"Iiwake Maybe" (言い訳Maybe, "An Excuse, Maybe") is the 13th major single by the Japanese idol group AKB48, released on August 26, 2009.[1] It was the first AKB48's single which participating members were chosen by election. The single surprisingly outsold SMAP on its first day, taking the 1st place in the daily chart,[2] but eventually placed 2nd in the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[3] Their sister groups JKT48, SNH48, MNL48 and AKB48 Team SH made their own version.
"Iiwake Maybe" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Regular Edition cover | ||||
Single by AKB48 | ||||
from the album Kamikyokutachi | ||||
B-side | "Tobenai Agehachō" | |||
Released | August 26, 2009 (2009-08-26) (Japan) | |||
Genre | J-pop | |||
Length | 4:09 | |||
Label | You, Be Cool! / King | |||
Songwriter(s) | Yasushi Akimoto, Shunryū | |||
Producer(s) | Yasushi Akimoto | |||
AKB48 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music videos | ||||
Iiwake Maybe on YouTube | ||||
Tobenai Agehachō on YouTube | ||||
The single was released in two versions: Regular Edition (通常盤) (CD+DVD, catalog number KIZM-37/8) and Theater Edition (劇場盤) (CD only, catalog number NMAX-1086).
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Iiwake Maybe" (言い訳Maybe) | Yasushi Akimoto, Shunryū | 4:09 |
2. | "Tobenai Agehachō" (飛べないアゲハチョウ) | Yasushi Akimoto, Yoshimasa Inoue | 3:41 |
3. | "Iiwake Maybe (off vocal ver.)" | Akimoto, Shunryū | |
4. | "Tobenai Agehachō (off vocal ver.)" | Akimoto, Inoue | |
Total length: | 15:49 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Iiwake Maybe (music video)" (「言い訳Maybe」ビデオクリップ) | |
2. | "Tobenai Agehachō (music video)" (「飛べないアゲハチョウ」ビデオクリップ) | |
3. | "AKB48 General Election documentary" (AKB48総選挙ドキュメント) |
Bonus (First press limited edition only)
See Regular Edition CD
Participating members were chosen by election.[4] Top 21 members sang the A-side "Iiwake Maybe". Those, who were voted 22nd to 30th, sang the B-side "Tobenai Agehachō" under the name of Under Girls.
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japan (Oricon Weekly Singles Chart) | 2 |
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[5] | 2 |
Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart) | 11 |
Chart | Amount |
---|---|
Oricon physical sales | 145,776 |
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | Platinum (250,000+) |
AKB48 singles | |
---|---|
Set List: Greatest Songs 2006–2007 |
|
Kamikyokutachi | |
Koko ni Ita Koto | |
1830m | |
Tsugi no Ashiato | |
Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe! | |
0 to 1 no Aida | |
Thumbnail | |
Bokutachi wa, Ano Hi no Yoake wo Shitteiru | |
Non-album singles | |
Other singles | |
Other songs | |
|
Authority control ![]() |
|
---|