Gravity (Maaya Sakamoto song)

“Gravity” was released on February 21, 2003, by Victor Entertainment, as Maaya Sakamoto's eighth single. The song was written by Sakamoto herself, with music composed by Yoko Kanno, who had been a frequent collaborator since Sakamoto's debut in 1996.¹ The single was issued in CD format and included the title track, an instrumental version, and a coupling track titled “Freed” (also written by Sakamoto and Kanno). The cover art features a minimalist design with a silhouette of a wolf, referencing the anime.

“Gravity” is a slow-tempo ballad in the key of D major, with a time signature of 4/4 and a tempo of approximately 72 beats per minute.² The arrangement features piano, strings, and subtle electronic textures, characteristic of Yoko Kanno's style.¹ Sakamoto's vocal delivery is soft and airy, conveying a sense of longing and introspection. The song's harmonic structure is relatively simple, with a verse–chorus form, but it builds emotionally through dynamic swells in the string section.

The lyrics, written by Sakamoto, explore themes of gravity as a metaphor for emotional weight and connection. The opening lines, “I am a child of the universe / I am a child of the universe,” suggest a cosmic perspective, while the chorus speaks of being “held by gravity” and “falling into you.”³ The song reflects the melancholic tone of Wolf's Rain, which deals with themes of loss, hope, and the search for paradise. Sakamoto has stated that she wrote the lyrics after reading the anime's script, aiming to capture the protagonist's feelings of isolation and yearning.¹

“Gravity” peaked at number 23 on the Oricon weekly singles chart and charted for four weeks. It was later included on Sakamoto's third studio album, Shōnen Alice (2003), and on her compilation album Everywhere (2010). The song has been praised by critics for its emotional depth and Sakamoto's vocal performance, and it is often cited as one of her signature songs.⁴ It also won the “Best TV Theme Song” award at the 2003 Animation Kobe event.⁵

“Gravity” has remained popular in the anime music community and has been covered by various artists. In 2018, it was included in the tribute album Request, featuring covers by multiple artists. The song has also been performed live by Sakamoto in numerous concerts, often as an encore.⁴ Its enduring appeal is attributed to its universal theme of emotional connection and its association with a beloved anime series.

One lesser-known fact is that the song was originally written in English, with Sakamoto recording an English version that was never officially released.¹ Additionally, the single's coupling track “Freed” was used as an insert song in Wolf's Rain episode 14, and it shares thematic similarities with “Gravity.” The song's music video, directed by Shunji Iwai, features Sakamoto in a stark, monochromatic setting, and was noted for its artistic style.⁴ Furthermore, “Gravity” was one of the first anime theme songs to be released as a ringtone in Japan, contributing to its widespread recognition.⁵

Oricon

Japanese music chart ranking company, the standard for measuring record sales in Japan.

Yoko Kanno

Japanese composer and music producer known for her work on anime soundtracks, including Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain.

Wolf's Rain

Anime television series produced by Bones, aired in 2003, set in a post-apocalyptic world where wolves are believed to be extinct.

Insert song

A song played within an episode of a TV series, as opposed to an opening or ending theme.