YOLO (Band-Maid song)

"YOLO" is the second single by Japanese rock band Band-Maid. Released in Japan on November 16, 2016, by Crown Stones, it is the band's first single on a major record label.[1] The title track is featured as the theme song of the video game Valiant Knights.[2]

"YOLO"
The headdress of Miku Kobato set against white smoke in a purple background.
Standard edition cover
Single by Band-Maid
from the album Just Bring It
B-side
  • "Unfair Game"
  • "Matchless Gum"
ReleasedNovember 16, 2016 (2016-11-16)
Length15:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Miku Kobato
  • Band-Maid
    ("YOLO", "Unfair Game")
  • Miku Kobato
  • Saiki
  • Band-Maid
    ("Matchless Gum")
Band-Maid singles chronology
"Ai to Jōnetsu no Matador"
(2014)		 "YOLO"
(2016)		 "Daydreaming/Choose Me"
(2017)
Music video
Band-Maid "YOLO" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Three red coffins, closed, with kitsune (fox) masks affixed close to the top front of each. They sit below a statue with the same face as the masks, in an area that looks like a church, with stone walls and stained glass windows. The area surrounding the red coffins is in grayscale.
Limited edition cover

Composition

In 2019, as Band-Maiko, they released an alternate version of "YOLO" (retitled "YOLOSIOSU"), with traditional Japanese instruments and lyrics rewritten in the Kyoto dialect.[3]

Background and release

The single was released in two versions: a standard edition, and a limited edition, which contains the CD and a music sheet for the song "YOLO", enclosed in a sleeve. Both editions of the single feature the b-sides "Unfair Game" and "Matchless Gum", along with an instrumental version of the title track. The artworks were designed with the motif of the headbands that Saiki (Limited Edition) and Miku Kobato (Regular Edition) wear usually on the stage.[4]

Critical reception

Trent Cannon of Rice Digital called the title track "High energy and forceful" and that it "...features an incredible guitar riff that really highlights Tono’s skills as well as the harmonies between Atsumi and Kobato’s voices."[5]

Music video

The music video for the title track was released on October 1, 2016.

Live performances

"YOLO" was debuted at the "Brand New Maid Release Tour Final" show at Tsutaya O-West on October 1, 2016.[6] "Matchless Gum" was debuted at the "Brand New Maid Release Tour Final additional service" at Shimokitazawa Garden on October 23, 2016.[7][8] "Unfair Game" was debuted at the "YOLO Release Out-store mini-service" at Club Vijon on December 7, 2016.[9]

To promote the release of the single, the band performed "YOLO" on December 3, 2016, at Tower Records, Shibuya as a part of the "Tower Records Maid 'YOLO' Release Memorial ~ Mini Service ~ event".[10][11] The band also played "YOLO" and "Unfair Game" at the "1st Full Album" Just Bring It "Pre-Release One-man ~ New Year's First Serving Start ~" at Akasaka Blitz in Tokyo.[12] Footage of "YOLO" taken from this concert was released in a bonus DVD for the limited edition of their third single "Daydreaming/Choose Me".

Track listing

All music is composed by Band-Maid

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."YOLO"Miku Kobato4:26
2."Unfair Game"Miku Kobato3:30
3."Matchless Gum"
  • Miku Kobato
  • Saiki
3:11
4."YOLO (Instrumental)" 4:25
Total length:15:32

Credits and personnel

Band-Maid members

  • Misa – bass
  • Miku Kobato – vocals, guitar
  • Saiki Atsumi – vocals
  • Akane Hirose – drums
  • Kanami Tōno – guitar

Recording and management

  • Recorded at Nasoundra Palace Studio
  • Recording Engineer: Masyoshi Yamamoto
  • Mixed at Mix Forest
  • Mix Engineer: Masahiko Fukui
  • Mastered by Shigeo "MT" Miyamoto (form The Master)
  • Art Direction: Masashi Nakazato (Number NC)
  • Photograph: Riu Nakamura
  • Stylist: Mayako Shigeta

Credits adapted from "YOLO" single liner notes.[13]

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[14] 36
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard)[15] 42

Release history
Region Date Format Label Edition(s)
Japan[16] November 16, 2016 CD, digital download
  • Crown Tokuma
 Standard edition
CD with music sheet Limited edition
Worldwide[17] Digital download Standard edition

References
  1. "Band-Maid、「YOLO」ジャケットで"メイド×ロック"を表現" [Band-Maid, expressing "Maid x Rock" with "YOLO" jacket]. barks.jp (in Japanese). September 8, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  2. "ヴァリアントナイツ1周年記念イベント「バリナイフェス」開催決定！" [Valiant Knights 1st Anniversary Event "Balinese Festival" decided!]. v-knights.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 19, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  3. "Band-Maiko - Band-Maiko". Jame World. April 6, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. "The New Anthem from Band-Maid! Check Out the MV for their Major Debut Song "YOLO"". Tokyo Girls Update. October 1, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  5. Cannon, Trent (November 30, 2021). "The essential Band-Maid". Rice Digital. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  6. "【渋谷】Band-Maid 『Brand New MAID』Release Tour Final Series" [【Shibuya】Band-Maid 『Brand New Maid』Release Tour Final Series]. Mixi (in Japanese). May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  7. "Band-Maid announced release of 1st major album at additional service". spice.eplus.jp (in Japanese). October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  8. "Band-Maid rock with maid dresses in nationwide tour finals...... In January 2017 full album "Just Bring It" will be released". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  9. ""YOLO" Release Out-store Mini service at Club Vijon". Akane Band-Maid Twitter (in Japanese). December 7, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  10. "Band-Maid "YOLO" release memorial in-store event ~ Mini service ~". tower.jp (in Japanese). October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  11. "In store · Mini service at Tower Records Shibuya store". Akane Band-Maid Twitter (in Japanese). December 3, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  12. "Band-Maid, Akasaka One Man at the beginning of the "Pigeon Year"". Natalie (in Japanese). January 10, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  13. YOLO (CD liner notes). Band-Maid. Crown Stones. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "YOLO(初回限定盤) | Band-Maid" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  15. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2016/11/28 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 23, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  16. "Band-Maid、「人生一度きり」の思い込めたメジャー1stシングル" [Band-Maid to release first major single YOLO]. Natalie (in Japanese). August 31, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  17. ""iTunes – Music – YOLO – EP by Band-Maid"". iTunes. November 16, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
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