Monotone (song)

"Monotone" (Japanese: モノトーン, Hepburn: Monotōn) is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi for the 2024 Japanese animated film Fureru as a theme. It was released as a single on October 1, 2024, by Echoes and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The song was written by Ayase and based on the short story Fureru. no, Zen'ya. written by the film's writer Mari Okada.

Background and release

The animated film Fureru, directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Mari Okada, was first announced in December 2023. Alongside casts and premiere date, on July 5, 2024, the film unveiled the accompanied theme song performed by Yoasobi, titled "Monotone", which first featured on the film's first trailer. The different snippet was later featured on the second trailer on September 4. Nagai revealed in the press release that he believed only Yoasobi could create music with unique lyrics that really "touches" people's heart.

"Monotone" premiered on September 9 on the radio show, Nippon Broadcasting System 70th Anniversary All Night Nippon Music Week, where Yoasobi hosted. On September 24, the duo gave an interview about the theme song at the Fureru special program broadcast via Abema. Shortly after the program ended, Yoasobi announced that the song would be available for digital music and streaming platforms on October 1, the duo's fifth anniversary, as well as the English version the next day. The CD single was released on October 2, two day before the film release, which includes picture book-styled booklet about the legend of the film's titular mysterious creature.

Composition

Fureru writer Mari Okada wrote the short story on which "Monotone" is based, titled Fureru. no, Zen'ya. (ふれる。の、前夜。, lit. 'The Night Before Fureru'). It was first published via the anime official website on September 25, 2024. The song is a pop track with catchy synth obbligato melody that can be found on Yoasobi's songs in early career such as "Yoru ni Kakeru" and "Gunjō". It is centered on the theme of "people are always alone" and the "delicate feelings toward loved ones." According to Yoasobi, "Monotone" was inspired by the "relationships between people" depicted in the film, expressing loneliness and feelings of missing someone in their own life. Tomoki Takahashi from Rockin'On Japan described that the song's "oriental and rhythmic melodies create a cheerful, yet sad, insane sentiment that even exudes a sense of mystery."

Music video

A music video for "Monotone" premiered on October 1, 2024, at 20:00 JST. Directed by Toshitaka Shinoda and produced by Ijigen Tokyo, the music video depicts the same visual as the film, showing of Fureru and childhood friends Aki, Ryō, and Yūta, that not features on the film.

Live performances

Yoasobi included "Monotone" on the setlist of their Chō-genjitsu Dome Live, where they performed live for the first time at Kyocera Dome Osaka for the Osaka show on October 26, 2024.