GREEN
| GREEN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by B'z | ||||
| Released | July 3, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | January 2002 - Summer 2002 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 45:52 | |||
| Label | Vermillion Records | |||
| Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z chronology | ||||
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| Singles from GREEN | ||||
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GREEN is the twelfth studio album by B'z, released on July 3, 2002. The album was preceded by two singles, with the first being mega-hit "ultra soul" from March 2001 which was included here with an alternative guitar solo. The more recent single, released a month prior to the album, was "Atsuki Kodou no Hate". Another single released the previous August, "GOLD", was not collected here but was included on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~—a special compilation prepared for the winter holidays the same year. Its exclusion was due to another prominent ballad, "Everlasting", being written and recorded for the release.
In many ways, the release is the band rebounding from a heavier sound that resulted in previous studio albums Brotherhood and ELEVEN. Roughly twenty songs were produced during the sessions, with others surfacing on future releases: "Tabi☆EVERYDAY" was used for their fifteenth anniversary single a year later in 2003 and "Mou Hanasanai" emerged as the third beat for single "ARIGATO" in 2004. Compared to other B'z albums, there is a large concentration of love-oriented songs. Additionally, both Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto were engaged in recording and releasing solo albums between the album's recording sessions. Tak released two solo albums he had constructed at the end of 2001, the critically-acclaimed Hana and the DRAGON FROM THE WEST, on the same day in February. Koshi had also already begun work on preparing his second studio album Shian, which would see release in October 2002 and top the Weekly Oricon Album chart.
The album was supported by B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" which ran from June to September and was released on home video shortly thereafter as a BEAUTIFUL REEL. B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~ in November 2002. Three of the album's songs—"SIGNAL", "Utsukushiki Sekai", and "The Spiral"—have never been performed live. Initially, "FOREVER MINE" was not performed as part of the aforementioned album tour but was later premiered on two dates of the year-long B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION". Notably, much of the album's songs were again performed as part of the first ever B'z tour of the United States, B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll", in the fall. Additionally, portions of the album were included as part of the legendary meeting of B'z and Aerosmith for the 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert, in which the American rock legends met the best-selling act in Japanese history. The backstory that led to this encounter is covered in the article "The Storied History of B'z and Aerosmith: When the Top Rock Bands in Japan and America Come Together".
With regard to future compilation albums, only the two singles have been collected with both appearing on B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008 and B'z The Best XXV 1999-2012 in 2013. "ultra soul" has been the subject of numerous reversions including an English version on 2012's self-titled international debut and remains, arguably, the band's most well-known song. "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" has had less of a legacy in the intervening years apart from its compilation appearances, though it was revived with a new arrangement for a spotlight performance during B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- and appeared on its home video release as well.
Upon release, GREEN debuted at the top of the Weekly Oricon Album chart with 800,120 physical copies sold which would be nearly 50,000 more than previous studio album ELEVEN. The album would go on to rank at number 7 on the year end chart. To date, the album has sold in excess of 1,131,800 physical copies, qualifying it for a Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. This would be the final B'z studio album, with the advent of digital filesharing, to sell over 1,000,000 physical copies.
Production information
The decision to begin recording what would become GREEN came during the previous year's tour, B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN". The band elected to return to the studio in the new year, so after the January holidays, work began. At the time, B'z had no set "theme" in mind for their albums—the only goal was to create a new album. Song after song presented themselves, according to Tak, and thus they recorded them in that order.
GREEN would also be the last album before Shane Gaalaas became the band's foremost support drummer on their studio recordings. While he did not participate in recording this album—his first appearance on a B'z studio work was B-side "Yoru yo Akenaide" from the previous month's single "Atsuki Kodou no Hate"—he did perform on all dates of the ensuing tour after responding to an open audition in Los Angeles.
Incidentally, it was the previous year's single "ultra soul" that would inform the direction of GREEN. Koshi recalled as much, saying, "I think it was starting from [ultra soul] that the concept and direction of this album began to form". The song was a massive success at the time and remains, undoubtedly, one of their most popular songs. It has been performed at nearly every live show held by the band since its release, so it comes as no surprise it would be collected on this album even a year later. Here, the song remains the same apart from an all-new guitar solo prepared by Tak.
With regard to the album's celebrated and varied lyrical content, Koshi responded in a contemporary interview:
| “ | I don't really have any special thought on life. There's the perception of discovering what it entails and tying it up with what's on the surface outside. Maybe that influences [what I write] and gets represented in the lyrics. In everyday life, everything can be source material. Conversations with others, my own experiences, watching movies, reading books. I think all of these can be considered inspirations for me. | ” |
Koshi further related that just as Tak has a stock of melodies for potential songs, he has an unrelated stock of prospective lyrical lines, themes, and images he wants to get across. He brought to Tak the lyrics he had in mind for what would become "Warp" after having them in mind for some time. Typically, Koshi clarified, "the usual B'z style is 'song first', but for this one, matching the melody with the lyrics was an extremely rare case." Here, Tak said that "reading those lyrics and then coming up with a melody to match turned out to be really interesting!"
During the same talk, it was noted that the title of the album was sourced from the first track on the album after the latter's completion:
| “ | It's actually happened a lot lately, that we decide on the title only in the back half of producing an album. When we felt, "Okay, it's time to decide on a title," the word "green" was just there. [The opening track] "STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~" had already been completed. For its content, we confronted the immature part of ourselves and showcased the associated sort of distress. With that in mind, we used the English word "green" to describe that juvenile part of ourselves. I definitely think it's a good thing, to have that drive to continue working on things you haven't yet completed. And, as a title, the word "green" makes you think of flora growing and luxuriating—that sort of lively youth. I think because there's a broad visual element to that word, the image just rushes forward to the imagination. | ” |
Tak also added his feelings on the title:
| “ | When I first heard that word, "green", I thought it was a really wonderful choice. It's easy to understand and exudes a really fresh feeling. And as [Koshi] said, the band continues to exist, both as "a person" and "a musician". Until the last moment, we will never think, "We're the best!" or go along with that kind of thinking. There are plenty of times that we think to ourselves, "We're not there yet." With such a meaning to it, in my opinion, "green" is a great title to describe the present condition of B'z. | ” |
Somewhat unusually for the band's older works, non-singles from the album continue to be performed live on occasion. Namely, "STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~", "Blue Sunshine", "FOREVER MINE", and "GO★FIGHT★WIN" have all been performed in subsequent years long after the album's initial release.
Track listing
All music and guitar by Tak Matsumoto. All lyrics and lead vocals by Koshi Inaba.
- STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ — Can't Stop this Juvenile Journey, 未熟な旅はとまらない
- Atsuki Kodou no Hate — The Result of this Hot Heartbeat, 熱き鼓動の果て
- File:a12 02.ogg In a fairly rare instance in the B'z catalogue, "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" is separated into two parts: an acoustic portion that covers roughly the first half of the song and a rock version that constitutes the rest. When played live, a few extra bars were inserted into the transition between the two to allow Tak to change guitars. This duality is also reflected in the song's music video. At the time, B'z were well-known from their previous single "ultra soul" which had served as a theme song to swimming coverage. The perception at the time was "B'z = Sports" according to Koshi's recollection. This ultimately resulted in the heart-racing theme behind the lyrics here, with him thinking of what the similarities were between B'z and sports. He concluded jokingly, "It's hearts racing! Cool!". From there, he sat down and wrote out the full lyrics to the song while thinking, "This theme doesn't only involve the athletes who stand on the field but also people who watch them and are touched by the game. They are all connected by the 'result of this hot heartbeat'." Originally, Tak wanted to use the 8-beat acoustic arrangement teased at the start of the song for the entire arrangement.
- Warp
- File:a12 03.ogg Once voted as the most romantic B'z song, "Warp" was created in a way that differs from most of the band's output. Instead of Tak proposing a melody and Koshi supplying matching lyrics, the process was reversed. Some small changes were made once Tak supplied the melody to ensure everything meshed. Also unusually, the song ends on a raw drum pattern performed by Hideo Yamaki. Tak proposed the idea of having a song that feels it will "continue" and Yamaki recorded the part after the rest of the song had been completed. The lyrics are centered around the rekindling of a lost relationship and the awkward encounters that lead to it.
- SIGNAL
- File:a12 04.ogg Utilized as the opening theme to a female-oriented dating simulation video game titled Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side, "SIGNAL" was one of the times B'z provided a theme to a video game. Notably, fellow album track "Utsukushiki Sekai" was used as the game's ending theme. In 2012, "Into Free -Dangan-" was used as the theme to Capcom video game Dragon's Dogma and became their most recognized song internationally. The full song was originally produced during ELEVEN in 2000. When they recorded for this album, Tak inserted a different guitar solo and left the rest intact. The song has never performed live or collected on any compilation.
- SURFIN' 3000 GTR
- Blue Sunshine
- ultra soul (Alternative Guitar Solo ver.)
- File:a12 07.ogg Undoubtedly an unparalleled success in the B'z catalogue, "ultra soul" is routinely voted the top B'z song in polls involving the general public, including during the Music Station B'z 25th Anniversary Special. The song has been performed over 300 times in the first decade and a half since its original release. Its lyrics are rooted in athletics and the inherent determination and work ethic required as central themes, in accordance with the song serving as the theme to numerous swimming competitions. The tribulations of difficult training and great rewards that await are voiced directly in the lyrics, which has made the song an inspirational choice not just for athletes but students as well. During live performances from 2002 onward, it is customary for Koshi to make his way to Tak during the final bridge in order for Tak to shout "Hey!" into the microphone, while audience members and the band jump during the "urutora soul, hey!" moments of the chorus and outro. The version of the song here featured a revised guitar solo which would be what Tak opted to perform for numerous LIVE-GYM shows later. The song has been reworked and revised numerous times since release, with an acoustic version, this alternative guitar solo version, a LIVE-GYM-based studio version, a hard rock version, and an entirely English version.
- Utsukushiki Sekai — Beautiful World, 美しき世界
- File:a12 08.ogg First heard as the ending theme to dating simulation game Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side that released a few weeks earlier, "Utsukushiki Sekai" was originally given a demo during the ELEVEN sessions but was not completed until "ultra soul" was recorded in March 2001. Notably, fellow album track "SIGNAL" was used as the aforementioned game's opening theme. While never performed live, the song was used as an Ending SE for B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN".
- Everlasting
- FOREVER MINE
- The Spiral
- File:a12 11.ogg The song has never performed live or collected on any compilation.
- GO★FIGHT★WIN
Reversion history
| Original Song | Reversion History |
|---|---|
| ultra soul SINGLE & ALBUM SONG* (2001)
|
RE-RECORDING: ultra soul ~Splash Style~ (2001) |
Live appearances
Live Performances
- STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ [44 SHOWS]
B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2013 -Pleasure75- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [19/30 SHOWS]
- B'z Special LIVE at EX THEATER ROPPONGI [1/1 SHOWS]
- Atsuki Kodou no Hate [65 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shimonoseki Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [40/40 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Warp [21 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll in Tokyo" [1/3 SHOWS]
- SIGNAL
- SURFIN' 3000GTR [22 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- Blue Sunshine [59 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town- [8/8 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shimonoseki Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [25/40 SHOWS]
- B'z PARTY Presents B'z Pleasure in Hawaii [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- ultra soul [418 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "Kobushi wo Nigire" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2001 "ELEVEN" [46/46 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM in Taipei & Hong Kong 2001 [4/4 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "IT'S SHOWCASE!!" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" [23/23 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 "BANZAI IN NORTH AMERICA" [7/7 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2003 "BIG MACHINE" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 "BIG MACHINE" [12/12 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2005 "Abashiri Extra Edition" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2005 "CIRCLE OF ROCK" [41/41 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2006 "Yokosuka MONSTER" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2006 "MONSTER'S GARAGE" [17/17 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -B'z In Your Town- [3/7 SHOWS]
- SUMMER SONIC 07 [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS- [6/6 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2009 -B'z In Your Town- [8/8 SHOWS]
- SUMMER SONIC 09 [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2010 "Ain't No Magic" [19/19 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -long time no see- [3/3 SHOWS]
- TV Asahi Dream Festival 2011 [1/1 SHOWS]
- Pepsi NEX presents B'z 1DAY LIVE [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- [26/26 SHOWS]
- AEROSONIC [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- [17/30 SHOWS]
- B'z Special LIVE at EX THEATER ROPPONGI [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shimonoseki Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- [40/40 SHOWS]
- ROCKROCK 20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE "ROCK BEYOND ROCK" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2015 -Shinagawa Uchouten NIGHT- [1/1 SHOWS]
- TV Asahi Dream Festival 2015 [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2017 -Hissatsu Hiokinin- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2017 -B'z In Your Town- [11/11 SHOWS]
- ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017 [1/1 SHOWS]
- RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2017 in EZO [1/1 SHOWS]
- 7-Eleven presents B'z PREMIUM LIVE [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 "LIVE DINOSAUR" [18/18 SHOWS]
- FM802 ROCK FESTIVAL RADIO CRAZY 2017 [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2018 -The Wall Of Rock- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- [23/23 SHOWS]
- B'z PARTY Presents B'z Pleasure in Hawaii [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2019 -Makaitenshow- [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2019 -Whole Lotta NEW LOVE- [36/36 SHOWS]
- SUMMER SONIC 2019 [2/2 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820- [1/5 SHOWS]
- Utsukushiki Sekai
- Everlasting [16 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [15/18 SHOWS]
- FOREVER MINE [2 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2008 "ACTION" [2/53 SHOWS]
- The Spiral
- GO★FIGHT★WIN [25 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE "SAPPORO DEVIL" [1/1 SHOWS]
- 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert [1/1 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" [18/18 SHOWS]
- B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll" [3/3 SHOWS]
- B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -B'z In Your Town- [2/7 SHOWS]
Home Videos
- STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~
- Atsuki Kodou no Hate
- Warp
- SIGNAL
- SURFIN' 3000 GTR
- Blue Sunshine
- ultra soul
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~"
- LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll"
- LIVE-GYM Final Pleasure "IT'S SHOWTIME!!"
- LIVE-GYM 2003 "BANZAI IN NORTH AMERICA"
- Hidden Pleasure: LIVE-GYM 2005 "CIRCLE OF ROCK"
- Pleasure II Limited Edition: LIVE-GYM 2003 "BIG MACHINE"
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 -GLORY DAYS-
- LIVE-GYM 2010 "Ain't No Magic"
- SHOWCASE 2007 -19-
- LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-
- LIVE-GYM 2011 -long time no see-
- LIVE-GYM 2005 -CIRCLE OF ROCK-
- LIVE-GYM 2001 -ELEVEN-
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER-
- LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT-
- TV Asahi Dream Festival 2015
- DINOSAUR Limited Edition: ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017
- LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 "LIVE DINOSAUR"
- LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI-
- LIVE-GYM 2019 -Whole Lotta NEW LOVE-
- SHOWCASE 2020 -5 ERAS 8820-
- Utsukushiki Sekai
- Everlasting
- FOREVER MINE
- The Spiral
- GO★FIGHT★WIN
Sales data
| No. | Cover | Album | Physical Copies Sold | Chart Positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST WEEK | LIFETIME | WEEK | MONTH | YEAR | ||||
| 12 | 
|
GREEN |
800,120+ |
1,131,788+ |
1 |
— |
7 |
Million |
Personnel
B'z
- Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
- Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition, Arrangement
Support Members
- Hideo Yamaki: Drums (Tracks 1-3, 6, 9, 11, 12)
- Ken Yoshida: Bass (Track 1)
- Akihito Tokunaga: Bass (Tracks 2-5, 7, 10-12), Arrangement (Tracks 1-5, 7, 9-12)
- Vagabond Suzuki: Bass (Track 6 & 9)
- Naoki Watanabe: Bass (Track 8)
- Akira Onozuka: Piano (Track 8, 9, 11), Hammond B-3 (Track 6)
- Shinozaki Strings: Strings (Track 9)
Production
- Daisuke Ikeda: Arrangement (Track 1, 6, 8, 9)