Zettai Zetsumei (album)

Zettai Zetsumei
Studio album by
Radwimps
ReleasedMarch 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)
Recorded2009–2011
Studio Terra (Shinagawa, Tokyo), Hitokuchi-zaka Studio (Chiyoda, Tokyo), Aobadai Studio (Meguro, Tokyo)
Genre
Length74:39
LanguageJapanese
LabelEMI Music Japan
ProducerJunji Zenki (executive producer)
San-e Ichii (executive producer)
Ryō Takagi
Radwimps chronology
Altcolony no Teiri
(2009) 		Zettai Zetsumei
(2011) 		Batsu to Maru to Tsumi to
(2013)
Singles from Zettai Zetsumei
  1. "Keitai Denwa"
    Released: June 30, 2010
  2. "Dada"
    Released: January 12, 2011
  3. "Kyōshinshō"
    Released: February 9, 2011

Zettai Zetsumei (絶体絶命, "Desperate Situation") is Japanese rock band Radwimps' sixth album, released on March 9, 2011.[1]

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 recording demo tapes.[2][3] After the release of Altocolony no Teiri, Noda felt too cautious in writing lyrics, due to the perfection he had striven for in Altocolony no Teiri.[2] In Summer 2010, the album had begun to take shape, with most of the songs in a completed state.[3] Noda felt that the album was free from many of the constraints in the band's previous work, and that it was a high-energy album.[2] He experimented with hip-hop in "G-kōi" and jazz-style piano in "Pi".[2]

All of the songs on the album are sung entirely in Japanese, except for a brief English phrase in "G-kōi." This is very different from the band's past albums, which generally feature a few entirely English language songs, and many with large sections sung in English.

Promotion and release

On June 30, 2010, Radwimps released two singles simultaneously, "Manifesto" and "Keitai Denwa," which reached number two and three on Oricon's single charts, respectively, underneath "Wonderful World!!" by boyband Kanjani Eight.[4][5] "Manifesto" did not appear on the album, and "Keitai Denwa" appeared as a re-arranged version.

Before the release of the album, the singles "Dada" and "Kyōshinshō" were released in January and February 2011. "Dada" reached number one on Oricon's single charts, becoming Radwimps second single to do so since their debut.[6]

"Kimi to Hitsuji to Ao" was chosen as broadcaster NHK's theme song for soccer events in 2011, including the 2011 J. League Division 1, the first round of the 2012 AFC Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament in June and the 2011 Copa América in July.[7] This is the band's first commercial tie-up since "EDP (Tonde Hi ni Iru Natsu no Kimi)"'s use as the music countdown show Count Down TV's opening theme song in early 2006.[8] A music video, directed by Daisuke Shimada and Sōjirō Kamatani, was filmed for the song.[9] The song was given radio play from February 23, as well as released as a ringtone.[10] Also released as ringtones on the same day were "Daidarabocchi, ""Gakugeikai," and "Tōmei Ningen Jūhachi-gō."[10]

Radwimps took part in Tower Records' No Music, No Life? advertisement campaign from March 8 until March 21, and were featured on in-store posters in Tower Records stores across Japan.[11] The band will also make two appearances on Tokyo FM's School of Lock! on their regular program Rad Locks!, airing in April and May 2011.[12]

The band will tour across Japan between April and July 2011, on their Radwimps Zettai Enmai Tour (RADWIMPS 絶体延命ツアー, "Complete Longevity"), performing 37 dates.[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Yojiro Noda

No.TitleLength
1."Dada (Dadadada Ver.)"3:50
2."Tōmei Ningen Jūhachi-gō" (透明人間18号 "Invisible Man #18")4:25
3."Kimi to Hitsuji to Ao" (君と羊と青 "You, a Sheep and Blue")2:42
4."Daidarabocchi" (だいだらぼっち "Daidarabotchi, mythical giant")6:03
5."Gakugeikai" (学芸会 "School Art Festival")4:36
6."Kyōshinshō" (狭心症 "Heart Attack")6:50
7."Ground Zero" (グラウンドゼロ Guraundo Zero)4:28
8."Pi" (π Pai, "Pi")3:22
9."G-kōi" (G行為 Jiikōi, "Masturbate")4:02
10."Dugout"4:22
11."Mono Morai" (ものもらい "Beggar")5:18
12."Keitai Denwa (Cat Ver.)" (携帯電話 "Cellphone")4:25
13."Okumanshōsha" (億万笑者 "Man with a Billion Smiles")4:36
14."Kyūseishu" (救世主 "Saviour")6:21
15."Tsukutsuku-bōshi" (ツクツク法師 "Cicada," hidden track (includes 8:20 of silence))9:09
Total length:74:39

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Zettai Zetsumei's liner notes booklet.[14]

Performance credits

Technical and production

Chart rankings

Charts
(2011) 		Peak
position
Oricon daily singles[15] 2
Oricon weekly albums[16] 2
Oricon monthly singles[17] 3

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[18] 261,000
RIAJ physical shipping certification[19] Platinum (250,000+)

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label
Japan March 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)[1] CD, digital download EMI Music Japan
March 26, 2011 (2011-03-26)[20] Rental CD

References

  1. ^ a b "[CD] 絶体絶命 [初回限定盤] / RADWIMPS". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d ＲＡＤＷＩＭＰＳ 新アルバム 哲学的でエネルギッシュ [Radwimps new album: philosophical and energetic]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). March 10, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "RADWIMPS 『絶体絶命』". Tower Records (in Japanese). March 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  4. ^ "RADWIMPS、2年半ぶりのシングルを2枚同時リリース" [Radwimps release two singles simultaneously, first single release in two years]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 6, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  5. ^ 2010年07月第2週の邦楽シングルランキング情報 [Japanese single ranking information: second week of July 2010]. Oricon (in Japanese). July 6, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  6. ^ "RADWIMPSが3年ぶり2作目のシングル首位" [Radwimps second number one single, and first in three years]. Oricon (in Japanese). January 18, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  7. ^ "RADWIMPS新曲「君と羊と青」がNHKサッカーテーマに" [Radwimps new song "Kimi to Hitsuji to Ao" for NHK soccer theme]. Natalie (in Japanese). February 19, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  8. ^ "RADWIMPS - タイアップ" [Radwimps - tie-ups]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "アーティスト名 RADWIMPS 楽曲名 君と羊と青" [Artist Name: Radwimps. Song Name: "Kimi to Hitsuji to Ao"]. Space Shower (in Japanese). Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "2011.02.18 君と羊と青". Radwimps Office (in Japanese). February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  11. ^ "タワレコ全店でRADWIMPSの撮りおろしポスターが店頭に!" [Radwimps posters above the counters of all Tower Records stores!]. CDJournal (in Japanese). March 8, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  12. ^ "RADWIMPSのラジオ番組「RAD LOCKS!」が期間限定で復活!" [Radwimps' radio show Rad Locks! come-back for a limited time!]. CDJournal (in Japanese). March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  13. ^ "RADWIMPS 絶体延命ツアー" (in Japanese). Radwimps Office. 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  14. ^ Zettai Zetsumei (Media notes) (in Japanese). Radwimps. Tokyo, Japan: EMI Music Japan. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "アルバム デイリーランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" [Album Daily Ranking - Oricon Style Ranking]. Oricon. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  16. ^ "絶体絶命（初回生産限定盤） - RADWIMPS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  17. ^ "アルバム 月間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" [Album Monthly Ranking - Oricon Style Ranking]. Oricon. April 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 13, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  18. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Big Tree"]. Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2011. (subscription only)
  19. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2011年03月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (March 2011)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  20. ^ "絶体絶命／ＲＡＤＷＩＭＰＳ". Tsutaya. 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.