Baka no Uta explained

Baka no Uta
Cover:Gen Hoshino - Baka no Uta (2010).jpg
Border:yes
Alt:The album's cover art. It features Hoshino within a crude drawing, sitting at the doorway to a guitar-shaped house. The house is among mountains and above a road lined with trees. Stylized text reading "Hoshino Gen" and "Baka no Uta" buffer the mountains, and a yellow note with the same text is found in the bottom right.
Type:studio
Artist:Gen Hoshino
Studio:
  • Freedom (Shibuya)
  • Thinksync Integral (Setagaya)
  • Sound DALI (Setagaya)
Genre:
Length:47:58
Language:Japanese
Label:
Producer:Gen Hoshino
Next Title:Episode
Next Year:2011

(pronounced as /ja/) is the debut studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino. Under Kakubarhythm, it was first issued as a limited LP record on 16 June 2010, before releasing as a CD album through Speedstar Records and Labels United on 23 June. Hoshino, then known as the leader, guitarist, and marimba player of the intrumental band Sakerock, began work on the album after being approached by Labels United's parent company Daisyworld to make a solo debut.

Covering topics of everyday life, Baka no Uta is a Japanese rock and pop album with a sound that was described as calm and lonely. The album compiles new tracks, two lyrical Sakerock covers, and re-recordings of songs Hoshino had released on a 2005 CD-R disc and 2007 CD-bundled photo booklet. Hoshino hosted live performances and autograph shows at Tower Records stores to promote the album, and embarked on a small tour visiting Tokyo and Osaka. Upon release, the album reached number 36 on the Oricon Albums Chart and number 38 on Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales ranking. It was well received by Japanese critics, who praised its daily life theming. The album won a finalist award at the 2010 CD Shop Awards.

Background

Though he grew up in a greengrocer home, Gen Hoshino's father played jazz piano as a hobby and his mother had previously aimed to be a jazz vocalist. He noted that the house was always "lined" with jazz records, and that music was constantly playing. While not a big fan of jazz, Hoshino would pick up his father's guitar in middle school as the instrument was popular among his classmates. In high school, his friends would ask him to compose music to lyrics they had written, which Hoshino found satisfying. He recorded himself singing the songs of high-pitched artists such as the band Unicorn but recalled feeling discouraged when listening to his recordings, believing the voice style did not fit him.[1]

In 2000, Hoshino formed the band Sakerock with other students of the, serving as the frontman, playing guitar and also marimba.[2] [3] Though Hoshino wanted to sing, he never expressed this and, as he had no friends who were singers either, the band became instrumental.[1] The band independently released their debut album Yuta in 2003, before signing to indie label with their 2005 album Life Cycle.[4] [5] The band's appearances in media would rise with the release of Life Cycle, and they subsequently composed the soundtrack to the Isshin Inudo film Kiiroi Namida in 2007.[6] In addition to his activities with Sakerock, Hoshino worked as an actor and, musically, began composing songs for stage plays and held acoustic live performances.[3] In 2005, he released a self-produced CD-R album titled Baka no Uta, his first solo release. Partnering with photographer, he released the CD and photo booklet Barabara in 2007, containing acoustic-performed songs.[3] [7]

Whilst finding performing with Sakerock rewarding and fun, Hoshino never thought of a solo debut, finding it scary. Around the time he was to turn 30, Hoshino felt he couldn't ignore his wish to sing and would need to act while still within his 20s. Coincidentally, Hoshino was around the same time approached by the label Daisyworld – owned by Yellow Magic Orchestra's Haruomi Hosono – asking if he was interesting in making a debut. Hoshino accepted, beginning production of his debut solo studio album Baka no Uta, the same title as his 2005 CD-R album.[1]

Music and production

Hoshino wrote and produced all tracks on Baka no Uta himself and performed on vocals, acoustic guitar, marimba, mandolin, banjo, glockenspiel, and toy piano. Sakerock drummer Daichi Ito, former band member, pianist, and organ player Takuji Nomura, and acoustic and electric bassist Suga Dairo provided instrumentation on the album, with Ren Takada featuring as a guest performer on pedal steel and resonator guitar. The album was recorded by Naoyuki Uchida at three locations in Tokyo: Freedom Studio, Thinksync Integral, and Sound DALI Studio. Mastering was handled by Mikazu Tanaka at Bernie Grundman Mastering.[8] [9] [10] The track listing of Baka no Uta contains 15 songs, including the two instrumentals and . Some tracks are taken from the 2005 CD-R of the same name and the 2007 CD booklet Barabara, and two are lyrical covers of Sakerock songs:[8] and, originally included on the albums Life Cycle and Honyarara, respectively.[5] [11] Hoshino described Baka no Uta as "only one-third old material", with everything else being new.[1]

Baka no Uta covers themes of everyday life. Mayumi Tsuchida of Bounce magazine noted one song on the album as being about an old man who suddenly collapsed and died, and another as being about a child who was never born,[12] whereas Mio at Tower Records Japan wrote that the album contains tracks focusing on everyday topics such as departure, scatter, teacup sets, and kids growing up.[13] Musically, CDJournal categorizes the album as Japanese rock and pop and Tsuchida described it as performed in a "nostalgic-like band sound".[12] [14] Critics noted aging as a theme on the album, present in songs such as the second track, the fourth, and the seventh "Rōfūfu".[15] [16], the album's thirteenth track, was composed by Haruomi Hosono.[7] Hosono recorded a self-cover of the song for his album Hosonova (2011), on which Hoshino also co-wrote the lyrics for the song "Banana Oiwake".[17]

The album's opening track, the title track to Hoshino's 2007 booklet, was also the first song recorded for the album.[18] Written after Hoshino experienced heartbreak,[19] the song proposes that people cannot become one or fully united, and that this fact is what allows people to connect.[20] A new song for the album, the main promotional track was described by Emi Sugiura of Rockin'On Japan as "envoking a sense of loneliness", giving the impression it was born from Hoshino "facing music alone at night".[20] Real Sound Natsuna Murakami interpreted the lyrics as discussing love in a roundabout manner and found the track representative of Hoshino's early music, prior to dance tracks such as "Sun" (2015) and "Koi" (2016).[21] Hoshino recorded in a low voice to avoid waking up his landlord, who lived on the floor below him. A homey nursery rhyme, the song features musical elements that would become characteristic of Hoshino's music, according to music critic Takanori Kuroda for Real Sound. Composed with E-flat and based in the Japanese scale, in which F and C notes are excluded, the song is built on diatonic chords, with an expection of Am7-5 as the transitional.[22]

Promotion and release

On 26 March 2010, it was announced that Hoshino was in the process of recording an untitled lyrical debut solo album, with a band consisting of Daichi Ito on on drums, Takuji Nomura on keyboard, and Suga Dairo on bass. In late April, he was set to unveil select songs from the album as a guest performer on the Tokyo and Osaka shows of the concert Springfields '10.[23] A month after the announcement, details and the full track listing was unveiled alongside the album's title, Baka no Uta.[8] A documentary to the album's production was uploaded to YouTube in May, directed by "Ichiro Yamada"–the name of an art unit consisting of Hoshino, director, and designer .[24] A music video for the song "Kuse no Uta", also directed by the unit, was released on 11 June. The song was used as the album's sole promotional single, released as a ringtone the same day as the music video and for digital download on 14 July.[25] [26] Baka no Uta was first issued as a limited edition LP record on 16 June 2010 via Kakubarhythm, a week ahead of the proper release.[24] [27] The CD album was released on 23 June 2010, jointly issued by Victor Entertainment's Speedstar Records and Daisyworld's Labels United.[14] [28]

To promote the release, Hoshino announced that he would perform and host autograph shows at Tower Records stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Miyagi, and Hokkaido throughout July, distributing tickets via copies of the album bought from Tower Records.[29] [30] From 12 July to 13, Hoshino toured for Baka no Uta with two shows at the Club Quattro venues in Shibuya, Tokyo, and Shinsaibashi, Osaka. The tour featured Ito on drums, Nomura on keyboard, and Dairo on bass, with Takada also guest starring on the performances of "Rōfūfu", "Ana o Horu",, and "Tadaima".[31] In July 2020, Hoshino celebrated the tenth anniversary of Baka no Uta release by revisiting the Shibuya Club Quattro venue to perform the online concert, featuring "Rōfūfu" as the only Baka no Uta song on the setlist.[32]

Commercial performance

Around its week of release, Baka no Uta sold 3,831 CD copies in Japan, reaching number 38 on the Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales Chart and number 36 on the Oricon Albums Chart. It continued to rank in the top 300 of Oricon's chart until October 2013, before leaving the ranking after 25 weeks. Tracking the regional sales at Tower Records stores, CDJournal reported that the album primarily sold at the Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Sapporo locations, with less significant sales to no chart history at the stores in Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya.[14] In October 2010, a writer for the site described Baka no Uta as a long-seller–a work that continues to sell for a long period of time.[33]

The album has resurfaced on the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts from 2015 and forward. From 2015 to 2017, it charted an additional 25 weeks on the Oricon Albums Chart for a total of 50 appearances. By August 2017, its most recent appearance, Oricon reported that the album had reached 26,413 accumulative sales. In December 2016, the album reached number four on the Taiwanese J-pop albums chart, published by G-Music. The same month, Baka no Uta debuted on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums, where it would chart for 11 weeks and reach a peak at number 40. In March 2019, it debuted at number 97 on Billboard Top Download Albums chart.[34]

Critical reception

Baka no Uta was received positively by Japanese music critics, who praised its connection to everyday life. The album received a finalist award at the third annual CD Shop Awards, voted by music stores around Japan. Maki Osako, a staffer for the Tower Records store in Kagoshima, commented on the award page: "[...] it is a record that has become a part of our daily life. Like how every day we eat dinner, use the bathroom, and take off our shoes, we listen to this [album]. When I find someone special, or when my heart breaks, or even if I begin to approach death, I will want to listen to Baka no Uta. Baka no Uta will fit with any listener. Because there is no listener who does not live." It was beaten for the Grand Prix by the rock band Andymori's Fanfare to Nekkyō (2010).[16]

A writer for CDJournal called Baka no Uta sensable and praised its melodies as unique.[14] Site staff member Nozomi ranked Baka no Uta as her third-favorite album of the early half of 2010, finding that it "quitely conveyed the deep genius of Gen Hoshino".[35] She later ranked the album as her favorite of 2010, writing that it had "perfectly fitted [her] life rhythm," having listened to the album on her way to work, at work, on the way home, and at home.[36] Bounce Mayumi Tsuchida wondered why Hoshino would choose to write songs about the topics featured on the album, but found that every song on the album would still resonate with "strange and warm emotions". She summarized it as a high-quality singer-songwriter album, carefully created by "the right people in the right places".[12] Ayumi Nakayama, a writer for the magazine Intoxicate, felt that Hoshino's songwriting merged feelings of relief and some loneliness, creating a "soft" track listing that she thanked Hoshino for.[37] Shinji Hyogo, the editor-in-chief at Rockin'On Japan, wrote that, despite featuring calm vocals, instrumentation, and melodies, Baka no Uta has a "fantastic" feel of solitude.[15]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the CD album liner notes and Daisyworld.[9] [10]

Charts

+ Chart (2010–13)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)36
Japanese Top Albums Sales (Billboard Japan)[39] 38
+ Chart (2015–17)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)62
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[40] 40
Taiwanese J-Pop Albums (G-Music)[41] 4
+ Chart (2019)Peak
position
Japanese Top Download Albums (Billboard Japan)[42] 97

Release history

Release history for Baka no Uta
RegionDateFormatLabelCatalogue code
Japan16 June 2010LP recordKakubarhythmKAKU-042
23 June 2010CDVICL-63626
12 July 2010rental CDVictor EntertainmentVICL-63626R[43]
South Korea31 May 2011Digital downloadJ-Box Entertainment[44]
Taiwan3 June 2011CDRock RecordsGUT2349[45]
Japan5 February 2014Vinyl (reprint)Speedstar RecordsVIJL-60130[46]
Various23 June 2015Digital download[47]
30 August 2019Streaming[48]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hoshino. Gen. Gen Hoshino. Tanaka. Hiroshi. 『ばかのうた』星野 源 インタビュー. Gen Hoshino Baka no Uta Interview. . ja. 25 June 2010. 30 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Sakerockのプロフィール. Profile of Sakerock. . ja. Kadokawa. 13 May 2024.
  3. Web site: 星野源. Gen Hoshino. ListenJapan. ja. 30 April 2024. 7 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130407014822/http://listen.jp/store/artist_1182554.htm. dead.
  4. Web site: Sakerock - プロフィール. Sakerock - Profile. . ja. 30 July 2012. 13 May 2024. Tower Records Japan.
  5. Web site: Life Cycle. ja. Oricon. 30 April 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430184031/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/324289/products/597167/1/. live.
  6. Web site: Sakerockのプロフィール. Profile of Sakerock. Natalie.mu. ja. 13 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Sakerock星野源, 細野レーベルからソロアルバム6月発表. Sakerock's Gen Hoshino Announces Solo Album, to Release in June via Haruomi Hosono's Label. ja. Natalie.mu. 26 March 2010. 30 April 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430184029/https://natalie.mu/music/news/29607. live.
  8. Web site: 星野源ソロ「ばかのうた」に細野コラボ、Sakerockカバー. Gen Hoshino Collaborates with Haruomi Hosono and Covers Sakerock on Solo Album Baka no Uta. ja. Natalie.mu. 27 April 2010. 1 May 2024. 19 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240219175650/https://natalie.mu/music/news/31133. live.
  9. Hoshino. Gen. Gen Hoshino. Higashi. Eiichi. Liner notes. 23 June 2010. ばかのうた. Baka no Uta. ja. Speedstar Records.
  10. Web site: ばかのうた / 星野 源. Baka no Uta / Gen Hoshino. Daisyworld Records. 23 June 2010. 29 March 2024. 29 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240329122044/http://daisyworlddiscs.sblo.jp/article/178909118.html. live.
  11. Web site: ホニャララ. Honyarara. ja. Oricon. 30 April 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430184030/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/324289/products/787645/1/. live.
  12. Tsuchida. Mayumi. 星野源 / ばかのうた. Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta. ja. Bounce. 322. 25 June 2010. 2 May 2024. Tower Records Japan. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502173705/https://tower.jp/item/2714430/. live.
  13. Web site: Mio. ばかのうた. Baka no Uta. ja. Tower Records Japan. 1 May 2024. 5 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231205225154/https://tower.jp/site/artist/hoshinogen/discography/solo. live.
  14. Web site: 星野 源 / ばかのうた. Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta. . ja. 23 March 2024. 19 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240219175650/https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/bakanouta/4110041640. live.
  15. Hirokazu. Koike. 星野源「ばかのうた」. Gen Hoshino's Baka no Uta. ja. Rockin'On Japan. 4 July 2010. 2 May 2024. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502173705/https://rockinon.com/blog/hyogo/36842. live.
  16. Web site: Osako. Maki. 「ばかのうた」 星野 源. Baka no Uta, Gen Hoshino. ja. Tower Records Japan
    CD Shop Awards
    . Kagoshima, Japan. 2011. 2 May 2024. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927024644/http://www.cdshop-kumiai.jp/taisho/archive/03-2011/. live.
  17. Web site: Hosonova. subscription. ja. Oricon. 3 March 2024. the You Taiju service. 9 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509190359/https://ranking.oricon.co.jp/login/error.asp. live.
  18. Yamagishi. Santa. Hoshino. Gen. Gen Hoshino. Ichiro Yamada. 星野 源『ばかのうた』をつくる - Part 1/4 初日編. Creating Gen Hoshino's Baka no Uta - Part 1/4, First Day. 30 May 2010. 2 May 2024. YouTube. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502173705/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XunlyUsvVqQ. live.
  19. Web site: 星野源、NHK-FM初収録で失恋エピソード赤裸々告白. Gen Hoshino Confesses His Story of Heartbreak on First Broadcast of NHK-FM Program. ja. Natalie.mu. 1 April 2013. 3 May 2024. 3 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240503193257/https://natalie.mu/music/news/87768. live.
  20. Sugiura. Emi. 【10リスト】星野源、一生聴き続けられる名曲10はこれだ!. The Top 10 Gen Hoshino Songs We Can Listen to Forever!. ja. Rockin'On Japan. 19 December 2018. 3 May 2024. 3 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240503193258/https://rockinon.com/news/detail/182541. live.
  21. Web site: Murakami. Natsuna. 星野源が"歌"で表現する、日常にある幸せ 今夜『Mステ』披露の「くだらないの中に」への期待. Gen Hoshino Visualizes the Happiness in the Everyday Through Music: Expectations for Tonight's Music Station Performance of "Kudaranai no Naka ni". ja. . 10 February 2017. 3 May 2024. 26 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231226194847/https://realsound.jp/2017/02/post-11316.html. live.
  22. Web site: Kuroda. Takanori. 星野源の音楽はなぜ"キャッチーでマニアック"なのか?「ひらめき」から「恋」まで楽曲分析. Why Is Gen Hoshino's Music Catchy and Manic? Dissecting the Sound, from "Hirameki" to "Koi". ja. . 1. 14 January 2017. 2 May 2024. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502180648/https://realsound.jp/2017/01/post-10926.html. live.
  23. Sakerock星野源、歌モノソロアルバムに挑戦. Sakerock's Gen Hoshino Heads Towards Debut Vocal Album. ja. Rockin'On Japan. 26 March 2010. 6 May 2024. 6 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240506183503/https://rockinon.com/news/detail/32575. live.
  24. Web site: 星野源「ばかのうた」アナログで先行発売&密着映像公開. Gen Hoshino's Baka no Uta to Release Early in Analog + Documentary Video Released. ja. Natalie.mu. 31 May 2010. 6 May 2024. 7 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240507031748/https://natalie.mu/music/news/32585. live.
  25. Web site: 星野源、あの"山田一郎"が手がけたソロ曲PVを公開. Gen Hoshino Releases Music Video to Solo Song, Directed by That "Ichiro Yamada". ja. Natalie.mu. 11 June 2010. 6 May 2024. 6 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240506183501/https://natalie.mu/music/news/33159. live.
  26. Web site: くせのうた - Single. Kuse no Uta - Single. iTunes Japan. 6 May 2024. 16 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016044222/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/kusenouta-single/id379371708. dead.
  27. Web site: 星野源 / ばかのうた (LP). Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta (LP). Kakubarhythm. ja. 31 March 2024. 9 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509190319/https://kakubarhythm.com/discography/post/4725. live.
  28. Murao. Yasuo. Labels Unitedとは何ぞや?. What on Earth Is Labels United?. ja. Bounce. 328. 25 December 2010. 6 May 2024. Tower Records Japan. 6 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240506183501/https://tower.jp/article/series/2011/02/09/74284/74330. live.
  29. Web site: 星野源、全国で挨拶まわりツアー&インストア行脚. Gen Hoshino Announces National Aisatsu Mawari Tour & In-Store Performances at Tower Records. ja. Natalie.mu. 22 June 2010. 7 May 2024. 7 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240507173809/https://natalie.mu/music/news/33637. live.
  30. Web site: 星野源、タワー新宿店にて初のインストア・ライヴを敢行. Gen Hoshino to Host First In-Store Performance at Tower Shinjuku. Tower Records Japan. ja. 31 May 2010. 7 May 2024. 7 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240507173813/https://tower.jp/article/news/2010/05/31/65727. live.
  31. Web site: 星野源ソロライブ東京公演でなつみさんの誕生日を祝福. Gen Hoshino Celebrates the Birthday of Viewer Natsumi During Tokyo Show of Solo Tour. ja. Natalie.mu. 22 July 2010. 7 May 2024. 7 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240507173810/https://natalie.mu/music/news/35007. live.
  32. Web site: Ueda. Takuto. <ライブレポート> 星野源が配信ライブ【Gratitude】に込めた「音を奏でる喜び」と「再会の願い」. (Live Report) Gen Hoshino's Joy Played in Music and Wish for Reunion in Online Concert Gratitude. Billboard Japan. ja. 17 July 2020. 7 May 2024. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712114310/https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/90194/2. live.
  33. Web site: 星野源が12月5日(日)に東京キネマ倶楽部でワンマン・ライヴを開催!. Gen Hoshino to Host One-Man Live Performance at the Tokyo Kimena Club on 5 December. . ja. 5 October 2010. 10 May 2024. 19 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240219175656/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/hoshino-gen/34346. live.
  34. Web site: 星野源. Gen Hoshino. ja. Billboard Japan. 9 May 2024. 19 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240119224610/https://www.billboard-japan.com/artists/detail/82529. live.
  35. Web site: Hoshi. To. Ki. Gen. Nozomi. Shimizu. [特集] CDJournal.comスタッフが選ぶ"2010年 私の上半期Best5"!]. Special: CDJournal.com Staff Choose Their 5 Favorite Albums of Early 2010!. . ja. 21 July 2010. 9 May 2024. 19 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240219175706/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/cdjpush/miss-monday/2000000558. live.
  36. Web site: Hoshi. To. Ki. Gen. Nozomi. Shimizu. [特集] CDJournal.comスタッフが選ぶ"2010年 私のBest5"]. Special: CDJournal.com Staff Choose Their 5 Favorite Albums of 2010. . ja. 12 January 2011. 9 May 2024. 29 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231129095149/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/cdjpush/-/2000000595. live.
  37. Nakayama. Ayumi. 星野源 / ばかのうた. Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta. ja. Intoxicate. 86. 20 June 2010. 9 May 2024. Tower Records Japan. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502173708/https://tower.jp/item/2714430/. live.
  38. Web site: ばかのうた. Baka no Uta. subscription. ja. Oricon. 29 March 2024. the You Taiju service. 9 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509190319/https://ranking.oricon.co.jp/login/error.asp. live.
  39. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales. ja. Billboard Japan. 30 June 2010. 29 March 2024. 23 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240123013522/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2010&month=07&day=05. live.
  40. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums. ja. Billboard Japan. 21 December 2016. 9 May 2024. 27 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231027051834/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2016&month=12&day=26. live.
  41. Web site: G-Music Charts – Week of 23 December 2016 to 29 December 2016. zh. G-Music. 29 March 2024. 1 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170101110249/http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=106. dead.
  42. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Download Albums. ja. Billboard Japan. 11 March 2019. 9 May 2024. 9 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509190321/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlalbums&year=2019&month=03&day=11. live.
  43. Web site: 星野源/ばかのうた(アルバム). Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta (Album). ja. DMM.com. 7 May 2024. 3 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160503011850/http://www.dmm.com/rental/-/detail/=/cid=cd_210vicl63626r/. live.
  44. Web site: ばかのうた (바보의 노래). Baka no Uta (Foolish Songs). ko. Bugs!. 30 April 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430164241/https://music.bugs.co.kr/album/288333. live.
  45. Web site: 星野源 / 笨蛋之歌. Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta. zh. Books.com.tw. 30 April 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430164241/https://www.books.com.tw/products/0020149581. live.
  46. Web site: 星野源/ばかのうた<完全生産限定盤>. Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta (Complete Limited Edition). Tower Records Japan. ja. 29 March 2024. 29 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240329165657/https://tower.jp/item/3349528/. live.
  47. Web site: 星野 源、最新シングル「Sun」など全楽曲を一斉配信. Gen Hoshino Releases Entire Discography for Online Distribution, Including New Single "Sun". . ja. 23 June 2015. 29 March 2024. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215000716/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/hoshino-gen/66887. live.
  48. Web site: 星野源、最新アルバム『Pop Virus』含む全曲ストリーミング解禁. Gen Hoshino Releases All Songs for Streaming, Including New Album Pop Virus. ja. Spincoaster. 30 August 2019. 29 March 2024. 29 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240329165658/https://spincoaster.com/news/gen-hoshino-release-all-song-on-streaming-service. live.