"Deepness" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Misia. It was co-written by Misia and Jun Sasaki and produced by Misia. "Deepness" was released as a single by Ariola Japan on November 7, 2012.[1] It is the theme song to the TBS drama series Ōoku: Tanjō - Arikoto / Iemitsu-hen, starring Masato Sakai and Mikako Tabe.[2]

"Deepness"
Single by Misia
from the album Super Best Records: 15th Celebration
ReleasedNovember 7, 2012 (2012-11-07)
Studio
  • Rmt Studio
Genre
Length4:43
LabelAriola Japan
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Misia
Misia singles chronology
"Koi wa Owaranai Zutto"
(2012)
"Deepness"
(2012)
"Back in Love Again"
(2012)
Music video
"Deepness" on YouTube

Background and release edit

"Deepness" was released close to five months after Misia's previous single, "Koi wa Owaranai Zutto". It is the first of two back-to-back singles, both servicing the soundtracks of two installments of the Ōoku franchise.[2] It was released digitally in truetone format on October 12, 2012.[3] The first pressing of the physical release came in digipak format and included the password to a secret Ustream broadcast of a mini concert held on December 19, 2012 to celebrate the release of the single.[4][5] The single features the B-side "Koi Gram", written by Satoshi Shimano, as well as two remixes by DJ Gomi of the title track and of Misia's rendition of Michael Jackson's "Heal the World".

Composition edit

"Deepness" is written in the key of B minor and set to a common time tempo of 77 beats per minute.[6] Misia's vocals span from A3 to E5. "Deepness" was written specifically for Ōoku: Tanjō.[7] Before writing the song, Misia brushed up on the world of Ōoku by reading the original manga in its entirety.[7] She was struck by the female shōgun and all-male ōoku, and felt that the reversal of gender roles depicted in the manga was something modern women could relate to.[7] Misia decided to write lyrics that revolved around the dedication of the ōoku and the outpouring of love for their one and only shōgun.[7]

Critical reception edit

EMTG Music's Yūichi Hirayama stated about "Deepness" that "the message is in the sound of the song itself" and compared it to the "crisp" sound of Misia's "Snow Song" (2003).[8] Hirayama described the song as being the "ideal vehicle" for Misia's voice.[8] He also praised Phil Tan for his work mixing the track.[8] CDJournal critics said the song was reminiscent of an Alicia Keys mid-tempo ballad and also praised Tan's contribution.[9] They described "Deepness" as "epic" but not too overwhelming so as to not put it on repeat.[9]

Music video edit

The music video for "Deepness" was directed by Sayaka Nakane and shot in early October 2012 in the Mongolian grassland.[7] The video took four days to shoot to completion.[7]

Chart performance edit

"Deepness" made its chart debut on the weekly RecoChoku truetones chart at number 15.[10] The song dropped six spots, down to number 21, on its second week.[11] It moved up twelve spots to number 9 on its third week.[12] On its fourth week, "Deepness" slid up one spot to number 8.[13] The song peaked on the truetones chart at number 6 the following week.[14] "Deepness" debuted on the weekly RecoChoku singles chart at number 2,[15] blocked from the top spot by Kana Nishino's record-breaking single "Always" (2012).[16] "Deepness" entered the daily Oricon Singles Chart at number 14 and peaked at number 11.[17][18] The single debuted at number 15 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, with 5,000 copies sold.[19] It charted for ten consecutive weeks and sold a reported total of 12,000 copies during its run.[20] "Deepness" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100,[21] making it Misia's seventh top ten entry on the chart.

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."Deepness"
  • Ichiro Suezawa
4:43
2."Koi Gram" (恋グラム, Koi Guramu, "Love Gram")
  • Satoshi Shimano
  • Shimano
3:59
3."Deepness" (Gomi's Lair Club Mix)
  • Misia
  • Sasaki
  • Gomi
5:09
4."Heal the World" (Gomi's Unity of Love Remix)
  • Gomi
4:47
Total length:18:38

Charts edit

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Sales
Japan Daily Singles (Oricon)[18] 11 12,000[20]
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[19] 15
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[21] 10
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard)[22] 43
Japan Hot Top Airplay (Billboard)[23] 29
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[24] 12
Japan Weekly Singles (RecoChoku)[15] 2
Japan Weekly Truetones (RecoChoku)[14] 6

References edit

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b "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.
  3. ^ "DEEPNESS着うた®配信 10/12(金)スタート!". October 10, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "10年ぶりの本人出演!TOYOTA「Isis」×MISIAの新CMがスタート!! MISIAがTOYOTA「Isis」に歌のマジックをかけた!?". Music Lounge. October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "「DEEPNESS」Release記念 SECRET CLUB LIVE". Ustream. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "楽譜: DEEPNESS / MISIA : ピアノ(ソロ) / 中級". Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "MISIA / DEEPNESS – Rhythmedia Works". Rhythmedia Tribe. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "MISIAの新曲「DEEPNESS」は、テレビドラマ『大奥~誕生[有功・家光篇]』主題歌". EMTG Music. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "MISIA / DEEPNESS". CDJournal. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "レコチョク「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング". RecoChoku. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  11. ^ "レコチョク「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング". RecoChoku. October 24, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  12. ^ "レコチョク「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング". RecoChoku. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  13. ^ "レコチョク「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング". RecoChoku. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "レコチョク「着うた®」ダウンロードランキング". RecoChoku. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  15. ^ a b "レコチョクランキング ダウンロード(シングル)ランキング". RecoChoku. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  16. ^ "西野カナ、レコチョク週間ランキング13作品連続1位で最多記録を更新". RBB Today. November 14, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  17. ^ "2012年11月06日のCDシングルデイリーランキング". Oricon. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  18. ^ a b "2012年11月09日のCDシングルデイリーランキング". Oricon. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  19. ^ a b "2012年11月05日~2012年11月11日のCDシングル週間ランキング". Oricon. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "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.
  21. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  22. ^ "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  24. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.

External links edit