[Weekly B`z Special Booklet]

Thank you for downloading Weekly B’z: The Complete
Collection!
Gathered here is every installment in the Weekly B’z series: the
35 original releases, the Week 10 English Special, as well as two
full-length documentaries. All of the included videos are fully
subtitled in English and cover over 16 hours of concert and
documentary footage.
This document contains information on each of the releases, with
detailed song notes chronicling the history of all songs included.
Additionally, you will find information on the home video releases
from which they are drawn.
We hope you will enjoy this collection. Feel free to share it with
other fans, new and old alike, and keep the hype alive!
Who are “B’z”?
(pronounced "bees") is a Japanese rock and roll duo that debuted in 1988.
The team is comprised of world-renowned and Grammy Award-winning guitarist
Tak Matsumoto and superstar vocalist Koshi Inaba. Tak writes and composes all
of the music while Koshi pens all of the lyrics. Together, the band have set,
broken, and re-broken virtually every record in the Japanese music industry
dozens of times over. They have the most #1 albums, the most #1 singles (45 as
of this writing—all of which are consecutive), the most #1 home video releases,
and have sold the most singles of any artist in the history of Japanese music.
The band is heralded for their hard rock style that comes complete with catchy
and meaningful lyrics, infectious melodies, and a wide variety of musical styles
over their 25 year history. Whether it’s rock and roll, the blues, pop, dance, or
ballads, B’z have done it and done so at the top of the charts.
Their live shows—known as LIVE-GYMs due to their kinetic high-energy—
routinely draw sold out crowds all over Japan and continue to be massive events
for locales across the country. The band’s success has led to them receiving
recognition the world over, with their live shows taking place not just in Japan
but in the United States, Canada, and China as well. Additionally, in 2007, they
became the first Asian artists to be inducted to Hollywood’s RockWalk of Fame.
What is “Weekly B’z”?
Weekly B'z was a fan-based initiative to subtitle a new B'z concert
video every Wednesday beginning in February 2012. All videos
were subtitled entirely in English, with many songs and crowd
interaction sections being translated for the very first time. At
release, videos were made available in SD and HD formats for
direct download and were also simultaneously uploaded onto a
dedicated YouTube channel.
Great efforts were made to produce consistent quality across all
of the releases, and we have always been very proud of the results
and hope they will bring entertainment to fans both new and old
alike.
After a hiatus for life commitments, Weekly B'z returned for a 35th
and final two-and-a-half-hour installment in July 2013. Although
this remains the final Weekly B’z release, further subtitles will be
produced for documentaries, interviews, and other related
content.
To keep up with further B’z fan projects, please visit the DCTP Forums B’z
Hype Topic. All of the latest news surrounding the band and their exploits
can be found on the top English fan site, OFFTHELOCK.com. For a full
database of the band’s lyrics and their translations, please visit the Lyrics &
Translations page on the B’z Wiki. The B’z Wiki is an in-progress archive
that aims to include write-ups on every album, single, and tour by the band
and already sports a wealth of content.
Weekly B’z Archive
Gathered below are the original updates for each individual
Weekly B’z release, complete with song notes for the included
songs that give a glimpse as to its history and relevance in the B’z
catalogue.
PLEASE NOTE: Song notes are only relevant as of the original release and have not been
updated to reflect any additional developments or releases unless otherwise noted, such as
for the 2013 home videos of ACTION, CIRCLE OF ROCK, and ELEVEN, or B’z The Best XXV
1988-1998 and 1999-2012.
.
The inaugural installment of the Weekly B'z project begins with one of the hypest performances
in the history of rock music. During the 20th anniversary concert that took place exactly twenty
years to the day that B'z made their debut, the band performed a wide range of classics—both
new and old—and these two were no exception. Being taken from the concert that many B'z
fans consider to be their most definitive to date, this performance of "juice" and "Ai no
Bakudan" does not disappoint.
SONG NOTES
— juice (2000)
Despite being released only in 2000, "juice" is already the third most-performed song by the
band. After being released as a single and debuting at #1 (the 25th B'z single to do so,
consecutively), the song was included on the band's 2000 studio album ELEVEN in the form of a
remix, and later was chosen for both B'z The Best "Pleasure II" in 2005 and B'z The Best "ULTRA
Pleasure" in 2008. In 2011, a full English version was premiered during the year's North American
tour.
— Ai no Bakudan (2005) [愛のバクダン, Love Bomb]
Since its release, Ai no Bakudan has become a staple of B'z LIVE-GYMs. It has been performed at
the majority of all shows since and is often paired directly into a medley with another song. The
song debuted at #1 as a single and was soon included on the 2005 studio album THE CIRCLE, as
well as B'z The Best "Pleasure II", B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure", and on the band's North
American iTunes EP in a differing form.
This week, we've decided to bring you some gems from one of the best shows B'z has ever put
on. The songs from this week come from the 2007 SHOWCASE, and for those unfamiliar with
SHOWCASE concerts (as opposed to their larger sister concerts, the LIVE-GYMs), they can be
defined as follows: A B'z "SHOWCASE" is a concert with a setlist that typically includes a great
many scarcely-performed songs and take place at smaller, more intimate venues. SHOWCASE
shows are often played as warm-ups to the larger LIVE-GYM shows as well as a means of still
touring for fans even when a major album promotion isn't in order. In addition, SHOWCASE
shows typically aim to tour in areas of Japan that the band have not visited previously or have
not visited in some time.
The 2007 SHOWCASE fits this definition well. Two of the songs chosen to be included in this
video, "HOT FASHION" and "Out Of Control", had not been performed by the band for fourteen
years prior to this SHOWCASE. In addition, "Out Of Control" had not been translated into
English prior to us working on this release. We specifically translated it solely for this occasion
and we hope you will enjoy it
SONG NOTES
HOT FASHION -Ryuukoukata- (1990) [-流行過多-, -Fashion Excess-]
An early fan-favorite, "HOT FASHION" remains well-regarded by B'z fans even to this day. Apart
from being included in music video form on the band's earliest home video release, FILM RISKY,
the original version of the song has only been released on the band's 1990 album RISKY. In
addition, a karaoke version was made available on the band's first karaoke album. The
performance included in this video marks the first time B'z performed the song in over fourteen
years.
Eien no Tsubasa (2007) [永遠の翼, Eternal Wings]
Inspired by Japanese fighter pilots from World War II, "Eien no Tsubasa" served as the theme
song to the period war drama For Those We Love in 2007. The song was a #1 single and was
included on that year's album, ACTION, as well as being found on B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure"
a year later. The performance seen in this video is the only performance of the song ever
released on home video.
Out Of Control (1992)
Available only on the band's 1992 album "RUN", "Out Of Control" is performed here for the first
time in fourteen years. This video marks the first time the song has ever been translated into
English.
Here we are again, with another weekly B'z video. This time, we've got ―OH! GIRL‖ and ―LOVE
PHANTOM‖ from the fifteenth anniversary show. These are two very special performances of
two very special B'z songs that you will not want to miss! The performance of ―LOVE PHANTOM‖
here is especially noteworthy for reasons that will become all too clear once you see what's in
store. Oh, and don't miss the harmonica!
SONG NOTES
OH! GIRL (1989)
After its inclusion on the band's sophomore album "OFF THE LOCK" in 1989, "OH! GIRL" very
quickly became a favorite amongst fans. "OH! GIRL -Mixture style-", a re-recorded and
modernized version of the song, can be found on B'z The Mixture released in 2000. In addition,
the song was nearly voted onto B'z The Best "Treasure" by fans in 1998 and also B'z The Best
"ULTRA Treasure" ten years later.
LOVE PHANTOM (1995)
When released in October of 1995, "LOVE PHANTOM" sold nearly 1,000,000 copies in just its
first week on sale. It would go on to sale nearly 2,000,000 and has been, ever since, a staple of
most B'z shows and remains synonymous with B'z music. The stage performance here is a
homage to the famous version performed by B'z eight years earlier during their 1995 Pleasure
tour, "BUZZ!!". That performance is available on the classic B'z video release "BUZZ!!" THE
MOVIE.
This week, we're proud to present "Easy Come, Easy Go!" and "Calling" from the spectacular
video release for 1999's Brotherhood LIVE-GYM. If you've ever wondered what Koshi looked like
playing guitar on stage, look no further!
SONG NOTES
Easy Come, Easy Go! (1990)
One of the earliest hits by the band, "Easy Come, Easy Go!" is a much-beloved B'z classic. The
song is a staple in the B'z catalogue for many reasons—not only was it their second #1 single,
but it was also a significant departure from their earlier, dance-oriented work. Tak admitted
concerns as to whether the single would sell and live up to expectations due to the change in
sound, but fortunately, as has always been the case, B'z came out on top. Since its release, the
song has been played during fourteen LIVE-GYMs, easily ranking it in the top ten of the band's
most frequently performed songs. In addition, when played live, Koshi typically tends to take to
the fairly rare feat of playing rhythm guitar on stage.
Calling (1997)
Released just a year prior to the B'z 10th anniversary, "Calling" quickly became one of the band's
best-selling singles to date with shipment of more than one million copies. The song was
originally arranged as more of a ballad, with the hard rock bookends of the song not being
present. A version more resembling the original can be seen on the Hidden Pleasure 20th
anniversary DVD. In addition, the song took over seven months to complete, making it amongst
the longest B'z have ever worked on a single song.
This time around, we have a very, very special compilation for everyone to enjoy. We have here a
five song video, with performances from several B'z home video releases, and all of which are
songs that served as themes to the Detective Conan anime series. Since almost the beginning
of its run, B'z has been contributing themes to both its television and movie counterparts.
Featured here are all of the songs B'z had in Detective Conan from 1999 to 2006, with some of
the best performances available for each, and all fully subtitled. We hope both B'z and Detective
Conan fans alike will enjoy this release!
SONG NOTES
ONE (1999)
Theme to Detective Conan Movie 3: The Last Wizard of the Century
Shoudou (2006) [衝動, Impulse]
Theme to Detective Conan TV Series
Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu (2006) [ゆるぎないものひとつ, One Sure Thing]
Theme to Detective Conan Movie 10: The Private Eyes' Requiem
Everlasting (2002)
Theme to Detective Conan Movie 6: The Phantom of Baker Street
girigiri chop (1999) [ギリギリchop, on the edge chop]
Theme to Detective Conan TV Series
After last week's special compilation, we're digging in this week with two classics, "BAD
COMMUNICATION" and "ultra soul", along with the very special "Ashita Mata Hi ga Noboru
Nara". You should probably know of both "BAD COMMUNICATION" and "ultra soul" by now,
but if you don't already, you surely won't forget them after this video. "Ashita Mata Hi ga
Noboru Nara" is a song written to commemorate the connection between B'z and their fans
from their many, many live shows over the years and is not a song to be missed.
SONG NOTES
BAD COMMUNICATION (1989)
Although not a single, "BAD COMMUNICATION" is as well-known a B'z song as any. The mini
album that also bore its name included English versions of two earlier B'z tracks and became
one of the band's earliest hits, eventually going on to achieve sales in excess of 1,000,000
copies. The song has been re-recorded a number of times, including a seven-minute English
version from 1990's follow-up mini album WICKED BEAT, a bluesy-rock acoustic version on
1995's studio album LOOSE, a shortened English version included on the band's first best-of
collection B'z The Best "Pleasure" in 1998, and a fully revamped hard rock update included on
the band's 20th anniversary best-of collection B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" entitled "BAD
COMMUNICATION -ULTRA Pleasure Style-". In addition, "BAD COMMUNICATION" has been
performed at nearly every Pleasure LIVE-GYM to date.
ultra soul (2001)
Despite only being released in 2001, 13 years after the band began, "ultra soul" is already the
second most-played song in the B'z catalogue. It has been performed at nearly every LIVE-GYM
since its release and has been included on two best-of collections: B'z The Best "Pleasure II" in
2005 and B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008. Five months after the original single's release,
"ultra soul ~Splash Style~", an acoustic version of the original, was included as a B-side to the
single "GOLD". On the album GREEN in 2002, an "Alternative Guitar Solo ver." was made
available, and thereafter another version was released in 2007 on the B'z North American iTunes
EP. On the band's 2011 album C'mon, "ultra soul 2011"—a hard rock re-recording—was used to
close out the album. Later in the year, B'z premiered an English version of the song during their
joint show with Linkin Park to benefit victims of the recent Japanese earthquake.
Ashita Mata Hi ga Noboru Nara (2006) [明日また陽が昇るなら, If the Sun Should Rise Again Tomorrow]
Available only on the band's 2006 album MONSTER, the song was written as a reflection of Tak
and Koshi's memories of fans from the (at the time) nearly two decades of LIVE-GYMs.
Throughout the entire MONSTER'S GARAGE tour, the song was used to close out the pre-encore
portion of the show.
This week, we've decided to bring you two highlights from the 2010 LIVE-GYM, "Ain't No
Magic". The first song included is "DIVE", along with the rather epic intro that you won't soon
forget. The second and final song is a great rendition of the modern classic "OCEAN". Be sure to
stick around until the end to hear the outro!
SONG NOTES
DIVE (2009)
"DIVE" was originally released in tandem with "Ichibu to Zenbu" as a double A-side single and
has since, along with its sister song, become a popular song for B'z performances. The song is
currently only available on the band's 2009 album MAGIC, from which the tour featured in this
release draws its name.
OCEAN (2005)
The quintessential B'z ballad, "OCEAN" is a true love song that ranks among the best-selling and
most popular of the later B'z singles, having achieved double platinum status and remaining a
constant fixture on the LIVE-GYM circuit since its release. In addition to being a #1 single, the
song has been included on two best-of collections in its original form (B'z The Best "Pleasure II"
and Bz The Best "ULTRA Pleasure") and was used to close out the 2006 album MONSTER with a
remixed version by multi-platinum American mixer and producer Jay Baumgardner.
This week, we're bringing you three performances from the 2002 B'z concert-documentary
release a BEAUTIFUL REEL. This followed B'z on their 2002 LIVE-GYM as they supported their
then-most recent album, GREEN. However, not only do we have for you three performances (all
of which are from the aforementioned album), but we also have included two behind-the-scenes
segments in the midst of it all—both of which are being subtitled into English for the first time.
Enjoy!
SONG NOTES
GO★FIGHT★WIN / Warp / Atsuki Kodou no Hate (2002)
All of the tracks this week are from the band's 2002 album GREEN. "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" was
the sole single for the album (although an alternative version of "ultra soul", released the
previous year, was included on the album). "Atsuki Kodou no Hate" would later be included on
both B'z The Best "Pleasure II" and B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure".
Today, we have a very special release to offer, and that is the finale to one of the absolute most
pivotal B'z concerts in history: B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'95 "BUZZ!!". When it was released on
home video as "BUZZ!!" The Movie, it became a runaway success and became so synonymous
with B'z LIVE-GYMs that a number of the performances featured in it were recreated almost
verbatim for the band's 15th anniversary concert. The two songs we are featuring today are
those that close out the concert, along with a special gem at the end that can only be heard in
this home video release and nowhere else. In addition, this marks the only occasion that a
performance of "ALONE" is on video, and that's likely because it would be hard to top. You get
to see Koshi on piano here, so don't miss it!
Expect another video next week, at around 6:00 PM EST!
SONG NOTES
ALONE (1991)
As a single to the breakout B'z album IN THE LIFE, "ALONE" has been heard by virtually all B'z
fans, and likely many times over. It was the band's second ever ballad single and went on to
become one of the band's million-selling releases. It has been included on three best-of
collections (B'z The Best "Pleasure", The Ballads ~Love & B'z~, and B'z The Best "ULTRA
Pleasure"). It bears noting that the album version found on IN THE LIFE (and also later included
on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~) includes the English portion of the song sung a capella to open
the track.
Hadashi no Megami (1993) [裸足の女神, Barefoot Goddess]
Easily amongst the most beloved B'z songs in history, "Hadashi no Megami" was released as a
non-album single in 1993 and became the fifth highest selling single of the entire year, with
nearly 800,000 copies sold in its very first week on release. The song is most frequently heard
during the band's Pleasure LIVE-GYM concerts, where it can basically always be expected to
make an appearance.
Kienai Niji -English Version- (1995) [消えない虹, Everlasting Rainbow]
The ending music played for the end of the concert is an English rendition of ―Kienai Niji‖ from
the band's 1995 album, LOOSE. This version of the song was never released in an official
capacity and can only be heard here.
We have a special double release on hand for today. First is the primary, expected sort of
release, which is from all the way back in 1993, from the home video release of LIVE RIPPER,
which was made of footage from B'z LIVE-GYM Pleasure'93 "JAP THE RIPPER". The second song
included has only been released on home video in this very performance, and the song itself has
not been played live since. The second is a special for this week, which takes three all-English B'z
songs from their LIVE in Namba show from 2006 and makes them available for your viewing
pleasure! You don't want to miss either of these, they are hype!
SONG NOTES
GIMME YOUR LOVE (1990)
This song, originally released under the full title of "GIMME YOUR LOVE -Fukutsu no LOVE
DRIVER-" [-不屈のLOVE DRIVER-, Persistent LOVE DRIVER] has been a popular B'z song and a
recurring one in various setlists over the years since its release on the band's 1990 album, RISKY.
While the original version was only released on that album, a live version—and the only live
track B'z has ever released on a physical album or single in history—titled "Gimme your love
(Live at Tokyo Dome)" was released as the B-side to ―Calling‖ in 1997.
"Kairaku no Heya" (1991) [『快楽の部屋』, "Pleasure Room" ]
"Kairaku no Heya" was released as an album track on the 1991 breakout B'z album IN THE LIFE.
This performance of the song included in this video is not just the only one released for home
audiences, it also marks the last time in which it was included in a tour setlist.
BLOWIN' (1992)
"BLOWIN'" was released in 1992 as a non-album single and became the highest-selling B'z
single at the time. Ultimately, it would go on to sales of nearly 2 million copies and would
become the second highest-selling single the band has released. Not only has the single itself
gone on to become quite popular, but its B-side, "TIME", became a classic as well. "BLOWIN'"
was voted as the second most requested song to be included on the band's first best-of
collection, B'z The Best "Treasure", while "TIME" came in just behind it in fifth place. For B'z The
Best "ULTRA Treasure", "TIME" placed ahead at the ninth position while "BLOWIN' finished in
eleventh. The original version of the song was collected only on "Treasure", but on "ULTRA
Treasure", a 2008 re-recording titled "BLOWIN' -ULTRA Treasure Style-" was used to open the
collection.
SONG NOTES
Real Thing Shakes (1996)
The only all-English physical B'z single released in Japan, "Real Thing Shakes" marked the first
time that a Japanese artist had released a million-selling all-English single. The single was also
the first and only time that a B'z single has not featured a B-side or anything other than the title
track. In addition, it marked the only time that Tak did not personally produce a B'z song—in
this case, the song was produced by famed Led Zeppelin producer Andy Johns. "Real Thing
Shakes" would go on to be included on B'z The Best "Treasure" in 1998 by fan demand.
Brighter Day (2005)
The closer to the band's 2005 album THE CIRCLE, "Brighter Day" is another of the original
English B'z songs in that it wasn't remade from any previously-released Japanese track.
Home [English Version] (2007)
The version of "Home" here is an English rendition of the 1998 Japanese single "HOME". This
version was originally made available on the North American B'z iTunes EP (which is no longer
available as of this writing). It would later be voted onto B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" by fans in
2008.
At first, we weren't sure if we'd be able to get this release out in time today, but here it is: a
SURVIVE special! All of the songs performed for today are from the band's 1997 album SURVIVE
and it's all hard rock. If you've been waiting for a hard rock week, this is it! We have some
especially hype videos planned for the upcoming weeks, so keep up!
SONG NOTES
FIREBALL / DEEP KISS / Dattara Agechaeyo [だったらあげちゃえよ, Then, Why Not Just Give It Away?] (1997)
The three songs this week are from the 1997 B'z album SURVIVE. The album, much like the
songs here, featured a high concentration of hard rock songs and contained a number of songs
that have gone on to become popular in the B'z discography, including "Swimmer yo!!" and
"Happiness", which were both voted onto the 20th anniversary fan-selected compilation B'z The
Best "ULTRA Treasure" in 2008. Fellow album song "Naite Naite Nakiyandara" would go on to be
included on The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ four years after its original release in 2002. The two classic
B'z singles "Liar! Liar!" and "Calling" were also first collected in album form on SURVIVE.
It's been since Weekly #6 since we revisited MONSTER'S GARAGE, so let's see how things are
going there now, shall we? This week, we have three especially hype performances in the opener
of "ALL-OUT ATTACK", followed by the choreographed "MVP", and culminating in an epic
performance of the standout B'z single "SPLASH!".
SONG NOTES
ALL-OUT ATTACK / MVP / SPLASH! (2006)
All songs this week are from the era of the band's 2006 album, MONSTER. "ALL-OUT ATTACK"
was used not just as the opener to this concert but was also the opener to the aforementioned
album. "MVP" was the B-side to the single for "SPLASH!", which was released in four different
editions: a normal CD version and three separate CD+DVD releases. Each of the DVDs contained
a different performance from the previous year's LIVE-GYM titled CIRCLE OF ROCK (which has
never been released in full UPDATE: Released on DVD in February 2013!). The three
performances included on the separate DVDs were ones of "Ai no Bakudan", "Fever", and
"Pulse". An English version of "SPLASH!" was premiered during the 2011 North American tour
B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -long time no see- but has not yet been released officially as of this writing.
The song was, however, also performed during B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-, which is scheduled
for release on DVD & Blu-ray with the performance included on May 30th, 2012.
Today, we have a very, very special video to offer, one that has never been subtitled in English
before and may well never have been if not for this release. This video is from the 20th
anniversary concert B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2008 –GLORY DAYS- held on September 21st, 2008,
exactly twenty years to the day that B'z debuted on the music scene. This is the full retrospective
segment of the show in which Tak and Koshi candidly explore the band's beginnings and
perform a number of special songs while reminiscing about the past. This is not to be missed!
With B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- hitting shelves on both DVD and Blu-ray on this day next
week, what better way to prepare than to return to the previous LIVE-GYM released on home
video? That's right—we're back with more from B'z LIVE-GYM 2010 "Ain't No Magic" at Tokyo
Dome. This time, we have singles "MY LONELY TOWN" and "Ichibu to Zenbu" from the tour's
titular album with an electrifying performance of "MOVE" in its only home video appearance!
SONG NOTES
MY LONELY TOWN (2009)
The 43rd consecutive #1 single, "MY LONELY TOWN" has been performed on a number of
occasions, including during the 2011 United States & Canada tour. Hashima Island, a deserted
mining island in Nagasaki Prefecture that had only been recently reopened to visitors after
being closed off for thirty-five years, was used as the filming location of the music video and can
also be seen on the stage screen in this performance.
MOVE (1996)
"MOVE" was released alongside "Mienai Chikara ~INVISIBLE ONE~" as the band's first double Aside single in 1996. In addition, it went on to become one of the band's million-selling singles
shortly after its release. "MOVE" would later go on to be collected on B'z The "Mixture" in 2000
in its original form.
Ichibu to Zenbu (2009) [イチブトゼンブ, A Part & All]
"Ichibu to Zenbu" was originally released in tandem with "DIVE" as a double A-side single and
has since, along with its sister song, become a popular song for B'z performances. The song also
served as the theme to the Japanese television drama "Buzzer Beat". When the next single, "MY
LONELY TOWN", was released, a ballad version was included as a B-side—a version previously
heard during select scenes in the aforementioned drama.
The release of "OH! GIRL" and "LOVE PHANTOM" went down very well many weeks ago, so let's
return to the 15th anniversary concert again and see how this one goes, shall we? This time, we
have one of the absolute top performances of "Taiyou no Komachi Angel" in history, along with
hype-inducing "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" and the classic and highest-selling B'z single from 1993: "Ai
no Mama ni Wagamama ni Boku wa Kimi Dake wo Kizutsukenai".
Don't forget that B'z LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon- was released on Blu-ray and DVD today! Many
instant-classic performances are included, so don’t miss it!
SONG NOTES
Taiyou no Komachi Angel (1990) [太陽のKomachi Angel, Town Angel from the Sun]
The fifth single by B'z released just two years after they began, "Taiyou no Komachi Angel"
became their first #1 single and also began a record that still stands today, with every B'z single
that has followed also having gone to #1 immediately as well. As of the release of the 50th
single "GO FOR IT, BABY -Kioku no Sanmyaku-", the record is currently at 45 consecutive #1
singles—a record untouched by any other recording artist in the history of Japanese music.
IT'S SHOWTIME!! (2003)
One of the singles released in the band's 15th anniversary year, "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" has been
played at a number of venues ever since. Apart from proving to be a popular song for the band,
it is also noteworthy for having been released on the same day as re-issues of many of the older
singles in the B'z catalogue. While "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" would be #1 on the chart, in that week of
release, there were a record total of -nine- B'z singles occupying the top 10 on the charts. This
made B'z the only artists in Japanese history to ever occupy so much of the top 10 charts in a
single week.
Ai no Mama ni Wagamama ni Boku wa Kimi Dake wo Kizutsukenai (1992) [愛のままにわがまま
に 僕は君だけを傷つけない, Even Though Love is Selfish, You're the Only One I Won't Hurt]
In addition to being one of the band's many #1 singles, "Ai no Mama ni Wagamama ni Boku wa
Kimi Dake wo Kizutsukenai" also became one of the most beloved and well-known songs by the
band, as demonstrated by it being the highest-selling single they have released with sales in
excess of 2,000,000 copies. The song was released as a non-album single in 1993 and would not
be collected on an album of any sort until its inclusion on B'z The Best "Pleasure" in 1998.
Today, we're coming with three classic B'z tracks being performed from their 1999 concert. The
album opener for Brotherhood, "F･E･A･R", opens this selection, followed by fellow album track
"Gin no Tsubasa de Tobe". Beyond those two, we have a top performance of the single
"Samayoeru Aoi Dangan", which was also recently performed on the recently released 2011
LIVE-GYM, C'mon.
SONG NOTES
F･E･A･R (1999)
Though originally only the opener to Brotherhood, it was also voted onto B'z The Best "ULTRA
Treasure" in 2008 where it was included in remixed form. The song has been performed not just
here but also in 2007 during one of the B'z SHOWCASE events of that year and was later
included on its subsequent video release.
Gin no Tsubasa de Tobe (1999) [銀の翼で翔べ, Fly on the Silver Wing]
"Gin no Tsubasa de Tobe" can only be found in album form on its original studio album,
Brotherhood. However, along with the previous song, "F･E･A･R", has been performed not just
here but also in 2007 during a B'z SHOWCASE event and its subsequent video release.
Samayoeru Aoi Dangan (1998) [さまよえる蒼い弾丸, Wandering Blue Bullet]
The song was first released as a non-album single during the band's 10th anniversary year in
1998. It was later included on B'z The Best "Pleasure" as the final track, and is one of the few
songs to be included on both B'z The Best "Pleasure" as well as the 20th anniversary collection
B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure". In addition to the original Japanese version, there also exists a rearranged rock version once available on the U.S. iTunes as part of a B'z EP. Later, in 2012, an
English version of the song was made available worldwide on iTunes under the title of "Into Free
-Dangan-". This version of the song served as the global theme to video game Dragon's Dogma.
With Tak set to release his first solo compilation album next week in Japan and the news that it
will be receiving an August release in the United States, we decided to give everyone a release
that showcases a little of his electrifying guitar skills. First up, we have what many consider to be
the definitive performance of B'z classic "TIME", followed by Tak performing his solo hit "#1090
~Thousand Dreams~" at that same show, before wrapping things up with an encore of Weekly
#3 favorite "OH! GIRL".
SONG NOTES
TIME (1992)
Originally released as the B-side to "BLOWIN'" in 1992, "TIME" has become not just one of the
most beloved B'z B-sides, but one of their most beloved of any sort. When fans voted for songs
to be included on B'z The Best "Treasure" in 1998, "TIME" finished in 5th place and was included.
When it came time for the 20th anniversary collection in 2008, "TIME" was once again in the top
10, being voted to 9th place and was once more included.
#1090 ~Thousand Dreams~ (1992)
The second solo single from Tak, "#1090 ~Thousand Dreams~" has become one of his most
well-known solo compositions. In addition to being a number-two charting single for Tak, the
song has served as the theme song to the popular Japanese music show "Music Station" for
over twenty years. Originally first collected on his second solo album "Wanna Go Home" in 1992,
the song has served as the basis for a number of reinterpretations over the years, including a
contemporary instrumental version released in 2002 on his most successful solo album, Hana, in
the form of "#1090 [Sen Yume Ichiya]" (which translates to "Thousand Dreams"). Later, the song
would receive an orchestra update on Tak's orchestra album House Of Strings in 2004. The
version featured on Hana would later serve as the opening to Tak's 2012 solo compilation
Strings Of My Soul.
OH! GIRL (1989)
After its inclusion on the band's sophomore album "OFF THE LOCK" in 1989, "OH! GIRL" very
quickly became a favorite amongst fans. "OH! GIRL -Mixture style-", a re-recorded and
modernized version of the song, can be found on B'z The Mixture released in 2000. In addition,
the song was nearly voted onto B'z The Best "Treasure" by fans in 1998 and also B'z The Best
"ULTRA Treasure" ten years later.
GLORY DAYS, the 20th anniversary concert held 20 years to the day B'z premiered on the
Japanese music scene, is often considered the very best of all the live work B'z has released, and
for good reason. The band recounted two decades worth of classic songs over the course of a
three hour show with numerous gems thrown in along the way to satisfy the most devoted of
fans and pique the interest of those that have only started discovering what all the band's
history has to offer.
Today's release returns to the special anniversary show one more time to showcase one of the
top moments from the show: the finale, where B'z played two fan-favorites in the form of "RUN"
and the latest rendition of "Pleasure ~Jinsei no Kairaku~". If you are a B'z fan that has not seen
the end of the concert before or especially has not seen it subtitled, you cannot miss this
moment!
SONG NOTES
RUN (1992)
For nearly two decades, "RUN" has routinely been used as the finale to B'z concerts. A song that
encourages living life to the fullest, it has resonated deeply with the fans it was written for since
it was released on the album that shared its name. No doubt one of the most popular B'z songs,
it was voted onto the band's 1998 compilation album B'z The Best "Treasure" where the band
included a modern, re-recorded update titled "RUN -1998 style-". In 2008, fans once again voted
for it to be included in that year's fan-selected compilation, B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", where
the original version was collected for the first time.
Pleasure 2008 ~Jinsei no Kairaku~ [人生の快楽, The Pleasure of Life]
"Pleasure" has become the theme of the Pleasure LIVE-GYM concerts and is something of a
unique entity in the B'z catalogue in that its lyrics have evolved and changed over time with new
iterations. Primarily, the first line of the song and the lines immediately following the first chorus
differ in the new versions, along with some altered backing vocals later in the song. This
ongoing story is captured in the song's many renditions, of which only three have been released
on CD (1991, 1998, and 2008) while all but one of the rest are available on home video. In
addition, a version of "Pleasure" has been played at every Pleasure LIVE-GYM to date apart from
the 1993 and 1997 editions.
With our 19th consecutive week of B'z hype, we've decided to bring you an eclectic mix of some
of the rarer and less-performed B'z songs. This selection begins with a performance of the BIG
MACHINE opener "Arakure", featuring... motorcycles!? Following that is The 7th Blues-era ballad
"MOTEL", and then a performance of "Liar! Liar!" from the band's 1998 tour in support of album
SURVIVE. We've had 19 straight weeks of hype so far, and we intend to continue it next week
and far beyond. Look forward to it!
SONG NOTES
Arakure (2003) [アラクレ, Panic]
Performance seen here from B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 "BIG MACHINE" on December 27th, 2003, at
Tokyo Dome. Song originally found on album BIG MACHINE released in 2003 and was later also
included on the second disc of B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" in 2008. The song has been
performed at a number of other shows as well, including B'z LIVE-GYM The Final Pleasure "IT'S
SHOWTIME!!" as the show opener and B'z SHOWCASE 2007 -19-.
MOTEL (1994)
Performance seen here from B'z LIVE-GYM '94 "The 9th Blues -Part 2-" on December 11th, 1994
at National Yoyogi Stadium (First Gymnasium). Originally released as a single in 1994, the song
was eventually collected on the fan-selected best-of compilation B'z The Best Treasure in 1998
and was later included on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" again in 2008. Though performed often
in its earlier days, the song has not been performed since 2003 as of this writing. It was notably
included in the setlist of B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 ‖BANZAI IN NORTH AMERICA‖.
Liar! Liar! (1997)
Performance seen here from B'z LIVE-GYM '98 "SURVIVE" on June 6th, 1998, at Osaka Castle
Hall. Originally released as a single in 1997, "Liar! Liar!" was soon collected on the band's next
studio album, SURVIVE. It was later collected the next year on B'z The Best "Treasure" by fan
demand and has been performed a number of times since, including most recently during B'z
LIVE-GYM 2011 -C'mon-.
This week, we're returning once more to the 2006 LIVE-GYM MONSTER'S GARAGE in order to
showcase three more songs stemming from the band's 2006 album, MONSTER. All of the songs
this time around are rock tunes and are all hype. We're currently planning some special releases
for the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned!
SONG NOTES
Pierrot [ピエロ] / Netemo Sametemo [ネテモサメテモ, Whether I'm Awake or Asleep] / MONSTER (2006)
All songs this week are from the era of the band's 2006 album, MONSTER. "Pierrot" was included
on the aforementioned album as well as being the B-side to the band's second single of the
year, "Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu", which served as the theme to the tenth Detective Conan movie,
The Private Eyes' Requiem. On the same day as the single's release, "Pierrot" itself served as the
title song from then-fellow GIZA artist Aya Kamiki's own single, who was an avid fan of the band,
when B'z allowed the lyrics and music to the song to be used on her release. Both "Netemo
Sametemo" and "MONSTER" are tracks found only on the album itself.
This week, we have for you the biggest weekly release to date: a compilation of all released
footage from the 2005 LIVE-GYM, CIRCLE OF ROCK! The show has never been released in full,
but various performances from it have reached fans by way of various means over the years.
Today, we've assembled all seven songs that have been released from it—some you've heard in
past releases, some brand new to this series—for your viewing pleasure, with all of them of
course subtitled fully in English.
For CIRCLE OF ROCK, B'z played on a specially-designed circular stage positioned in the middle
of the crowd that allowed for new dynamics in their performances for the tour. This release is
our longest one yet, clocking in at over 36 minutes! Enjoy this one for now, but know that we're
working on more special releases for the weeks ahead!
UPDATE: In February 2013, B’z LIVE-GYM 2005 –CIRCLE OF ROCK- was finally released in
full on DVD!
It's hard to believe, but this is now the 22nd week of B'z hype in a row! Earlier this week, B'z
announced that they will be releasing their brand new debut English album on July 25th, and
are doing so worldwide, in sixty-three countries! Included on the album are English versions of
"Ai no Bakudan" (known as "Love Bomb" in the English release), "Splash", "Juice", "Ultra Soul", as
well as the previously-released "Into Free -Dangan-". The album will be available on iTunes on
this day next week, so don't forget!
To commemorate the occasion, we've decided to do four songs for this week, including the
band's first worldwide English song from 2007, "FRICTION", which was featured in the releases
of some of the Burnout video games, including Burnout Paradise. In addition, we've included the
much beloved "SUPER LOVE SONG", the Brotherhood-era "Nagai Ai", and the under-appreciated
gem, "Odekake Shimasho".
SONG NOTES
SUPER LOVE SONG (2007)
The first of two singles features on the band's 2007 album ACTION, "SUPER LOVE SONG" was
yet another #1 release for the band. In an unusual move from the band, the song was actually
debuted live on this very SHOWCASE tour before being announced elsewhere. When the song
was later released, the single also had a CD+DVD edition that included video of this
performance (which was later released in full along with the rest of the show). It was also later
collected on B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008.
FRICTION (2007)
Originally included in the video game Burnout Dominator in 2007, "FRICTION" is an all-English
song that was included as a B-side on the single for "SUPER LOVE SONG" months later. The
song was also retained for another game in the franchise titled Burnout Paradise that was
released in 2008. The song has been performed numerous times since its release, including
during the band's 2011 return to the U.S., where it was played early in the setlist.
Nagai Ai (1999) [ながい愛, Love Me Longer]
From one of the band's seminal studio albums, 1999's Brotherhood, "Nagai Ai" remained in fan
consciousness long enough to be voted onto the band's 2008 fan-selected best-of compilation
B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure". The song was performed during this SHOWCASE tour in 2007 as
well as during the Brotherhood tour in 1999.
Odekake Shimasho (1994) [おでかけしましょ, Let's Get Out of Here]
Among the gems found on the only B'z double album, 1994's The 7th Blues, "Odekake
Shimasho" was the second song on the album and is often remembered as one of its best.
Before being performed during this SHOWCASE tour in 2007, the song had not been played
since the second part of the 1994 B'z tour "The 9th Blues".
This week, we've decided to bring out not one but two separate Weekly B'z releases! This release
from LIVE RIPPER is the first of those two and is available to you right here, right now, on
Tuesday. The second release will be available at the usual time tomorrow, and by the time you
see that video released, the debut English album from B'z will be available worldwide on
iTunes! The release tomorrow is going to be one of the hypest yet, and one of the songs
featured in it had never been translated into English prior to the release!
SONG NOTES
JAP THE RIPPER (1994)
At the time of this performance, "JAP THE RIPPER" had not yet been released and was debuted
on this tour as the opening number. This is one of only a handful of songs that B'z has debuted
live. It would later go on to be included on the second disc of the only B'z double album, The
7th Blues, the next year in 1994.
Gekkou (1992) [月光, Moonlight]
Koshi had difficulty while penning the song, and was inspired to name it "Moonlight" after
hearing the guitar solo Tak had written for it. Every performance of the song has been done in
acoustic form. It had not been played live for ten years prior to being included in the setlist to
the fifteenth anniversary concert, where its inclusion resulted in much surprise and delight of
fans in attendance. The song has remained popular over the years, being voted highly for B'z
The Best "Treasure" and being voted high enough to be included on B'z The Best "ULTRA
Treasure", fifteen years after its original release, as well as being included on The Ballads ~Love
& B'z~. Koshi's father is known to consider it one of his favorite B'z songs.
Sayonara Nanka wa Iwasenai (1992) [さよならなんかは言わせない, Don't Say the Word Goodbye]
Koshi has said the backdrop to the song is that of school graduation. A popular B'z song, it was
used to close out the album's titular tour as well as the 1993 Pleasure shows, the latter of which
was released on home video as LIVE RIPPER, from which the performances in this upload are
sourced. It ranked in the top 20 in the voting for B'z The Best "Treasure", and ranked as #8
overall for B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", leading to its inclusion. The song was also played on
the tours for ELEVEN in 2001 and ACTION in 2008.
As promised, here is the second release for this week, out now on Wednesday! This time, we're
heading back to 2010 and the Ain't No Magic tour for a very special performance that was the
debut of the "flying stage" that became a much-discussed feature of the tour. First up, we have
"Mayday!", which prior to this release, had never been translated into English before, so please
enjoy beholding it for the first time in this new way! In addition, we have a performance of B'z
classic "love me, I love you", and a performance of favorite "ultra soul" in its most unique setting
yet!
If you're reading this, that means you can now purchase the DEBUT ENGLISH ALBUM from
B'z, WORLDWIDE, from iTunes! The album is only $3.45 in U.S. dollars and the pricing is
similar all over the world, so please support the band if you've enjoyed these videos!
SONG NOTES
Mayday! (2009)
"Mayday!" is so far only available as an album song on the band's 2009 album, MAGIC. It was
subsequently performed at every stop on the "Ain't No Magic" tour that supported the album.
love me, I love you (1995)
An enduring and popular single from B'z, "love me, I love you" has remained a popular song
with fans since its release on LOOSE in 1995. It was also collected on both B'z The Best "Pleasure"
in 1998 and B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008, as well as having been performed numerous
times since its original release, including during ever setlist for the 2011 North American tour.
ultra soul (2001)
Despite only being released in 2001, 13 years after the band began, "ultra soul" is already the
second most-played song in the B'z catalogue. It has been performed at nearly every LIVE-GYM
since its release and has been included on two best-of collections: B'z The Best "Pleasure II" in
2005 and B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" in 2008. Five months after the original single's release,
"ultra soul ~Splash Style~", an acoustic version of the original, was included as a B-side to the
single "GOLD". On the album GREEN in 2002, an "Alternative Guitar Solo ver." was made
available, and thereafter another version was released in 2007 on the B'z North American iTunes
EP. On the band's 2011 album C'mon, "ultra soul 2011"—a hard rock re-recording—was used to
close out the album. Later in the year, B'z premiered an English version of the song during their
joint show with Linkin Park to benefit victims of the recent Japanese earthquake. Months later, in
2012, B'z released the all-English version of the song, titled "Ultra Soul", on their debut English
album available worldwide on iTunes.
We began this weekly project back in winter, and now we're getting close to fall already,
somehow. Speaking of when this project began, the very first release was one of "juice" and "Ai
no Bakudan" from GLORY DAYS. Today, we're going back there for something a little different.
This time around, we have three fan-favorites that contains a B-side, a mini-album song, and an
album song. Every B'z fan is bound to know and love "Koi-Gokoro", but it may have been a while
since they've heard "Kodoku no Runaway" and "NATIVE DANCE", so let's revisit them this week
as we head back to the 20th anniversary concert!
SONG NOTES
Koi-Gokoro (1992) [恋心, My Heart in Love]
Since its release, "Koi-Gokoro" has remained one of the absolute most beloved fan favorites in
the entire B'z catalogue. In 1998, six years after its initial release, it was voted overwhelmingly by
fans to the top spot on B'z The Best "Treasure", a fan-selected best-of collection that followed
their more single-centric collection, B'z The Best "Pleasure". Ten years later, in 2008, the song
was still voted highly by fans, for B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", where it ranked second, trailing
only "Brotherhood".
Kodoku no Runaway (1991) [孤独のRunaway, Lonely Runaway]
The lead song from the band's 1992 mini album "MARS", "Kodoku no Runaway" was released on
the album that also included early English renditions of earlier songs by the band. In 2000, B'z
released a unique compilation entitled B'z "The Mixture", which involved the band re-recording
and remixing a number of their older, more obscure songs. Of the songs completely re-recorded
was "Kodoku no Runaway -Mixture style-", which featured a hard rock update to the original
song.
NATIVE DANCE (1992)
— Released only on the band's 1992 album RUN, the styling of the song is reminiscent of Native
American folk music. The song, when performed live, has special choreography associated with
it that Koshi and the audience participate in together, as seen in this video. In 1998, the song
placed highly in the voting for B'z The Best "Treasure", ultimately ranking in at #23.
With the first twenty-five of these weekly releases behind us, we can finally take a proper look
back at the past half-year and see what has gotten us to this point! This week's release is a very
special 90-minute compilation of some of the best performances we've subtitled so far, along
with brand-new performances that serve to open and close out this custom LIVE-GYM. These
exclusive performances have not been seen in previous weekly releases and will only ever be
found in this special compilation, so don't miss them!
The songs included between are all ones that have generated positive responses from viewers as
we've gone along. It has been the intention for ages to release such a compilation, so bringing it
to you today is something done with great pleasure. Stay with us as we continue exploring the
B'z catalogue and bringing you more and more from the world's top rock band!
Whether you've seen every release so far, just a few, or none at all, this compilation is bound to
be a great watch! Newcomers and veterans alike, please enjoy this special LIVE-GYM!
With our first entry in the second phase of the weekly B'z releases, we're returning to the 15th
anniversary concert for some very special performances. This time around, we have fan-favorite
"Wonderful Opportunity" in its only appearance on home video, a performance of the 15th
anniversary song "Yasei no ENERGY", and what may well be the definitive performance of
"GIMME YOUR LOVE" to date! There are plenty of exciting projects coming up in the future, so
stay tuned!
SONG NOTES
Wonderful Opportunity (1991)
The album opener to IN THE LIFE, the second highest-selling B'z album of all time, "Wonderful
Opportunity" and its positive message has resonated for a long time with fans. It ranked at #20
in the initial voting for the 1998 fan-selected best-of album B'z The Best "Treasure", but when it
came time for the 2008 album B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" for the 20th anniversary, the song
had jumped all the way to #4 in the voting and was included on the album. As of this writing,
this is the only performance of the song released to the masses on home video.
Yasei no ENERGY (2003) [野性のENERGY, Wild ENERGY]
Released in the year of the band's 15th anniversary, "Yasei no ENERGY" is a song of special
qualities. The notable music video, which showcases a fictionalized version of the road to
forming the band, is commonly considered among the best they have produced. The song
quickly became a #1 single upon its release in 2003 and was found on the album BIG MACHINE
in the same year, as well as being collected on B'z The Best "Pleasure II" two years later in 2005.
The performance seen here marks the last time the song was ever played live.
GIMME YOUR LOVE (1990)
This song, originally released under the full title of "GIMME YOUR LOVE -Fukutsu no LOVE
DRIVER-" [-不屈のLOVE DRIVER-, Persistent LOVE DRIVER] has been a popular B'z song and a
recurring one in various setlists over the years since its release on the band's 1990 album, RISKY.
While the original version was only released on that album, a live version—and the only live
track B'z has ever released on a physical album or single in history—titled "Gimme your love
(Live at Tokyo Dome)" was released as the B-side to ―Calling‖ in 1997.
For this week, we've decided to finally include the much-beloved B'z movie that opened the
1996 tour, "Spirit LOOSE". This 24-minute compilation that begins with said short film is
complete with all other released footage from the 1996 tour, including one of the band's most
well-known English songs. Still more surprises on the way, but for now, please enjoy B'z: The
Movie!
Whoa! We haven't revisited the GREEN concert since... Week 8 back in April! This time around,
we have a few special treats included. Foremost, "New Message" is played over an introduction
montage prior to the first performance. This is the only time the song has ever been included on
video in any form, so do enjoy it! For the actual performances this week, we have three great
ones from the GREEN album interspliced with some nice backstage footage.
SONG NOTES
STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~ (2002) [~未熟な旅はとまらない~, ~Can't Stop This Juvenile Journey]
SURFIN' 3000GTR (2002)
Blue Sunshine (2002)
All of the songs performed this week are from the band's 2002 album GREEN. The songs
included in this video can only be heard on the album itself and have not been collected
elsewhere.
♪ New Message (2003)
Though utilized in the introduction here, "New Message" would not officially be released in
studio form until the following year, as the single to "IT'S SHOWTIME!!". It proved so popular
with fans that it was voted onto B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure" five years later.
The most popular video of the Weekly B'z saga comes from the Brotherhood LIVE-GYM, and it
was released as Weekly #4 back in March with the quintessential performance of ―Easy Come,
Easy Go!‖ to start things off and a perfect rendition of ―Calling‖ to close it out. For this week,
we're going to revisit that night in 1999 for three performances of three songs from the era,
starting off with 1998's hit single "HOME". From there, we have "SKIN" and "SHINE" from the
Brotherhood album itself, and then things finish off with a special encore. This encore comes in
the form of a performance from LIVE-GYM '99 Brotherhood -Extra-, which saw B'z touring as a
means of extending the Brotherhood tour to as many fans as possible. The song in question is
"JAP THE RIPPER", and it is no doubt one of the rawest rock and roll performances B'z has ever
released. Definitely check it out, you won't regret it!
SONG NOTES
HOME (1998)
As one of the many #1 singles, "HOME" has remained a mainstay B'z song in the fan
consciousness since its release in 1998. Not only was it well-known enough to warrant inclusion
on three different compilations (The Ballads ~Love & B'z~ in 2002, B'z The Best Pleasure II in
2005, and B'z The Best ULTRA Pleasure in 2008), it also served as the basis for an English version
that has enjoyed considerable praise and was voted onto B'z The Best ULTRA Treasure in 2008. A
secret acoustic version can be heard for those that listen to B'z The Best Treasure to the end of
the album, where it plays after the silence following "RUN -1998 style-".
SKIN (1999)
Though a well-received and remembered song, "SKIN" is only available on the band's 1999
album from which this LIVE-GYM draws its name, Brotherhood. An additional performance of the
song from the Brotherhood SHOWCASE show at Zepp Tokyo is available on the Hidden Pleasure
compilation released in 2008.
SHINE (1999)
The closing song from Brotherhood, "SHINE" can only be found on its original album and has not
yet been collected elsewhere.
JAP THE RIPPER (1994)
At the time of its original performance, "JAP THE RIPPER" had not yet been released and was
debuted on the tour as the opening number. This is one of only a handful of songs that B'z has
debuted live. It would later go on to be included on the second disc of the only B'z double
album, The 7th Blues, the next year in 1994.
After a few weeks on hiatus, we are back to continue offering the best possible weekly releases
of B'z hype that we possibly can! This one comes just in time for the worldwide webstream
coming tomorrow of the North American tour finale from Los Angeles, and we wanted to be
sure to get it out there beforehand! What we are offering this week is the single most-played
song in the B'z catalogue in "ZERO" as well as perennial fan-favorite "Brotherhood". Once you
see these two live, you'll see why "ZERO" is the most-performed and "Brotherhood" is one that
resonates with fans as much as any other.
SONG NOTES
ZERO (1992)
Going all the way back to its release as a single in 1992, "ZERO" has become a mainstay in B'z
setlists if any song ever has. It's been performed at more LIVE-GYMs than any other song as of
this writing and is a classic in every sense of the word. The song was included on RUN in 1992,
as well as being collected on both B'z The Best "Pleasure" in 1998 and B'z The Best "ULTRA
Pleasure" in 2008.
Brotherhood (1999)
When this song about perseverance and unity was released on the album of the same name in
1999, it quickly became a popular anthem amongst the B'z faithful. So popular has it become
that on the band's fan-selected 20th anniversary best-of album, B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure", it
ranked as #1 from the first day of voting all the way to the day polls closed. In addition, during
the 2011 North American tour, B'z premiered an English version of the song with lyrics inspired
by the earthquake disaster in their home country from only a few months earlier.
This week, we're going with three songs from one of the hypest LIVE-GYMs to date: 2010's Ain't
No Magic! The oft-requested "LOVE IS DEAD" is joined by an encore of "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" from
all the way back in Week 15, and with the final song of the docket being the closer for MAGIC,
"Freedom Train". We have three excellent performances here, so do not miss them!
SONG NOTES
LOVE IS DEAD (1994)
The opener to the seminal B'z double album The 7th Blues, "LOVE IS DEAD" quickly ensured
listeners they were in for quite a diverse ride. As the album title implies, the result was an
experiment that blended blues, jazz, and rock and roll all into one package, and it's all on
showcase in this very song. The song would later be collected on B'z The Best "ULTRA Treasure"
as per fan demand in 2008.
IT'S SHOWTIME!! (2003)
One of the singles released in the band's 15th anniversary year, "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" has been
played at a number of venues ever since. Apart from proving to be a popular song for the band,
it is also noteworthy for having been released on the same day as re-issues of many of the older
singles in the B'z catalogue. While "IT'S SHOWTIME!!" would be #1 on the chart, in that week of
release, there were a record total of -nine- B'z singles occupying the top 10 on the charts. This
made B'z the only artists in Japanese history to ever occupy so much of the top 10 charts in a
single week.
Freedom Train (2008)
The closing song to the band's 2008 album from which this tour draws its name, "MAGIC",
"Freedom Train" is a return to the jazz-influenced period of the band evidenced on The 7th Blues
but also mixes in their hard rock flavor of later years.
Today, we're going back to the Brotherhood LIVE-GYM for two more gems! Conan fans are of
course already familiar with these two, so give them a try in live form if you haven't already!
What we have here are "girigiri chop" as the show opener and what many consider as the
definitive performance of "ONE". And, since it's B'z, there's of course rain involved.
SONG NOTES
girigiri chop (1999) [ギリギリchop, on the edge chop]
The band's first single following their 10th anniversary, "girigiri chop" ranks among the highest
B'z songs in terms of energy. A special rendition was included on the 1999 album Brotherhood
entitled "girigiri chop (Version 51)" that included Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Pat
Torpey. The song has been found on several B'z releases to date, including B'z The Best "Pleasure
II" in 2005 and B'z The Best "ULTRA Pleasure" 2008.
ONE (1999)
A ballad that served as the B-side to "girigiri chop", the only single from Brotherhood, "ONE"
quickly became one of the band's most fondly remembered love songs. The song reached a
more diverse audience than it otherwise might have when it served as the theme to 1999's
annual Detective Conan anime movie, The Last Wizard of the Century. It would be on a The Best
of Detective Conan compilation album in 2000 that ―ONE‖ would first be found on an album
prior to being collected on 2002's romance compilation The Ballads ~Love & B'z~. In 2008, the
song was voted by fans onto the fan-selected 20th anniversary compilation B'z The Best "ULTRA
Treasure" where it ranked as the third most popular song.
This week is a very special week that we've been anticipating from the beginning. What we have
here is FILM RISKY—the full 30-minute travel film, subtitled in English for the very first time! Join
the band as they visit the USA and England in 1990 to film a series of music videos to promote
their then-latest album, RISKY. Released only on VHS and LaserDisc, this rarity is long out of
print but is now here for all to enjoy, and in English!
This release required some technical work and splicing between different sources, as it has never
been re-released on DVD (unlike the other prominent B'z releases). This was the very first home
video release that B'z made and contains videos of songs that have never otherwise been
released in any form for home consumption. Take it all in while you can! It's a gem that all fans
should experience at least once!
On July 30, 2013, Weekly B’z returned from a life-induced hiatus for one last release and its
biggest one to date: a truly massive two-and-a-half hour special compiling footage from the
four latest home video concert releases (C’mon, ACTION, CIRCLE OF ROCK, and ELEVEN).
Additional Information
Although this collection marks the end of Weekly B’z, the journey
does not end here! The band will no doubt continue for years and
years to come and we’ll be there to support the hype.
If you like the videos you have seen here, consider purchasing
some of the band’s many great home videos in full from a litany
of online marketplaces, such as CDJapan, YesAsia (free shipping!),
and eBay, where there is always a trove of B’z items waiting to be
snatched up.
All of the latest B’z news and information can be found at the top
English fansite, OFFTHELOCK.com. The site also hosts a
dedicated B’z Wiki that aims to feature detailed write-ups on
every B’z album, single, tour, and more. Additionally, a full archive
of the band’s lyrics and their translations are also available from
the site right here.
Thank you for supporting the band and our efforts! We’ll continue
to do our best to bring you everything we can, in English, related
to the world’s greatest rock band.