"Mad Head Love" (stylised as "MAD HEAD LOVE") is a song by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu. It was released as a double A-side single alongside the song "Poppin' Apathy" on October 23, 2013, by Universal Signma, on the same day that Yonezu's two self-released Vocaloid albums, Hanataba to Suisō and Official Orange, were re-issued by independent label Boundee by SSNW.[1]
Background and development
In May 2012, Yonezu released Diorama, his first album and first to use his own vocals. It was released under independent label Balloom. The album was written, produced and illustrated entirely by Yonezu himself.[2] The album was commercially successful, debuting at number six on Oricon's albums charts, and was one of the most sold independently released albums of 2012 in Japan.[3][4] A year later, Yonezu debuted under major label Universal Music Japan with the single "Santa Maria." Two of the songs were performed with a band, the first time Yonezu had worked like this.[5] The single reached number 12 on chart provider Oricon's singles chart.[6]
A week after the single's release, Yonezu released his first Vocaloid song in two and a half years, called "Donut Hole" (ドーナツホール, Dōnatsu Hōru), using Gumi vocals. It was the first time he used a live band on a Vocaloid song.[7]
Writing and production
"Mad Head Love" and "Poppin' Apathy" were written at the same time, based on the theme of a Möbius strip.[8] "Mad Head Love" was "positive" and "high tension", while "Poppin' Apathy" was written as a gloomy, negative song by Yonezu. Because of this, he felt it was right for them to be released together.[8] Originally "Mad Head Love" was planned to be the sole A-side.[9] The song was the second time Yonezu worked with a live band, after "Santa Maria" and its B-side "Hyakki Yakō". He enlisted childhood friend Hiroshi Nakajima to work as a guitarist on the song. The pair formed a band when they were at high school, with Yonezu singing his own compositions, and Nakajima accompanying him on guitar.[8][9] "Mad Head Love" also features Masaki Hori, drummer for Sapporo-based band Scam Circle, and Yu Sato, the bassist for U&Design and a support member for Nona Reeves. Hori and Sato worked on sessions for other songs, including the Vocaloid song "Donut Hole" Yonezu released shortly after the single.[8][10] In contrast, "Poppin' Apathy" and "Tori ni Demo Naritai" were arranged by Yonezu without a live band.[8]
"Mad Head Love" was written about Yonezu's feelings when composing music, and gave the song a theme of "communication friction."[8][11] As he always composes alone, he wrote about how it would be nice to connect with another person, even negatively.[8] The lyrics depict love between two people, as well as their clashing opinions.[8][9]
Promotion and release
The single was first announced in August 2013. Initially, the release date was planned for October 30, 2013, but it was later moved to the 23rd.[12] "Mad Head Love" and "Poppin' Apathy" were first aired on the JFM radio show Yamada Hisashi ni Radian Limited F on September 14, 2013.[13] On September 21 and October 19, 2013, Yonezu held his regular online streaming performances on Ustream.[11][14] Interviews with Yonezu was featured in the magazines Rockin' On Japan and Marquee around the release of the single.[15][16]
Music video
A music video for "Mad Head Love" was released online on September 21, 2013, and was directed by Sojiro Kamitani, who also directed a video for "Poppin' Apathy".[11][14] "Mad Head Love" features three different scenes. Yonezu is shown performing different instruments such as a red Fender Telecaster electric guitar and a keyboard, as well as holding a recording device and listening through headphones. Other scenes show a Caucasian man and woman in beige clothing. They interact by prodding each other, such as poking the other person's ear, or messing up their hair.[11] Other scenes show strange moving contraptions, such as one that turns a toy horse around, or a golden crane that drops a plastic fish onto a plate. The video for "Poppin' Apathy" was shot in the same location as "Mad Head Love", but in a darker, more cluttered environment.
Commercially, the single debuted at number 11 on Oricon's singles chart, selling 6,300 copies.[3][18] In total, it has sold 8,000 copies, under-performing Yonezu's previous single "Santa Maria".[18]
The single was received well by music critics. OK Music described the single as "walking around in a badly controlled amusement park," and "had only praise for the off-beat sound make" of the single.[19] Tomoyuki Mori of What's In? felt that the single was a "great development of [Yonezu's] unique style" from Diorama. He praised the "positive and negative" theme of the single, and was impressed by the constantly changing melody and "intricately constructed band sound" of "Mad Head Love", along with its literary lyrics, calling it "modern pop music". He was also impressed at the B-side "Tori ni Demo Naritai," noting how the "strange twisty sound" evoked both scariness and cuteness.[20]
^ abcdefghi"米津玄師「MAD HEAD LOVE / ポッピンアパシー」インタビュー" [Kenshi Yonezu Mad Head Love / Poppin' Apathy interview]. Tomonori Shiba (in Japanese). Natalie. October 18, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
^ abc"[Interview] 米津玄師". Hideo Miyamoto (in Japanese). What's In?. October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
^"GUMI MV「ドーナツホール」" (in Japanese). Nico Nico Douga. October 28, 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^ abcd"米津玄師、本人出演「MAD HEAD LOVE」PVフル尺公開" [Kenshi Yonezu's Mad Head Love PV released, featuring the man himself]. Natalie (in Japanese). September 21, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^ ab"米津玄師、「ラジアンF」で両A面シングル曲初オンエア" [Kenshi Yonezu, first on-air of double A side single on Radian F]. Natalie (in Japanese). September 12, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^ ab"米津玄師「ポッピンアパシー」PV公開＆次回Ust生配信決定" [Kenshi Yonezu's Poppin' Apathy PV released and next Ustream live]. Natalie (in Japanese). October 12, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^"10月 MAGAZINE掲載情報" [October Magazine Feature Information]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). October 7, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^"スペシャ「MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS」優秀作品50曲発表" [Space Shower Music Video Awards announcement of 50 excellence works.] (in Japanese). Natalie. February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
^ abc"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 22, 2013. (subscription only)
^現代を豊かな世界観で象徴するポップ・アーティスト [A pop artist who symbolises the great world views of today]. Tomoyuki Mori (in Japanese). What's In. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^Yankee (Media notes) (in Japanese). Kenshi Yonezu. Tokyo, Japan: Universal Music Japan. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"2013年10月22日のCDシングルデイリーランキング" [October 22, 2013 CD Single Daily Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^"「MAD HEAD LOVE / ポッピンアパシー」配信スタート" [Mad Head Love/Poppin' Apathy Download Start] (in Japanese). Universal Sigma. October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^"米津玄師&ハチの計27曲がiTunes Storeで世界配信" [Kenshi Yonezu & Hachi total 27 songs get global iTunes Store release]. Natalie (in Japanese). October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
