ryan Scott • Sean Alexander | Sean Alexander | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Bumblebee" | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Drew Ryan Scott • Darren "Baby Dee Beats" Smith • Sean Alexander | Sean Alexander | 3:31 |
| 6. | "Be the Naked" | Saeki Yuusuke • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Coach & Sendo | Obi Mhondera • Kyler Niko • Coach & Sendo | 4:05 |
| 7. | "Summer Vacation" | shungo. | Ryo 'Lefty' Miyata | Fredrik "Figge" Boström • Ryo 'Lefty' Miyata • Lars Säfsund | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Hide and Seek" | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Masat • Drew Ryan Scott | Masat | 3:00 |
| 9. | "Sunset Refrain" | Shungo. | Kid Storm • Musoh • Slipkid | Kid Storm | 3:04 |
| 10. | "Tuxedo" | Shungo. • Shinya Taniuchi | Kaz | Kentaro Akutsu | 3:38 |
| 11. | "Sonic Boom" | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Akira Kagimoto • Nobuhiro Denda | Akira Kagimoto | 3:55 |
| 12. | "Michishirube" (導標 / Guidepost) | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi | nishi-ken | Akira Kagimoto | 6:07 |
| Total length: | 47:32 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fuyuiro Girl" | Kenji Tokuda | Kenji Tokuda | Kenji Tokuda | 5:11 |
| 2. | "Get Over" | Keita Furuya | Hikari | Erik Lidbom • Hikari | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Kimi wa Nanika ga Dekiru" | Michio Yamagami | Akira Sasaki | Toshiyuki Kimori | 3:10 |
| 4. | "Love or Love?" | Funk Uchino | Samdell • Funk Uchino | Samdell • Funk Uchino | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Fairy Tale" | J. Bright • Shinya Taniuchi | Akira Kagimoto | Akira Kagimoto | 4:49 |
| 6. | "Loud! Loud! Loud!" | Keita Furuya • Shinya Taniuchi | Drew Ryan Scott • Sean Alexander • Darren "Baby Dee Beats" Smith | Drew Ryan Scott • Sean Alexander • Darren "Baby Dee Beats" Smith | 3:07 |
| 7. | "Depend on Me" | Yuki Tsujimura | Erik Lidbom • Yuki Tsujimura | Erik Lidbom | 3:50 |
| 8. | "Dear" | Makoto Furuya | Hiroo Yamaguchi | REO | 4:58 |
| 9. | "Backpack" | Akira Kagimoto | Ricky Hanley • Peter Boyes • Sebastian Thott | Ricky Hanley • Peter Boyes • Sebastian Thott | 3:36 |
| 10. | "Milk Tea" | 7chi子♪ • Shinya Tanuichi (rap) | Albin Nordqvist • Eric Ng | Albin Nordqvist | 3:17 |
| 11. | "No Doubt" | Yasushi Sasamoto • KATSU | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | 3:55 |
| 12. | "Anthem" | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi (rap) | Akira Kagimoto | Akira Kagimoto | 3:05 |
| 13. | "Voice" | AnDisM | AnDisM | ikutaMachine | 4:02 |
| 14. | "Hateshinaku Hiroi Kono Sekai no Nakade" | Susumu Kawaguchi | Susumu Kawaguchi | Sadahiro Nakano • Mr. Blistah | 3:47 |
| 15. | "Let's Get on It" | 7chi子♪ • John Acosta • Shinya Tanuichi | John Acosta | John Acosta | 2:59 |
| 16. | "Be Happy" | Kentaro Akutsu | Yasushi Sasamoto | Yasushi Sasamoto | 4:39 |
| 17. | "With U" | AnDisM | AnDisM | AnDisM | 4:25 |
| 18. | "Give Me Your Best Shot" | Keita Furuya | Alexander Holmgren • Command Freaks | Alexander Holmgren • Command Freaks | 3:23 |
| 19. | "Say Good-Bye Say Hello" | Akira Kagimoto • Shinya Taniuchi | Matt Cab • RYUJA | Matt Cab • RYUJA | 4:30 |
| Total length: | 74:43 | ||||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One for da Soul" (1st Live Tour ~Brand New Era~) | |
| 2. | "Night Deluxe" (1st Live Tour ~Brand New Era~) | |
| 3. | "Manatsu no Magic" (1st Live Tour ~Brand New Era~) | |
| 4. | "Prism" (Lead Live Tour Upturn 2005) | |
| 5. | "Deep in My Heart" (Lead Upturn 2006: 4) | |
| 6. | "I Believe" (Lead Upturn 2006: 4) | |
| 7. | "Love Rain" (Lead Upturn 2007 ~BWR~) | |
| 8. | "What cha gonna?" (Lead Upturn 2007 ~B.W.R~) | |
| 9. | "Baby What Turns You On" (Lead Upturn 2008 ~Feel the Vibes~) | |
| 10. | "Sunnyday" (Lead Upturn 2008 ~Feel the Vibes~) | |
| 11. | "Thanks for..." (Lead Upturn 2008 ~Feel the Vibes~) | |
| 12. | "Hikari" (Lead Upturn 2010 ~I'll Be Around★~) | |
| 13. | "Hurricane" (Lead Upturn 2011 ~Sun×You~) | |
| 14. | "Stand and Fight" (10th Anniversary Tour Lead Upturn 2012 ~Now or Never~) | |
| 15. | "Twilight" (Lead Upturn 2013 ~Leap~) | |
| 16. | "Ame-Nochi-kun" (Lead Upturn 2013 ~Leap~) | |
| 17. | "Lead Dance Performance" (Lead Upturn 2013 ~Leap~) | |
| 18. | "Dear" (Lead Upturn 2014 ~Attract~) | |
| 19. | "With U" (Lead Upturn 2014 ~Attract~) | |
| 20. | "Fairy Tale" (Lead Upturn 2015 ~Master Plan~) | |
| 21. | "Speechless" (Lead Upturn 2015 ~Master Plan~) | |
| 22. | "Loud!Loud!Loud!" (Lead Upturn 2016 ~The Showcase~) | |
| 23. | "Let's Get On It" (Lead Upturn 2016 ~The Showcase~) | |
| 24. | "Green Days" (Lead Upturn 2016 ~The Showcase~) | |
| 25. | "Kokorozashi ~KO.KO.RO.ZA.SHI~" (Lead Upturn 2016 ~The Showcase~) | |
| 26. | "Fly Away" (Lead 15th Anniversary Live ~Kan Ima Shirube-sai~) | |
| 27. | "Still" (Lead 15th Anniversary Live ~Kan Ima Shirube-sai~) | |
| 28. | "Love or Love?" (Lead Upturn 2018 ~Milestone~) | |
| 29. | "Give Me Your Best Shot" (Lead Upturn 2018 ~Milestone~) | |
| 30. | "Be the Naked" (Lead Upturn 2019 ~Sync~) | |
| 31. | "Wake me up" (Lead Upturn 2019 ~Sync~) | |
| 32. | "Singularity" (Lead Upturn 2020 Online Live ~Trick or Lead~) | |
| 33. | "Te Quiero Mucho" (Lead Upturn 2021 Online Live ~Sonic Boom~) |
Special release events
[edit]Special Album "Lead the Best" Launch Events[21]
- September 3, 2022: Asunal Kanayama Aichi (Free Live/Autograph Session)
- September 4, 2022: Abeno Q's Mall Osaka (Free Live/Autograph Session)
- September 10, 2022: isME! Oheso Hiroba Miyagi (Free Live/Autograph Session)
- September 11, 2022: Queens Square Yokohama 1F Queen's Circle Kanagawa (Free Live/Autograph Session}
- October 8, 2022: Canal City Hakata Fukuoka (Free Live/Autograph Session)
Charts
[edit]| Release | Chart | Peak position | Total sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2022 | Oricon Daily Albums Chart | 5 | |
| July 31, 2022 | Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 34 | 2,482 |
| Date | Title | Peak position | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 23, 2020 | "Tuxedo" | 5 | 9,585[22] |
| August 25, 2021 | "Sonic Boom" | 10 | 6,716[23] |
References
[edit]- ^ "デイリー アルバムランキング2022年07月29日付". Oricon. July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "【「Lead the Best "導標"」】Leadersと作るスペシャルディスク"Leaders Choice"！ストリーミング人気曲集計＆シェアキャンペーン実施！". Lead Official. April 28, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ "楽天ブックス: Lead the Best "導標" (初回限定盤 4CD＋DVD)". Rakuten. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ "Lead Tracks ~listener's choice~ / Lead / ORICON NEWS". Oricon. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
- ^ "デイリー アルバムランキング2022年07月30日付". Oricon. July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "週間 アルバムランキング2022年08月08日付（2022年07月25日～2022年07月31日）". Oricon Weekly. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "【「Lead the Best "導標"」】Lead 20th Anniversaryスペシャルボックス盤/初回限定盤}". Lead Official Twitter. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ "【Ponycanyon Online Limited Version】Lead 20th Anniversary Special Box (4CD+DVD+PHOTOBOOK) Release on July 31st,2022". Pony Canyon Online Shop. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "Lead、ニューシングル『Tuxedo〜タキシード〜』先行配信スタート！MVはDA PUMP TOMOが振付！". excite News. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "デイリー シングルランキング2020年09月22日付". Oricon. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "2/18(火) Lead SPECIAL WINTER LIVE". ameblo. February 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "Lead、TOMO（DA PUMP）振付による"ほうきダンス"が見所の「Tuxedo～タキシード～」MV公開". Yahoo! News. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "「監獄ロック」 / Lead". Pony Canyon Official YouTube. September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "Sonic Boom / Lead / ORICON NEWS". Oricon. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "Oricon Singles Daily Ranking". Oricon. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Lead、ニューシングル「Sonic Boom」詳細発表". Yahoo! Japan. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "New Album収録曲、「導標」タイアップ決定！". Lead Official. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "導標 / Lead【Music Video】". Lead Official YouTube. July 20, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Lead 20th Anniversary Live 〜感今導祭〜". Tachikawa Stage Garden Official Twitter. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "Lead 20周年記念日に昼夜2回公演 鍵本輝「そろってライブできて震えるぐらいうれしかった」". Chunichi Shimbun. July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ "New Album「Lead the Best "導標"」発売記念イベント開催！【イベント追加日程発表！】". Lead Official News. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "月間 シングルランキング2020年09月度". Oricon. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "月間 シングルランキング2021年08月度". Oricon. Retrieved September 12, 2021.