King Gnu

King Gnu is a Japanese band formed in 2013.[1][2] It consists of: Daiki Tsuneta (vocalist and guitarist), Satoru Iguchi (vocalist and keyboardist), Kazuki Arai (bassist) and Yu Seki (drummer). The band's main songwriter is Daiki Tsuneta, who also performs as part of the creative collective Millennium Parade.[3]

King Gnu
Also known as
  • Mrs.Vinci (2013)
  • Srv.Vinci (2013–2017)
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active2013–present
Labels
MembersDaiki Tsuneta
Yū Seki
Kazuki Arai
Satoru Iguchi
Past membersShun Ishiwaka
Websitekinggnu.jp

Career

In 2013, Mrs.Vinci was formed, later going by Srv.Vinci.

In 2017, they renamed themselves to King Gnu.[4] They then performed at the Fuji Rock Festival in 2017 and 2018.[5] On October 25, 2017, the band released their first album under the name King Gnu, Tokyo Rendez-Vous. The track "Vinyl" was used in a Persol Tempstaff advertisement released on January 25 the next year.[6]

In January 2019, the band released Sympa, their first release under a major label after signing to Ariola Japan. The following month, King Gnu released hit song "Hakujitsu", which ranked No.4 in the year-end chart of Billboard Japan Hot 100.[7] In October, they released "Kasa" and achieved their first No.1 on the Billboard Japan Download Chart.[8] On December 31, King Gnu performed "Hakujitsu" at the 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, their debut performance on the program.[9]

Their third album Ceremony, released on January 15, 2020, was a commercial success, peaking atop the Japanese Oricon albums chart, the Billboard Japan albums chart, and was one of the 10 best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide by selling over one million copies.[10] A nationwide tour for the album was scheduled but all performances were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] The band held their first online live concert in August.[12] On September 8, it was announced that King Gnu would be the first Japanese artist to sign a partnership agreement with Red Bull.[13]

In August 2021, it was announced that King Gnu would perform the opening theme song "Boy" for the anime adaptation of Ranking of Kings;[14] the song was released in October.[15] In December, MAPPA released a few movie trailers promoting the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 anime film adaptation, which King Gnu have made 2 new songs for the film. The songs are "Ichizu" (一途, "The Only Way") and "Sakayume" (逆夢, "Contradictory Dream"), which are the opening and ending themes for the Jujutsu Kaisen movie. The two songs were released together as Ichizu/Sakayume. In March 2022, they released "Chameleon" (カメレオン, Kamereon), which is the theme for Japanese television drama Don't Call It Mystery, adapted from the manga of the same name. In November 2022, they played one of the biggest concerts of their career, performed in two days concerts with attended more than 100.000 fans at Tokyo Dome.

King Gnu held their biggest tour ever in Japan "Closing Ceremony" on May and June 2023, which saw them played at stadiums for the first time in Nagai Stadium and Nissan Stadium (Yokohama). They did it just in span 5 years after their debut.

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[16]		 JPN Hot
[17]
Srv. Vinci
Mad Me More Softly
  • Released: September 16, 2015
  • Label: Perimetron
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "Devil's MC"
  2. "PPL"
  3. "Heroine"
  4. "Those Sunny Smiles"
  5. "Mommy's Tummy"
  6. "Zero Gravity Toilet"
  7. "Diving to You"
  8. "Abnormal Pressure"
  9. "Plastic Rain"
  10. "'I'm Outta Here.'"
 —— —
King Gnu
Tokyo Rendez-Vous
  • Released: October 25, 2017
  • Reissued: January 16, 2019
  • Label: Perimetron, Ariola Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "Tokyo Rendez-Vous"
  2. "McDonald Romance"
  3. "Anataha Shinkirou" (あなたは蜃気楼)
  4. "Vinyl"
  5. "Haretsu" (破裂)
  6. "Low Love"
  7. "Night Pool"
  8. "Summer Rain Diver" (サマーレイン・ダイバー)
 46—
Sympa
  • Released: January 16, 2019
  • Label: Ariola Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "Sympa I" (Instrumental)
  2. "Slumberland"
  3. "Flash!!!"
  4. "Sorrows"
  5. "Sympa II" (Instrumental)
  6. "Hitman"
  7. "Don't Stop the Clocks"
  8. "It's a Small World"
  9. "Sympa III" (Instrumental)
  10. "Prayer X"
  11. "Bedtown"
  12. "The Hole"
  13. "Sympa IV" (Instrumental)
 43
Ceremony
  • Released: January 15, 2020
  • Label: Ariola Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 11
  • WW: 1,000,000[20]
  • JPN: 500,000[21]
  • JPN: 87,000 (digital)[22]
The Greatest Unknown
  • Scheduled: November 29, 2023
  • Label: Ariola Japan
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays
Title Album details
Srv. Vinci
Tokyo Chaotic
(トーキョー・カオティック)
  • Released: September 14, 2016
  • Label: Perimetron
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "Low Love" (ロウラヴ)
  2. "Summer Rain Diver" (サマーレイン・ダイバー)
  3. "Vinyl"
  4. "Haretsu" (破裂)

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and originating album
Title Year Peak positions Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[24]		 JPN
Hot
[25]		 WW
[26]
"Flash!!!" 2018 —97—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (streaming)[27]
 Sympa
"Prayer X" 3140—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (download)[28]
    • Gold (streaming)[29]
"Hakujitsu" (白日) 2019 —2—
  • RIAJ:
    • Million (download)[31]
    • Triple Platinum (streaming)[32]
 Ceremony
"Hikōtei" (飛行艇) —10—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (download)[33]
    • Platinum (streaming)[34]
"Kasa" (傘) —9—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (download)[35]
    • Platinum (streaming)[36]
"Sanmon Shousetsu" (三文小説) 2020 24—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (physical)[37]
    • Gold (download)[38]
    • Platinum (streaming)[39]
 The Greatest Unknown
"Senryou Yakusha" (千両役者) 12—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (physical)[37]
    • Silver (streaming)[40]
"Abuku" (泡) 2021 —18—
"Boy" 49—
  • RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)[42]
"Ichizu" (一途) 11—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (physical)[44]
    • Gold (download)[45]
    • Double Platinum (streaming)[46]
"Sakayume" (逆夢) 2—
  • RIAJ:
    • Gold (physical)[47]
    • Gold (download)[48]
    • Platinum (streaming)[49]
"Chameleon" (カメレオン) 2022 21—
  • RIAJ: Gold (download)[51]
  • RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)[52]
"Ame Sansan" (雨燦々) —13—
  • RIAJ: Gold (streaming)[53]
"Stardom" 58—
"Specialz" 2023 4228
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Promotional singles
List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and originating album
Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album
JPN
Hot
[56]
"Tokyo Rendez-Vous" 2017 — Tokyo Rendez-Vous
"McDonald Romance" —
"Vinyl" 90
  • RIAJ: Gold (streaming)[57]
"Slumberland" 2018 53
  • RIAJ: Gold (streaming)[58]
 Sympa
"Teenager Forever" 2019 5
  • RIAJ: Gold (download)[59]
  • RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)[60]
 Ceremony
"Glass Window" (硝子窓) 2023 16 The Greatest Unknown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs
List of other songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and originating album
Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album
JPN
Hot
[61]
"Kaikai-shiki" (開会式) 2020 81 Ceremony
"Doron" (どろん) 6
  • RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)[62]
"Humor" (ユーモア 26
"Makuai" (幕間) 77
"Chiisana Wakusei" (小さな惑星) 25
  • RIAJ: Gold (streaming)[63]
"Overflow" 41
"Danjo" (壇上) 66
"F.O.O.L" 2021 75 TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Guest appearances
Title Year Album
"Kazari Janai no yo Namida wa" 2019 Yōsui Inoue Tribute

Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances
Year No. Song Notes
2019 70th Hakujitsu
2022 73rd Stardom

Accolades
YearCeremonyAwardNominated WorkResult
20192019 MTV Video Music Awards JapanBest Video of the Year"Hakujitsu"Won
Best New Artist Video Won
61st Japan Record Awards Excellence Album Award Sympa Won
2019 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Japanese Act King Gnu Won
2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards Best New Asian Artist – Japan Won
20222022 MTV Video Music Awards JapanBest Art Direction Video[64]"Sakayume"Won

References
  1. Srv.Vinciが改名を発表、第一弾楽曲公開。7月にはアルバムも.
  2. "King Gnu来年1月にメジャーデビューアルバム発売、初の全国ツアーも決定".
  3. Kaga, Ryuichi (April 14, 2020). "Interview with Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045 Opening Artist Daiki Tsuneta of millennium parade". OTAQUEST. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  4. Srv.Vinciが改名を発表、第一弾楽曲公開。7月にはアルバムも [Srv.Vinci announces name change and releases first song. Album coming in July]. Barks (in Japanese). April 27, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  5. 2年連続出演を勝ち取った注目のルーキー、King Gnu登場！. June 15, 2018.
  6. King Gnuの「Vinyl」がCMソングに、監督「“トレスポ”並みの衝撃」 [King Gnu's "Vinyl" to be used as CM song, director says, "It's as shocking as 'Trespo'"]. Barks (in Japanese). January 25, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 of the Year 2019 Top 10". Billboard.
  8. 2019/10/21 付け.
  9. 【紅白】King Gnu井口、堂々歌唱も「櫻井くんのKing＆Gnu言い間違いでめちゃくちゃ緊張した」 [[Kohaku] King Gnu Iguchi sings confidently, "I was really nervous because Sakurai-kun misspoke as King & Gnu"]. Oricon News. December 31, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. Brandle, Lars (March 11, 2021). "BTS Bag 'Unprecedented' 1-2 on IFPI's Global Album Sales Chart For 2020". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  11. King Gnu全国ツアー「CEREMONY」全公演の開催見合わせ [All performances of King Gnu's national tour "CEREMONY" have been postponed]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). April 10, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  12. 【ライブレポート】King Gnu、気迫のパフォーマンスで魅せた初オンラインライブ（写真27枚） [[Live Report] King Gnu's first online live show with a spirited performance (27 photos)]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). August 30, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  13. King Gnu、レッドブルと日本人アーティスト初パートナーシップ（写真21枚 / 動画あり） [King Gnu, first Japanese artist's partnership with Red Bull (21 photos / video included)]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  14. King Gnuの“優しく愛らしい”新曲が「王様ランキング」OPテーマに決定（コメントあり） [King Gnu’s "gentle and adorable" new song has been selected as the opening theme for “King Ranking” (with comments)]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  15. Loo, Egan (September 22, 2023). "Ranking of Kings Anime's 1st Full Video Unveils More Cast, Opening Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  16. "Oricon Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  17. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: Ceremony (2020/1/27)". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  18. "週間 アルバムランキング (2019年01月28日付)". Oricon. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019.
  19. "月間 アルバムランキング (2019年01月度)". Oricon. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019.
  20. Brandle, Lars (March 11, 2021). "BTS Top IFPI's Global Album Sales Chart for 2020". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  21. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年01月27日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on January 27, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  22. 【ビルボード2020年年間Download Albums】米津玄師『STRAY SHEEP』が制す. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 4, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  23. "Japanese album certifications – King Gnu – Ceremony" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2020年12月 on the drop-down menu
  24. King Gnuのシングル作品 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  25. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  26. "Billboard Global 200: Week of September 16, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  27. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Prayer X, Flash!!!" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2022年6月 on the drop-down menu
  28. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Prayer X" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2020年6月 on the drop-down menu
  29. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Prayer X" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2023年2月 on the drop-down menu
  30. 嵐が18年ぶり200億円超えで総合首位、米津玄師、あいみょん、髭男がデジタルシーンを席巻. Oricon. December 13, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  31. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Hakujitsu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2021年10月 on the drop-down menu
  32. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Hakujitsu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2023年1月 on the drop-down menu
  33. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Hikoutei" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2019年11月 on the drop-down menu
  34. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Hikoutei" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2021年2月 on the drop-down menu
  35. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Kasa" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2020年2月 on the drop-down menu
  36. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Kasa" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2022年6月 on the drop-down menu
  37. "Japanese single certifications – King Gnu – Sanmon Shousetsu/Senryou Yakusha" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2020年12月 on the drop-down menu
  38. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Senryou Yakusha" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2022. Select 2020年12月 on the drop-down menu
  39. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Sanmon Shousetsu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2023年2月 on the drop-down menu
  40. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Senryou Yakusha" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2021年12月 on the drop-down menu
  41. シングルランキング 2021年12月度 [Oricon Monthly Singles Ranking December 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  42. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Boy" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 25, 2022. Select 2023年8月 on the drop-down menu
  43. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2021年12月27日～2022年01月02日 [Oricon Weekly Singles Ranking December 27, 2021 – January 2, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  44. "Japanese single certifications – King Gnu – Ichizu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 12, 2022. Select 2022年4月 on the drop-down menu
  45. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Ichizu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 27, 2022. Select 2022年1月 on the drop-down menu
  46. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Ichizu" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 9, 2023. Select 2023年2月 on the drop-down menu
  47. "Japanese single certifications – King Gnu – Sakayume" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 12, 2022. Select 2022年4月 on the drop-down menu
  48. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Sakayume" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 18, 2022. Select 2022年2月 on the drop-down menu
  49. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Sakayume" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 26, 2022. Select 2022年4月 on the drop-down menu
  50. =オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年03月14日～2022年03月20日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 14, 2022 – March 20, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  51. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Chameleon" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 19, 2022. Select 2022年3月 on the drop-down menu
  52. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Chameleon" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 9, 2023. Select 2022年8月 on the drop-down menu
  53. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – 雨燦々 (Ame Sansan)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 27, 2022. Select 2022年11月 on the drop-down menu
  54. =オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年11月28日～2022年12月04日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking November 28, 2022 – December 4, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  55. オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年09月04日～2023年09月10日 [Oricon Weekly Single Ranking September 4, 2023 – September 10, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  56. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  57. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Vinyl" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 26, 2022. Select 2021年7月 on the drop-down menu
  58. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Slumberland" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 26, 2022. Select 2022年5月 on the drop-down menu
  59. "Japanese digital single certifications – King Gnu – Teenager Forever" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 26, 2022. Select 2020年3月 on the drop-down menu
  60. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Teenager Forever" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 9, 2023. Select 2021年4月 on the drop-down menu
  61. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  62. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Doron" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 27, 2022. Select 2022年6月 on the drop-down menu
  63. "Japanese single streaming certifications – King Gnu – Chiisana Wakusei (小さな惑星)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved August 22, 2022. Select 2022年7月 on the drop-down menu
  64. "MTV VMAJ 2022 Winners" (in Japanese). MTV Video Music Awards Japan. November 2, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
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