Radwimps 3: Mujintō ni Motte Ikiwasureta Ichimai explained

Radwimps 3: Mujintō ni Motte Ikiwasureta Ichimai
Type:studio
Artist:Radwimps
Cover:RadwimpsMujinto.jpg
Recorded:2005–2006
Length:49:56
Language:Japanese, English
Label:Toshiba EMI
Producer:Junji Zenki (executive producer)
Ryō Takagi
Prev Year:2005
Next Year:2006

, stylised as RADWIMPS 3 ~Mujintō ni Motte Ikiwasureta Ichimai~, is Japanese rock band Radwimps' third album, and debut major label album under Toshiba EMI, released on February 15, 2006.[1]

The album was an extremely long seller. It sold 13,800 copies in its first week and spent a single week in the top 40, however has spent 161 weeks charting in the top 300 since its release,[2] and has been certified a platinum selling album by the RIAJ.

Background and development

Radwimps 3 was recorded in three different recording sessions, with the first in Summer 2005. The band continued to record until September 2005, as the members still had high school to attend in October.[3] Vocalist Yojiro Noda felt the separated recording sessions made the process much more fresh, and that he could put power into every song they recorded.[3] This technique was different to what the band did for their first two albums, which were collections of recordings accumulated until the band had enough material for an album.[3] Bassist Yusuke Takeda noted how their previous technique made album producing feel like work, and that it made the process dull.[3] Radwimps 3 was finished being recorded in December 2005.[4] Another new aspect in recording the band tried with Radwimps 3 was for all members to record simultaneously, as opposed to having each instrument recorded separately. The members believed such a technique helped the members understand the 'feeling' of the band.[3]

Noda felt like the most important aspect of the album was lyrics.[5]

The band's debut major label single, "Nijūgoko-me no Senshokutai," was an attempt by Noda to "express the world of music," and found it hard to fill the song with rhythm or space.[6] The album-preceding single, "EDP (Tonde Hi ni Iru Natsu no Kimi)," was created with the concept of the band making an incomprehensible song.[6] The acronym EDP has no particular meaning.[7]

Of the songs on the album, six are sung completely in Japanese, two primarily in Japanese with English phrases, and four primarily in English with Japanese phrases.

Promotion and release

The first single from the album was "Hexun" in May 2005, released while the band was still independent. The band made their major debut in November 2005 with the single "Nijūgoko-me no Senshokutai," followed by "EDP (Tonde Hi ni Iru Natsu no Kimi)" in January 2006, a month before the album's release.

After the album's release, the song "Otogi" received a music video, directed by Daisuke Shimada.[8]

Commercial reception

The album debuted at number 13 on Oricon's albums chart, falling out of the top 30 by the next week. However, the album consistently charted in the top 300 album chart for every week for the rest of 2006, until the end of September 2008. The album began regularly appearing on the album's chart again in January 2009, until the end of June 2009, after which it has sporadically recharted. In total, the album has spent 161 weeks on the top 300 albums chart as of March 2011. While the first weeks sales of the album only totalled 14,000, the current total has reached 189,000 copies. Furthermore, the album has been certified as a platinum album, having more than 250,000 copies shipped to stores across Japan.

The song "Saidai Kōyakusū" received a gold digital certification in March 2009, for the song being downloaded to cellphones more than 100,000 times since its release in February 2006.[9]

Chart rankings

Chart
Peak
position
Oricon daily albums[10] 9
Oricon weekly albums[11] 13

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[12] 189,000<--188,537-->
RIAJ physical shipping certification[13] Platinum (250,000+)

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing Label
JapanCD, digital downloadToshiba EMI
[14] Rental CD
South Korea[15] Digital downloadWarner Music Korea

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [CD] RADWIMPS 3 ~無人島に持っていき忘れた一枚~ / RADWIMPS |work=Neowing | language=Japanese | accessdate=April 11, 2011].
  2. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/636523/1/ . ja:RADWIMPS 3~無人島に持っていき忘れた一枚~/RADWIMPS . Oricon . Japanese . April 11, 2011.
  3. Web site: メジャー・デビュー後、2枚のシングルを経て、ついに2/15にフル・アルバムをリリースした4ピース・バンドRADWIMPSを直撃! . Direct hit by Radwimps, a four piece band who, after a major debut and two singles, have finally released a full album on February 15! . Vibe-Net . Japanese . February 28, 2006 . February 9, 2011.
  4. Web site: Interview with Radwimps . Excite Japan Co., Ltd . Japanese . 2006 . February 10, 2011.
  5. Web site: Deep Dive - Radwimps . Amazon . Japanese . 2006 . February 9, 2011.
  6. Web site: Special Interview Radwimps . Oricon . Japanese . January 18, 2006 . February 9, 2011.
  7. Web site: RADWIMPS 特集 . Radwimps Feature . Neowing . Japanese . 2006 . February 9, 2011.
  8. Web site: アーティスト名 RADWIMPS 楽曲名 おとぎ . Space Shower . Artist Name: Radwimps. Song Name: "Otogi" . Japanese . February 6, 2011.
  9. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:3月度認定> . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090420.html . . Japanese . April 20, 2009 . January 21, 2011.
  10. Web site: シングル デイリーランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング . Single Daily Ranking - Oricon Style Ranking . . February 15, 2006 . May 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060215183548/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/ . February 15, 2006.
  11. Web site: Oricon . RRADWIMPS 3~無人島に持っていき忘れた一枚~ - RADWIMPS . Japanese . April 10, 2011.
  12. Web site: 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" . . April 11, 2011. (subscription only)
  13. Web site: ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2010年05月 . Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (May 2010) . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/201005.html . . Japanese . June 10, 2010 . January 19, 2011.
  14. Web site: RADWIMPS 3~無人島に持っていき忘れた1枚~/RADWIMPS . Tsutaya . 2006 . April 11, 2011.
  15. Web site: Radwimps 3 ~無人島に持っていき忘れた一枚~ . Bugs! . Korean . March 29, 2013.