"Lead the Way" / "La'boon" is the ninth Japanese single (second double A-side) by South Korean girl group T-ara on March 5, 2014. It served as the second single from the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls, and their last released original Japanese song.

"Lead the Way / La'boon"
Single by T-ara
from the album Gossip Girls
LanguageJapanese
A-side"Lead the Way"
B-side"La'boon"
ReleasedMarch 5, 2014 (2014-03-05)
Recorded2014
Length8:12
Label
Lyricist(s)Okochi Kouta
Ichino Onomiya
Seiko Fujibayashi
Producer(s)Okochi Kouta
MEG.ME
T-ara singles chronology
"Number Nine"
(2013)
"Lead the Way / La'boon"
(2014)

Background and release

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On March 19, a preview of the "Lead The Way" Music Video was aired on Japanese television and was uploaded on the 20th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN's official website and YouTube channel.[1][2]

Both songs were later re-released on the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls.

The single was released in three versions: eight limited CD+DVD editions, one type-A and seven type B (one per member), a box edition, and a regular CD Only edition. Each limited edition B features a DVD with a solo version of "Lead the way" PV featuring one solo member. The box edition includes all six versions in one DVD and includes a 16-page photobook. All editions include one trading card with a serial code. Limited editions come in a special package while the Regular edition comes in a normal paper case.[2]

Composition

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Both songs are Japanese original songs by Japanese writers[3]

"Lead the Way" is described as "a medium tempo ballad that depicts a "secret" love, with a beautiful lyrical melody that touches the heartstrings". La'boon is inspired by "Arabian Nights", "the sound has a unique and exotic atmosphere.

Commercial performance

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The single debuted and peaked at number seven on Oricon daily chart, it fell to number nine for two weeks before re-peaking at number seven. It charted for seven days on Top 15. On the weekly chart, it reached number eight on the Oricon Weekly chart and charted for a total of five weeks selling 12,688 copies the first week.

The single peaked at number thirty-two on the monthly chart with a total of 16,230 copies sold.[4]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from Tower Records[5]

Regular Edition
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Lead the Way"Okochi Kouta, Ichino OnomiyaOkochi Kouta04:01
2."La'boon"Seiko FujibayashiMEG.ME04:10
Total length:08:12
Limited edition A
No.TitleLength
3."Lead the Way" (Music video)04:08
4."Lead the Way" (Music video making)17:48
Total length:21:56
Limited edition B (Eun Jung Ver) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music Video feat. Eun Jung ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B (Qri Ver) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music video feat. Qri ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B (Hyo Min Ver) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B (So Yeon Ver) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music video feat. So Yeon ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B (Bo Ram Ver) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B (Ji Yeon Ver.) — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the way (Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.)"04:08
Limited edition B - BOX — DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Eun Jung ver.)04:08
2."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.)04:08
3."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. So Yeaon ver.)04:08
4."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.)04:08
5."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Qri ver.)04:08
6."Lead the Way" (Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.)04:08

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak

position

Japan Singles (Oricon)[4] 8
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[6] 46
Japan Singles Sales (Billboard) 7

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Japan March 5, 2014[7]

References

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  1. ^ T-ARA - 9th single 「Lead the way」Music Video Teaser, retrieved 2022-03-16
  2. ^ a b "T-ARA | UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". store.universal-music.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  3. ^ "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN [CD+6DVD+フォトブック]<初回生産限定盤B・BOX>". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  4. ^ a b "Lead the way/LA'booN(初回生産限定盤A) | T-ARA". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  5. ^ "T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN<通常盤>". tower.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  6. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 - [2014/03/12]". Billboard Japan.
  7. ^ "T-ARA『Lead the Way/LA'booN』 | TOWER RECORDS MUSIC(音楽サブスクサービス) - 34826645". TOWER RECORDS MUSIC (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-25.