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Holidays in the Sun (album)

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For the Cornelius EP, see Holidays in the Sun (EP).
Holidays in the Sun
Studio album by
Yui
ReleasedJuly 14, 2010 (2010-07-14)
Recorded2008–2010
Studio
  • Burnish Stone Recording Studio (Tokyo)
  • Studio Fine (Tokyo)
  • Heart Beat Recording Studio (Tokyo)
  • Sony Music Studios (Tokyo)
  • Honey Bee Studio
Genre
Length47:37
Labelgr8! Records
ProducerHisashi Kondō
Yui chronology
My Short Stories
(2008) 		Holidays in the Sun
(2010) 		How Crazy Your Love
(2011)
Alternative cover
CD+DVD edition
Singles from Holidays in the Sun
  1. "Summer Song"
    Released: July 2, 2008
  2. "Again"
    Released: June 3, 2009
  3. "It's All Too Much"
    Released: October 7, 2009
  4. "Gloria"
    Released: January 20, 2010
  5. "To Mother"
    Released: June 2, 2010

Holidays in the Sun is the fourth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on July 14, 2010, by gr8! Records. This was her first album release in about one year and eight months since My Short Stories (2008), and her first original album release in two years and three months since I Loved Yesterday (2008). The title of the album comes from the song of the same name by the English band Sex Pistols. Beginning in early 2008, the album's production was handled by longtime collaborator Hisashi Kondō. Yui served as the sole lyricist and composer on Holidays in the Sun, as she had on all of her preceding albums. Holidays in the Sun is primarily a J-pop album with numerous elements of pop rock, folk pop, bossa nova, gospel music, and pop ballads.

Upon its release, Holidays in the Sun was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented the singles, composition, and labelled it as Yui's strongest album to date. However, some questioned the memorability of some of the songs. Commercially, Holidays in the Sun was a success, becoming her third studio album to reach the top spot on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 250,000 units.

Five singles were released from Holidays in the Sun between 2008 to 2010, with all of them going to number one on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart. In addition, "Never Say Die," which was included in the double A-side single "It's All Too Much/Never Say Die," is not included in this album. Yui promoted the album on her Hotel Holidays in the Sun tour, which ran from September to November 2010 in major cities across the Japanese archipelago.

Background and development

[edit]

In early June 2010, Japanese recording artist Yui announced that she would release her first original album in about two years and three months.[1] The album would include all five of her number one singles, making this the first time in history that a female singer-songwriter has released an album that includes five consecutive number one Oricon singles (according to Sony Music Japan).[1] Holidays in the Sun marks her first album release in about a year and eight months since her 2008 compilation album My Short Stories,[2] and her first original album release in two years and three months since her 2008 album I Loved Yesterday.[3] The title of the album is derived from the song of the same name by the English band Sex Pistols.[4]

Yui and gr8! Records enlisted a long-term collaborator, Japanese musician and producer Hisashi Kondō, to produce Holidays in the Sun; this marked Yuii's fourth consecutive studio album to be fully produced by Kondō.[5] Akin to all of her preceding album's, Yui served as the album's sole lyricist.[5] In an interview with the magazine ORISUTA, she described Holidays in the Sun as a bright, sparkling, and fun album that was made it with the image of someone who would want to listen to it while driving in the summer.[6]

Composition

[edit]

"That's right. During my break, I was able to go back to my roots and reaffirm that I really love music. I also realized that I may have been too tied down by the framework I had set for myself. I wanted to enjoy music more freely, without straining my shoulders.”[6]

—Yui discussing her changed approach to music on Holidays in the Sun.

Musically, Holidays in the Sun is predominately inspired by pop rock and folk pop like is predecessors, but also adds in new influences such as bossa nova and gospel music.[7] Prior to its release, Yui said the album's sound became more diverse than the music released before her break, saying that she was able to go back to her roots.[6] Furthermore, she stated that her range of emotions has broadened to include being happy and having fun, and she became able to concretely express the ideas that popped into her head.[6] In an interview, Yui said, “I want to make a summer album!"[7]

Holidays in the Sun opens with the track "To Mother", a pop ballad that conveys the feelings for a "precious person" in one's heart.[8] Although it is Yui's first song in which she exchanges her guitar for a piano, it was first written using a guitar.[9] The second song "Again" is a rock tune that expresses her desire to "try again" and "is the perfect song for a new challenge."[10] "Parade" is the third track on the album, and it is a light acoustic bossa nova-like song that was recorded with a live accordion.[11] "es.car," the fourth song on the album, is a rock song with lyrics that gives the feeling of the beginning of love.[12] The fifth track on the album is "Shake My Heart," a large-scale number with a rich sound from the horn section in the chorus.[13] The albums sixth track "Gloria" is a rock song centered around an acoustic guitar that conveys the cries of the youthful heart.[14]

"I do it" is the seventh track on Holidays in the Sun, and is a self-cover of a song Yui provided to Stereopony.[13] "Please Stay With Me," the albums eighth track, is a straightforward love song; the prototype for this song was written more than two years prior to its official release date.[15] "Summer Song," the album's ninth track, is a light-hearted number with an acoustic sound.[16] "Cinnamon," the tenth song that appears on the album, is a rock song about not being able to contact a lover through cellphone.[15] "Driving Happy Life," the album's eleventh track, is a lively song about driving in a rented car during the summertime.[15] "It's All Too Much" is the twelfth track on the album; it is a rock number that describes her worries about life's many hardships and her strength to survive.[17] The album closes with the song "Kiss Me," which is a upbeat love song.[15]

Release and formats

[edit]

"Since I'm releasing it in the summer, I wanted to make an album that suited the season. It's bright, sparkling, and a really fun album, and I made it with the image of someone who would want to listen to it while driving in the summer."[6]

—Yui talking about the developmental process for Holidays in the Sun.

Holidays in the Sun was released on July 14, 2010, as her fourth musical effort.[18] The album features 13 tracks totaling more than 47 minutes in length. It was released in two formats: a regular CD only edition and a limited edition with a DVD.[5] The DVD includes the music videos of the singles from the previous album, "It's Happy Line," a song from her indie days, the digital-only single "Laugh Away," and the pre-release single "To Mother."[5] Of these, "To Mother" is included as a “multi-angle clip” that can be selected from multiple angles in conjunction with the remote control's four-way controller.[5]

The album artwork and photoshoot was photographed by Yoji Kawada, while the art direction and the album's booklet was designed by Yoshihiro Inoue and Yukinko.[5] The standalone CD artwork is a close up of Yui's face, while the CD and music video DVD format has Yui learning against a settee.[5]

Promotion

[edit]
Holidays in the Sun being promoted on Shibuya 109.

Singles and other songs

[edit]

Five singles were released to promote Holidays in the Sun. "Summer song" was released as the album's lead single on July 2, 2008.[19] The song performed well in Yui's native Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.[20] "Summer Song" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical sales of 100,000 units and platinum for digital sales of 250,000 units.[21][22] "Summer Song" also topped the Japan Hot 100.[23] The album's second single, "Again," was released on June 9, 2009.[24] The single was commercially successful, becoming a number one single on both the Oricon Singles Chart and Japan Hot 100;[25][26] it was certified gold for physical sales and platinum for digital sales by the RIAJ.[27][28] "It's All Too Much" and "Never Say Die" were both distributed as a double A-side single on October 7, 2009;[29] it peaked at the top spot on the Oricon Singles Chart.[30] The single was certified gold for physical sales, while "It's All Too Much" was certified gold separately for digital sales and topped the Japan Hot 100.[31][32][33]

"Gloria" was released as the albums fourth single on January 20, 2010.[34] It peaked at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and the Japan Hot 100.[35][36] "Gloria" was certified gold for physical sales and platinum for digital sales.[37][38] "To Mother" was released as the albums fifth and final single on June 2, 2010.[39] It became her seventh number-one single,[40] and was certified gold twice by the RIAJ for physical and digital sales.[41][42] "To Mother" only managed to peak at number two on the Japan Hot 100, breaking her number-one streak on that chart.[43] The promotional single "Please Stay With Me" peaked at number 44 on the Japan Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAJ for selling over 250,000 downloads.[44][22]

Several songs included on the album were included in various commercials and advertisements promoted in Japan. "Again" was used as the theme song for the anime television series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.[45] "It's All Too Much" and "Never Say Die" were used both for the first live-action film adaptation of the manga series Kaiji, as theme song and insert song, respectively.[46] "Gloria" was used as the commercial song for Benesse Corporation's "Shinkenzemi High School Course" and as the commercial song for Assign Inc.'s "Yoake."[47][48] "Please Stay With Me" served as the insert song for Fuji TV's Summer Romance Shines in Rainbow Colors.[49]

Touring

[edit]

Yui announced her Hotel Holidays in the Sun tour on June 15, 2010. A total of 15 shows in 12 venues were scheduled in Japan, spanning from September 12 at the Ichihara Civic Hall, Chiba Prefecture, and finishing on November 2 at Nippon Budokan.[50] The DVD recording of the last stage of Yui 's live tour held at Nippon Budokan was released on March 9 , 2011;[51] it reached the runner-up spot on the Oricon DVD chart.[52] On June 26, 2011, she performed a similar concert titled "Hong Kong HOTEL HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN" at the AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong.[53]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[54]
Rockin' On Japan(positive)[55]

Holidays in the Sun received positive reviews from music critics. Alexey Eremenko from AllMusic awarded the album three-and-a-half stars out of five. He commented: "After three nice but predictable albums with zero degrees of variation, Yui finally felt that it was time to diversify her airy guitar pop. The opening cut on Holidays in the Sun inspires a fear that she's got it all wrong, because it's a sugary but bland piano-led ballad of the sort that the J-pop scene produces too much of, but in the end, things work out well, with 'To Mother' being the sole blunder on an otherwise engaging, if not groundbreaking, record." Despite that, he questioned the memorability of some of the album's material. Eremenko concluded: "As prime guitar pop goes, Yui remains a featherweight -- the songs on Holidays in the Sun are catchy, but not the sort of pop you'll remember years down the line, even after hearing them more than once -- but within the J-pop framework, she is an artist to watch out for."[54]

Inoue Tomoaki from Rockin' On Japan was positive towards the album. Tomoaki commented that there is an overwhelming strength in the album's songs and that Yui had truly become stronger. At the end of the review he commented: "During her break, which was a preparation period for this work, she must have clearly recognized once again that in order to fight, a calm daily life is necessary, and in order to live a happy daily life, one must fight boldly. There is an overwhelming strength that has taken root in the way that soft songs and powerful songs stand side by side while seeking each other."[55]

Commercially, Holidays in the Sun was a success. In Japan, Holidays in the Sun debuted at the top of the daily and weekly Oricon Albums Chart, opening with sales of 184,952 copies in its first week.[56] 67,000 copies of the album were sold on the first day.[57] It became Yui's third studio album to top the charts on Oricon. Holidays in the Sun spent three weeks inside the top ten on the weekly chart, and lasted 32 weeks in total.[58] By the end of 2010, the album was the 22nd best-selling record of the year in Japan, having sold 307,564 copies.[59] This ranked it as the eighth best-selling album by a female artist in 2010, just behind entries from Japanese singers Kana Nishino, Namie Amuro, Kaela Kimura, Kumi Koda, Ayumi Hamasaki, and Hikaru Utada, and American singer Lady Gaga.[60] Moreover, the album opened at number one on the Billboard Japan Top Album Sales chart.[61] Holidays in the Sun was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 250,000 units.[62]

Track listing

[edit]
Regular Edition

All tracks are written by Yui, except where otherwise noted

CD
No.TitleLyricsArranger(s)Length
1."To Mother" Hisashi Kondo3:48
2."Again" Hisashi Kondo4:14
3."Parade" Northa+2:52
4."es.car" e.u.Band & Hisashi Kondo3:19
5."Shake My Heart" Tsuyoshi Kinoe3:37
6."Gloria" Hisashi Kondo3:38
7."I do it"Haraguni AimiNortha+3:47
8."Please Stay With Me" Hisashi Kondo3:56
9."Summer Song" Northa+3:26
10."Cinnamon" Northa+2:56
11."Driving Happy Life" Northa+3:43
12."It's all too much" Hisashi Kondo4:14
13."Kiss Me" Northa+4:07
Limited Edition

Regular Edition + DVD

DVD
No.TitleLength
1."It's Happy Line" (Music video) 
2."My Generation" (Music video) 
3."Love & Truth" (Music video) 
4."Namidairo" (Music video) 
5."Laugh Away" (Music video) 
6."To Mother" (Multi-angle clip) 

Charts

[edit]

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[65] Platinum 313,316[64]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b CD Journal Staff (June 11, 2010). "YUI、2年3ヵ月ぶりのニュー・アルバム発売が決定！" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of My Short Stories:
  3. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of I Loved Yesterday:
  4. ^ "YUIのアルバム全5枚を時系列順にご紹介" (in Japanese). Aikru. September 13, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Citations regarding the physical formats of Holidays in the Sun:
  6. ^ a b c d e "今年のYUIはひと味違う!? 自由でハッピーな夏の贈り物". ORISUTA. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ a b 小松 (July 9, 2010). "YUIニューアルバム取材" (in Japanese). rockin'on. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  8. ^ CD Journal Staff (June 2, 2010). "YUI / to Mother [CD+DVD] [限定]" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "YUIインタビュー" (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan Corporation. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012.
  10. ^ CD Journal Staff (June 3, 2009). "YUI / again" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Hisashi Kondō (July 12, 2010). "HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN／YUI （前半）" (in Japanese). Ameba. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Yuko Tachibana. "今まで以上に心を込めて妥協せずに作りました" (in Japanese). Lawson Ticket. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "YUI / HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN" (in Japanese). Apple Music. July 14, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  14. ^ CD Journal Staff (January 20, 2010). "YUI / GLORIA [CD+DVD] [限定]" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d Hisashi Kondō (July 12, 2010). "HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN／YUI （前半）" (in Japanese). Ameba. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  16. ^ CD Journal Staff (July 2, 2008). "YUI / SUMMER SONG" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
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  19. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of "Summer Song":
  20. ^ "Summer Song – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  21. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2008年7月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (July 2008)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). August 10, 2008. Archived from the original on August 17, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
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  23. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2008/07/14". Billboard (in Japanese). July 14, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  24. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of "Again":
  25. ^ "Again – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  26. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2009/06/15". Billboard (in Japanese). June 15, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  27. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2009年6月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (July 2009)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 10, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  28. ^ レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  29. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of "It's All Too Much":
  30. ^ "It's All Too Much/Never Say Die – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  31. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2009年10月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (October 2009)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). November 10, 2009. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  32. ^ レコード協会調べ 11月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: November Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). December 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 27, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  33. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2009/10/19". Billboard (in Japanese). October 19, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  34. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of "Gloria":
  35. ^ "Gloria – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  36. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2010/02/01". Billboard (in Japanese). February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  37. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2010年1月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (January 2010)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  38. ^ レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 19, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  39. ^ Citations regarding the physical formats of "To Mother":
  40. ^ "To Mother – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  41. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2010年6月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (June 2010)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  42. ^ レコード協会調べ 10月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: October Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). December 22, 2010. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  43. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2010/06/14". Billboard (in Japanese). June 14, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  44. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2010/07/26". Billboard (in Japanese). July 26, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  45. ^ "OP/ED Artists" (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  46. ^ "YUI、映画『カイジ』主題歌・挿入歌を10/14に発売決定" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 5, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  47. ^ "３万件の高校生の「攻めの宣誓」にインスパイアされてＹＵＩさんの新曲『ＧＬＯＲＩＡ』が完成 進研ゼミ高校講座CMタイアップ曲ＯＡ情報、12月21日には先行試聴も予定" (in Japanese). Benesse. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  48. ^ "新テレビCM「夜明け。」初のブランドキャンペーンを開始" (in Japanese). PR Times. January 11, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  49. ^ CD Journal Staff (July 13, 2010). "YUI、『HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN』収録曲が"月9"挿入歌に決定！" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  50. ^ "YUI、日本武道館2DAYSを含む全国ライブツアー決定" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. June 15, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  51. ^ 4th Tour 2010 ~Hotel Holidays In The Sun~ (Live DVD). Yui. 2014. SRBL-1469.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  52. ^ "Oricon Weekly DD Rankings" (in Japanese). Oricon News. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  53. ^ "スペシャル演出盛りだくさん、YUI香港で初の海外ワンマン" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  54. ^ a b Eremenko, Alexey (July 14, 2010). "Yui – Holidays in the Sun". AllMusic. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  55. ^ a b Tomoaki, Inoue (July 12, 2010). "柔らかく、さらに強く". Rockin' On Japan. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  56. ^ Oricon Style Staff (July 26, 2010). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 26, 2010". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  57. ^ "YUI、週間アルバム4作連続首位獲得に向け好発進" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 15, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  58. ^ a b "Holidays in the Sun – Yui" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  59. ^ a b "2010年 アルバム年間TOP100". Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  60. ^ Tokyo Hive Staff (December 19, 2010). "Oricon Yearly Album Ranking for 2010 is out!". Tokyohive.com. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  61. ^ a b "Top Albums Sales" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. July 21, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  62. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2010年7月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (July 2010)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). August 10, 2010. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  63. ^ "2010 7月売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  64. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved December 20, 2010. (subscription only)
  65. ^ "Japanese album certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved August 21, 2010. Select 2010年7月 on the drop-down menu
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