Homura (song)

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"Homura"
LiSA wearing a black outfit with her head slightly tilted on the left and her right hand toughing her chin.
Cover art for the regular and digital version
Single by LiSA
from the album Lander
B-side"Lost romance"
ReleasedOctober 14, 2020 (2020-10-14)
GenreJ-pop
Length4:34
Label
Composer(s)Yuki Kajiura
Lyricist(s)
  • Yuki Kajiura
  • LiSA
Producer(s)Yuki Kajiura
LiSA singles chronology
"Unlasting"
(2019) 		"Homura"
(2020) 		"Saikai"
(2020)
Music video
"Homura" on YouTube

"Homura" (炎, Flame) is a song by Japanese singer LiSA. It is the singer's seventeenth single and includes three other tracks. The song was released on October 14, 2020, by Sacra Music and Sony Music Japan. It serves as the theme song for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (2020). "Homura" won the grand prize at the 62nd Japan Record Awards in 2020,[1] and the 43th Anime Grand Prix in Best Theme Song category (By doing so, LiSA became the first artist in 20 years to won the Anime Grand Prix in Best Theme Song category for two consecutive years since Maaya Sakamoto won in 1999 and 2000).[2]

Background and release[edit]

LiSA released "Gurenge" in July 2019, which served as the opening theme of the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.[3] "Gurenge" was commercially successful, reaching number two on the Japan Hot 100 chart and was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[3][4][5] On August 2, 2020, "Homura" was announced as the opening theme song of the film version of the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, that was slated to be released on October 16, 2020.[6][7] The single was released in digital and CD formats on October 14, 2020, by Sacra Music and Sony Music Japan, in conjunction with LiSA's studio album Leo Nine.[8][9] The physical version was made available in three different editions: Regular Edition, Limited Edition and First Press Limited Edition. All three versions contain "Homura" as A-side and "Lost romance" as B-side. Both the regular and first press limited editions include "Leopardess" as B-side whereas and "My Friends Forever" comes as a B-side exclusively on the limited edition.[10]

Composition[edit]

LiSA wrote "Homura" with its composer Yuki Kajiura, with the latter also handling production. Musically, it is a ballad number.[8] Speaking about the song, LiSA stated, "I've been involved in numerous anime works, and 'Homura' was another song that I wrote by putting a lot of thought into the work it would accompany, just like every other track that I’ve released."[3] Within the context of the film, the song is used as the character Kyojuro Rengoku's requiem, with the lyrics appearing to be from the perspective of his apparition.

Music video[edit]

The music video for the song, directed by Masakazu Fukatsu, was uploaded to LiSA's YouTube channel on October 14, 2020.[11] It was preceded by a trailer released to the same platform on October 2.[12] The video features LiSA singing "Homura" on a solitary sea beach, against the backdrop of changing colours of the sky at the break of dawn.[13]

Commercial performance[edit]

LiSA at Petit Fancy 2018
With "Homura" and Leo-Nine, LiSA (pictured) became the first ever artist to simultaneously debut a song and an album at number one on Billboard Japan's charts.[14]

"Homura" was debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart on the chart issue dated October 20, 2020, selling 68,000 copies in its first week. Additionally, LiSA topped the Oricon Albums Chart with Leo-Nine simultaneously. By doing so, LiSA became the first female artist in 16 years and 6 months to do so since Hikaru Utada.[15] The single simultaneously topped Oricon's Weekly Digital Single and Combined Streaming charts, recording over 141,000 download sales and 8.67 million streams in its opening week.[16] In its second week, the song maintained its number one spot, selling another 42,000 copies. In doing so, LiSA became the first female artist to earn the number one spot for two consecutive weeks since Kana Uemura's "Toilet no Kamisama" (2011).[17] It sold 133,087 downloads on the digital singles chart and recorded over 16.74 million streams, breaking the record of highest streams which was previously held by NiziU's "Make You Happy" (2020).[18] On the week of November 3, 2020, "Homura" remained at number one with 32,000 copies sold, thus tallying a total of three consecutive weeks atop the Oricon chart. It became the first song to do so in 12 years and 10 months since SMAP's "Dangan Faitā" (2007).[19] On the week of December 23, 2020, the single remained at the top spot on the digital singles chart, spending a total of 10 consecutive weeks and tied the record of most weeks at number one with Kenshi Yonezu's "Lemon" (2018).[20] The following week, it maintained its position, tallying a total of 11 consecutive weeks at number one and becoming the longest-running chart-topper on the chart.[21]

"Homura" arrived at number one on the Japan Hot 100 chart, with 65,000 copies in its first tracking week. With Leo-Nine simultaneously topping the Hot Albums chart, LiSA became the first act in history to have both a song and an album debut at number one on the chart.[14] The song held its position in its second week, with 28,832 units sold and 18.8 million streams. With "Gurenge" climbing back to number two, LiSA simultaneously claimed the top two spots on the chart.[22] On Billboard Japan's Streaming chart dated December 7, 2020, the single amassed cumulative streams of over 100 million, becoming the fastest song to do so in seven weeks and surpassed the record of BTS' "Dynamite" (2020).[23] For the year-end chart, it was the ninth best-performing single of 2020 on the Japan Hot 100.[3] "Homura" was certified platinum by the RIAJ for exceeding 250,000 physical units and million for exceeding 1 million digital sales.[24][25]

On the week of October 24, 2020, "Homura" debuted at number 62 on the Billboard Global 200 and at number 21 on the Billboard Global Excl. US charts.[26] In its second week, the song reached a peak of number eight on the Billboard Global 200, with 19.4 million streams and 97,000 download sales globally. It simultaneously climbed to number two on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart.[27]

Track listing[edit]

Digital download[28]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Homura"
Yuki KajiuraYuki Kajiura4:34
2."Lost romance"LiSASho (My First Story)Sho (My First Story)3:57
3."Leopardess"Sarari MatsubaraHi-yunk (Back On)Hi-yunk3:06
4."My Friends Forever"Masato KanaiKatsumi OnishiRyo Eguchi4:28
5."Homura (Instrumental)"   4:34
Total length:21:00
CD single – Regular edition / First press limited edition[29][30]
No.TitleLength
1."Homura"4:34
2."Lost romance"3:57
3."Leopardess"3:06
4."Homura (Instrumental)"4:34
CD single – Limited edition[31]
No.TitleLength
1."Homura"4:34
2."Lost romance"3:57
3."My Friends Forever"4:28
4."Homura (Instrumental)"4:34

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[24]
Physical single 		Platinum 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[25]
Digital single 		Million 1,000,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[50] Platinum 100,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "『レコ大』LiSA「炎」が大賞 ソロデビュー10年目の栄冠に涙「本当に幸せです」 劇場版『鬼滅の刃』主題歌". Oricon (in Japanese). December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "第43回アニメＧＰ". www.chikimato.net. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "LiSA Reacts to Billboard Japan Year-End Chart-Topper Feat: Exclusive". Billboard. December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. May 16, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Japanese digital certifications 2020" (Select 2020年7月 on the drop-down menu) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. March 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "LiSA新曲「炎」、劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限列車編の主題歌に決定". Natalie. August 2, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Loo, Egan (August 2, 2020). "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Film's New Trailer Previews LiSA's New Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "LiSA、3年5カ月ぶりニューアルバム＆劇場版「鬼滅の刃」主題歌シングルを同時発売". Natalie. August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "LiSA、映画「鬼滅の刃」主題歌を朝日が昇る浜辺で歌唱". Natalie (in Japanese). October 13, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "LiSA「劇場版『鬼滅の刃』」主題歌シングルジャケットに煉獄杏寿郎". Natalie. September 16, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  11. ^ "LiSA、映画「鬼滅の刃」主題歌を朝日が昇る浜辺で歌唱". Natalie (in Japanese). October 13, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "LiSAの同時発売ニューアルバム＆シングル、全曲試聴トレイラー公開". Natalie (in Japanese). October 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "LiSA、夜明けの海で熱唱 劇場版『鬼滅の刃』主題歌「炎」MV解禁". Oricon (in Japanese). October 13, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "【ビルボード】LiSA「炎」と『LEO-NiNE』で史上初のダブル総合首位獲得". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 21, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "LiSA、令和初のシングル&アルバム同時1位獲得 女性アーティスト歴代10組目に「すごい歴史に名前を刻ませていただけてうれしい」【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 20, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "LiSA、デジタル3冠などで1位獲得数記録史上最多の7冠達成「いつも応援してくれる皆さんのおかげ。本当にうれしい」【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 21, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "LiSA、最新シングルが2週連続1位 女性ソロアーティストでは植村花菜「トイレの神様」以来、9年10ヵ月ぶり【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 27, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "『鬼滅の刃』関連作品がデジタルシングルTOP3を独占【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 27, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "『鬼滅の刃』主題歌LiSA「炎」、SMAP以来12年10ヵ月ぶりの3週連続1位に【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  20. ^ "LiSA「炎」が、デジタルシングル10週連続1位 「Lemon」と並び、連続1位獲得週数記録歴代1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). December 23, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "LiSA「炎」が、デジタルシングル11週連続1位 連続1位獲得週数歴代トップに【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "LiSA Logs Second Week at No. 1 and No. 2 on Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "LiSA「炎」ストリーミング累計1億回再生を突破 歴代最速記録を更新". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Japanese single certifications – LiSA – 炎" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 1, 2021. Select 2020年11月 on the drop-down menu
  25. ^ a b "Japanese digital single certifications – LiSA – 炎" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2021. Select 2021年3月 on the drop-down menu
  26. ^ Frankenberg, Eric (October 23, 2020). "Japan's Lisa Leads Debuts on Billboard Global Charts". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  27. ^ "LiSA、「炎」が米ビルボード・グローバル・チャートTOP10入り". Oricon (in Japanese). October 27, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  28. ^ "Homura – EP by LiSA". Apple Music. October 14, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  29. ^ "LiSA – Homura [Regular Edition]" (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Amazon.
  30. ^ "LiSA – Homura [First Press Limited Edition]" (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Amazon.
  31. ^ "LiSA – Homura [Limited Edition]" (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Amazon.
  32. ^ "LiSA (dupe 1) Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  33. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of October 26, 2020". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  34. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  35. ^ 炎 – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  36. ^ "LiSAの合算シングル売上" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "Oricon Top 20 Anime Singles: 2020-10-26" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  38. ^ "LiSA (dupe 1) Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  39. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2020-10". Oricon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  40. ^ "Oricon Top 10 Anime Singles: 2020-10". Oricon. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  41. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2020 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  42. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2020 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "Oricon Top 100 Singles: 2023". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  44. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング2020】嵐、総合で通算9度目の首位獲得 | 合算シングルランキング 1位~10位". Oricon (in Japanese). December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  45. ^ "Billboard Global Excl. US – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2021 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  47. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2021 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  48. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2022 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  49. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2022 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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Preceded by
"Paprika"
(Foorin)
 Japan Record Award Grand Prix
2020 		Succeeded by
"Citrus"
(Da-ice)
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