Kick Back (song)

"Kick Back" is a song by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu. It was released as a single digitally by SME Records on October 12, 2022, as well as in three physical editions: a regular CD edition, a video edition, and a chainsaw edition. The song serves as the opening theme for the anime series Chainsaw Man.[1][2]

"Kick Back"
Single by Kenshi Yonezu
B-side"Hazukashikutte Shōganē"
ReleasedOctober 12, 2022 (2022-10-12)
GenreRock
Length3:13
LabelSME
Songwriter(s)Kenshi Yonezu
Producer(s)
  • Kenshi Yonezu
  • Daiki Tsuneta
Kenshi Yonezu singles chronology
"M87"
(2022)		 "Kick Back"
(2022)		 "Lady"
(2023)
Music video
"Kick Back" on YouTube

Background and release

This song is used as one of the opening theme for the anime series Chainsaw Man.[3] Yonezu was in charge of the theme song for the TV anime My Hero Academia, the first opening of the second season. It has been about five years since the theme "Peace Sign".

King Gnu and Millennium Parade member Daiki Tsuneta participated in the production and arrangement with Yonezu.[4] "Kick Back" also samples Morning Musume's 2002 song "Sōda! We're Alive".

On September 19, 2022, the preview for Chainsaw Man was released, with "Kick Back" being used. In addition, it was also performed live for the first time at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium performance on the first day of "2022 Tour / Henshin", which was held on September 23. In addition, the arranger Daiki Tsuneta appeared at the tour final at Saitama Super Arena on October 27, performing this song and "Ai Lily".

The CD single was released in three formats: a chainsaw board, a video board, and a regular board, and it also came with a "Kenshi Yonezu 2023 Tour / Fantasy" advance lottery application serial number and a corporate privilege sticker.[5][6]

Composition

"Kick Back" starts in B-flat minor for the intro. During the verses, the first half of each verse was written in B-flat minor, however in the second half of the first verse, it changes to the key between the key of D minor and G minor.

In the pre-chorus, the song changes to the key of A-flat minor, but dramatically changes to C-sharp minor for the chorus. It remains at this key until at the end of the first chorus. It then switches back to B-flat minor for the second verse.

In the second verse, it follows the format of the first verse, with an exception of changing it dramatically to A-flat major for the bridge.

At the end of the bridge, it changes back to C-sharp minor for the final chorus and the post-chorus of the song.

The song ends in the key of B-flat minor and runs at the tempo of 102 BPM (204 BPM if double).

Music video

Prior to the song's release, the music video premiered on October 25, featuring Yonezu and Daiki Tsuneta. It was directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama, who also worked on the music video for "Kanden" and Yonezu's promotional photos. In the video, Yonezu devotes himself to training in a gym alongside Tsuneta. After a montage of vigorous working out and Yonezu shown with large muscular arms, Yonezu runs off a treadmill into a field and then onto a road, where he is hit by a truck, which launches him through the air and into doing parkour across shipping containers and city buildings. A group of men dressed in similar attire appear and run alongside him through an industrial site and across a quarry. The video ends with Yonezu shown back in the gym, walking on a treadmill alongside Tsuneta, with a security camera revealing Tsuneta is not really there.[7]

The opening sequence for the Chainsaw Man anime plays tribute to several films, including Reservoir Dogs, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Pulp Fiction, Sadako vs. Kayako, No Country for Old Men, Fight Club, Messiah of Evil, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don't Look Up, Jacob's Ladder, Constantine, and The Big Lebowski. The other references are the manga Goodbye, Eri and Fire Punch by the same author, the song "Sōda! We're Alive" by Morning Musume and the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. The sequence was directed and storyboarded by Shingo Yamashita.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kenshi Yonezu

CD single / digital download / streaming
No.TitleArrangementLength
1."Kick Back"
  • Kenshi Yonezu
  • Daiki Tsuneta
3:13
2."Hazukashikutte Shōganē" (恥ずかしくってしょうがねえ; lit. "I Can't Help Being Embarrassed")Yonezu3:41
3."Kick Back" (anime edit)
  • Yonezu
  • Tsuneta
1:27
Total length:8:21
Limited edition DVD
No.TitleLength
1."TV Anime Chainsaw Man Non-Credit Opening Movie"1:39
2."M87" (music video)4:46
Total length:14:46

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for "Kick Back"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[28]
CD single 		Platinum 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[29]
Download 		Gold 100,000*
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000‡
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[31] 3× Platinum 300,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Kick Back"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various October 12, 2022
Standalone SME [32]
November 23, 2022 Regular [33]
Japan CD+DVD Video
CD+chainsaw necklace Chainsaw
CD Regular

References
  1. 米津玄師が「チェンソーマン」描き下ろし、本日配信の新曲「Kick Back」ジャケット公開 [Kenshi Yonezu draws "Chainsawman" and releases the jacket for his new song "Kick Back" distributed today]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. 米津玄師「チェンソーマン」OPテーマをCDリリース、ネックレスが付属する“チェンソー盤”も [Kenshi Yonezu "Chainsawman" "Opening theme CD release, "Chainsaw board" with necklace]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  3. 米津玄師 TVアニメ『チェンソーマン』OP「Kick Back」配信がスタート！ [Kenshi Yonezu TV animation "Chainsaw Man" OP "Kick Back" distribution starts!]. LisAni! (in Japanese). October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. 米津玄師、TVアニメ"チェンソーマン"OP「Kick Back」配信スタート。描き下ろしジャケット公開 [Kenshi Yonezu, TV anime "Chainsaw Man" OP "Kick Back" distribution start. Newly drawn jacket released]. Skream! (in Japanese). October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  5. 米津玄師 13th Single「Kick Back」11月23日発売 [Kenshi Yonezu 13th Single "Kick Back" released on November 23rd]. Reissue Records (in Japanese). November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  6. "Kick Back". Reissue Records (in Japanese). October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  7. 米津玄師「Kick Back」MVに常田大希登場、筋トレを重ねる2人に待ち受ける衝撃の展開 [Kenshi Yonezu "Kick Back" MV featuring Daiki Tsuneta The shocking development that awaits the two of them as they train (with video)]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 25, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  8. Loveridge, Lynzee (October 11, 2022). "The Film References in the Chainsaw Man Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  9. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  10. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  11. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  13. "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of October 19, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  14. Oricon Weekly Single Ranking – 2022-12-05 Oricon News. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  16. "RIAS Top Charts Week 43 (21 - 27 Oct 2022)". RIAS. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  17. "Digital Chart – Week 7 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  18. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Taiwan Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  19. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  20. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  21. "Kenshi Yonezu Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  22. "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2022-11". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  23. "Digital Chart – February 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  24. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  25. "Billboard Japan Hot Animation Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  26. 年間 シングルランキング 2022年度 [Annual Single Ranking 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  27. "【オリコン年間ランキング2022】King & Prince、今年度唯一のミリオン達成で自身初の「シングル」首位 Snow Man初の「アルバム」1位 / デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  28. "Japanese single certifications – 米津玄師 – KICK BACK" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Select 2022年11月 on the drop-down menu
  29. "Japanese digital single certifications – 米津玄師 – KICK BACK" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Select 2022年10月 on the drop-down menu
  30. "American single certifications – Kenshi Yonezu – Kick Back". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  31. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Kenshi Yonezu – Kick Back" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 25, 2023. Select 2023年9月 on the drop-down menu
  32. 「Kick Back」配信リリース. Reissue Records (in Japanese). October 12, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  33. 米津玄師 13thシングル Kick Back. Reissue Records (in Japanese). October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.