Recorded 2009-2010 To Love
(2010) Thank You, Love
(2011) Release date 23 June 2010 Genres J-pop, Contemporary R&B | Length 57:32 Artist Kana Nishino Label SME Records | |
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Released June 23, 2010 (2010-06-23) Awards Japan Record Award for Excellent Album Similar Thank you - Love, LOVE one, Love Place, Love Collection ~mint~, Love Collection ~pink~ | ||
To Love (stylized as to LOVE in Japan) is Japanese R&B singer-lyricist Kana Nishino's second studio album. It was released on June 23, 2010 by SME Records. The album spawned four Oricon Top 10 singles, "Motto...", "Dear.../Maybe", "Best Friend" and "Aitakute Aitakute".
Contents
Background
"To Love" is Nishino's first album released after she solidified her popularity in the digital market. Despite Nishino's initial singles for her first album, Love One., not seeing much success, the songs promoted around the album's release ("Tōkutemo" feat. Wise, "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara" and "Kimi no Koe o" feat. Verbal (M-Flo)) were gradual hits in the digital market. Since then, all of her singles have hit No. 1 on RIAJ's Digital Track Chart, which tracks full-length song downloads to cellphones. "Best Friend" stayed at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks, while "Aitakute Aitakute" and "Motto..." reached No. 1 for two.
Currently, "Aitakute Aitakute", "Best Friend," "Dear..." and "Motto..." are all certified for 750,000+ ringtone downloads and 500,000+ full-length cellphone downloads. "Maybe" has been downloaded on cellphones more than 100,000 times, along with a B-side to "Best Friend" "One Way Love" that is not present on the album.
Writing
Much like her first album, To Love is centred around a theme of love. As exactly one year had passed from her previous album, Nishino wanted to express the growth in her values and view on love. In an interview with Yahoo! Japan, Nishino stated that for the lyrics on the album she "makes an image from the music, then creates a short film made of images in her head, and from there creates the basis for the scenario for the lyrics.
Many of the songwriters from Nishino's first album worked with her again for To Love. Sizk, who worked on the prologue/epilogues from her first album worked on the second albums, while the singles were created with Giorgio Cancemi (who worked with Nishino on 2/3 of the later promotional tracks from Love One., "Tōkutemo" and "Kimi no Koe o"). One song was written by Australian songwriters Nervo ("Hey Boy"), much like the songs "Girlfriend" and Nishino's debut single "I"). Jeff Miyahara also returned to work with Nishino once again (after producing the single "Kimi ni Aitaku Naru Kara"), with "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi.
Chart ranking
The album debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's daily albums chart, selling 71,000 copies on its first day. It stayed at No. 1 for the first week, selling 290,000 copies. The album's first week sales are currently the highest for a solo artist in 2010. The album was certified triple platinum selling over 750,000 physical copies
Many album tracks were popular enough to chart digitally after the album's release. "Love & Smile", released a week before the album, was the most successful, peaking at No. 3. Others included "Summer Girl" feat. Minmi (No. 8), "Kono Mama de" (No. 14) and "You Are the One" (No. 64).
Track listing
All lyrics written by Kana Nishino except noted.
Songs
*Prologue*〜What a nice〜1:33
Best Friend5:19
Summer Girl3:49