Lead the Way/La'boon
{{Infobox song
| name = Lead the Way / La'boon
| cover = T-ara Lead The Way Cover Art.jpg
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = T-ara
| album = Gossip Girls
| language = Japanese
| A-side = "Lead the Way"
| B-side = "La'boon"
| released = {{Start date|2014|3|5}}
| recorded = 2014
| length = 08:12
| label = * MBK
- J-Rock
| lyricist = Okochi Kouta
Ichino Onomiya
Seiko Fujibayashi
| producer = Okochi Kouta
MEG.ME
| prev_title = Number Nine
| prev_year = 2013
| year = 2014
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
"Lead the Way" / "La'boon" is the ninth Japanese single (second double A-side) by South Korean girl group T-ara on March 5, 2014. It served as the second single from the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls, and their last released original Japanese song.
Background and release
On March 19, a preview of the "Lead The Way" Music Video was aired on Japanese television and was uploaded on the 20th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN's official website and YouTube channel.{{Citation |title=T-ARA - 9th single 「Lead the way」Music Video Teaser |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzXlon4arUk&list=PLB1PuqtbwVQl523SnN6cfwbFVdTpeseKW&index=4 |language=en |access-date=2022-03-16}}{{Cite web |title=T-ARA {{!}} UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE |url=https://store.universal-music.co.jp/artist/t-ara/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=store.universal-music.co.jp}}
Both songs were later re-released on the group's third Japanese album Gossip Girls.
The single was released in three versions: eight limited CD+DVD editions, one type-A and seven type B (one per member), a box edition, and a regular CD Only edition. Each limited edition B features a DVD with a solo version of "Lead the way" PV featuring one solo member. The box edition includes all six versions in one DVD and includes a 16-page photobook. All editions include one trading card with a serial code. Limited editions come in a special package while the Regular edition comes in a normal paper case.
Composition
Both songs are Japanese original songs by Japanese writers{{Cite web |title=T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN ［CD+6DVD+フォトブック］＜初回生産限定盤B・BOX＞ |url=https://tower.jp/item/3451746/Lead-the-way-LA%27booN-%5BCD%EF%BC%8B6DVD%EF%BC%8B%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%88%E3%83%96%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%5D%EF%BC%9C%E5%88%9D%E5%9B%9E%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%A4B%E3%83%BBBOX%EF%BC%9E |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=tower.jp}}
"Lead the Way" is described as "a medium tempo ballad that depicts a "secret" love, with a beautiful lyrical melody that touches the heartstrings". La'boon is inspired by "Arabian Nights", "the sound has a unique and exotic atmosphere.
Commercial performance
The single debuted and peaked at number seven on Oricon daily chart, it fell to number nine for two weeks before re-peaking at number seven. It charted for seven days on Top 15. On the weekly chart, it reached number eight on the Oricon Weekly chart and charted for a total of five weeks selling 12,688 copies the first week.
The single peaked at number thirty-two on the monthly chart with a total of 16,230 copies sold.{{Cite web |title=Lead the way/LA'booN(初回生産限定盤A) {{!}} T-ARA |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/488026/products/1065194/1/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=ORICON NEWS}}
Track listing
Credits adapted from Tower Records{{Cite web |title=T-ARA/Lead the way/LA'booN＜通常盤＞ |url=https://tower.jp/item/3451748/Lead-the-way-LA%27booN%EF%BC%9C%E9%80%9A%E5%B8%B8%E7%9B%A4%EF%BC%9E |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=tower.jp}}
{{track listing
| headline = Regular Edition
| title1 = Lead the Way
| length1 = 04:01
| lyrics1 = Okochi Kouta, Ichino Onomiya
| music1 = Okochi Kouta
| title2 = La'boon
| length2 = 04:10
| lyrics2 = Seiko Fujibayashi
| music2 = MEG.ME
| total_length = 08:12
}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition A
| title3 = Lead the Way
| note3 = Music video
| length3 = 04:08
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| title4 = Lead the Way
| note4 = Music video making
| length4 = 17:48
| total_length = 21:56
}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (Eun Jung Ver) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music Video feat. Eun Jung ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| total_length =
}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (Qri Ver) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music video feat. Qri ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
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| total_length =
}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (Hyo Min Ver) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
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}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (So Yeon Ver) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music video feat. So Yeon ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
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}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (Bo Ram Ver) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| total_length =
}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B (Ji Yeon Ver.) — DVD
| title1 = Lead the way (Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.)
| length1 = 04:08
| title3 =
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
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}}{{track listing
| headline = Limited edition B - BOX — DVD
| title1 = Lead the Way
| note1 = Music video feat. Eun Jung ver.
| length1 = 04:08
| title2 = Lead the Way
| note2 = Music video feat. Ji Yeon ver.
| length2 = 04:08
| title3 = Lead the Way
| note3 = Music video feat. So Yeaon ver.
| length3 = 04:08
| title4 = Lead the Way
| note4 = Music video feat. Bo Ram ver.
| length4 = 04:08
| title5 = Lead the Way
| note5 = Music video feat. Qri ver.
| length5 = 04:08
| title6 = Lead the Way
| note6 = Music video feat. Hyo Min ver.
| length6 = 04:08
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Chart (2014)
!Peak position |
|---|
| scope="row" |Japan Singles (Oricon)
|8 |
| scope="row" |Japan Hot 100 (Billboard){{Cite web |title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 - [2014/03/12] |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2014&month=03&day=17 |website=Billboard Japan}}
|46 |
| scope="row" | Japan Singles Sales (Billboard)
|7 |
Release history
| class="wikitable"
!Region !Date !Format !Label |
| Japan
|{{Hlist|CD|Music download}} |{{flatlist|* MBK
|