Jesus (Gackt song) explained

Jesus
Cover:GacktJesus2.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Gackt
Album:Re:Born
Released:December 3, 2008 (Regular)
November 26, 2008 (Limited)
Genre:Hard rock, alternative metal, classical
Length:17:33
Label:Dears
Producer:Gackt
Prev Title:Returner (Yami no Shūen)
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:Ghost
Next Year:2009

"Jesus" is the twenty-eighth single by Japanese musical artist Gackt. It was released on December 3, 2008.[1]

Summary

"Jesus" marked the beginning of Gackt's return to the music scene after a year;[2] the story of ЯR Project began in 2001 with the release of the album Rebirth and the Requiem et Reminiscence tour.[3] [1] [4] The sequel to the story was the Gackt Visualive Tour Requiem et Reminiscence II 2008–2009 tour, which he explained in detail on his website through "Asakura's Report".[1]

"Jesus" is Gackt's first single release from his own label Dears, but still supported by Nippon Crown. A limited edition version with a PV was released on November 26, 2008, for members of Gackt's official fanclub, Dears, and the regular edition was released on December 3, 2008.[5]

The single is partly in English,[1] and in 2009, Gackt in a French magazine interview stated that Metallica's song "One" influenced his song, of which part is an homage to "One".[6]

"Jesus" was covered in English by Gackt's band Yellow Fried Chickenz and performed live including at Makuhari Messe in 2011. It was released on the DVD World Tour *Show Ur Soul.I* at Makuhari 2011 in 2012.[7]

Music video

The music video shows a man unable to bear his sins; meanwhile, Gackt and the band members, as human-like demons, are singing and playing near him. The man ends up shooting himself in the head following the whispers of the "God of death". According to Gackt, it is a painful song which is not about asking God for help yet listening to God.[3]

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Oricon Weekly Singles7
Billboard Japan Hot 100[8] 41
Billboard Japan Top Independent[9] 2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gackt 1年半ぶりの新作と約3年ぶりライブについて語る!!. December 3, 2008. Oricon. August 22, 2011. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024205835/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/interview/081203_03.html. October 24, 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: Gackt史上最大11万人動員の全国ツアーがスタート!. 2008-12-15. listenmusic.jp. Global Plus. July 16, 2014. ja. 2014-07-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20140726063658/http://listenmusic.jp/store/musicnews_25612_all.htm. dead.
  3. Web site: Kazuki Arimoto. Gackt独占インタビュー. December 3, 2008. BIGLOBE. December 5, 2023. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216035730/http://stars.biglobe.ne.jp/sp/gackt.html. December 16, 2008. dead.
  4. Web site: 極限まで高められたヘヴィネスと、鋭く研ぎ澄まされたヴォーカリゼイション 強い存在感を堪能できるGacktのニュー・シングル. 2008-12-09. CD Journal. Ongaku Shuppansha. July 16, 2014. ja.
  5. Web site: "Jesus" on Oricon. Oricon. April 1, 2010. ja .
  6. Cecile, Emilie, Valerie (Ongaku France). Gackt – Meeting a Japanese superstar. HardRock. 2009. April–May. 23. fr.)
  7. Web site: World Tour *Show Ur Soul.I* 世壊傷結愛魂祭 at Makuhari 2011. Oricon. ja. 1 November 2018.
  8. Web site: "Jesus" on Japan Hot 100 chart . Billboard Japan . December 10, 2015.
  9. Web site: "Jesus" on Japan Top Independent chart . Billboard Japan . December 10, 2015.