"Go to the Top" (stylized as Go to the top) is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda for her eleventh studio album, Bon Voyage (2012). It premiered on October 24, 2012 as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Kumi, while production was handled by Clarabell. It was used as the opening theme song for the Âge–developed anime series Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse. Musically, the track was described as an electronic dance song with elements of 8-bit music, dance-pop, and dubstep.
Upon its release, "Go to the Top" garnered positive reviews from music critics. Many critics commended the song's dance-influenced composition, lyrical content, and Kumi's vocal delivery. Minor criticism was towards the song's inclusion of 8-bit music elements. The song was successful in Japan, peaking at #1 on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart and becoming Kumi's eighth number one single. It also reached 10 on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments of 100,000 units.
The accompanying music video for "Go to the Top" was shot in Tokyo by Tomoe Nakano; it features an animated Kumi flying a large robot in a racing circuit with another racer. Koda performed the single during several of her concerts, including Premium Night: Love & Songs and the Hall Tour 2014: Bon Voyage.
Background
"Go to the Top" was Kumi's first single since her promotional recording "Whatchu Waitin' On?" from her sixth remix album Beach Mix, and giving birth to her and Kenji's son in July 2012. On June 30, Koda Kumi's record label Rhythm Zone confirmed that she was to perform the theme song for the Âge–developed anime series Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse. The song was Kumi's seventh collaboration effort with anime series; the previous six songs being "Real Emotion" and "1000 Words" for the 2003 video game Final Fantasy X-2, "Go Way" for the 2006 film Crayon Shin-chan: Densetsu o Yobu Odore! Amigo!. Koda also performed the theme songs the live-action film of the anime series; the title track for Cutie Honey, "Crazy 4 U" for Gilgamesh, "No Regret" for The Law of Ueki, and the title track for Re: Cutie Honey.
It was selected as the lead single from Bon Voyage and was released in Japan on October 24, 2012 by Rhythm Zone. The Maxi CD version of the single contains the B-side "Darling", and the DJ AKI and Takeo Yatabe remix for "Go to the Top". The DVD version of the single contains the accompanying music video, and a limited "Total Eclipse Edition" with Slipcase includes all tracks and the video except "Darling". There are four cover sleeves to "Go to the Top". The CD, DVD, and Fan Club formats feature close-up shots of Kumi wearing a bejewelled masquerade mask. Red construction tape superimposes her, with Kumi's and the song's title inserted in it. The Total Eclipse Edition features a shot of Total Eclipse character Takamura Yui. The digital single uses the original DVD cover.
Composition
"Go to the Top" was written by Kumi, while production was handled by Clarabell. Clarabell was in charge of the song's arrangement and production, including the synthesizers, keyboards, and drum machine. Kiyoto Konda played the electric guitar during the chorus and song breaks. The song was described as an electronic dance song that, according to Patrick St. Michel from The Japan Times, "featured elements of contemporary stateside electronic dance music (EDM)." The song was noted for its numerous musical elements including 8-bit music, dance-pop, and dubstep. Koda said that she had become "languish[ed]" after having "life-changing events such as marriage and having a baby,". She felt the effects left her "not knowing what direction I was going to take," in terms of her musical sound and lyrical delivery.