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is a song by Japanese rock band Radwimps, released on February 9, 2011 as the second of two singles preceding the band's sixth album, Zettai Zetsumei
.
The lyrics of the song are a discourse
by Noda, who states that it is good that he only has two eyes, as otherwise he could not keep living if he had to see all of the "grief of the world." In the chorus, he urges people to "carry a thread and needle" to sew up their eyes, so they can no longer see such grief and remain innocent. The lyrics further mention the Russian folk character Ivan the Fool
.
The song took half a year to write by Yojiro Noda, and was pieced together from guitar chords and lyrics in his head.
radio program School of Lock! on February 2, 2011, as a revival of the band's Radlocks! radio show. The band were also interviewed in Rockin' On' Japans March issue to promote the single, as well as "Dada
."
The video depicts the Yojiro Noda at night time in a playground, as he pushes a girl with a blindfold and headphones in a wheelchair through the park. The girl holds a flash light as they move. Through the park, the pair pass a facially deformed man and men who are fighting. Further through the park is a make-shift slum, where they pas a man on fire. The sky begins to dawn, and the people around Noda and the girl are shot. A man sets a car on fire, and is later shot down by a group of men with guns. Near the end of the song, the pair come up to a pile of bodies and severed limbs, along with people crying over their bodies. The rest of the band members perform the song in this scene. Noda leaves the girl to close the eyes of a dead boy, and covers him with his jacket. The girl gets up from her wheelchair, and drops her flash light. She screams, removing her headphones and blindfold to reveal that her eyes have been sewn shut.
Since the video was uploaded by Radwimps' official Youtube
channel on February 7, 2011, the video has been viewed approximately 3,100,000 times (as of June 2011).
Hot Express reviewer Jun Yamamoto praised the strength of the lyrical content, stating that the band's message was stronger due to the straightforwardness of the lyrics used in previous songs. Mikio Yanagisawa of What's In? compared the "heavy and psychedelic roaring rock" sound of the song being similar to the 1970s works of John Lennon
, and felt it was a "signature song that runs through cold, with a concealed, piercing motive."
's single charts with 68,000 copies sold - 33,000 less than the single at the number one position, Exile's "Each Other's Way (Tabi no Tochū)." This figure was 22,000 less copies than the band's previous single "Dada
," but is the band's third highest debut week sales total. The song has sold a total of 85,000 copies in 2011, and by the half way point for the year was the 43rd most sold single on Oricon's charts.
The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
for an excess of 100,000 physical shipped copies, the second Radwimps single and only one of three to receive this certification. The song is one of ten Radwimps songs to receive a certification from the RIAJ.
The B-side of the single, "Jugemu," was popular enough digitally to chart at number 27 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart
during the single's release week.
Zettai Zetsumei (album)
is Japanese rock band Radwimps' sixth album, released on March 9, 2011.- Background and development :After the band's 2009 tour for their previous album, Altcolony no Teiri, the band did not perform or do any band activities for six months, with Noda in this time going to the studio alone and...
.
Composition and writing
The song is a slow tempo rock song. It begins with a sparse arrangement of electric guitar and drums set to the same beat, along with Yojiro Noda's vocals. The song gradually adds more complex arrangements of drums, guitars and bass instruments, and reprises the sparse arrangement at the end of the song.The lyrics of the song are a discourse
Discourse
Discourse generally refers to "written or spoken communication". The following are three more specific definitions:...
by Noda, who states that it is good that he only has two eyes, as otherwise he could not keep living if he had to see all of the "grief of the world." In the chorus, he urges people to "carry a thread and needle" to sew up their eyes, so they can no longer see such grief and remain innocent. The lyrics further mention the Russian folk character Ivan the Fool
Ivan the Fool
Ivan the Fool or Ivan the Ninny is a character used in Russian folklore, a very simple-minded, but nevertheless lucky young man. Ivan is described as a likeable fair-haired and blue-eyed youth....
.
The song took half a year to write by Yojiro Noda, and was pieced together from guitar chords and lyrics in his head.
Promotion
Yojiro Noda appeared by himself on Tokyo FMTokyo FM
Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Ltd. is a radio station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flagship station of the Japan FM Network .-Program:*Countdown Station** DHC Countdown jp** cosmo Pops Best 10...
radio program School of Lock! on February 2, 2011, as a revival of the band's Radlocks! radio show. The band were also interviewed in Rockin' On' Japans March issue to promote the single, as well as "Dada
Dada (song)
"Dada" is a song by Japanese rock band Radwimps, released on January 12, 2011 as the first of two singles leading up to the band's sixth album, Zettai Zetsumei....
."
Music video
The music video was directed by Kensaku Kakimoto who had previously not worked with the band on a music video before.The video depicts the Yojiro Noda at night time in a playground, as he pushes a girl with a blindfold and headphones in a wheelchair through the park. The girl holds a flash light as they move. Through the park, the pair pass a facially deformed man and men who are fighting. Further through the park is a make-shift slum, where they pas a man on fire. The sky begins to dawn, and the people around Noda and the girl are shot. A man sets a car on fire, and is later shot down by a group of men with guns. Near the end of the song, the pair come up to a pile of bodies and severed limbs, along with people crying over their bodies. The rest of the band members perform the song in this scene. Noda leaves the girl to close the eyes of a dead boy, and covers him with his jacket. The girl gets up from her wheelchair, and drops her flash light. She screams, removing her headphones and blindfold to reveal that her eyes have been sewn shut.
Since the video was uploaded by Radwimps' official Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel on February 7, 2011, the video has been viewed approximately 3,100,000 times (as of June 2011).
Critical reception
Japanese critics saw the song positively, with many focusing on how important they saw the lyrics. Shin Furukawa of Rockin' On Japan felt the song, along with "Dada," contrasted with the easy to listen to nature of the band's 2010 singles, "Manifesto" and "Keitai Denwa." He felt like the song's strength was like "unprotected hazardous goods." CDJournals listening review described the song as having "a band sound that wears grief," and the lyrics as describing "the impatience of not being able to do anything."Hot Express reviewer Jun Yamamoto praised the strength of the lyrical content, stating that the band's message was stronger due to the straightforwardness of the lyrics used in previous songs. Mikio Yanagisawa of What's In? compared the "heavy and psychedelic roaring rock" sound of the song being similar to the 1970s works of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, and felt it was a "signature song that runs through cold, with a concealed, piercing motive."
Commercial performance
In the single's first week it debuted at number two on OriconOricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
's single charts with 68,000 copies sold - 33,000 less than the single at the number one position, Exile's "Each Other's Way (Tabi no Tochū)." This figure was 22,000 less copies than the band's previous single "Dada
Dada (song)
"Dada" is a song by Japanese rock band Radwimps, released on January 12, 2011 as the first of two singles leading up to the band's sixth album, Zettai Zetsumei....
," but is the band's third highest debut week sales total. The song has sold a total of 85,000 copies in 2011, and by the half way point for the year was the 43rd most sold single on Oricon's charts.
The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
for an excess of 100,000 physical shipped copies, the second Radwimps single and only one of three to receive this certification. The song is one of ten Radwimps songs to receive a certification from the RIAJ.
The B-side of the single, "Jugemu," was popular enough digitally to chart at number 27 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart
RIAJ Digital Track Chart
The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads ....
during the single's release week.
Track listing
Chart rankings
| Charts (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Adult Contemporary Airplay |
34 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
2 |
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... daily singles |
1 |
| Oricon weekly singles | 2 |
| Oricon monthly singles | 9 |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... Top 100 |
8 |
Sales and certifications
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales | 85,000 |
| RIAJ physical shipping certification | Gold (100,000+) |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Distributing Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Ringtone | EMI Music Japan | |
| CD, digital download, Rental CD | |||