A or B
{{Infobox song
| name = A or B
| cover = A or B Cover Art.png
| caption =
| type = Single
| artist = Mika Nakashima
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2017|10|25}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop}}
| length = {{duration|m=5|s=19}}
| label = Sony Music Associated Records
| writer = {{hlist|Jam Note}}
| producer =
| prev_title = Happy Life
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Kiss of Death
| next_year = 2018
| prev_track =
| track_no =
| next_track =
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = A or B sample.ogg
}}
}}
"A or B" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mika Nakashima. It was released as a single by Sony Music Associated Records on October 25, 2017.{{cite web|title=中島美嘉、ニューシングル「A or B」10月25日発売＆花王フレアフレグランスCMソングに起用決定！|url=https://top.tsite.jp/entertainment/j-pop/i/37010045/index|work=T-Site|date=September 15, 2017|accessdate=February 12, 2018}} It was written and composed by Jam Note and arranged by Manaboon.{{cite web|title=中島美嘉、10月発売のシングル「A or B」のアートワークを公開|url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/nakashima-mika/77276|work=CDJournal|date=September 15, 2017|accessdate=February 12, 2018}} The limited edition of the CD single comes with a DVD including the music video for "A or B" and its making-of.{{cite web|title=中島美嘉、揺れ動く恋心を歌ったCMソングをシングルリリース|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/248861|work=Natalie|date=September 15, 2018|accessdate=February 12, 2018}} "A or B" was used in televised commercials for Kao's liquid fabric softener "Flair Fragrance", starring actress Satomi Ishihara.
Background
"A or B" is the first single by Nakashima since the release of her eighth studio album, Tough, and was released two months following the release of her cover album, Roots: Piano & Voice. The single's artwork depicts Nakashima on a white swing in front of a soft pink backdrop. The limited edition artwork has Nakashima in a similar position against a dark gray backdrop. The dueling visuals are meant to represent Nakashima swinging between options "A" and "B"; imagined here as the "rain" and "shine" dispositions of a woman in love.
Critical reception
"A or B" is a light soulful pop song, following in the same vein as her previous single "Koi o Suru".{{cite web|title=中島美嘉 / A or B - CDJournal|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/a-or-b/4117091085|work=CDJournal|accessdate=February 12, 2018}} CDJournal praised Nakashima for her "unstrained and pleasant-sounding" vocal performance. CDJournal critics noted that with her last two singles, Nakashima has been successfully shedding her "diva" image.
Chart performance
"A or B" debuted at number 38 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart.{{cite web|title=【周榜单】2017/11/06付|url=http://tieba.baidu.com/p/5408378193|accessdate=February 12, 2018}} The single charted for two consecutive weeks and sold a reported total of 2,000 copies. The song also charted on Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales charts, also ranking at number 38.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Arranger(s)
| title1 = A or B
| writer1 = {{hlist|Jam Note}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Manaboon}}
| length1 = 5:19
| title2 = Happy Life
| note2 = Mika Nakashima and Salyu
| writer2 = {{hlist|Takeshi Kobayashi|Yuko Ando}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Kobayashi}}
| length2 = 3:45
| title3 = A or B
| note3 = Instrumental
| writer3 = {{hlist|Jam Note}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Manaboon}}
| length3 = 5:16
| total_length = 14:20
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Limited Edition DVD{{cite web|title=A or B･中島 美嘉 Sony Music Shop|url=https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?associate=SMO&cd=AICL000003430|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment|accessdate=February 12, 2018}}
| extra_column = Director(s)
| title1 = A or B
| note1 = Music Video
| extra1 = Takashi Tadokoro
| length1 =
| title2 = A or B
| note2 = Making
| extra2 =
| length2 =
| total_length = {{Duration|m=|s=}}
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
!scope="col"| Peak !scope="col"| Sales |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon){{cite web|title=A or B(初回生産限定盤) 中島美嘉|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/285194/products/1250176/1/|work=Oricon|accessdate=February 12, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|38 | rowspan="6"|2,000{{cite web|title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|trans-title=Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju'|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp|work=Oricon|url-access=subscription |accessdate=February 12, 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite web|title=Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2017&month=11&day=6|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=February 12, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|38 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mika Nakashima}}
{{authority control}}