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 Singles	7
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.