Setsugekka (The End of Silence)/Zan

"Setsugekka (The End of Silence)" / "Zan" (雪月花 -The end of silence-/斬~Zan~) is the thirty-sixth single of Japanese solo artist Gackt, released on December 9, 2009.[1][2] Both sides are theme songs for the video game Samurai Warriors 3.[3]

"Setsugekka (The End of Silence) / Zan"
CD only cover
Single by Gackt
from the album Last Moon
ReleasedDecember 9, 2009
Recorded2009
GenreSymphonic rock
LabelDears
Songwriter(s)Gackt C.
Producer(s)Gackt
Gackt singles chronology
"The Next Decade"
(2009)
"Setsugekka (The End of Silence) / Zan"
(2009)
"Stay the Ride Alive"
(2010)
Alternative cover
Dears only cover

Overview

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With the single, Gackt collaborated with Koei on their new Wii game Samurai Warriors 3.[4] The title song was the game's theme song, while "Zan" the ending theme song. The songs were performed on March 6 and 7, in the festival at the Saitama Super Arena, organized by Koei to promote their new game.[5][6]

The songs are distinctive for their blend of modern Western musical instruments and the traditional Japanese instruments, a kind of music called by Gackt as "Zipangu" rock, from which the country of origin (Japan) can be sensed.[3]

It was the last single released by his own label Dears, supported by Nippon Crown, before transferred to Avex Group in 2010.

Music video

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Gackt choose three members from popular visual kei bands that were featured in the music video of single. These members are Ni-ya from Nightmare on bass, Tsukasa from D'espairsRay on drums and Shun from DuelJewel on guitar. You Kurosaki, from his supporting live band, filled the second guitarist spot.[7]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Setsugekka (The End of Silence) (雪月花-The end of silence-)" 
2."Zan (斬~Zan~, lit. "Slash")" 
3."Setsugekka (The End of Silence) (雪月花-The end of silence-) (instrumental)" 
4."Zan (斬~Zan~) (instrumental)" 

Notes

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  • "Setsugekka" (雪月花), while literally meaning "snow, moon, and flowers", comes from a poem by Bai Juyi and is used to describe serene beauty.[8] "Setsugekka" is also the name of the white cultivar of the Okinawan Camellia sasanqua flower.[9]

Charts

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Oricon sales chart
Release Provider(s) Chart Peak position Sales total
December 9, 2009 Oricon Daily Singles 3 15,924
Weekly Singles 4[1] 24,742
Monthly Singles 17 31,463
Billboard Japan
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[10] 33
Billboard Japan Top Independent[11] 1

References

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  1. ^ a b ""Setsugekka" on Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  2. ^ Sugioka, Yuki (December 9, 2009). "GACKT 『雪月花-The end of silence- / 斬~ZAN~』インタビュー". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Gackt interview "メイド・イン・ジャパン"と呼べるモノを作りたい――Gackt、「雪月花―The end of silence―/斬~Zan~」をリリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). Ongaku Shuppansha. 2009-12-01. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "GACKT、『戦国無双3』とコラボ!". CD Journal (in Japanese). Ongaku Shuppansha. 2009-08-04. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  5. ^ 戦国時代がさいたまスーパーアリーナに蘇る、コーエー"戦国武将祭"が開催. famitsu.com (in Japanese). 2010-03-07. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  6. ^ "Gackt見参、さいたまスーパーアリーナが戦国時代に". barks.jp (in Japanese). Global Plus. 2010-03-08. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  7. ^ "Details on GACKT's Upcoming Single". JAME World. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  8. ^ Lin, Che-Wen, Cindy (2012). "Bai Juyi's Poetry as a Common Culture in Pre-modern East Asia" (PDF). Graduate Department of East Asian Studies, University of Toronto. p. 83.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ C. Colston Burrell, Lucy Hardiman (2005). Intimate Gardens. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. pp. 82. ISBN 9781889538655.
  10. ^ ""Setsugekka" on Japan Hot 100 chart". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  11. ^ ""Setsugekka" on Japan Top Independent chart". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2015.