The First Take
Websitewww.thefirsttake.jp
YouTube information
Channel
Created bySony Music Entertainment Japan
Years active2019–present
GenreMusic
Subscribers7.94 million[1]
Total views3.130 billion[1]
Last updated: 29 May 2023

The First Take (stylized as THE F1RST TAKE) is a Japanese YouTube channel that invites singers to perform a song recorded in one take. The First Take is a trademark of Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[2]

Concept

Videos on The First Take are filmed in a studio, alternating between medium and close-up shots of only the performing singer and a microphone, set to a background that is usually white. The footage is recorded in 4K resolution with high quality audio.[3] According to creative director Keisuke Shimizu, singers are asked to treat the filming as a live performance,[4] The Japan Times writer Patrick St. Michel notes that The First Take's success demonstrates a shift in musical preferences in the public, suggesting that "slick, manicured pop is out and authenticity — or at least the veneer of authenticity — is in."[5]

History

On November 15, 2019, the channel published its first video featuring "Narratage" by Adieu.[5] On December 6, LISA's performance of "Gurenge" went viral and gained more views than the song's original music video, and is credited with popularizing the channel.[6] Several recordings on the channel are available digitally; notably, Dish's performance of "Neko" peaked at 11th on the Billboard Japan Hot 100[7] and also placed 28th on the Year-End chart.[8] As of September 2021, 192 videos and 109 individuals or groups have appeared on the channel; four videos have more than 100 million views: "Gurenge", "Neko", "Dry Flower" by Yuuri, and "Yoru ni Kakeru" by Yoasobi.[3]

As a response to a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several videos in 2020 were filmed inside the singer's home and titled "The Home Take".[4] In June 2020, South Korean boy band Stray Kids performed "Slump" (Japanese version) on the channel, becoming the first foreign and Korean artists to appear, and was the first video to be shot remotely.[9] The group appeared again to perform "Mixtape: Oh" in October 2021, marking the first non-Japanese song to perform on the channel.[10]

In February 2022, singer-songwriter Ai performed her song "Aldebaran", becoming the first solo American artist to appear on the channel.[11] The first American group to appear on the channel was Pentatonix in January 2021.[12] On April 1, the channel published its first recording featuring non-human characters, Sesame Street muppets Elmo, Julia, and Cookie Monster, who performed "Ue o Muite Aruko" with Hinatazaka46 members Shiho Katō, Hinano Kamimura, and Mikuni Takahashi.[13] In June, English singer Harry Styles appeared on the 225th episode, performing "Boyfriends".[14] Styles was one of the few Western artists to appear on the channel.[15] In September 2022, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne performed "Complicated" on the channel.[16] In October 2022, singer-songwriter Sury Su performed her song "Liao (The Phoenix)", becoming the first solo Chinese artist to appear on the channel.[17]

In January 2023, Hololive Production member Hoshimachi Suisei, performing her song "Stellar Stellar", became the first virtual YouTuber to perform on the channel.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "About THE FIRST TAKE". YouTube.
  2. ^ "登録6320136". J-Piat Pat (in Japanese). Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Ito, Haruka (September 30, 2021). "News Navigator: What is popular Japanese YouTube music channel 'The First Take'?". Mainichi Daily News. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "普段ならＮＧ箇所を価値あるものに…「ＴＨＥ ＦＩＲＳＴ ＴＡＫＥ」制作チーム". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). May 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  5. ^ a b St. Michel, Patrick (April 24, 2020). "Racking up the views on YouTube with The First Take". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (August 24, 2020). "LiSA's "Gurenge" Performance for "THE FIRST TAKE" is Featured in Sony's Headphones CM". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "Hot 100 [2020/06/17 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hot 100: Year-End 2020". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Stray Kids「THE FIRST TAKE」に韓国から出演、「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」世界初披露". Natalie (in Japanese). June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Stray Kidsの凄みをまざまざと見せつけられる「Mixtape : OH」。韓国語歌唱で挑む、2度目の『THE FIRST TAKE』". The First Time (in Japanese). November 11, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "AIが今夜「THE FIRST TAKE」初登場、朝ドラ主題歌「アルデバラン」披露｜ウーマンエキサイト". ウーマンエキサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About 'THE FIRST TAKE,' Featuring Harry Styles, Stray Kids, YOASOBI & More". Billboard. June 20, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "日向坂46「THE FIRST TAKE」で「セサミストリート」キャラクターとコラボ（コメントあり）". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Paul, Larisha (June 13, 2022). "Watch Harry Styles Perform a Stripped-Back Version of 'Boyfriends' on 'The First Take'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Dailey, Hannah (June 13, 2022). "Harry Styles Nails His One-Shot Performance of 'Boyfriends' on 'The First Take': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  16. ^ "Avril Lavigne、"THE FIRST TAKE"に初登場！デビュー曲「Complicated」を一発撮りパフォーマンス！" [Avril Lavigne's first appearance in "THE FIRST TAKE"! One shot performance of debut song "Complicated"!]. Gekirock (in Japanese). September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "スー・ルイチー、中国ソロアーティストとして初出演した『THE FIRST TAKE』の感想とプロフィール。彼女の魅力を探る". The First Times (in Japanese). October 11, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  18. ^ Harding, Daryl (January 20, 2023). "Hololive Member Hoshimachi Suisei Is the 1st VTuber to Perform on THE FIRST TAKE". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
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