View source for Jam/Tactics

{{Infobox song
| name       = Jam/Tactics
| cover      = Jam Tactics.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[The Yellow Monkey]]
| album      = [[Four Seasons (The Yellow Monkey album)|Four Seasons]]
| released   = {{Start date|1996|02|29}}
| recorded   = 1995
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=19|s=32}}
| label      = Triad/[[Nippon Columbia]]
| writer     = [[Kazuya Yoshii]] (both tracks)
| producer   = Kazuya Yoshii<br>Hiroyuki Munekiyo
| prev_title = Taiyō ga Moete Iru
| prev_year  = 1995
| next_title = Spark
| next_year  = 1996
}}
"'''Jam/Tactics'''" is the ninth single by Japanese rock band [[The Yellow Monkey]], released on February 29, 1996. It is their first [[double A-side]], with both songs written by lead singer [[Kazuya Yoshii]]. "Tactics" was previously included on their sixth album, November 1995's ''[[Four Seasons (The Yellow Monkey album)|Four Seasons]]'', but "Jam" was never included on a studio album.
It is the band's second best-selling single, reaching number 6 on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]] and was the 39th best-selling single of the year. "Jam" was an ending theme song for the TV show ''Pop Jam'', while "Tactics" was used as the first ending theme of the ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (TV series)|Rurouni Kenshin]]'' [[anime]] series.<ref>{{cite web | title = ＴＨＥ ＹＥＬＬＯＷ ＭＯＮＫＥＹ「ＪＡＭ／ＴＡＣＴＩＣＳ」| url = http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/144715| work = [[Billboard Japan]]| language = Japanese| accessdate = 2015-06-06}}</ref>
==Background and composition==
According to [[Nippon Columbia]]'s director at the time, Hiroyuki Munekiyo, with "Jam" [[Kazuya Yoshii]] wanted to write the {{" '}}[[All the Young Dudes]]' of Japan."<ref name="Munekiyo">{{cite web | title = 徹底座談会で明かされる真実とそれぞれの1曲| url = http://natalie.mu/music/pp/theyellowmonkey03/page/4| work = [[Natalie (website)|Natalie]]| language = Japanese| accessdate = 2015-06-06}}</ref> The song is also reminiscent of [[Kenji Sawada]]'s 1980 song "Omae ga Paradise".<ref>{{cite web | title = 吉井和哉が自ら日本の昭和歌謡、ポップスを選曲した初のカバー・アルバム完成！| url = https://www.m-on-music.jp/0000092710/| work = M-ON! Music| language=Japanese|date=2014-11-20|accessdate=2021-05-15|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826032452/https://www.m-on-music.jp/0000092710/|archivedate=2017-08-26}}</ref> Production on "Jam" took place in September and October 1995.<ref>''[[Rockin'On Japan]]'', February 1996 issue</ref> The lyrics are based on real events, with the line about a [[Aviation accidents and incidents|plane crash]] often talked about. When Yoshii was writing about the "absurdity of the world," he turned on a television news broadcast covering a plane crash and was struck by how the reporter had a smile on their face when reporting that no Japanese were on the plane.<ref name="plane">{{cite web | title = イエモン「今夜、一緒に歌ってください」 全面広告で『JAM』合唱訴える【紅白歌合戦】| url = https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2016/12/31/the-yellow-monkey_n_13907998.html| work = [[HuffPost]]| language = Japanese|date=2016-12-31| accessdate = 2021-05-15}}</ref>
{{Quote|An airplane crashes overseas. The newscaster says with glee, 'No Japanese aboard. No Japanese. No Japanese.' What am I to think? What am I to say? On nights like this, I want to see you so badly, so badly, so badly. I wait for tomorrow.<ref name="Tateishi">{{cite web | title = Congratulations on Graduating! (2016 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony and Diploma Presentation Ceremony Celebrated on March 24th)| url = http://www.tufs.ac.jp/english/NEWS/2016/graduationceremony20170331.html| work = [[Tokyo University of Foreign Studies]]|date=2017-03-31| accessdate = 2021-05-15}}</ref>}}
However, he notes that the song is about a lot of different things.<ref name="plane"/> Although attention is often given to the plane crash line, Yoshii noted that the "On nights like this, I want to see you so badly" line is more important and was directed towards his daughter. Following the [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] and [[Tokyo subway sarin attack]], and with him unable to be home much, Yoshii said he was worried about her.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yoshii|first1=Kazuya|author-link=Kazuya Yoshii|title=吉井和哉自伝 失われた愛を求めて |publisher=[[Rockin'On]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-4-86052-071-7}}</ref>
"Tactics" first appeared on the band's sixth studio album ''Four Seasons'', released on November 1, 1995. The single cut is slightly different than the album version. "Tactics" was selected to be an ending theme song of the January 1996 ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (TV series)|Rurouni Kenshin]]'' anime series. Mitsuhisa Hida of [[Aniplex|SPE Visual Works]] said that he specifically wanted to use songs that non-anime fans would want to buy.<ref>{{cite web | title = 業界人気タイアップベスト10| url = http://www.peeep.us/c3ba6daa| publisher = [[Nikkei Entertainment]]| language = Japanese|date=2014-11-20| accessdate = 2021-05-15 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420144741/http://www.peeep.us/c3ba6daa|archivedate=2017-04-20}}</ref> For the English dub of the anime, an English-language version sung by [[Lex Lang]] was created.
==Release and promotion==
Following the success of previous single "Taiyō ga Moete Iru" and their number-one album ''Four Seasons'', Nippon Columbia gave opposition when Yoshii proposed "Jam" be the next single. Munekiyo explained that with "Taiyō ga Moete Iru" being a catchy but still hard rocking song, it was odd to follow it up with a serious ballad.<ref name="Munekiyo"/> "Jam" was played live for the first time on January 12, 1996, at the [[Nippon Budokan]],<ref>{{cite web | title = イエモン「TRUE MIND」完全盤に「JAM」初披露シーンも| url = https://natalie.mu/music/news/76910| work = Natalie| language = Japanese|date=2012-09-20| accessdate = 2021-05-15}}</ref> where Yoshii explained that its release as a single was still undecided. The Yellow Monkey's head of promotion, Shigeru Nakahara, was a strong believer in the song and successfully urged the band's office to release it.<ref name="compburn">{{cite book |author=The Yellow Monkey |title=Complete Burn|publisher=Rockin'On |year=2005|isbn=4-86-052049-1}}</ref>
The Yellow Monkey were set to perform "Jam" on the television show ''[[Music Station]]'' on March 8, 1996, but because it would have to be altered to fit a four minute time limit, Yoshii threatened to not appear. Again, it was Nakahara who successfully negotiated an unusual five minute slot on the show, with only the outro being cut from the performance.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yoshii|first1=Kazuya|title=吉井和哉の㊙おセンチ日記 |publisher=Rockin'On |year=1996 |isbn=4-94-759946-4}}</ref> The music video for "Jam" was directed by Yoshii himself. 11 years later, Yoshii had the same actors, who were children at the time of "Jam", appear in the music video for his 2007 song "Bacca".<ref>{{cite web | title = THE YELLOW MONKEY、解散以来初の４人のコメントを公開| url = https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000036523| work = Barks| language = Japanese|date=2007-12-18| accessdate = 2015-06-06}}</ref>
"Jam" was the last song that The Yellow Monkey performed when they disbanded in 2004.<ref name="plane"/> After reuniting in 2016, they performed "Jam" on the [[67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen]] at the end of the year, marking their first appearance at the event.<ref>{{cite web | title = 【紅白】初出場イエモンが「JAM」熱唱 吉井和哉「再集結してよかった」| url = https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2083993/full/| work = [[Oricon]]| language = Japanese|date=2016-12-21| accessdate = 2021-05-15}}</ref> The band re-recorded "Jam" for their 2017 self-cover album, ''The Yellow Monkey is Here. New Best''.<ref>{{cite web | title = 新録ベスト！東京ドーム2DAYS！新曲公開！THE YELLOW MONKEY新情報一挙解禁| url = https://natalie.mu/music/news/224930| work = [[Natalie (website)|Natalie]]| language = Japanese|date=2017-03-17| accessdate = 2021-05-31}}</ref>
==Reception==
Tomoki Takahashi of ''[[Rockin'On]]'' wrote that "Jam" is the song that made The Yellow Monkey a household name throughout Japan, and called it a "masterpiece" that symbolizes the band's attitude.<ref name="rockinon">{{cite web |title=【連載】奇跡の再始動STORY 〜THE YELLOW MONKEY編〜|url=https://rockinon.com/news/detail/186487|work=[[Rockin'On]]|language=Japanese|date=2019-05-28|accessdate=2023-04-20}}</ref> Yoshii said that when he talks to younger musicians who were influenced by The Yellow Monkey, they always cite "Jam" as their best work.<ref name="compburn"/> Following The Yellow Monkey's disbandment in 2004, [[Oricon]] conducted a poll for the band's best song. "Jam" was the number one answer and "Tactics" came in sixteenth place.<ref>{{cite web | title = THE YELLOW MONKEYのシングル売り上げランキング| url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/26412/ranking/cd_single/| work = [[Oricon]]| language = Japanese|date=2004-12-08| accessdate = 2021-05-15 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053153/https://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/041208_02.html|archivedate=2019-01-30}}</ref> "Jam" also won a 2012 poll conducted by [[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] and [[RecoChoku]] on people's favorite song by The Yellow Monkey.<ref>{{cite web | title = イエモン名曲＆PV一斉配信開始、楽曲投票1位はあの名曲| url = https://natalie.mu/music/news/71427| work = [[Natalie (website)|Natalie]]| language = Japanese|date=2012-06-20| accessdate = 2015-06-06}}</ref> In a 2012 poll conducted by RecoChoku on the best theme song from the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' anime, "Tactics" came in fifth place.<ref>{{cite web | title = "るろうに剣心名曲ランキング" 1位はジュディマリの名曲| url = http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/6684/2| work = [[Billboard Japan]]| language = Japanese|date=2012-08-23| accessdate = 2021-05-15}}</ref>
At [[Tokyo University of Foreign Studies]]' March 2017 graduation ceremony, the university's president Hirotaka Tateishi noted the rise of [[nationalism]], particularly in America, and said "[...] if we are to be true global citizens, we need to think of people in other countries and show respect for their cultures and traditions. Last year, the awarding of the [[Nobel Prize in literature]] to [[Bob Dylan]] was a reminder of the power of song and poetry. For me, personally, I have been most affected by the lyrics of a song by a Japanese rock group called The Yellow Monkey." and read the above excerpt of lyrics from "Jam". He noted how these lyrics were published in a full-page advertisement in ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' on December 31, 2016, that ended by saying, "Unfortunately, these lyrics still apply to [Japan]."<ref name="Tateishi"/>
==Commercial performance==
Munekiyo expected the single to peak at number 30 on the chart, while the president of the band's management agency predicted an even worse commercial performance.<ref name="Munekiyo"/> However, "Jam/Tactics" reached number 6 on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]] and charted for 21 weeks.<ref>{{cite web| title = THE YELLOW MONKEYのシングル売り上げランキング| language = Japanese| work = [[Oricon]]| url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/26412/ranking/cd_single/| accessdate = 2021-05-15| archiveurl = https://archive.today/20130413130556/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/26412/ranking/cd_single/| archivedate = 2013-04-13| url-status = live}}</ref> It was certified gold by the [[RIAJ]] in March 1996, and certified platinum in April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd_search.html|title=Japanese album certifications|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]|language=ja|format=''Enter'' The Yellow Monkey ''into the'' アーティスト ''then select'' 検索|access-date=2021-05-15}}</ref> It was the 39th best-selling single of the year, with 600,580 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.interq.or.jp/kunioki/year/music/rc_ms96.shtml|title=What's This Year - Music 1996|publisher=interq.or.jp|accessdate=2015-06-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407012833/http://www1.interq.or.jp/kunioki/year/music/rc_ms96.shtml|archivedate=2012-04-07}}</ref> In total it has sold 800,000,<ref>{{cite book |title=THE YELLOW MONKEY/BURN |publisher=Rockin'On |year=2000 |page=386 |isbn=4-94-759985-5}}</ref> making it the band's second best-selling single, behind only 1997's "Burn".
==Track listing==
All songs written and composed by [[Kazuya Yoshii]]. Arranged by [[The Yellow Monkey]].
{{Track listing
| title1          = Jam
| length1         = 5:18
| title2          = Tactics
| length2         = 4:28
| title3          = Jam (Karaoke)
| length3         = 5:18
| title4          = Tactics (Karaoke)
| length4         = 4:28
}}
==Personnel==
'''The Yellow Monkey'''
*[[Kazuya Yoshii]] – vocals
*[[Hideaki Kikuchi]] – guitar
*Youichi Hirose – bass
*Eiji Kikuchi – drums
'''Other'''
*Yoshitaka Mikuni – keyboards
*Rafe McKenna – engineer
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Youtube|xv55yyNxCuE|Music video for "Jam"}}
*{{Youtube|AEHcEX4V6Xo|"Tactics (Remastered)"}}
{{Rurouni Kenshin}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1995 songs]]
[[Category:1996 singles]]
[[Category:Japanese rock songs]]
[[Category:Anime songs]]
[[Category:Songs in Japanese]]