Back in Love Again (Misia song)

"Back in Love Again" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia. It was written by Misia and composed and produced by Japanese musician Tomoyasu Hotei,^[1] who is featured on the track as guitarist.^[2] "Back in Love Again" was released as a single by Ariola Japan on December 19, 2012.^[3] It served as theme song to the 2012 film Ōoku: Eien - Emonnosuke / Tsunayoshi-hen,^[4] also known as The Castle of Crossed Destinies, in continuation with her previous single, "Deepness", which is the theme song to Oōku Tanjō - Arikoto / Iemitsu-hen, the film's prequel television drama.^[4]

"Back in Love Again"
Single by Misia featuring Tomoyasu Hotei
from the album Super Best Records: 15th Celebration
Released	December 19, 2012 (2012-12-19)
Studio	Victor Studio Sony Music Studios Rmt Studio
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:34
Label	Ariola Japan
Songwriter(s)	Misia Tomoyasu Hotei
Producer(s)	Tohru Shigemi
Misia singles chronology
"Deepness" (2012) "Back in Love Again" (2012) "Maware Maware" (2013)
Tomoyasu Hotei singles chronology
"Don't Give Up!" (2012) "Back in Love Again" (2012) "Arashigaoka" (2013)

Background and release

"Back in Love Again" was released a little over a month following Misia's previous single, "Deepness". The first pressing of the physical release comes with a DVD featuring the song's music video and making-of, as well as an alternate cover artwork. The single includes a previously unreleased cover of The Outsiders theme song "Stay Gold" by Stevie Wonder, which Misia recorded for the soundtrack of the drama series Hatsukoi (2012),^[5] and a live rendition of the Bette Midler song "The Rose", recorded at the Misia Candle Night 2012 concert held at the Kawaguchiko Stellar Threater on August 26, 2012.

Composition

"Back in Love Again" is written in the key of A major and set to a common time tempo of 70 beats per minute.^[6] Misia's vocals span from F♯₃ to D₅. Misia stated that she wanted to create a rock ballad to match the film's theme of "last love".^[3] She likened the writing process with Hotei to "being in a stream of stimulation" and added that she was so overtaken by Hotei's skills on the guitar that she didn't want the recording session to end.^[3] Hotei spoke of performing with Misia as blissful due to her great vocal talent.^[3]

Critical reception

Hotei received acclaim for the "dignified elegance" of his composition and for providing Misia's catalogue with a "fresh and exciting" type of ballad. Overall, CDJournal critics described the song as "heartrending" and praised Hotei for his standout guitar solo.^[7]

Music video

The music video to "Back in Love Again" was co-directed by Mitsuo Shindō and Sayaka Nakane.^[1] Misia and Hotei both appear in the music video, performing the song surrounded by 3,000 carnations.^[1] Misia stated that when she first heard Hotei's demo for the song, she imagined a flower slowly blooming.^[1] Shindō and Nakane pulled inspiration from this first impression and decided on carnations specifically because its associated hanakotoba most matched the spirit of the song.^[1] The shots of Misia and Hotei singing and playing the guitar are interspersed with animated shots of birds and a couple dancing.^[1]

Chart performance

"Back in Love Again" debuted at number 18 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, with 4,000 copies sold.^[8] It charted for four weeks and sold a reported total of 7,000 copies during its run.^[9]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Arranger(s)	Length
1.	"Back in Love Again" (Misia featuring Tomoyasu Hotei)	Misia Tomoyasu Hotei	Tohru Shigemi	4:39
2.	"Stay Gold"	Stevie Wonder Carmine Coppola	Shigemi	2:20
3.	"The Rose" (Misia Candle Night Live)	Amanda McBroom	Shigemi	3:39
Total length:				10:40

Limited edition DVD

No.	Title	Director(s)	Length
1.	"Back in Love Again" (Music Video)	Mitsuo Shindō Sayaka Nakane
2.	"The Making of Back in Love Again"

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position	Sales
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)^[8]	18	7,000^[9]
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)^[10]	12
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard)^[11]	12
Japan Hot Top Airplay (Billboard)^[12]	17
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)^[13]	14

References

1. "MISIAと布袋寅泰の共演、「Back In Love Again (feat.布袋寅泰)」PV公開". Barks. December 4, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
2. "映画『大奥～永遠～[右衛門佐・綱吉篇]』主題歌で、MISIAと布袋寅泰がコラボ". Barks. September 12, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
3. "MISIA、布袋提供曲含む2カ月連続シングル＆全国ツアー". Natalie. October 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
4. "MISIA、新曲2曲が〈大奥〉ドラマ&映画主題歌に! 劇場版は布袋コラボ曲". Tower Records. September 13, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
5. "MISIA「STAY GOLD」を歌う". Facebook. July 18, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
6. "楽譜: back in love again feat. tomoyasu hotei / MISIA : ピアノ（ソロ） / 中級". Retrieved February 26, 2018.
7. "MISIA / Back In Love Again(feat.布袋寅泰)". CDJournal. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
8. "週間 CDシングルランキング 2012年12月31日付". Oricon. from the original on 2013-10-24. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
9. "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.
10. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
11. "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
12. . Billboard. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
13. "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.

External links

• Official website