{{Short description|2024 studio album by Naniwa Danshi}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox album | name = +Alpha | type = studio | artist = Naniwa Danshi | cover = Plusalpha.jpg | caption = Regular edition | alt = | released = June 12, 2024 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = J-pop | length = 58:20 (Regular edition) | label = Storm Labels | producer = | prev_title = POPMALL | prev_year = 2023 | next_title = Bon Bon Voyage | next_year = 2025 | misc = {{Singles | name = +Alpha | type = studio | single1 = Make Up Day / Missing | single1date = September 13, 2023 | single2 = I Wish | single2date = November 15, 2023}} {{External music video|type=studio|{{YouTube|Olr7YwLu3kQ|"Alpha" }}<br>{{YouTube|_PecUdX2j1A|"New Classic" }}}} }} '''''+Alpha''''' (read as "Plus Alpha") is the third studio album by Japanese idol group Naniwa Danshi. It was released on June 12, 2024. The album includes 14 tracks across all editions, featuring previously released singles such as "Make Up Day", "Missing", and "I Wish", as well as the commercial tie-in song "New Classic".<ref name="model20240416">{{Cite web| url = https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/4253253| title = なにわ男子、3rdアルバム「＋Alpha」決定 初のユニット曲＆新曲「Alpha」「ちゅきちゅきハネムーン」など収録| date = 2024-04-16| website = modelpress| accessdate = 2024-06-14}}</ref>
== Background and release ==
The album was released in three formats: two limited editions (CD+Blu-ray/DVD) and a regular edition.<ref name="natalie20240416">{{Cite web| url = https://natalie.mu/music/news/569552| title = なにわ男子3rdアルバムに初のユニット曲収録、組み合わせは| date = 2024-04-16| website = natalie| accessdate = 2024-06-14}}</ref> The title +Alpha was proposed by member Shunsuke Michieda and reflects the group's intention to expand their musical range by incorporating a wider variety of styles, including more emotional and intense songs alongside their established pop sound.<ref name="TVfan">{{Cite journal|title=Color Our World!|date=2024-05-24|publisher=Mediaboy|journal=Monthly TVfan|issue=July 2024|pages=3-12}}</ref>
The album contains a total of 14 tracks common to all editions, including the singles "Make Up Day", "Missing", and "I Wish", as well as "New Classic", which was used in a commercial campaign for AOKI.<ref name="model20240416" /><ref name="realsound20240416" /> In addition, each edition includes different bonus tracks. Limited Edition 2 features the group's first unit songs, divided into three member combinations, while Limited Edition 1 includes music videos and behind-the-scenes footage for "Alpha" and "New Classic". The regular edition includes additional bonus tracks such as "Chuki Chuki Honeymoon" and "Tokyo AM1:00".<ref name="realsound20240416">{{cite web |title=なにわ男子、3rdアルバム『+Alpha』リリース 初回盤にはグループ初のユニット曲が3曲収録 |url=https://realsound.jp/2024/04/post-1632878.html |website=realsound |access-date=2026-03-26 |language=ja |date=2024-04-16}}</ref>
The lead track "Alpha" was released with a full music video on the group's official YouTube channel more than a month prior to the album's release, surpassing 6 million views by early July 2024.<ref name="realsound20240703">{{cite web |title=なにわ男子、音楽番組で光る西畑大吾の存在感“目新しさ”と“らしさ”を両立させる表現力 |url=https://realsound.jp/2024/07/post-1708446.html |website=realsound |access-date=2026-03-26 |language=ja |date=2024-07-03}}</ref> The song has been described as embodying the group's signature "bright" and "pop" style while also demonstrating their evolving performance capabilities.<ref name="realsound20240703" /> In particular, the group's ability to balance "freshness" with their established identity has been highlighted, supported by the expressive performance styles of members such as Daigo Nishihata and Shunsuke Michieda.<ref name="realsound20240703" />
On April 24, 2024, the group announced their arena tour "Naniwa Danshi LIVE TOUR 2024 '+Alpha'" via an Instagram livestream. The tour ran from June 28 to October 6, 2024, across nine cities in Japan, totaling 42 performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/4260833|title=なにわ男子、全国アリーナツアー発表 全9都市42公演＜日程・会場＞|website=modelpress|date=2024-04-24|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
On August 13, 2024, it was announced during a live performance at Yokohama Arena that a digital version titled ''+Alpha'' (Special Edition), including all bonus tracks, would be released on streaming platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2340046/full/|title=なにわ男子、初のアジアツアー開催へ ツアーMCでサプライズ発表「なにふぁむのおかげ」 サブスク配信も決定【配信作品一覧あり】|website=ORICON NEWS|publisher=oricon ME|date=2024-08-13|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
== Chart performance ==
''+Alpha'' debuted at number one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, marking Naniwa Danshi's third consecutive number-one album since their debut.<ref name="oricon20240618">{{Cite web| url = https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2332182/full/| title = なにわ男子、1stから3作連続アルバム1位獲得【オリコンランキング】| date = 2024-06-18| website = ORICON NEWS| publisher = oricon ME| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref> It also topped the Oricon Combined Albums Chart in the same week.<ref name="oricon20240620">{{Cite web| url = https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2332556/full/| title = なにわ男子、通算3作目の合算アルバム1位【オリコンランキング】| date = 2024-06-20| website = ORICON NEWS| publisher = oricon ME| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref> The album ranked first on the Oricon Monthly Albums Chart for June 2024 and was later ranked seventh on the Oricon Year-end Albums Chart for 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-06/|title=オリコン月間 アルバムランキング 2024年06月度|website=ORICON NEWS|publisher=oricon ME|access-date=2026-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711003702/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-06/|archive-date=2024-07-11}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/69766/3/|title=【オリコン年間ランキング2024】Snow Man「作品別売上数部門」で史上最多の6冠を達成！Creepy Nuts「Bling-Bang-Bang-Born」が3冠、Number_i『No.O -ring-』も首位に|website=ORICON NEWS|publisher=oricon ME|date=2024-12-20|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
On Billboard Japan, the album also achieved strong commercial success. It debuted at number one on the Top Albums Sales chart with over 360,000 copies sold in its first week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/138761/2|title=【ビルボード】なにわ男子『+Alpha』36万枚超えでアルバム・セールス首位獲得|website = Billboard JAPAN|publisher=阪神コンテンツリンク|date=2024-06-17|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> It further topped the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/138830/2|title=【ビルボード】なにわ男子『+Alpha』総合アルバム首位獲得STU48／ミュージカル刀剣乱舞が続く|website=Billboard JAPAN|date=2024-06-19|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> and later ranked seventh on the year-end Top Albums Sales chart and tenth on the year-end Hot Albums chart for 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/144033/2|title=【ビルボード 2024年 年間Top Albums Sales】今年唯一のミリオン突破、Snow Manが2年ぶりに首位返り咲き|website=Billboard JAPAN|date=2024-12-06|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/144284/2|title=【ビルボード 2024年 年間Hot Albums】Snow Man『RAYS』がミリオンを突破して総合アルバム首位（コメントあり）＜12/6訂正＞|website=Billboard JAPAN|publisher=阪神コンテンツリンク|date=2024-12-06|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
The album also reached number three on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart upon its digital release.<ref name="DownloadAlbum">{{Cite web| url = https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/140770/2| title = 【ビルボード】結束バンド『Re:結束バンド』大差でDLアルバム首位、なにわ男子が初登場3位| date = 2024-08-21| website = Billboard JAPAN| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref>
== Track listing ==
=== CD === ==== Standard tracks ==== # "New Classic" – 3:04 #* "New Classic" is inspired by Antonio Vivaldi's ''The Four Seasons'' ("Spring") and was used as a commercial song for AOKI.<ref name="oricon20240329">{{Cite web| url = https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2320487/full/| title = なにわ男子、新曲「NEW CLASSIC」MV公開 オーケストラを背にダンス、多重合成やVFXなど伝統を“アップデート”した世界観に| date = 2024-03-29| website = ORICON NEWS| publisher = oricon ME| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref> # "Kick Start" – 3:27 # "Alpha" – 3:40 #* "Alpha" serves as the lead track of the album and showcases the group's signature bright and pop-oriented style.<ref>{{Cite web| url = https://tower.jp/article/news/2024/05/08/tg002| title = なにわ男子、6月12日リリースの3rdアルバム『+Alpha』よりリード曲“Alpha”MV公開| date = 2024-05-08| website = TOWER RECORDS ONLINE| publisher = TOWER RECORDS| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref> # "Namonaki Tabibito" – 3:51 # "Yūniji" – 3:38 # "Snap!" – 3:03 # "Make Up Day" – 3:07 #* "Make Up Day" and "Missing" were released as a double A-side single and used as theme songs for television dramas.<ref name="model20240416"/> # "Arifureta Koi ja, Mō Mitasarenai" – 4:12 # "Satisfaction" – 3:04 # "Missing" – 3:30 # "Girlfriend" – 3:18 # "I Wish" – 4:17 #* "I Wish" was used as the theme song for the TBS drama ''My Second Aoharu''.<ref name="model20240416" /> # "So Good" – 3:57 # "Live in the moment" – 3:42 #* "Live in the moment" samples Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ("Ode to Joy").<ref name="real20240814">{{Cite web| author = Midori Sasaki| url = https://realsound.jp/2024/08/post-1748024.html| title = なにわ男子、サブスク解禁を機に聴きたい隠れた名曲 魅力は抜群の“聴きやすさ”にあり| date = 2024-08-14| website = Real Sound| publisher = blueprint| access-date = 2026-03-26}}</ref>
==== Limited Edition 1 ==== # "Happy Happy Birthday!!" – 3:00
==== Limited Edition 2 ==== # "Koi Yakedome" (Daigo Nishihata, Ryusei Onishi) – 3:50 # "Precious One" (Shunsuke Michieda, Joichiro Fujiwara) – 4:33 # "Ururirurarirari" (Kyohei Takahashi, Kento Nagao, Kazuya Ohashi) – 3:17
==== Regular edition ==== # "Chukichuki Honeymoon" – 4:42 # "Tokyo AM1:00" – 3:41
=== Blu-ray/DVD ===
==== Limited Edition 1 ==== # "Alpha" Music Video & Making # "Alpha" Music Video (Dance ver.) # "NEW CLASSIC" Music Video & Making
==== Limited Edition 2 ==== # "Koi Yakedome" Music Video # "Precious One" Music Video # "Ururirurarirari" Music Video # Unit making-of video
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.storm-labels.co.jp/s/js/discography/LCCA-6135 ''+Alpha''] - Storm Labels * {{YouTube|_PecUdX2j1A|"New Classic" }} * {{YouTube|Olr7YwLu3kQ|"Alpha" }} * {{YouTube|-b5t1g7ixyM|''+Alpha'' All songs digest movie}}
{{Naniwa Danshi}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2024 albums Category:Naniwa Danshi albums Category:J Storm albums