Dopa-mint!

"Dopa-mint!" (ドーパミント!, Dōpāminto!)[1] is a single by Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen, led by musician Ringo Sheena. It was released on October 23, 2010, and was used in commercials for Ezaki Glico's Watering Kissmint gum.

"Dopa-mint!"
A paper crane drawn in white, featuring a brain design instead of wings. It is baced with a turquoise and pink background.
"Tengoku e Yōkoso/Dopa-Mint!" digital EP cover.
Single by Tokyo Jihen
from the album Dai Hakken
ReleasedJuly 23, 2010 (2010-07-23)
Recorded2010
GenrePop-rock, alternative rock
Length2:43
LabelEMI Music Japan
Songwriter(s)
Ringo Sheena

Ichiyo Izawa

Tokyo Jihen singles chronology
"Tengoku e Yōkoso"
(2010)		 "Dopa-mint!"
(2010)		 "Sora ga Natteiru"
(2011)

Background and development

In 2009, Tokyo Jihen released the single "Nōdōteki Sanpunkan", which was their first song to feature in commercials for Ezaki Glico's Watering Kissmint brand of gum.[2] The single was commercially successful, peaking at number one on Oricon's singles chart, and being certified gold twice for digital downloads.[3][4][5] Tokyo Jihen's song "Kachi Ikusa" from the album Sports served at the second commercial song for the campaign in January 2010.[6]

A week before the single's digital release, Tokyo Jihen had released "Tengoku e Yōkoso", the theme song for the Japanese drama Atami no Sōsakan. Both songs were compiled together on a digital EP.

Writing and production

Two editions of the song exist, the original and the version that appears on Dai Hakken, labelled "Dopa-mint! BPM103", as opposed to the original version's BPM of 199. The original version was eventually released to CD in 2013, on Tokyo Jihen's Hard Disk box set.

The song was recorded in June 2010, after the band had finished their Ultra C tour.[7] Unlike "Tengoku e Yōkoso" which was tailored specifically for the drama Atami no Sōsakan, the band members brought many demos to the recording sessions for everyone to decide which the best one was. Eventually, a song Izawa had written especially was chosen, and the band worked on it through the night right up until the deadline that Ezaki Glico had set.[8] The song was rearranged for Dai Hakken, as it was an album where the band considered the album's arrangement more carefully.[7]

Promotion and release

The song served as the third song used in Ezaki Glico's Watering Kissmint advertisement campaign featuring Ringo Sheena as a spokesperson. The commercials began airing on July 27, 2010.[2] Tokyo Jihen were featured in issues of Rockin' On Japan and Switch to promote the release, as well as the NHK program The Star airing an interview with Sheena.[9] The song was first performed at the EMI Rocks festival on November 6, 2010. The band performed the song once during a Tokyo Jihen tour, the 2011 Discovery tour, in which they played the BPM103 version.[10]

Critical reception

In reviewing the BPM103 version, CDJournal reviewers felt the song's development was "unrestrainted", feeling that each member of Tokyo Jihen's abilities could be seen in parts of the song.[11]

Track listing
Digital EP[12]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Tengoku e Yōkoso"Ringo SheenaR. Sheena3:00
2."Dopa-Mint!"R. SheenaIchiyo Izawa2:43
Total length:5:43

Chart rankings
Charts (2010) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[13] 41
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[14] 36
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[15] 38

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label
Japan July 23, 2010 (2010-07-23)[12][16] Digital download EMI Music Japan
July 28, 2010 (2010-07-28)[2] Ringtone

References
  1. "Dopa-mint! / INCIDENTS TOKYO". Kronekodow. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. "東京事変の新曲『ドーパミント！』、CMタイアップ＆配信限定リリース決定！" (in Japanese). Universal. July 27, 1010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  3. 能動的三分間 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  4. レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 20, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  5. レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 20, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  6. "椎名林檎「キスミント」新CMでバケツ大回転に挑戦" (in Japanese). Natalie. January 15, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. 「大発見」オフィシャル・インタビュー [Discovery Official Interview] (in Japanese). Toshiba EMI. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  8. 「空が鳴っている／女の子は誰でも」オフィシャル・インタビュー (in Japanese). Kronekodow. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  9. 東京事変2010メディア露出情報 (in Japanese). Universal. July 29, 1010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  10. チャンネルガイド-東京事変オフィシャルブック- [Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kronekodow (published February 29, 2012). February 2012. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-4884182984.
  11. 東京事変 / 大発見 (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  12. "Where's Heaven/DOPA-MINT - Single". iTunes (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. "Adult Contemporary Airplay 2010/08/16". Billboard (in Japanese). August 16, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  14. "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2010/08/09". Billboard (in Japanese). August 9, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  15. "レコード協会調べ 2010年07月28日～2010年08月03日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Investigation: July 28, 2010 to August 3, 2010 (For Short: Recokyō Chart (Chaku-uta Full))]. RIAJ (in Japanese). August 6, 2010. Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  16. 天国へようこそ／ドーパミント！東京事変. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2014.
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