Blue Zone (song)

"Blue Zone" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo for her fourteenth studio album, Full of Love. It was released through Pony Canyon as the album's lead single on April 7, 1999. The song featured on TV commercials for Toyo tires.[1] A song titled "I.n.g" was originally slated to be released in place of "Blue Zone". Since it does not appear on Full of Love, it is unclear whether the song was scrapped or if "I.n.g" was simply an alternate title. "Blue Zone" is the third and last in a trilogy of singles with "Blue" in the title: "Blue Zone" is preceded by "Blue Velvet" and "Blue Rose", respectively.

"Blue Zone"
Single by Shizuka Kudo
from the album Full of Love
Released	April 7, 1999
Genre	Pop
Length	4:16
Label	Pony Canyon
Songwriter(s)	Aeri Takashi Tsushimi
Producer(s)	Shizuka Kudo Taisuke Sawachika
Shizuka Kudo singles chronology
"Akashiya Sanma-san ni Kiite Minai to ne" (1998) "Blue Zone" (1999) "Shinku no Hana" (2000)
Audio sample
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As well as being the last single released in Mini CD single format, "Blue Zone" was the last single Kudo released with Pony Canyon, until signing anew with the label in 2005 and releasing "Lotus (Umareshi Hana)".

Background

The song was written by Shizuka Kudo, under the pseudonym Aeri, and composed by Takashi Tsushimi.[2] It is the first single with lyrics by Kudo since "Kama Sutra no Densetsu". The song is composed in the key of G major and Kudo's vocals span from A₃ to B₄. Lyrically, the song deals with the initiation of an inexperienced lover.

Cover version

Kumi Koda performed "Blue Zone" when auditioning for the second generation of Morning Musume., broadcast on the TX talent search show Asayan.[3]

Chart performance

The single debuted at number 28 on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 9,000 copies in its first week.[4] It fell to number 45 the following week, with sales of 4,000 copies.[4] "Blue Zone" charted in the top 100 for four weeks, selling a total of 20,000 copies.[4][5]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Aeri.

No.	Title	Music	Arranger(s)	Length
1.	"Blue Zone"	Takashi Tsushimi	Taisuke Sawachika	4:16
2.	"Ziguzagu"	Akira Ikuma	Ikuma	4:59
3.	"Blue Zone" (Original Karaoke)	Tsushimi	Sawachika	4:16
Total length:				13:31

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position	Sales
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[6]	28	20,000[5]

References

1. "Blue Zone (工藤静香) 音楽ダウンロードはドワンゴジェイピー". Dwango. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
2. "Blue Zone／工藤静香-カラオケ・歌詞検索". Joysound. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
3. "EXILE ATSUSHIも…ケミストリー復活で「ASAYAN」が話題再燃「落選者すら豪華」". Model Press. December 8, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
4. "1987.08.31 工藤静香 アイドル・ポップ・データベース". Retrieved December 22, 2017.
5. "工藤静香 - アーティスト別シングル売上補完". @wiki. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
6. "Blue Zone 工藤静香". Oricon. Retrieved December 22, 2017.