Softly is the fourteenth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, released on June 22, 2022. It has been certified platinum by RIAJ in July 2022, for sales of over 250,000 copies.
Overview Softly was Yamashita's first new studio album in 11 years since Ray of Hope in August 2011. In addition to single songs such as "Hikari to Kimi e no Requiem", "Cheer Up! The Summer", "Reborn", "Mirai no Theme", and "Recipe", the album contains 15 songs including "Lehua, My Love" and "Shining from the Inside", which were previously used as CM songs. All the songs that have already been released will have new mixes. The title "Softly" expresses Tatsuro Yamashita's earnest desire to gently and softly wrap up this turbulent era with music.
On April 1, 2022, a special site and an announcement trailer video was made on YouTube.
Artwork The jacket uses a portrait of Yamashita drawn by Mari Yamazaki, a manga artist known for Thermae Romae. Yamazaki had studied painting in Italy, majoring in oil painting and art history, and had always dreamt of painting a portrait.
Track listing Standard edition
Limited edition bonus disc
LP edition
Personnel Phoenix (フェニックス) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Love's On Fire Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Drum Programming, Computer Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Mirai no Theme (ミライのテーマ) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion & Background Vocals Takumi Ogasawara: Drums Koki Ito - Electric Bass Hiroyuki Namba: Acoustic Piano Yota Miyazato: Alto Sax Solo Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Recipe (レシピ) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Cheer Up! The Summer Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bouzouki, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Taro Makido: String Arrangement Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Hitoshi Kono: Strings Concert Master Jinriki Hikoki" (人力飛行機; Human Powered Aircraft) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Yutaka Uehara: Drums Koki Ito: Electric Bass Yoshiyuki Sahashi: Electric Guitar Hiroyuki Namba: Acoustic Piano Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Uta no Kisha (うたのきしゃ) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion & Background Vocals Koki Ito: Electric Bass Hiroyuki Namba: Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano Youichi Murata: Trombone Koji Nishimura: Trumpet Takuo Yamamoto: Tenor Sax & Baritone Sax Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Shining From The Inside Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Lehua, My Love Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Oppression Blues (弾圧のブルース) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Yutaka Uehara: Drums Koki Ito: Electric Bass Hiroyuki Namba: Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Composition (コンポジション) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation You (= ユー) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals Koki Ito: Electric Bass Yoshiyuki Sahashi: Electric Guitar Hiroyuki Namba: Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Angel Of The Light Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Yoshiyuki Sahashi: Electric Guitar Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Hikari to Kimi e no Requiem (光と君へのレクイエム) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation Reborn (リボーン) Tatsuro Yamashita: Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals Suginami Junior Chorus: Backing Vocals Masanori Kusakabe: Electric Guitar Shigeaki Hashimoto: Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Softly Chart (2022) Peakposition Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) 1 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 2
Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for Softly Chart (2022) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 4
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Softly Chart (2022) Position Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 19
Release history + Release history and formats for Softly Country Date Label Format Catalog numberJapanJune 22, 2022Warner/Moon CDWPCL-13361 2×CD WPCL-13359/60 [Limited edition] 2×LP WPJL-10155/6 CT WPTL-10004
References