Usseewa

"Usseewa"
Single by Ado
from the album Kyōgen
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedOctober 23, 2020
GenreJ-pop
Length3:24
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Syudou
Producer(s)Syudou
Ado singles chronology
"Usseewa"
(2020) 		"Readymade"
(2020)
Music video
"Usseewa" on YouTube

"Usseewa" (うっせぇわ) is a song by Japanese singer Ado, released as her debut single on October 23, 2020. It was released as a digital single through Virgin Music.

The song's lyrics criticize society's so called "common sense", with Ado speaking on behalf of members of society about their dissatisfaction and anger with society.[1][2] The song is sung in a powerful way with acrimonious words; the title and catchphrase of the song, "Usseewa", short for うるさいわ (urusaiwa), means "Shut up".[1][3] The song became popular among the younger generations in Japan,[4] and has even been called "2021 youth anthem".[3]

Release

The original track was uploaded to YouTube on October 23, 2020, with an accompanying music video produced by Wooma.[5] On December 2, 2020, a piano version of the song was released to commemorate the YouTube video of "Usseewa" surpassing 10 million views.[6] On February 5, 2021, a remix of the song by Giga was released called "Usseewa (Giga Remix)".[7]

Composition and lyrics

"Usseewa" is Ado's first original song. The music was produced by Vocaloid producer Syudou [ja], of whom Ado is a fan.[8]

The term "Usseewa", roughly equivalent to "Shut up" in English, has been the topic of much debate. In particular, many parents in Japan have been worried about the effects of the song's lyrical content on young children. This subject was brought up on Fuji TV's High Noon TV Viking! MORE, as many children had started singing, or mimicking the song's lyrics in their speech. This has resulted in some nursery schools and kindergartens banning the song.[4][9] Mitz Mangrove [ja], on the other hand, argues that children may sing the song just because it is catchy, and do not even understand the meaning of the words. She further states that it is almost impossible to avoid children hearing the song, as it is a major hit song played widely on TV and in shopping facilities.[4]

Ado has expressed that the lyrics of the song are meant to help relieve the stress of her audience by resonating with their frustrations. She further states that she "sing[s] people's anger in their place, because [she] want[s] them to live positively."[10]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number 1 on Billboard Japan Hot 100,[11] Oricon Digital Singles Chart, Oricon Streaming Chart,[12] and Spotify Viral 50 Japan.[13] The music video of the song on YouTube reached 100 million views in 148 days after its release.[14] It also reached 100 million plays on Billboard Japan after 17 weeks from charting-in, which was the sixth fastest in history and the youngest for a solo singer.[15][16] The song became a social phenomenon dominating Japanese music streaming sites and karaoke charts months after its release.[14]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Usseewa"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[24] Platinum 250,000*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[25] 3× Platinum 300,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Ado「うっせぇわ」の歌詞の意味に迫る！右に倣えの社会に一喝 | 歌詞検索サイト【UtaTen】ふりがな付". UtaTen (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  2. ^ "うっせぇわ[デジタル配信] - Ado - UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN". Ado (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  3. ^ a b "小学生以下にも流行のAdo『うっせぇわ』 連呼される親は困惑（NEWSポストセブン）". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  4. ^ a b c "『うっせぇわ』を聞かせたくない親に、ミッツが意見 内容に賛同の声". Grape. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  5. ^ "Ado、17歳最後の日にメジャーデビュー" [Ado, music debut on last day of age 17]. BARKS (in Japanese). 15 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  6. ^ "女子高生シンガーAdo、「うっせぇわ」ピアノバージョン公開 YouTubeでの1000万回再生を記念して". Real Sound (in Japanese). 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  7. ^ "Ado「うっせぇわ」をGigaがリミックス". BARKS (in Japanese). 5 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  8. ^ "「うっせぇわ」特設ページ". Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  9. ^ "小学生以下にも流行のAdo『うっせぇわ』 連呼される親は困惑（NEWSポストセブン）". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  10. ^ "話題沸騰中！Ado「『うっせぇわ』をストレス発散にして」歌詞に込めた思い語る（ABEMA TIMES）". Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  11. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  12. ^ "Ado「うっせぇわ」が「デジタルシングル」「ストリーミング」2部門で初の1位【オリコンランキング】". ORICON NEWS. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  13. ^ "Spotify Charts". www.spotifycharts.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  14. ^ a b "Ado、「うっせぇわ」MV＆ストリーミング再生回数W1億回を5ヵ月で突破 LINEスタンプも配信（CDジャーナル）" [Ado breaks through with "Usseewa" music video & streaming plays exceed 100 million in 5 months LINE stamps are also distributed (CD journal)]. Yahoo! News (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  15. ^ "Ado「うっせえわ」ストリーミング累計1億回再生突破 | Daily News" [Ado "Usseewa" Streamed Over 100 Million Times | Daily News]. Billboard JAPAN NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  16. ^ "Ado「うっせぇわ」すっげえわ！サブスク再生1億回突破 世代超えた社会現象に" [Ado "Usseewa"! exceeded 100 million plays and becomes social phenomenon beyond generations]. The Microsoft Network. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  17. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of February 27, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2021-03-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Year-End Charts Billboard Global Excl. U.S. 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2021". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング2021】BTS、年間アーティストセールストータル１位 海外アーティストで初の快挙 / 合算シングル 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  22. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  23. ^ ""JAPAN HOT 100"15周年を記念したオールタイムTOP50発表 1位は米津玄師「Lemon」". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Ado – うっせぇわ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 20, 2023. Select 2021年4月 on the drop-down menu
  25. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Ado – うっせぇわ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 20, 2023. Select 2023年1月 on the drop-down menu