"Sample" | ||||
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"Word" / "Sample" digital download cover
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Single by Sakanaction | ||||
from the album Night Fishing | ||||
Released | December 5, 2007 | |||
Format | digital download | |||
Recorded | 2007 | |||
Genre | pop, dance, electronica, post-rock | |||
Length | 4:41 | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ichiro Yamaguchi | |||
Producer(s) | Sakanaction | |||
Sakanaction singles chronology | ||||
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"Sample" (Japanese: サンプル Hepburn: Sanpuru) (Japanese pronunciation: [sampɯɾɯ]) is a song by Japanese band Sakanaction. Originally a song recorded by Sakanaction's vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi's high-school band Dutchman in 2002, it was later released by Sakanaction on December 5, 2007 as a double A-side digital single alongside "Word", two months before the band's second album Night Fishing. As the leading promotional track from Night Fishing, "Sample" was heavily promoted on radio stations in Hokkaido in February, however did not receive noticeable national airplay. Since its release, "Sample" has become a staple of the band's live concert set-lists.
Sakanaction was first formed in 2005 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The band gained exposure in Hokkaido after winning the audition to perform as a newcomer artist at the Rising Sun Rock Festival in Otaru in August 2006, and after demos of their songs "Mikazuki Sunset" and "Shiranami Top Water" performed well on College Radio Japan Sapporo. The band were signed to major label Victor Entertainment, and released their debut album Go to the Future on May 7, 2007, through Victor's BabeStar Label. The album was primarily promoted with the song "Mikazuki Sunset", which was widely promoted on radio stations in Hokkaido in May. On Go to the Future and Night Fishing, Sakanaction based themselves in Sapporo, and recorded their albums there.
Due to the response to the band's debut album Go to the Future, Sakanaction's A&R team pushed them to quickly follow this up with a second album. The majority of the songs present on the album were written specifically as an album, as opposed to the compilation-like nature of Go to the Future. The material for the album was created based on the response and criticism for their debut album, and the members realization that they should not be frightened to make bold changes.