Yūsha (song)

"Yūsha" (勇者, lit. 'brave person'; alternatively titled "The Brave" in English)[1] is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi from their third extended play, The Book 3 (2023). It was released on September 29, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The song serves as the opening theme of the Japanese anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023), and was written by Ayase and based on short story Sōsō by Jirō Kiso. Commercially, "Yūsha" peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number five on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.

"Yūsha"
Characters Frieren and Himmel showing their back and sitting on the grass
Single by Yoasobi
from the EP The Book 3
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2023
Genre
Length3:14
LabelSony Japan
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Idol"
(2023)		 "Yūsha"
(2023)
Music video
"Yūsha" on YouTube

Background and release

In September 2022, an anime adaptation of manga series by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, was first announced.[2] One year later, on September 1, 2023, the anime released the third trailer, teasing its opening and ending themes, titled "Yūsha" by Yoasobi and "Anytime Anywhere" by Milet, respectively.[3] On the same day, the duo also announced their third extended play The Book 3, set to be released on October 4, which "Yūsha" appears as the first track.[4]

Perior to the release of "Yūsha", Yoasobi, alongside Milet, appeared via screen at the completed screening event of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End on September 23.[5] They gave interviews at morning show Zip! the next day,[6] and news program News Every on October 12,[7] as well as the November edition of magazine Oggi; all of theme are talking about the themes.[8] On September 27, the duo announced that the song would be released as a single to digital music and streaming platforms the next two days, the same day as the two-hour first four episodes premiere.[9]

Lyrics and composition

"Yūsha" was sourced from short story, titled Sōsō (奏送, lit. 'playing-music sending'), written by Jirō Kiso and supervised by the anime's writer Yamada, telling about protagonist Frieren visits a small town called "Music City" five years after the death of the brave Himmel. She receives a difficult request from an old woman she meets in a place filled with music.[10] Despite funky and upbeat sounds,[11] the song incorporates the main character Frieren's emotional changes and memories towards the hero,[12] expressing lonely and melancholy atmosphere of the anime.[13] Originally, the opening theme would focus on the worldview of Frieren's journey, but Ayase and Shuya Yamamoto, a producer of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, were not satisfied due to the song's "little too much emphasis on the atmosphere". So, Ayase decided to rework the song even though he submitted the song to the anime's team.[14]

Critical reception

Mie Sugiura from Rockin'On Japan praised "Yūsha" for the structure expressing the story of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End itself densely and interpreted to have connection with Yoasobi's 2022 single "Shukufuku", which was an opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2022–2023), highlighting the "meaning of life" and "the miracle that we have met".[15] Real Sound's Eriko Ishii admired the lyrics that looks like the words pop out one after another from the anime's story and oriental-styled phrase. She also complimented Ikura's vocals, which "keep running to the next melody without leaving any trace, convey a tremendous sense of speed, independent of the actual tempo."[16]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Yūsha" premiered on September 29, 2023, at 23:00 JST, shortly after the special first four episodes of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.[17] It was directed by Keiichirō Saitō, and produced by Madhouse studio, who both worked on the anime. The animated visual depicts an adventure of the heroic group consisting of Frieren, brave Himmel, warrior Eisen, and priest Heiter with the same visuals as the anime.[18]

Commercial performance

With three days of tracking, "Yūsha" debuted at number nine on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for the issue dated October 4, 2023,[19] earning 22,086 digital sales, 2,426,245 streams, and 5.2 million video views.[20] In its second week with full week of tracking, the song reached the peak at number two, behind only Ado's "Show". The song's digital sales were slightly decrease to 21,267 units, while the audio streams and video views were increased to 8,139,175 and 9 million, respectively.[21] The song also peaked at number one on the component Download Songs for two consecutive weeks,[22][23] and number four on the Streaming Songs.[24] Additionally, the song landed at number four on the specific-genre Hot Animation,[25] and ascended to number one the next week.[26] For Oricon, "Yūsha" entered the Digital Singles (Single Track) Chart at number one for the issue dated October 9, 2023, with 25,958 downloads, becoming Yoasobi's thirteen chart-topper, the second most behind only Kenshi Yonezu (14);[27] and topped the chart for three-consecutive weeks.[28] The song also peaked at number four on the Streaming Chart,[29] and number five on the Combined Singles Chart.[30]

Credits and personnel
  • Ayase – writer, producer
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Jirō Kiso – based story writer
  • Konnie Aoki – background chorus lyrics
  • Imani J. Dawson – background chorus
  • Ebony Bowens – background chorus
  • Mimiko Goldstein – background chorus
  • Marrista – background chorus
  • Sofia Ray – background chorus
  • Shore Cienna – background chorus
  • Haley Lewis – background chorus
  • Jonas Gen Whitaker – background chorus
  • Missy Suzuki – background chorus
  • Ivy – background chorus
  • Velvet – background chorus
  • Emily – background chorus
  • Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
  • Hiroaki Okuda – background chorus recording
  • Masahiko Fukui – mixing
  • Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

Charts
Chart performance for "Yūsha"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[31] 63
Hong Kong (Billboard)[32] 13
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[33] 2
Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[34] 1
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[30] 5
Taiwan (Billboard)[35] 4
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[36] 9

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Yūsha"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 29, 2023
Sony Japan [37]

References
  1. Harding, Daryl (September 30, 2023). "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End TV Anime Starts the Adventure With Creditless Opening Animation". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. "「葬送のフリーレン」アニメ化決定! 勇者一行の"その後"の世界を描くファンタジー". Natalie (in Japanese). September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  3. "日本テレビ：金曜にアニメ枠「フラアニ」新設 第1弾は「葬送のフリーレン」". Mantan Web (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  4. "YOASOBI、新曲「勇者」がTVアニメ"葬送のフリーレン"OPテーマに決定。同曲収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』10/4リリース". Skream! (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  5. "声優・種﨑敦美『葬送のフリーレン』録画予約に注意喚起「初回の後は毎週23時」". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  6. "「葬送のフリーレン」×「ZIP！」コラボ特番放送！". Nordot (in Japanese). September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  7. Kandagawa, Nozomi (October 13, 2023). "「葬送のフリーレン」ED曲担当のオファーが来たmilet、とんでもないブツを購入!?". Coconuts (in Japanese). Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  8. "YOASOBI＆milet、Oggi11月号に登場！『葬送のフリーレン』主題歌を語る〈9月28日発売〉". Oggi (in Japanese). September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  9. "YOASOBI、『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマをリリース". Barks (in Japanese). September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  10. "秋アニメ「葬送のフリーレン」YOASOBIによるOPテーマ「勇者」のアニメフルMV公開! 楽曲用原作小説も". Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  11. Melo, Cathlyn (October 2, 2023). "Frieren Opening: Song Name, Artist, Lyrics, & Where to Listen Online". Epicstream. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  12. "【イベントレポート】アニメ「葬送のフリーレン」長命のフリーレンに種崎「いろんな日があっていいじゃない」". Natalie (in Japanese). September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  13. "YOASOBI『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマ「勇者」配信リリース! MVプレミア公開も決定". The First Times (in Japanese). September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  14. Mori, Tomoyuki (October 7, 2023). "YOASOBI・Ayase、自身の曲作りの"武器"は「メロディーの強度」＜EP『THE BOOK 3』インタビュー＞". The TV (in Japanese). Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. Sugiura, Mie (October 3, 2023). "YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』／壮大にして繊細な音楽で表現する「短編小説集」". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. Tomoyuki, Mori; Ishii, Eriko (October 7, 2023). "YOASOBI、Mr.Children、あいみょん、Vaundy、Tani Yuuki、『ブギウギ』主題歌……注目新譜6作をレビュー". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  17. "YOASOBI、アニメ「葬送のフリーレン」OPテーマ「勇者」MVをプレミア公開＆楽曲用原作小説『奏送』を公開". Musicman (in Japanese). September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  18. "『葬送のフリーレン』OP映像解禁 YOASOBI×原作者が監修の小説「奏送」公開". Oricon (in Japanese). September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  19. "【ビルボード】Ado「唱」が総合ソング2連覇、YOASOBI「勇者」9位に初登場＜10/4訂正＞". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  20. Billboard Japan (October 4, 2023). "Ado's 'Show' Logs Second Week Atop Japan Hot 100 as King Gnu's 'SPECIALZ' Rises to No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  21. "【ビルボード】Ado「唱」が総合ソング3連覇、JUNG KOOKの新曲が初のトップ10入り&YOASOBI「勇者」が2位に急上昇＜10/11訂正＞". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  22. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI「勇者」がDLソング首位、JUNG KOOK「3D (feat. Jack Harlow)」は3位デビュー". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  23. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI「勇者」がDLソング2週連続1位、Adoが2曲をトップ3に送り込む". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  24. "【ビルボード】Ado「唱」がストリーミング3連覇達成 YOASOBI、羊文学アニメ関連曲が急上昇". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  25. "【ビルボード】King Gnu「SPECIALZ」僅差でアニメ首位奪還 YOASOBI最新曲「勇者」初登場4位". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  26. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI「勇者」アニメ首位へ躍進、トップ2をYOASOBIが独占". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  27. "アニメ『葬送のフリーレン』OP曲のYOASOBI「勇者」が、デジタルシングル1位 「アイドル」も50万DL突破【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  28. "YOASOBI、2週連続でデジタルランキング2冠【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  29. "Oricon Top 50 Streaming: 2023-10-16" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  30. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2023-10-16" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  31. "Yoasobi Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  32. "Yoasobi Chart History (Hong Kong Song)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  33. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  34. "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  35. "Yoasobi Chart History (Taiwan Song)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  36. "Yoasobi Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  37. The Orchard Japan (September 27, 2023). "YOASOBI、TVアニメ『葬送のフリーレン』オープニングテーマ「勇者」が9/29に配信リリース決定＆配信ジャケット公開!". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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