Biri-Biri

"Biri-Biri" (from Japanese ビリビリ, onomatopoeia for the sound of electric shock) is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released as a single on November 18, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan to commemorate the first anniversary of the release of 2022 role-playing video games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Commercially, "Biri-Biri" peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and number 19 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.

Background and release
On November 16, 2023, Yoasobi and The Pokémon Company's role-playing video games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet announced a collaboration to celebrate the games' first anniversary with the song titled "Biri-Biri", slated for release in both Japanese- and English-language versions, the latter translated by Konnie Aoki, simultaneously on November 18, 2023, the same date as the first anniversary of the games. The limited black-and-white CD single and scarlet-and-violet 12-inch vinyl formats were released on March 13, 2024, which included code for receiving special Pawmot on the games. The English-language version was included on the duo's third English-language EP E-Side 3, released on April 12, 2024.

Lyrics and composition
"Biri-Biri" was inspired by the game-based short story Kimi to Ameagari o (きみと雨上がりを), written by novelist Ayano Takeda. The story tells about "treasure hunting" of the video games' characters: Nemona, a student council president at Naranja Academy in Paldea region, and Anna, a transfer student.

"Biri-Biri" was described as an electropop song with hip-hop elements, and drum and bass rhythms. adding Pokémon-styled video game music. The song is about the bond between rivals, which the lyrics reference all Pokémon video games from Red and Blue to the most recent Scarlet and Violet. In an interview with Vogue Taiwan in December 2023, Ayase explained about the song that "does not want to convey any life message, nor does it want to tell you how to live in the future. It simply expresses our love for Pokémon."

Music video
An accompanying music video for "Biri-Biri" premiered on November 18, 2023, the same date as the single release, at 22:00 JST. Directed by Ryō Sasaki, the 3D-animated visual features Nemona and Anna's journey and bond with a variety of Pokémon, including Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Fidough, and Gengar. It also shows Pokémon battles and Nemona and Anna riding Cyclizar and Koraidon together. Later, the English version's music video was uploaded on December 4.

Live performances
Yoasobi performed "Biri-Biri" for the first time on December 1, 2023, at Clockenflap music festival in Hong Kong, as part of their first Asia Tour, which was included on the tour's setlist. In the Jakarta and New Taipei City shows, Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly mascots also joined the performance. It was also a part of the setlist for their Pop Out Zepp Tour, and Coachella festival. The duo debuted the televised performance of the song at Music Station special episode Super Live 2023 on December 22, featuring augmented reality of various Pokémons. At the Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome, Yoasobi performed the song with NewJeans.

Track listing

 * Digital download and streaming
 * 1) "Biri-Biri" – 3:07
 * 2) "Biri-Biri" (English version) – 3:07


 * CD single and 12-inch vinyl
 * 1) "Biri-Biri" – 3:07
 * 2) "Biri-Biri" (English version) – 3:07
 * 3) "Biri-Biri" (instrumental) – 3:07

Credits and personnel

 * Ayase – songwriter, producer
 * Ikura – vocals
 * Ayano Takeda – based story writer
 * Konnie Aoki – English lyrics, English version vocal direction
 * BFNK – English lyrics, English version vocal direction
 * Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording (original)
 * Kunio Nishikawara – vocal recording (English version)
 * Masahiko Fukui – mixing
 * Hidekazu Sakai – mastering