Watch Ado's Video For Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo Theme 'Raven Sky'
(SFM) Following a monumental summer that included a sold-out milestone performance at Nissan Stadium, her first-ever Lollapalooza performance in Chicago, and a headlining performance at Summer Sonic, 23-year-old Japanese powerhouse vocalist Ado has officially released her highly anticipated new single, "Raven Sky," available worldwide across all major streaming platforms.
Alongside the single's release, Ado has dropped a striking new music video that visualizes the raw power of life and the relentless rhythm of a heartbeat. "Raven Sky" is the official theme song for the upcoming Japan-U.S. co-production feature film Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, which is slated to hit theaters in Japan on October 23.
The newly released music video dives into the spiritual world of Nev, a young girl trapped in the grips of past failures and self-loathing. Built around the core themes of a persistent "heartbeat" and the unyielding "vitality of life," the visual narrative depicts a fragile existence that continues to endure and transform despite breaking down. Set against dark, ominous imagery, the video radiates an unstoppable pulse and hints at unseen potential.
With the core thematic interpretation -"If falling is fate, living might also be fate" - the song and its accompanying visuals invite listeners to confront themselves and discover the resilience that lies beyond internal conflict. The striking character art and visuals were designed by illustrator PODO, who also crafted the official artwork for the single.
A Star-Studded Musical Collaboration
"Raven Sky" blends a hard-hitting rock sound with bilingual lyrics in both Japanese and English, capturing a world view akin to reincarnation: "Even if it rots away, it connects to the future," symbolized by a broken-winged raven soaring against the open sky. The track was composed and arranged by Grammy Award-winning musician Masanori Takumi, with lyrics co-written by acclaimed music producer Kanata Okajima and Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter and producer Seann Bowe.
About the Film: Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo
Directed by master of cinematic violence Takashi Miike, globally renowned for his relentless pacing and cutting-edge style, Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo is an explosive collaboration with NEON, Hollywood's most forward-thinking and trendsetting studio.
The film stars Shun Oguri as Yabuki, a deeply compromised, drug- and gambling-addicted detective tied to the criminal underworld. Hunted by the Yakuza and rumored to have murdered his own partner, Yabuki is the ultimate "bad lieutenant." While drowning in debts from ruthless loan sharks, a series of bizarre, ritualistic serial murders targeting the Yakuza breaks out. Countless crows circle an eerie rooftop where gruesome remains are laid out like an occult ceremony.
As Yabuki investigates the grotesque murders, he is forced into an uneasy partnership with Gwen (Lily James), an FBI agent who has traveled to Japan to search for the missing daughter of a high-ranking U.S. official. What begins as two unrelated cases soon entwine in the darkest depths of the city, exposing a web of corruption and conspiracy. Filled with brutal violence, high-speed car chases, and unyielding gun action, the film delivers a sensory-shattering cinematic rush.
Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo celebrated its world premiere on September 14 in the Special Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a high-profile red-carpet premiere at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku in Kabukicho on October 1. Both events drew massive critical acclaim and audience excitement.
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