"King" (stylized in all-caps) is a 2020 song by Japanese Vocaloid musician Kanaria. Following its release, it brought Kanaria to widespread popularity, and it received covers from dozens of VTubers and other singers.
| "King" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Kanaria ft. Gumi | |
| from the album King | |
| Language | Japanese |
| Released | 2 August 2020 |
| Label | Self-published |
| Songwriter(s) | Kanaria |
Overview
editKing was released on 2 August 2020.[1] The song uses the Megpoid Vocaloid and the music video was illustrated by Nou.[2]
King achieved one million views within two months of its release.[3] The song caused Kanaria to rise to popularity.[4] Subsequently, dozens of VTubers and other singers posted covers of the song, including from Kizuna Ai, Kuzuha, Nijisanji members, and Upd8 member Mei Osanai, as well as a duet by Calliope Mori and Gawr Gura;[4][1][5] Eimika Katsuya attributed this widespread trend to the popularity of Kanaria's previous song "Hyakkisai".[4]
Rena Murakami of Real Sound characterizes the lyrics as "reminiscent of the execution of a king".[6] In a column for UtaTen, Amu Machioka characterized the song as an allegory for the house arrest, trial, and execution of Louis XVI (whom they characterized to as the titular King), told from the perspective of his executioner Charles-Henri Sanson..[7] Eimika Katsuya said of "King": "It's a dark song with an absurd string of words, but the lyrics have a pleasant rhyme that makes it addictive."[4] Tower Records Online said of "King": "You can't talk about internet music in 2020 without listening to this!"[3]
It topped the Billboard Japan Top User Generated Songs for 33 weeks in 2021, as well the equivalent charts for the first half and entirety of 2021.[5][1] It charted at #42 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and #76 at the Billboard Japan Top Download Songs chart.[8] It ranked second place in Nana Music's 2021 Most Sung Vocaloid Songs chart.[9]
"King" was included in Kanaria's debut album of the same name, which was released four months after the song.[10] In 2022, it was released as part of Kanaria's greatest hits album Kanaria.code.[11]
Charts
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Weekly chartsedit
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References
edit- ^ a b c Fuchii, Mika (10 December 2021). "【ビルボード 2021年年間TOP UGC Songs】Kanaria「KING」33週首位獲得で年間1位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Kanaria (2 August 2020). 【GUMI】KING【Kanaria】 (Music video). Retrieved 30 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "新世代ボカロP筆頭！Kanaria待望の1stアルバム満を持してリリース！". Tower Records Online. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Katsuya, Eimika (25 December 2021). "Kanaria – 大名曲「KING」を生み出した若き天才ボカロPとは…？". Cal-cha. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b "【ビルボード 2021年上半期UGC Songs】Kanaria「KING」が通算16回の首位で上半期制す、2位はAdo「うっせぇわ」がチャートイン". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Murakami, Rena (7 April 2021). "Ado「うっせぇわ」ヒットは必然だった？ ボカロシーン流行の変遷を整理". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "「KING」歌詞の意味は王を処刑する物語？Kanariaが作り出す世界観に浸る". UtaTen (in Japanese). 24 February 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Kanaria | Artist". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Takahashi, Manabu (31 August 2022). "【8月31日は初音ミク誕生日】「最も歌われたボカロ曲」ランキングTOP10！ 1位は「ヴァンパイア（DECO*27）」【2021年版】（1/5）". ねとらぼ調査隊 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "KING | Kanaria". Oricon News. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Kanaria.code | Kanaria". Oricon News. Retrieved 30 July 2024.