INTERVIEW: Let’s KICK BACK With Chainsaw Man OP Artist Kenshi Yonezu
Image via MAPPA
Kenshi Yonezu is one of the biggest pop stars in Japan. The music video for his song “Lemon” has been viewed over seven hundred million times. His album “STRAY SHEEP” was the third best-selling album worldwide in 2020, per the IFPI. He composed and sung theme songs for My Hero Academia (“Peace Sign”), Children of the Sea (“Spirits of the Sea”) and Shin Ultraman (“M87”). He personally illustrates the covers for each of his albums. Not to mention his past as the indie composer Hachi, where he was equally as popular and influential to the Vocaloid scene of the early 2000s.
Kenshi Yonezu wrote and composed “KICK BACK,” the theme song to this fall’s hilarious, grotesque and action-packed anime hit Chainsaw Man. Crunchyroll News reached out to Kenshi Yonezu with a handful of questions about his inspiration and process. Yonezu, a famously thoughtful interview subject, was kind enough to respond.
CREDIT TATSUKI FUJIMOTO / SHUEISHA, MAPPA REISSUE RECORDS
Crunchyroll: Had you read Chainsaw Man before you wrote the lyrics and song for the opening theme to the anime?
I became familiar with Tatsuki Fujimoto’s work through his Fire Punch manga series. I remember being stunned by the sheer perfection of the first episode. He was clearly a force to be reckoned with, and after looking him up, I realized we were close in age. I was left with the impression that a fantastic talent had emerged onto the manga scene. I’ve been a devout reader since Chainsaw Man was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Which parts of the manga have left a lasting impression on you? What makes this manga different from other shonen manga?
In Chainsaw Man, the devil is part of everyday life and wreaks havoc wherever it goes. The root of evil swirls around everywhere in a world where the Gun Devil and all types of incredible characters exist, but as you know, the story actually touches upon very serious themes. This serious and grotesque world is turned upside down by Denji, who is, for the lack of a better word, a huge idiot. But that’s what brings a pop sensibility to the series. I’ve never experienced anything like it – it’s like a new invention. I’ve never read a manga so incisive. That’s probably what I like best about it.
In your experience, what’s the difference between writing your own music as opposed to writing theme songs for TV shows and film?
Those who hit rock bottom tend to lose the ability to think in concrete terms and in the abstract – they tend to focus on the carrot dangling in front of their eyes or the vague future.
I wasn’t sure about focusing too much on one character since it was the opening theme, but for the most part, I referenced Denji’s personality and made a conscious effort to emphasize the use of vulgar and simplistic words.
Did the songwriting process involve discussion with the animation people? Did you speak with Tatsuki Fujimoto?
(The story is) serious and grotesque, and yet there is casualness to it as well. The characters are killed off one by one without hesitation, leaving a desperate situation behind. But then the vulgar and detached Denji comes along and dispels the serious mood by making a complete mess of things, bringing a pop sensibility to the scene. That kind of dizziness you experience from seeing things move at breakneck speed was one of the vital aspects in this song’s creation.
What was the songwriting process to “KICK BACK” like? What was the biggest challenge you faced?
I’m a little hazy about what came first but I remember the phrase, “Shiawaseni naritai” (I want to be happy) coming vaguely to mind as I started working on the song. That phrase then reminded me of the song, “Souda! We’re ALIVE” (That’s Right! We’re ALIVE) by Morning Musume, which got me thinking about starting “KICK BACK” with the line, “Effort, the future, a beautiful star” (Doryoku, mirai, a beautiful star) from that song. In terms of the music, I started by really working the bass riff. I initially intended to go for a really stoic and distorted drum and bass sound, but Daiki Tsuneta, who collaborated on the arrangement, came in with a totally different perspective and helped turn the song into what it is today. His contribution helped make it into a much better song.
Cover art for the “KICK BACK” EP
Did you experiment with new techniques or instruments while writing “KICK BACK”? If so, please elaborate.
I love the bass riff in the intro. The screams you hear at the end of the chorus are me screaming into the mic. We recorded a ton of my screams and picked out the best one, which was this amazing scream we got by pure chance. We didn’t add any distortions, so that scream is pretty much as real as it gets.
The single artwork featuring Chainsaw Man was drawn by you, once again. What meaning or ideas went into it?
Initially, there was another version with Denji, Aki Hayakawa, and Power. But something about it didn’t sit well with me. So I scrapped that version and decided to go for a more movie-poster-like image, resulting in the final artwork. The composition with the arm was somewhat influenced by the Parasite film poster. There’s something creepy but also cool about the pair of legs in the corner of the Parasite poster. That illustration is what I came up with when I began probing into the creepy, cool, and miserable side of things.
Gym equipment is prominently featured in the music video to KICK BACK. What is its significance?
I wanted the music video to be over-the-top gag-ridden. I don’t think anyone expected a video like this. What makes Chainsaw Man so appealing is how it catches you off guard, and you’re like, “What? You’re taking THAT approach?” That’s one of the beauties of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s creations. So we came up with this video by having absolute fun with it, getting into the spirit of things, and going for as many laughs as possible.
Please say a few words to your Kenshi Yonezu fans abroad.
We’d love it if you’d address Yonezu fans who have supported your music since your days as Hachi.
I’d like to continue making good music. The entire world went through lockdown and other social distancing measures in the last few years and I guess I’d been in a serious and penitent state of mind. I’m not sure if I’ve been able to shake that feeling off completely, but I’m finally able to look back on where I’ve been these last three years and objectively say I was in a dark place. So next year, I’d like to not take things so seriously and keep things casual. I don’t want to become overly serious – just take things easy and have fun.
Are you a fan of Kenshi Yonezu? How about Chainsaw Man? Which song by Yonezu have you listened to the most? Let us know in the comments!
You can watch the official music video for “KICK BACK” here, and stream it on most major platforms here!
Adam W is a Features Writer at Crunchyroll. When he isn’t watching the MV for Children of the Sea over and over, he sporadically contributes with a loose coalition of friends at a blog called Isn’t it Electrifying? You can find him on Twitter (so long as it exists) at: @wendeego
