Lead the Way/La'boon

"Lead the Way / La'boon"
"Lead the Way / La'boon"
Single by T-ara
from the album Gossip Girls
Language	Japanese
A-side	"Lead the Way"
B-side	"La'boon"
Released	March 5, 2014
Recorded	2014
Length	8:12
Label	MBK; J-Rock;
Lyricist(s)	Okochi Kouta ; Ichino Onomiya; Seiko Fujibayashi
Producer(s)	Okochi Kouta; MEG.ME
T-ara singles chronology

"Lead the Way" / "La'boon" is the ninth Japanese single (second double A-side) by South Korean girl group T-ara on March 5, 2014. It served as the second single from the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls, and their last released original Japanese song.

Background and release

On March 19, a preview of the "Lead The Way" Music Video was aired on Japanese television and was uploaded on the 20th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN's official website and YouTube channel.^[1]^[2]

Both songs were later re-released on the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls.

The single was released in three versions: eight limited CD+DVD editions, one type-A and seven type B (one per member), a box edition, and a regular CD Only edition. Each limited edition B features a DVD with a solo version of "Lead the way" PV featuring one solo member. The box edition includes all six versions in one DVD and includes a 16-page photobook. All editions include one trading card with a serial code. Limited editions come in a special package while the Regular edition comes in a normal paper case.^[2]

Composition

Both songs are Japanese original songs by Japanese writers^[3]

"Lead the Way" is described as "a medium tempo ballad that depicts a "secret" love, with a beautiful lyrical melody that touches the heartstrings". La'boon is inspired by "Arabian Nights", "the sound has a unique and exotic atmosphere.

Commercial performance

The single debuted and peaked at number seven on Oricon daily chart, it fell to number nine for two weeks before re-peaking at number seven. It charted for seven days on Top 15. On the weekly chart, it reached number eight on the Oricon Weekly chart and charted for a total of five weeks selling 12,688 copies the first week.

The single peaked at number thirty-two on the monthly chart with a total of 16,230 copies sold.^[4]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tower Records^[5]

Regular Edition
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Lead the Way"	Okochi Kouta, Ichino Onomiya	Okochi Kouta	04:01
2.	"La'boon"	Seiko Fujibayashi	MEG.ME	04:10
Total length:				08:12

*Limited edition A*
No.	Title	Length
3.	"Lead the Way" (Music video)	04:08
4.	"Lead the Way" (Music video making)	17:48
Total length:		21:56

*Limited edition B (Eun Jung Ver)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music Video feat. Eun Jung ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B (Qri Ver)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music video feat. Qri ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B (Hyo Min Ver)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B (So Yeon Ver)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music video feat. So Yeon ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B (Bo Ram Ver)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B (Ji Yeon Ver.)* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the way (Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.)"	04:08

*Limited edition B - BOX* — DVD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Eun Jung ver.)	04:08
2.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.)	04:08
3.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. So Yeaon ver.)	04:08
4.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.)	04:08
5.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Qri ver.)	04:08
6.	"Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.)	04:08

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Japan Singles (Oricon)^[4]	8
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)^[6]	46
Japan Singles Sales (Billboard)	7

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Japan	March 5, 2014^[7]	CD Music download	MBK J-Rock

References

^ T-ARA - 9th single 「Lead the way」Music Video Teaser, retrieved 2022-03-16
^ ^a ^b "T-ARA | UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". store.universal-music.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
^ "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN ［CD+6DVD+フォトブック］＜初回生産限定盤B・BOX＞". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
^ ^a ^b "Lead the way/LA'booN(初回生産限定盤A) | T-ARA". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
^ "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN＜通常盤＞". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 - [2014/03/12]". Billboard Japan.
^ "T-ARA『Lead the Way／LA'booN』 | TOWER RECORDS MUSIC（音楽サブスクサービス） - 34826645". TOWER RECORDS MUSIC (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-25.

[1] T-ARA - 9th single 「Lead the way」Music Video Teaser, retrieved 2022-03-16

[:1-2] "T-ARA | UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". store.universal-music.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-03-16.

[3] "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN ［CD+6DVD+フォトブック］＜初回生産限定盤B・BOX＞". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.

[:0-4] "Lead the way/LA'booN(初回生産限定盤A) | T-ARA". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-03-15.

[5] "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN＜通常盤＞". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.

[6] "Billboard Japan Hot 100 - [2014/03/12]". Billboard Japan.

[7] "T-ARA『Lead the Way／LA'booN』 | TOWER RECORDS MUSIC（音楽サブスクサービス） - 34826645". TOWER RECORDS MUSIC (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-25.

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