Masquerade (2PM song)

"Masquerade" (マスカレード ～Masquerade～, Masukarēdo) is the sixth Japanese single (counted as fifth) by the South Korean boy band 2PM. It was released on November 14, 2012 in three different editions.^[1] The original release day of the single was on August 29, but it was postponed to November 14 due to Nichkhun's car accident controversy.

"Masquerade"
CD only cover
Single by 2PM
from the album Legend of 2PM
B-side	"Forever"
Released	November 14, 2012 (2012-11-14)
Recorded	2012
Genre	J-pop, dance-pop
Length	3:52
Label	Ariola Japan
Composer(s)	NA.ZU.NA, M.I
Lyricist(s)	PA-NON, Michael Yano

Background

The initial track list of the single consisted with "Masquerade" and two original Japanese songs, "Stay Here", used as the b-side and "Falling in Love", included as a bonus track. Although, due to Nichkhun's car accident controversy that was surrounding in South Korea affected the single's release by making indefinitely postponed. On October 5, when it was announced that Nichkhun's hiatus ended, a note on 2PM's Japanese website revealed that the single would be released in mid-November with a different track list.^[2][3] On October 15, the jacket covers of the single were re-announced and a new CD track list was revealed. It was also revealed that the original songs that were supposed to be on the single, "Stay Here" and "Falling in Love", will be included in future releases of the group.

Composition

"Masquerade" was written by PA-NON and Michael Yano and composed by NA.ZU.NA and M.I. "Forever", the single's b-side, was written by the member Lee Junho, Shin Bong-won and Mai Watarai. The CD only edition includes a remix version of "Masquerade", remixed by ArmySlick.

Music video

A teaser of the music video was revealed on July 17, 2012 on 2PM's Japanese website. The music video premiered by accident in MTV Japan on August 21. On August 23, MTV Japan apologized for accidentally aired the music video.^[4] The music video features the group singing and performing the song in a black studio with white lights on the roof. It also includes solo shots of the members. Taecyeon does not appear in the choreography shots on the music video due to an arm injury.

Editions

The single was released in three different editions: two limited CD+DVD editions and a regular CD only edition:

The limited CD+DVD type A comes with a white jacket cover, the CD single and a special DVD including the music video of "Masquerade" and a dance version of the music video.^[5]

The limited CD+DVD type B comes with a black jacket cover, the CD single and a special DVD including the music video of "Masquerade" and an off-shot movie from the recording of the music video.^[6]

The regular CD only edition comes with a white jacket cover and the CD only itself. This edition includes a remix of "Masquerade" as a bonus track.^[7] All editions include a special trading card, one out of eight different types.

Track listing

CD+DVD^[5] and CD+photobook^[6] track list

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Masquerade" (マスカレード ～Masquerade～; Masukarēdo)	PA-NON, Michael Yano	NA.ZU.NA, M.I	3:52
2.	"Forever"	Lee Junho, Shin Bong-won, Mai Watarai	Junho, Shin Bong-won	4:36
3.	"Masquerade" (instrumental)		NA.ZU.NA, M.I	3:49
4.	"Forever" (instrumental)		Junho, Shin Bong-won	4:32
Total length:				16:46

CD only and digital bonus track^[7][8]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Masquerade" (マスカレード ～Masquerade～; Masukarēdo)	PA-NON, Michael Yano	NA.ZU.NA, M.I	3:52
2.	"Forever"	Lee Junho, Shin Bong-won, Mai Watarai	Junho, Shin Bong-won	4:36
3.	"Masquerade" (ArmySlick's bavtronic mix) (マスカレード ～Masquerade～; Masukarēdo)	PA-NON, Michael Yano	NA.ZU.NA, M.I, ArmySlick	4:22
4.	"Masquerade" (instrumental)		NA.ZU.NA, M.I	3:49
5.	"Forever" (instrumental)		Junho, Shin Bong-won	4:32
Total length:				21:07

DVD (limited edition type A)^[5]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Masquerade" (music video)
2.	"Masquerade" (music video - dance version)

DVD (limited edition type B)^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Masquerade" (music video)
2.	"Masquerade" (music video - off-shot movie)

Charts

Oricon

Oricon Chart	Peak	Debut sales	Sales total
Daily Singles Chart^[9]	2	88,166	151,227+
Weekly Singles Chart	2	130,242
Monthly Singles Chart	4	150,736
Yearly Singles Chart	52	151,227

Other charts

Chart	Peak position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100^[10]	2

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
Japan	October 22, 2012	Digital download ("Masquerade" only)^[11]	Ariola Japan
	November 14, 2012	Digital download,^[8] CD single
South Korea	December 6, 2012	Digital download^[12]	JYP Entertainment

References

1. "マスカレード～Masquerade～ 2PMのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-11-14.
2. "2PM to release postponed Japanese single "Masquerade" in November, have Japanese tour in Spring of 2013". 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
3. "2PM、ニックンの復帰を発表 6人で活動再開". Oricon (in Japanese). 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
4. 【お詫び】8月21日（火）の放送に関して. MTV Japan (in Japanese). 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
5. "Sony Music Shop / 2PM･ﾏｽｶﾚｰﾄﾞ ～Masquerade～【初回生産限定盤/TypeA】･CD･DVD･ﾌﾞﾙｰﾚｲ･ｱｰﾃｨｽﾄｸﾞｯｽﾞ･書籍･雑誌の通販". Sony Music Entertainment Japan Shop (in Japanese). 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
6. "Sony Music Shop / 2PM･ﾏｽｶﾚｰﾄﾞ ～Masquerade～【初回生産限定盤/TypeB】･CD･DVD･ﾌﾞﾙｰﾚｲ･ｱｰﾃｨｽﾄｸﾞｯｽﾞ･書籍･雑誌の通販". Sony Music Entertainment Japan Shop (in Japanese). 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
7. "Sony Music Shop / 2PM･ﾏｽｶﾚｰﾄﾞ ～Masquerade～(通常盤)【初回限定仕様】･CD･DVD･ﾌﾞﾙｰﾚｲ･ｱｰﾃｨｽﾄｸﾞｯｽﾞ･書籍･雑誌の通販". Sony Music Entertainment Japan Shop (in Japanese). 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
8. "iTunes - ミュージック - ツーピーエム (2PM)「マスカレード ~Masquerade~ - EP」" (in Japanese). iTunes Store Japan. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
9. 티아라 日 '섹시러브' 싱글 발매 첫날 오리콘 4위. Nate (in Korean). 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
10. . Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
11. "iTunes - ミュージック - ツーピーエム (2PM)「マスカレード ~Masquerade~ - Single」" (in Japanese). iTunes Store Japan. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
12. "『2PM 5th Japan Single 'Masquerade'』 to be Released in Korea". 2PM's official Facebook account. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2012-12-05.

External links

• Official Website