"Shiawase o Forever" (しあわせをフォーエバー, Shiawase o Fōebā, lit. "Happy Forever") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia, from her eleventh studio album New Morning. It was released as the album's lead single by Ariola Japan on September 4, 2013.[1] The song was used in a promotional campaign and televised commercials for the bridal magazine Zexy,[2] starring thirty owarai comedians and Airi Matsui.[3]

"Shiawase o Forever"
Single by Misia
from the album New Morning
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2013 (2013-09-04)
Genre
Length4:34
LabelAriola Japan
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tohru Shigemi
Misia singles chronology
"Maware Maware"
(2013)
"Shiawase o Forever"
(2013)
"Boku wa Pegasus Kimi wa Polaris"
(2014)

Background and composition

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"Shiawase o Forever" is Misia's first physical single release in over eight months, since "Back in Love Again". The title track was written by Misia and composed by Toshiaki Matsumoto, their first collaboration on a single since "Hatenaku Tsuzuku Story" (2002). The song is written in the key of A major with a common time tempo of 74 beats per minute.[4] Misia's vocals span two octaves, from E3 to E5. The B-side "Daisy" was written by Japanese singer-songwriter Kaori Sawada, who toured with Misia as backing vocalist on her Hoshizora no Live VII 15th Celebration concert tour, as well as on the Misia Candle Night Fes. tour,[5] where Misia debuted "Shiawase o Forever".[6]

Music video

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The music video to "Shiawase o Forever" was written and directed by Ellie Omiya.[7] It is set at the wedding reception of a couple, played by Noriyuki Higashiyama and Kazue Fukiishi,[8] and features flashbacks that depict their relationship from the budding stage all the way to their wedding day. These flashbacks at interspersed between past and present shots of guests, portrayed by several actors and comedians, including Kazuya Kojima and Asako Ito,[8] showing us their involvement in the shaping of their love story. Omiya jokingly commented that she wanted to create a music video that would entice people to get married so they could resolve Japan's declining birth rate.[9]

Critical reception

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CDJournal critics acclaimed Misia for "hitting the nail on the head" with "Shiawase o Forever". They described the song as "tasteful" and predicted it would surely become a new standard at weddings.[10]

Chart performance

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"Shiawase o Forever" debuted at number 26 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart,[11] with 3,000 copies sold.[12] It charted for five weeks and sold a reported total of 5,000 copies during its run.[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."Shiawase o Forever" (幸せをフォーエバー, Shiawase o Fōebā, "Happy Forever")
  • Tohru Shigemi
4:34
2."Daisy"
  • Kaori Sawada
4:55
3."Shiawase o Forever" (Orchestra Version)
  • Misia
  • Matsumoto
  • Shigemi
5:10
4."Shiawase o Forever" (Instrumental)
  • Matsumoto
  • Shigemi
4:31
Total length:19:11
"Extended Version" bonus track[14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
4."Shiawase o Forever" (Gomi's Happiness Is Forever Remix)
  • Misia
  • Matsumoto
  • DJ Gomi
5:14
Total length:24:24

Credits and personnel

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Personnel[15]

Charts

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Chart (2013) Peak
position
Sales
Japan Daily Singles (Oricon) 19 5,000[13]
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[12] 26
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[16] 23
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard)[17] 22
Japan Hot Top Airplay (Billboard)[18] 35
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[19] 25
Japan Weekly Singles (Recochoku)[20] 23

References

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  1. ^ "MISIA「CANDLE NIGHT FES」でゼクシィCM曲「幸せをフォーエバー」をライブ初披露". Musicman-Net. July 16, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "新曲はプロポーズ応援ソング!結婚情報誌「ゼクシィ」CMソングに決定!". Music Lounge. May 21, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "芸人30人が30通りの真剣プロポーズ「ゼクシィ」新CM発表". Natalie. May 21, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "楽譜: 幸せをフォーエバー / MISIA : ピアノ(ソロ) / 中級". Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "星空シスターズも交え、フェス形式で開催された、今年のMisia Candle Night Fes.をレポート". EMTG Music. August 5, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  6. ^ "10,000本のキャンドルに包み込まれてMISIA CANDLE NIGHT FES.2013開催!話題のゼクシィCMソング「幸せをフォーエバー」本邦LIVE初披露!". Music Lounge. July 16, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "MISIA、ゼクシィCMソングPVで東山紀之&吹石一恵が夫婦に". Natalie. September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "MISIA、新曲ミュージックビデオに東山紀之と吹石一恵ほか、実力派俳優&お笑いタレントが出演". Natalie. September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  9. ^ "MISIA、CMで話題の新曲MVが超豪華キャストにより完成!". Excite. September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "MISIA / 幸せをフォーエバー". CDJournal. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  11. ^ "【周榜单】2013/09/16付(完整版)". Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "週間 CDシングルランキング 2013年09月16日付". Oricon. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  14. ^ "幸せをフォーエバー(Extended Version) – EP by MISIA on Apple Music". iTunes. 4 September 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  15. ^ New Morning (Booklet). Misia. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan: Ariola Japan. 2014. 4988017687741.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "シングルランキング 週間 8/21~8/27". Recochoku. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
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