On July
23, the official X account (formerly Twitter) of Japanese
singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu announced that the video clip
of his song "KICK BACK", the opening theme of
the anime Chainsaw Man, has surpassed 200 million views on
YouTube. With this achievement, Yonezu adds a total of 11 video
clips that have crossed this mark, setting a new record among Japanese
artists.
A
success that transcends borders
"KICK BACK" was released digitally on October 12, 2022 via SME Records, followed by its physical CD version on November 23 of the same year. The song was written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu himself, who also participated in the arrangements with Daiki Tsuneda (member of King Gnu and MILLENNIUM PARADE).
This song
not only conquered anime fans, but also the international music industry. It
was certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association
of America), being the first song with Japanese lyrics to do so. In
addition, it topped the Billboard JAPAN anime ranking
for 21 consecutive weeks and has already accumulated more
than 500 million plays on digital platforms.
A viral
video clip that impacted networks
The music
video was directed by photographer and filmmaker Yoshiyuki Okuyama,
and features both Yonezu and Tsuneda. The scenes, which show both in a surreal
physical training, have gone viral widely, generating a great impact on social
networks for their unconventional aesthetics and explosive narrative.
With its
fusion of music, anime, and visual art, "KICK BACK" is not only
positioned as one of the most iconic openings of the last decade, but also as a
milestone within contemporary Japanese pop culture.
