Pretender (Official Hige Dandism song)

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"Pretender"
Single by Official Hige Dandism
from the album Traveler
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Amazing"
ReleasedMay 15, 2019 (2019-05-15)
Recorded2019
GenreJ-pop
LabelPony Canyon
Songwriter(s)Satoshi Fujihara
Official Hige Dandism singles chronology
"Stand by You"
(2018) 		"Pretender"
(2019) 		"Shukumei"
(2019)
Audio sample
Music video
"Pretender" on YouTube
"Pretender" (Acoustic ver.) on YouTube

"Pretender" is a song recorded by Japanese band Official Hige Dandism, released on May 15, 2019, through Pony Canyon in physical single format to serve as the theme song of the 2019 film The Confidence Man JP. Upon release, it was a commercial success, and spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and thirty-four weeks at number one on the streaming chart, breaking the record held by "Marigold".[1][2]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

The song is written by vocalist/pianist Satoshi Fujihara and composed in the key of A-flat major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 BPM.[3] "Pretender" features a piano, guitar, electric bass, and drums. Begins with melodic guitar arpeggios, the song is described as a sad love song about a man who thinks he is not worthy to fall in love with the woman he likes, and saying 'goodbye' as an expression of giving up.[4]

Music video[edit]

The video of "Pretender" was released on April 16, 2019, and directed by Takuto Shimpo. It was filmed in Taipei, showing the band performing with the night view of Taipei as the background, while theatrical scenes of local Taiwanese models and actors are inter-cut in between.[5] On May 22, 2019, the video for the acoustic version of the song was released. It was directed by Yoshiaki Muto, features the band performing with the night view of Tokyo as the background.[6] As of May 2022, "Pretender" has over 400 million views on YouTube, became their most viewed music video,[7] while the acoustic version has over 7 million views on YouTube.[8]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Satoshi Fujihara[9]

"Pretender" track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Pretender"5:26
2."Amazing"3:51
3."Pretender" (acoustic version)3:43

Personnel[edit]

  • Words, music and programming: Satoshi Fujihara
  • Arrangement: Official Hige Dandism
  • Vocal and piano: Satoshi Fujihara
  • Guitar and chorus: Daisuke Ozasa
  • Bass and chorus: Makoto Narazaki
  • Drums and chorus: Masaki Matsuura
  • Guitar technician: Tatsuya Mochiduki (Innovator Associates Inc.)
  • Drums technician: Genki Wada
  • Recorded and mixed by Masahito Komori
  • Mastered by Ted Jensen (at Sterling Sound)

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

‹See Tfd›‹See Tfd›
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Digital download
Japan (RIAJ)[18] Million 1,000,000*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[19] Diamond 500,000,000†

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

Awards[edit]

Year Ceremony Award Result
2019 2019 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Song of the Year Won
2020 Space Shower Music Awards Song of the Year Won
34th Japan Gold Disc Award Best 5 Songs by Download Won[20]
2021 39th JASRAC Awards Domestic Works Silver Award[21]

Covers[edit]

  • Peaky P-key did a cover of the song for the game D4DJ Groovy Mix.
  • In 2019, Pentatonix covered the song on their PTX Japan 5th Anniversary Greatest Hits album.[22]
  • YESUNG, one of the main vocalists of legendary K-Pop group Super Junior, covered the song in SMTOWN LIVE 2024 : SMCU PALACE @TOKYO

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Powered by Streaming: Official HIGE DANdism's Rise on Japan Chart Explained". Billboard. October 17, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "【ビルボード】Official髭男dism「Pretender」がストリーミング34連覇". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 15, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Key & BPM for "Pretender" by Official Hige Dandism". Tunebat. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Oki, Sayako (May 15, 2019). "Official髭男dismの新曲"Pretender"はテクニックと感情がアンビバレントに絡み合った新感覚のラブソングだ" [Official Hige Dandism's new song "Pretender" is a new love song in which technique and emotion are entwined with ambivalence]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Official髭男dism、新曲「Pretender」先行配信開始&ミュージックビデオを公開！" [Official Hige Dandism starts pre-delivery of new song "Pretender" & releases music video!] (in Japanese). Pony Canyon. April 17, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Official髭男dism、東京の夜景をバックにした「Pretender（Acoustic Ver.）」MV公開" [Official Hige Dandism releases MV for "Pretender (Acoustic Ver.)" with the night view of Tokyo in the background]. Natalie (in Japanese). May 22, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Official髭男dism – Pretender［Official Video］". Official Hige Dandism YouTube. April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "Official髭男dism – Pretender (Acoustic ver.)［Official Video］". Official Hige Dandism YouTube. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official髭男dism —「Pretender」" [Official Hige Dandism — "Pretender"] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. May 15, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "Pretender | Official Hige Dandism" (in Japanese). Oricon. May 27, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Japan Hot 100 | Year-end Charts". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "Japan Hot 100 | Year-end Charts". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Japan Hot 100 | Year-end Charts". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  17. ^ ""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.
  18. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Official Hige Dandism – Pretender" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 4, 2021. Select 2020年9月 on the drop-down menu
  19. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Official Hige Dandism – Pretender" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 4, 2021. Select 2022年3月 on the drop-down menu
  20. ^ "The Japan Gold Disc Award 2020 | Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Gold Disc Award. February 26, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "39th JASRAC Awards". JASRAC. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Pentatonix Covers J-Pop Band Official Hige Dandism's 'Pretender' for 'Greatest Hits': Listen". Billboard.
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