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Undead (Yoasobi song)

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"Undead"
The face of Monogatari character Yotsugi Ononoki making V sign with both hands in solid red and black
Single by Yoasobi
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedJuly 1, 2024
GenreEDM
Length3:02
LabelSony Japan
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Heart Beat"
(2023) 		"Undead"
(2024) 		"Butai ni Tatte"
(2024)
Music video
"Undead" on YouTube

"Undead" is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi, serving as the theme[A] for the Off & Monster Season of the Monogatari anime series (2024). It was released as a single on July 1, 2024, by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Written by Ayase, the song was based on the light novel Monogatari writer Nisio Isin's short stories Nadeko Past and Shinobu Future. Commercially, "Undead" reached number ten on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 14 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.

Background and release

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In January 2024, an anime adaption of two sagas of light novel series Monogatari—"Off" and "Monster" seasons—was announced, set to premiere in the same year.[2] Later, on May 1, the official website of the anime series teased the upcoming announcement by countdown with an image of the letter "Y" on a red-pink background, as well as posted the image by the official X (formerly Twitter) account for the writer Nisio Isin's anime project.[3][4] The next day, the anime series confirmed that Yoasobi would perform the theme song for Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season, titled "Undead".[5]

In the press release, Ayase stated: "The Monogatari series has such a strong attachment to me that when asked about my favorite anime, I always answers Bakemonogatari."[6] He also revealed in a Comic Natalie interview that he wrote the song about the Monogatari character Hitagi Senjōgahara when he was 18–19 and often performed it live with his rock band.[7] A snippet of the song was previewed via the trailer of the anime's first two arcs Orokamonogatari and Nademonogatari on May 3.[8] Around two months later, on June 24, the duo additionally teased the song via their social media.[9][10] Five days later, they revealed the song's release date, to be July 1, 2024, and its cover artwork, featuring the character Yotsugi Ononoki making a V sign with both hands.[11]

Lyrics and composition

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"Undead" was sourced from two short stories written by Nisio, Nadeko Past (なでこパスト) and Shinobu Future (しのぶフューチャー), published on the anime's website on July 1, 2024, the same day as the song release.[12] Both stories told the Monogatari characters Nadeko Sengoku and Shinobu Oshino lying on a sofa and receiving counseling from Yotsugi Ononoki about their nervousness.[13][7] Ayase compared the short stories to his mental gloom at the time he wrote about his musical novelty losing.[7]

Musically, "Undead" is an EDM track[14] that was composed the "danceable and very bright" music based on the image of Monogatari as a whole, rather than the short stories.[7] Tomoyuki Mori from Real Sound described it as a "perfect blend of kick and bass that reaches deep into the body," the track that "intertwines brilliant and sharp synth phrases," and the inorganic melody that reminisces about early Vocaloid music.[13] Lyrically, the song talks about living the lives to the fullest in the present without being bound by the past or the future.[15]

Commercial performance

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"Undead" debuted at number two on the Oricon Digital Singles Chart for the issue dated July 15, 2024, with 18,199 digital sales, behind Be:First and Ateez's "Hush-Hush",[16] and peaked at number 14 on the Combined Singles Chart.[17] For Billboard Japan charts, the song entered the Japan Hot 100 dated July 10 at number ten. It also landed at number two on the component Download Songs and number 17 on the Streaming Songs, earning 17,284 downloads and 4,791,166 streams in its first week.[18][19] The latter later peaked at number 13.[20] Additionally, "Undead" debuted at number four on the specific-genre Hot Animation chart.[21]

Music video

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An accompanying music video for "Undead" premiered on September 14, 2024, at 22:30 JST.[22] It was directed by Toshitaka Shinoda of Ijigen Tokyo and features characters from Monogatari: Off & Monster Season, with the footages including the ending sequence.[23]

Live performances

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Yoasobi included "Undead" as part of Yoasobi Live in the USA setlist in New York City and Boston. The duo debuted the live performance of "Undead" on August 6, 2024, at Radio City Music Hall, New York City.[24] The song also appeared on the setlist for the duo's Chō-genjitsu Dome Live.[25]

Credits and personnel

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  • Ayase – writer, producer
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Haley Lewis – background chorus
  • Missy Suzuki – background chorus
  • Leona Ortiz – background chorus
  • Dylan Ortiz – background chorus
  • Jonas Whitaker – background chorus
  • Konnie Aoki – background chorus lyrics
  • Satoru Taguchi – guitar
  • Nisio Isin – based story writer

Charts

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Chart performance for "Undead"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Global Excl. US (Billboard)[26] 181
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[27] 10
Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[28] 4
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[17] 14

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Undead"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 1, 2024
Sony Japan [29]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Undead" is sometimes considered as ending theme, as it features on the anime's end credits.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "【独占動画入手!】花澤香菜、井口裕香、早見沙織が「〈物語〉シリーズ」最新作をアピール♪". Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "アニメ『物語』シリーズ新作『オフ&モンスターシーズン』2024年に制作決定。撫子、月火たちが集合したキービジュアルが解禁". Famitsu (in Japanese). January 18, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "YOASOBIの新曲「UNDEAD」アニメ「〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン」主題歌に". Fashion Press (in Japanese). May 2, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Harding, Daryl (May 2, 2024). "YOASOBI to Perform Monogatari Series Off & Monster Season Anime Theme Song". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "YOASOBI、新曲が『〈物語〉シリーズ オフ＆モンスターシーズン』主題歌に決定". MusicVoice (in Japanese). May 2, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "YOASOBIの新曲"UNDEAD"が『〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン』主題歌に". Cinra (in Japanese). May 2, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Kishino, Keika; Kasuya, Taichi (July 12, 2024). "「〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン」YOASOBIインタビュー | "超全身全霊"で臨んだ主題歌「UNDEAD」、そのこだわりを紐解く". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "アニメ『〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン』7月6日より配信開始。YOASOBIによる主題歌を使用した愚物語&撫物語PVも公開". Dengeki Online (in Japanese). May 3, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Yoasobi [@yoasobi_ayase_ikura] (June 24, 2024). "#YOASOBI #YOASOBI_UNDEAD #物語シリーズ". Retrieved June 29, 2024 – via TikTok.
  10. ^ Ayase / Yoasobi (June 24, 2024). #YOASOBI_UNDEAD #物語シリーズ (video). Retrieved June 29, 2024 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "「〈物語〉シリーズ」YOASOBIが歌う主題歌、"原作"は西尾維新の書き下ろし小説". Natalie (in Japanese). June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "＜物語＞シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン: YOASOBI主題歌の"原作"公開 西尾維新書き下ろし短々編「なでこパスト」「しのぶフューチャー」". Mantanweb (in Japanese). July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Mori, Tomoyuki; Ishii, Eriko (July 5, 2024). "YOASOBI、Official髭男dism、Mrs. GREEN APPLE、菅田将暉、ビッケブランカ、羊文学......注目新譜6作をレビュー". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Hashimoto, Hajime (August 13, 2024). "ふたつの「物語」が交わり、始まる". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  15. ^ MarSali (October 9, 2024). "YOASOBI「UNDEAD」歌詞の意味を考察! 過去と未来に憂う人々へ贈る力強いメッセージ". UtaTen (in Japanese). Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "BE:FIRST X ATEEZコラボ曲「Hush-Hush」デジタルシングル初登場1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2024-07-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "【ビルボード】BE:FIRST X ATEEZ「Hush-Hush」がDLとラジオを制して総合首位、こっちのけんと「はいよろこんで」がトップ20位内に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "【ビルボード】BE:FIRST×ATEEZ「Hush-Hush」DLソング首位デビュー、YOASOBI/GEMNが続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Streaming Songs – Week of July 17, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  21. ^ "【ビルボード】Creepy Nuts「Bling-Bang-Bang-Born」アニメ24連覇 YOASOBI新曲、『【推しの子】』GEMNが初登場". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "YOASOBI、アニメ『〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン』主題歌「UNDEAD」のMVを公開". The First Times (in Japanese). September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  23. ^ Lazic, Tamara (September 14, 2024). "YOASOBI Reveals Music Video for "Undead"". Anime Corner. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "【ライブレポート】ボストンで見せた、YOASOBIの自信みなぎるパフォーマンス". Barks (in Japanese). August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "結成5周年を記念した、自身初のドームライブ「YOASOBI 5th ANNIVERSARY DOME LIVE 2024 "超現実"」 2days大阪公演を敢行!". Entameclip (in Japanese). October 28, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Yoasobi Chart History (Global Excl. US)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  27. ^ "Yoasobi Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of July 10, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  29. ^ The Orchard Japan (June 29, 2023). "YOASOBI『〈物語〉シリーズ オフ&モンスターシーズン』の主題歌、新曲「UNDEAD」が7月1日に配信リリース決定＆JKが公開! 原作小説はなんと西尾維新書き下ろしオリジナル小説!". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved June 29, 2023.
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