The Maker Speaks
Stray Sheep
Symbolizes 2020 Japan Covered with Covid-19?
Symbolizes 2020 Japan Covered with Covid-19?
Hello. Today I'm mentioning about Stray Sheep. It is the 5th studio album of Yonezu Kenshi (1991-), and I suppose it symbolizes 2020 Japan. Perhaps you don't know him at all. He's a Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokushima, who debuted in 2012. And Stray Sheep is his 5th studio album that came out in 2020 August.
After releasing his 4th studio album, he published 3 CD singles. "Lemon" and "Flamingo/Teenage Riot" were out in 2018. "馬と鹿 (Horse & Deer)/海の幽霊 (Spirits of the Sea)" were in 2019.
The three all were massive hits in Japan, which made many people wait for his next studio album that would include the single songs. Covid-19 attacked us in 2020, needless to say. However, the pandemic was unable making them forget Yonezu Kenshi. And he finally broke the long silence with Stray Sheep in 2020 August.
As mentioned above, many people waited for the arrival of his new album. Then I supposed it would sell 500,000 or so. Today we are hard to have the million selling studio album in Japan, my imagination was reasonable. Fact is stranger than imagination, however. It sold over 1.5 million, surprisingly. And they reported in 2020 October, that it was going to lie at shops of Taiwan and South Korea. I wonder how much they know Yonezu Kenshi in the countries. Anyway, the report must be proving the big hit of Stray Sheep.
I wrote above that the Stray Sheep symbolized 2020 Japan. What does it mean? In fact, many of the songs described the ones who were divided somehow. Covid-19 divided us willy-nilly. The pandemic appeared before most of us as something invisible to divide us, didn't it? If you understand Japanese language, what he sang must touch your heartstrings, I believe.
After releasing his 4th studio album, he published 3 CD singles. "Lemon" and "Flamingo/Teenage Riot" were out in 2018. "馬と鹿 (Horse & Deer)/海の幽霊 (Spirits of the Sea)" were in 2019.
The three all were massive hits in Japan, which made many people wait for his next studio album that would include the single songs. Covid-19 attacked us in 2020, needless to say. However, the pandemic was unable making them forget Yonezu Kenshi. And he finally broke the long silence with Stray Sheep in 2020 August.
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Released on August 5, 2020 SME Records |
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01. カムパネルラ 02. Flamingo 03. 感電 04. PLACEBO ＋ 野田洋次郎 05. パプリカ 06. 馬と鹿 07. 優しい人 08. Lemon 09. まちがいさがし 10. ひまわり 11. 迷える羊 12. Décolleté 13. TEENAGE RIOT 14. 海の幽霊 15. カナリヤ ※Blue lines are my recommendations. All Songs Written by Yonezu Kenshi Produced by Yonezu Kenshi |
I wrote above that the Stray Sheep symbolized 2020 Japan. What does it mean? In fact, many of the songs described the ones who were divided somehow. Covid-19 divided us willy-nilly. The pandemic appeared before most of us as something invisible to divide us, didn't it? If you understand Japanese language, what he sang must touch your heartstrings, I believe.
