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Gag (song)

"Gag" (Japanese: ギャグ, Hepburn: Gyagu, lit. "Gag" as in visual gag) (Japanese pronunciation: [ɡʲaꜜgɯ]) is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino. It was released by Speedstar Records on May 8, 2013, as Hoshino's fifth single. The song was arranged by Seiji Kameda, marking Hoshino's only single to not be self-arranged. A swingy rock and pop song with rock and roll composition, Hoshino wrote "Gag" for the 2013 film adaption of the comedy manga Saint Young Men (2006–), starring Hoshino as the Buddha.

"Gag"
The single's cover. It features a sketched Gen Hoshino, above a yellow background, wearing a white shirt. His eyes are Gs and his mouth is an A, spelling "GAG". Above Hoshino is the text "Hoshino Gen Gag" in red-pink.
Single by Gen Hoshino
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Dust"
ReleasedMay 8, 2013 (2013-05-08)
Genre
Length4:42
LabelSpeedstar
Songwriter(s)
Gen Hoshino singles chronology
"Shiranai"
(2012) 		"Gag"
(2013) 		"Why Don't You Play in Hell?"
(2013)
Music video
"Gag" (Official Video) on YouTube

The song was received positively by music critics upon release, who commented on the composition, the participating musicians, the B-side "Dust", and its cover art. For the cover, it was a runner-up for the Grand Prix at the 2014 Music Jacket Awards. "Gag" reached number four on the Oricon Singles Chart and number eight on Billboard Japan's Hot 100, ending as the 17th best-selling single of May 2013. The music video to the song, self-directed and edited by Hoshino using materials from Saint Young Men, was released to YouTube the same day as the single.

Background and composition

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Gen Hoshino at the Space Shower Awards in June 2016 
Hoshino (pictured in 2016) wrote "Gag" for the anime film Saint Young Men, starring himself as the Buddha.

During the production of his third album Stranger (2013), Gen Hoshino felt worried about several aspects and ended up aimlessly putting much of himself into the work. Upon the album's completion, Hoshino gained a great feeling of accomplishment and believed he had, for the moment, overcome uncertainty in his music. Advancing from the album, he wanted to ignore small details and focus on doing exciting and fun projects, which led the production process of "Gag" and its B-side "Dust".[1]

"Gag" was written and performed by Hoshino as the main theme to the anime film adaptation of the comedy manga Saint Young Men, starring Hoshino in a lead role as the Buddha. Musically, it is a Japanese rock and pop song with light and swingy rock and roll composition as a musical take on the tempo of anime and manga,[2][3] created by Hoshino through attempting to blend his own pop and alternative styles.[4] In a press comment, he stated the song was born from reading one of his favorite manga series, and dedicated it to the manga artist Hikaru Nakamura and anime staff.[4] At a later film release event, Hoshino said that he created the song with respect to the production team that backed him and co-star Mirai Moriyama, voice of Jesus Christ, during recording.[5] Arrangement was handled by Seiji Kameda, marking Hoshino's only single to not self-arranged.[6] Other musicians participating on the track include drummer Daichi Ito [ja] (co-member with Hoshino in the band Sakerock) and keyboardist Takuji Nomura.[2] The song is the first work by Hoshino to feature guitarist Ryosuke Nagaoka, since a frequent collaborator.[6]

Release and promotion

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The principal cast of Saint Young Men, including Hoshino, was announced in October 2012.[7] Later on March 14, 2013, "Gag" was unveiled as the film's theme song.[4] The song was announced for a single release on March 22,[8] followed by usage in a trailer released to the Saint Young Men official website on April 4.[9]

"Gag" was released by the Victor Entertainment label Speedstar Records on May 8, 2013,[2] two days before the premiere of Saint Young Men and on the same day as the film score.[10] With "Dust" as its B-side, "Gag" is Hoshino's fifth single overall, released only a week after Stranger, though it is not included in the album.[11] The single's cover art was created by Daijirō Ōhara [ja], previously the cover editor for the 2012 singles "Yume no Soto e" and "Shiranai", and features a sketched Hoshino above a yellow background, with his eyes and mouth swapped to spell "GAG".[12][13] Though early editions of the single were bundled with a sticker by Saint Young Men artist Nakamura,[14] "Gag" separates from Hoshino's usual release format of including a special DVD with limited editions.[1]

A short music video for "Gag" was uploaded to Victor Entertainment's YouTube channel on the same day as the single's CD release. The video was directed and edited by Hoshino utilizing footage from the Saint Young Men film, including materials of its animation process.[15][16] The video was included as an extra on the second disc of the video album Music Video Tour 2010-2017 (2017).[17]

Reception

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"Gag" was received positively by music critics. A staff writer for CDJournal called "Gag" a "catchy" song that could easily get stuck in peoples' heads, and praised Kameda's "unique" arrangement and drummer Ito and keyboardist Nomura for providing the song with a pleasant atmosphere.[2] Tower Records Japan's Oguri described it as a fun pop song, supported by Hoshino's sweet yet strong vocals.[6] Hirokazu Koike of Rockin'On Japan felt that "Gag" shows Hoshino's respect for the Saint Young Men writers. He wrote that the track's "fun" swingy rock and roll musicality covered part of its honest theming, which he believed was commentary on the tempo of anime and manga.[3] Emi Sugiura, also for Rockin'On, praised the guitar phrase of Nagaoka on the track as strangely distorted yet warming, which she thought provided for an effective hook to the tempo.[18] Satoshi Takagi for Real Sound named the single's cover art as one that would increase customer interest, praising its illustration and humor for helping showcase the song's poppy funniness.[12] Tied with Maximum the Hormone's album Yoshū Fukushū, the cover art was a runner-up for the Grand Prix at the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)'s 2014 Music Jacket Awards, beaten by Miwa's Delight.[19]

Critics also enjoyed the B-side "Dust". Oguri wrote that "Dust" is a "total change" from "Gag", as the B-side is the type of song "you would want to listen to alone in your room,"[6] and CDJournal staff called it a song to not discard.[2] Koike praised the track as "amazing", writing that its scales remind of the Buddha and gives a feeling of Buddhist reincarnation / saṃsāra through a "soft touch" of blue funk.[3]

Commerically, "Gag" opened on the Oricon Singles Chart dated May 20, 2013, with 19,198 sales, taking a peak position at number four.[20] On the Billboard Japan Hot 100, the single opened May 15, at a peak of number eight.[21] It debuted on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Airplay chart the same week at number 36, and rose to sixth place the next week.[22] As an anime song, it peaked at number four on the Hot Animation chart.[23] It finished at number 17 on Oricon's monthly singles ranking of May 2013, with 27,380 units sold.[24] In total, "Gag" charted in Oricon's weekly top 100 for five weeks; with resurgences in 2016 through 2020, it has appeared in the top 200 for a total of 32 weeks. By April 2020, its most recent appearance on the chart, Oricon had registered 35,308 lifetime sales.[20]

Track listing

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CD single and digital download[2][25]
  1. "Gag" (ギャグ, Gyagu) – 4:42
  2. "Dust" (ダスト, Dasuto) – 3:47
Total length: 8:29

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Gag" (2013)
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[26] 4
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)[21] 8
Japanese Adult Contemporary (Billboard Japan)[22] 6
Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[23] 4

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Gag"
Region Date Format Label Catalogue code Ref(s).
Japan May 8, 2013 CD Speedstar Records VICL-36780 [2]
Rental CD Victor Entertainment VICL-36780R [27]
Various June 23, 2015 Digital download Speedstar Records — [25][28]
August 30, 2019 Streaming — [25][29]
South Korea J-Box Entertainment — [30]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hoshino, Gen (May 2013). "Interview - 星野源" [Interview - Gen Hoshino]. Skream! (in Japanese). Interviewed by Ishizumi, Yuka. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "星野 源 / ギャグ" [Gen Hoshino / Gag]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Koike, Hirokazu (May 6, 2013). "ブッダ＝星野 源のシングル" [Gen Hoshino (Buddha)'s Single]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "「聖☆おにいさん」主題歌は星野源書き下ろし「ギャグ」" [Gen Hoshino writes main theme "Gag" for Saint Onī-san]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). March 14, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  5. ^ "星野源＆森山未來「聖☆おにいさん」舞台挨拶で続編に意欲" [Gen Hoshino and Mirai Moriyama express desire for sequel during Saint Onī-san stage greetings]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Oguri. "ギャグ" [Gag] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "星野源＆森山未來「聖☆おにいさん」でブッダとイエス熱演" [Gen Hoshino and Mirai Moriyama to star in Saint Onī-san as Buddha and Jesus]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). October 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "星野源、映画「聖☆おにいさん」主題歌"ギャグ"を5月にシングル化" [Gen Hoshino's theme song "Gag" for Saint Onī-san film to receive single release in May] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  9. ^ "星野 源の"ギャグ"が主題歌の映画『聖☆おにいさん』の新規予告編が公開" [Gen Hoshino's "Gag", theme to Saint Onī-san film, previewed in new trailer]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "鈴木慶一＆白井良明「聖☆おにいさん」音楽裏話披露" [Keiichi Suzuki and Ryōmei Shirai talk behind-the-scenes of the music to Saint Onī-san]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). April 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "星野 源、アニメ映画「聖☆おにいさん」主題歌『ギャグ』を5/8にリリース" [Gen Hoshino will release Saint Onī-san theme song "Gag" May 8]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Takagi, Satoshi (November 22, 2014). "星野源、サカナクション、Read Aloud... 今だからこそ'ジャケ買い'したいアーティストは?" [Gen Hoshino, Sakanaction, Read Aloud... What makes an artist cover that you would want to buy?]. Real Sound [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "星野源「ギャグ」をダイレクトに表現したジャケ公開" [Cover art directly expressing Gen Hoshino's "Gag" unveiled]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). April 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "星野 源「ギャグ」のジャケットが公開、『聖☆おにいさん』描き下ろしステッカー封入!" [Cover art revealed for Gen Hoshino's "Gag"! Saint Onī-san sticker included!]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). April 12, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "星野源、新曲PVは映画「聖☆おにいさん」映像が満載" [PV for Gen Hoshino's new song takes use of footage from Saint Onī-san film]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  16. ^ "星野 源、自ら編集・ディレクションしたMVを公開!" [Music video directed and edited by Gen Hoshino released!]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  17. ^ "Music Video Tour 2010-2017" (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Sugiura, Emi (October 10, 2017). "【知りたい】長岡亮介という人は、なぜこんなにも必要とされ、愛されるのか?" [Why is Ryosuke Nagaoka so needed and loved?]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "「ミュージック・ジャケット大賞2014」、受賞作品を発表" [Recipient works at the 2014 Music Jacket Awards announced]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). August 6, 2014. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "ギャグ" [Gag] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 22, 2015. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot Animation". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Taiju"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c Citations regarding the digital release of "Gag":
  26. ^ "ギャグ" [Gag] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  27. ^ "星野源/ギャグ（シングル)" [Gen Hoshino / Gag (Single)] (in Japanese). DMM.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  28. ^ "星野 源, 最新シングル「Sun」など全楽曲を一斉配信" [Gen Hoshino Releases Entire Discography for Online Distribution, Including New Single "Sun"]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). June 23, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  29. ^ "星野源, 全楽曲ストリーミング解禁" [Gen Hoshino Releases Entire Discography for Streaming]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "ギャグ (Gag)" [Gyagu (Gag)] (in Korean). Bugs!. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
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