Eighth World

The title, Eighth World, was chosen because of the coincidence of the year of release and the number of the album. Moreover, with the Kanji for eight {八, hachi), resembling a folded fan spreading out, and the symbol for infinity, ∞, being similar to the number 8 turned on its side, the message conveyed in the title is that "an infinite amount of happiness is spreading out in the eighth world of Misia".{{cite news |url=http://music.jp.msn.com/interview/185_1_3.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731034905/http://music.jp.msn.com/interview/185_1_3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |title=MISIA MSN ミュージック インタビュー 3/3 |access-date=2009-10-11 |work=MSN Music |language=ja}}

With her previous album, Ascension, focusing on the vast theme of "life" and "birth", Misia began production of Eighth World with the idea of incorporating this element in a more tangible way. The album has a more personal theme, with lyrics about relationships and the many scenarios she encountered in her homeland as well as in Kenya, where she visited the Kibera slum in Nairobi.{{cite news |url=http://music.jp.msn.com/interview/185_1_2.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104051127/http://music.jp.msn.com/interview/185_1_2.htm |url-status=dead| archive-date=January 4, 2013|title=MISIA MSNミュージック インタビュー 2/3 |access-date=2009-10-11 |work=MSN Music |language=ja}} In an interview with MSN Music, she explained, "Last spring, I visited Kenya and the reality of their conditions I saw in the slums was harsher than I had imagined. It made me think over a lot of things. It made me want to sing about "real" issues and with that in mind, one of the first songs I wrote right after was "Any Love"."

"Taiyō no Malaika" was also written during her stay in Africa. A performance of the song was captured in a documentary of her visit. She explained the crowd's reaction, saying, "The words are in Japanese, so naturally, I didn't think they would understand. However, as I sang, I saw the mothers crying as they listened. That's when I realized firsthand that music has no borders and transcends language." The song "Ishin Denshin", which was written by the essayist Mayumi Satō at Misia's request, speaks of this realization.

{{tracklist

| all_lyrics = Misia, except "Ishin Denshin", which is written by Mayumi Satō

| title1 = Ishin Denshin

| note1 = {{nihongo2|以心伝心}}

| music1 = Sakoshin

| length1 = 4:45

| title2 = Any Love

| music2 = Sinkiroh

| length2 = 4:52

| title3 = Royal Chocolate Flush

| music3 = Sakoshin

| length3 = 3:53

| title4 = November: Interlude

| music4 = Sinkiroh

| length4 = 0:57

| title5 = Missing Autumn

| music5 = Sinkiroh

| length5 = 4:59

| title6 = To Be in Love

| music6 = Joi

| length6 = 6:17

| title7 = Hadashi no Kisetsu

| note7 = {{nihongo2|裸足の季節}}, "Barefoot Season"

| music7 = Jun Sasaki

| length7 = 5:36

| title8 = Chandelier

| music8 = Joi

| length8 = 4:26

| title9 = Hybrid Breaks: Interlude

| music9 = Sakoshin

| length9 = 1:02

| title10 = Dance Dance

| music10 = Sakoshin

| length10 = 5:31

| title11 = Taiyō no Chizu

| note11 = {{nihongo2|太陽の地図}}, "Map of the Sun"

| music11 = Gomi, Shusui

| length11 = 4:58

| title12 = Soba ni Ite...

| note12 = {{nihongo2|そばにいて...}}, "Stay by My Side"

| music12 = Sinkiroh

| length12 = 5:01

| title13 = Kimi wa Sōgen ni Nekoronde

| note13 = {{nihongo2|君は草原に寝ころんで}}, "You Lay Down on the Grasslands"

| music13 = Joi

| length13 = 4:40

| title14 = Taiyō no Malaika

| note14 = {{nihongo2|太陽のマライカ}}, "Angel of the Sun"

| music14 = Misia

| length14 = 4:47

}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.misia.jp Misia official web site]
• [http://www.misia.jp/NewRelease/EIGHTH_WORLD Eighth World official web page]

{{Misia}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Bridge to Terabithia (novel)

Category:2008 albums

Category:Misia albums

Category:2000s Japanese-language albums

Category:Sony Music Entertainment Japan albums