"Clāvis (Kagi)"
Single by Shizuka Kudo
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2006 (2006-09-06)
Genre
Length5:59
LabelPony Canyon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Miyuki Nakajima
  • Ichizō Seo
Shizuka Kudo singles chronology
"Kokoro no Chikara"
(2005)		 "Clāvis (Kagi)"
(2006)		 "Amayo no Tsuki ni"
(2007)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Clāvis (Kagi)" (Clāvis -鍵（かぎ）-, lit. "Clāvis (A Key)") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo. It was released as a single by Pony Canyon on September 6, 2006. It served as the theme song to the tanpatsu dramas aired from July through September 2006 on AX's Drama Complex time slot.[1]

Background and composition

"Clāvis (Kagi)" was written by Miyuki Nakajima and arranged by Ichizō Seo.[2] It marks Kudo's first collaboration with Nakajima in eight years, since "Setsu Getsu Ka".[3] The title "Clāvis" is latin for "key". Nakajima wrote the song with Kudo in mind. She thought a song with latin influences should be sung by someone with a strong gaze, such as Kudo.[3] Lyrically, the song deals with the theme of self-realization and explores the social nature of people. Nakajima writes about a protagonist "braving seas and people alike" in quest for the "keys of life", which she concludes is an puzzling endeavor. The song is composed in the key of C minor and set to a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[4] Kudo's vocals span one octave, from B♭3 to B♭4.

Critical reception

The latin-inspired track was praised for Kudo's ringing vocals and Nakajima's strong storytelling skills; their collaboration was deemed "miraculous".[5] Kudo was praised as a three-dimensional, versatile vocalist; the single's B-side was described by critics as just as well-executed as the main track, in spite of being in a completely different thematic register from "Clāvis".[5]

Cover version

In 2006, Nakajima recorded a cover of the song for her album, Lullaby Singer.[6]

Chart performance

"Clāvis" debuted at number 67 on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 2,000 copies in its first week, and charted for three weeks.[7][8]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."Clāvis (Kagi)" (Clāvis -鍵-, "Clāvis (A Key)")
  • Ichizō Seo
5:59
2."Powder Snow"
  • Nakamura
5:02
3."Clāvis (Kagi)" (Less Vocal)
  • Nakajima
  • Seo
5:57
Total length:16:58

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position		 Sales
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[9] 67 4,000[8]

References

  1. ↑ "工藤静香「Clavis -鍵-」-『Clavis -鍵-』収録". Recochoku. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  2. ↑ "工藤静香、久々のニュー・シングルを発表！中島みゆき参加". CDJournal. August 4, 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "工藤静香、中島みゆきと８年ぶりコラボ…１年４か月ぶり新曲で". Sports Hochi. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Clavis－鍵－ 楽譜:メロディ譜 工藤 静香". @Elise. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "工藤静香 / Clavis-鍵-". CDJournal. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  6. ↑ "中島みゆき、TOKIOのヒット曲を歌う！". Oricon. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  7. ↑ "1987.08.31 工藤静香 アイドル・ポップ・データベース". Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "工藤静香 - アーティスト別シングル売上補完". @wiki. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Clavis-鍵- 工藤静香". Oricon. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
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