Atsuki Kodou no Hate
| Atsuki Kodou no Hate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by B'z | ||||
| from the album GREEN | ||||
| Released | June 5, 2002 | |||
| Promotions | #1 ("NETWORK SPORTS 2002" Theme) #1 ("Panpashi Swimming Yokohama 2002" Theme) | |||
| Length | 12:06 | |||
| Label | Vermillion Records | |||
| Producer | Tak Matsumoto | |||
| B'z singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Atsuki Kodou no Hate (熱き鼓動の果て, The Result of this Hot Heartbeat) is the thirty-third single by B'z, released on June 5, 2002. The single was an instant success for the band, becoming their twenty-ninth consecutive single to debut at the top of the Weekly Oricon Singles chart. In addition, it was ranked at the top for the month of June 2002 while spending eleven total weeks on the chart. The Double Platinum single was the fourteenth highest-selling of the year as well as the only B'z single released for the year, which would be collected on their subsequent 2002 album, GREEN, released one month later. Since, it has been collected on several compilation albums, with appearances on B'z The Best "Pleasure II" in 2005, B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008, and B'z The Best XXV 1999-2012 in 2013.
When the single was originally announced, "DEVIL"—an English version of their song "TOKYO DEVIL" from the 2001 studio album ELEVEN—was listed as the second B-side. The all-English "DEVIL" would be performed numerous times throughout 2002, including being one of the featured songs during both B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN~GO★FIGHT★WIN~" and B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "Rock n' California Roll". Prior to release, a new song titled "Idome yo Hakanai Kono Toki ni" was given the slot as the second B-side. The English rendition of "DEVIL" would go on to be the title track on the band's Korea-only mini-album, DEVIL, released to promote the band's appearance with Aerosmith at the 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert. The album featured four other English B'z tracks in addition to being the debut of "DEVIL" in studio form. This version of the song would initially go unreleased in Japan, until it was collected by fan demand on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" in 2008 on which it was the fourteenth most-requested song.
A unique promotional video was filmed for the single, as had long become custom for the band. The video begins with B'z in the studio playing the acoustic opening to the song. Midway, they decide to take to the rooftop, which then captures B'z performing on the roof of the building, with fans cheering in the distance from adjacent buildings. At over five minutes in length, it is also one of the longest B'z music videos. A slight variation of the song exists from a commercial filmed for the single, which features Tak and Koshi playing an impromptu acoustic version alone on a roadside briefly.
B'z made a number of TV appearances around the time of the release in which they performed the song. On June 7, just two days following the single's release, the band appeared on Music Station to promote and perform the single. Later in the month, as part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup International Day Concert with Aerosmith, TV Asahi conducted an interview with B'z and showcased their performance of "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" from the day. Later, in December, B'z were featured as part of Music Station's 2002 SUPER LIVE and performed the song along with "Mou Ichido Kiss Shitakatta". In addition, the title song was involved in two different tie-ups: Not only was it the theme song to TV Asahi's "NETWORK SPORTS 2002" program, it also served as the theme to their coverage of the Panpashi Swimming Yokohama 2002 tournament. Later, in 2005, the song was featured as one of the playable tracks in the Nintendo DS music video game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan.
Additionally, "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" was used as one of the final songs of the setlist to B'z LIVE-GYM 2002 "GREEN~GO★FIGHT★WIN~", with performances beginning acoustic before progressing into full rock after the first chorus, thus staying true to the original arrangement. The only home video performance of the song to date can be viewed on the band's 2002 concert film documentary, a BEAUTIFUL REEL. As of 2012, the song has not been performed live since in 2002.
Track listing
- Atsuki Kodou no Hate — The Result of this Hot Heartbeat, 熱き鼓動の果て
- Yoroyo Akenaide — Not Open by Night, 夜よ明けないで
- The song features Shane Gaalaas on drums and Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big fame on bass, who had both just recently joined as support members. As a result, this is the first song released on which Shane is credited, while Billy had participated in the sessions for Brotherhood in 1999. The song is a hard rock one, which is of a different style from most of the songs on GREEN. It is another of the B'z B-sides that has never been played live.
- Idome yo Hakanai Kono Toki ni — Overlooking Ephemeral Right Now, 挑めよ儚いこの時に
- With its House-style beat, "Idome yo Hakanai Kono Toki ni" is a unique song in the band's catalogue. The song ends with a fade-out, which had become unusual for the band's work at the time. As with the previous B-side, it has never been played live.
Personnel
B'z
- Tak Matsumoto: Guitar, Music Composition, Arrangement
- Koshi Inaba: Vocals, Lyric Composition, Arrangement
Drums
- Hide Yamaki (Tracks 1 & 3)
- Shane Gaalaas (Track 2)
Bass
- Akihito Tokunaga: Bass, Arrangement (Tracks 1 & 3)
- Billy Sheehan (Track 2)
Production
- Daisuke Ikeda: Arrangement (Track 2)