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"Kid (Gen Hoshino song)" redirects here. For his 2017 song "Kids", see Pop Virus.
Baka no Uta
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.
Studio album by
Gen Hoshino
Released16 June 2010 (2010-06-16)
Studio
  • Freedom (Shibuya)
  • Thinksync Integral (Setagaya)
  • Sound DALI (Setagaya)
Genre
Length47:58
LanguageJapanese
Label
ProducerGen Hoshino
Gen Hoshino chronology
Baka no Uta
(2010) 		Episode
(2011)

Baka no Uta (ばかのうた, lit. "Stupid Songs") is the debut studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino.

Background

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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 wrote, 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.[3]

In 2000, Hoshino formed the band Sakerock and served as the frontman, playing guitar and also marimba. Though Hoshino wanted to sing, he never expressed this and, as he had no friends who were singers either, the band became instrumental.[3][4] The band independently released their debut album Yuta in 2003,[5] before signing to indie label Kakubarhythm [ja] with their 2005 album Life Cycle.[6] Sakerock would break into the Oricon Albums Chart with Songs of Instrumental (2006), which peaked at number 40,[7] and the following Honyarara (2008) reached 32.[8] In addition to his activities with Sakerock, Hoshino worked as an actor and, musically, began composing songs for stage plays and held acoustic live peformances.[4] In 2005, he released a self-produced CD-R album titled Baka no Uta, his first solo release. Partnering with photographer Taro Hirano [ja], he released the CD and photo booklet Barabara in 2007, containing acoustic-peformed songs.[4][9]

Whilst finding peforming with Sakerock rewarding and fun, around the time Hoshino was to turn 30, he 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 an official solo debut. Hoshino accepted, beginning production of his debut solo studio album Baka no Uta,[3] the same title as his 2005 CD-R album.

Production and music

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Hoshino wrote and produced all tracks on Baka no Uta himself, and performed on vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, marimba, mandolin, banjo, glockenspiel, and toy piano. Two members of Sakerock – acoustic and electric bassist Suga Dairo and drummer Daichi Ito – as well as former member, pianist and organ player Takuji Nomura, 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.[10][11][12] The track listing of Baka no Uta contains 15 songs, including two instrumentals. 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.[10] Hoshino described the album as "only one-third old material", with everything else being new.[3]

 
"Hirameki"
Real Sound's Takanori Kuroda felt that the fourteenth track "Hirameki", recorded by Hoshino in a low voice and composed with base in the Japanese yonanuki scale, had a "homey" atmosphere with similarities to nursery rhymes.
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The songs on Baka no Uta have themes of everyday life. Mayumi Tsuchida of Bounce magazine noted one song on the album as about an oldman who suddenly collapsed and died, and another as about a child who was never born,[13] whereas Mio at Tower Records Japan wrote that the album contains tracks focusing on everyday topics such as departure, scattering, teacup sets, and kids growing up.[14] Musically, Tsuchida described the album as performed in a "nostalgic-like band sound".[13]

The album's opening track "Barabara" (ばらばら, lit. "Scattered"), the title track to Hoshino's 2007 booklet, was also the first song recorded on the album. Hoshino described it as one of the album's "dark" songs.[15] Aging was noted by critics as a theme on the album, present in songs such as the second track "Goo" (グー, Gū), the fourth "Chawan" (茶碗, lit. "Teacup"), and the seventh "Rōfūfu" (老夫婦, lit. "Old Couple").[16][17]

Release and promotion

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Reception

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Personnel

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Credits adapted from the CD album liner notes and Daisyworld.[11][12]

  • Gen Hoshino – songwriter, producer, vocals, acoustic guitar, marimba, mandolin, banjo, glockenspiel, toy piano, handclapping; all instruments (#5, #11)
  • Haruomi Hosono – co-composer (#13)
  • Daichi Ito – drums, handclapping
  • Suga Dairo – acoustic bass, electric bass, handclapping
  • Takuji Nomura – piano, organ, handclapping
  • Ren Takada – pedal steel guitar, resonator guitar
  • Santa Yamagishi – handclapping
  • Azusa Akahori – handclapping
  • Eiichi Higashi – handclapping, record manufacturing director[18]
  • Naoyuki Uchida – recording
  • Mikazu Tanaka – mastering

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Gen Hoshino, except where otherwise noted

CD album
No.TitleJapanese titleLength
1."Barabara"ばらばら ("Scatter")3:22
2."Goo"グー (Gū)3:34
3."Kitchen"キッチン (Kicchin)4:16
4."Chawan"茶碗 ("Tea Cup")3:53
5."Daisy Omisoshiru" (Instrumental)デイジーお味噌汁 ("Daisy Miso Soup")1:31
6."Yonaka Uta"夜中唄 ("Night Song")3:51
7."Rōfūfu"老夫婦 ("Old Couple")2:01
8."Kuse no Uta"くせのうた ("Habit Song")4:44
9."Kyōdai"兄妹 ("Siblings")2:49
10."Kodomo"子供 ("Kid")3:32
11."Sayōnara no Umi" (Instrumental)さようならのうみ ("Sea of Farewell")2:21
12."Ana o Horu"穴を掘る ("Dig a Hole")2:48
13."Tadaima" (co-written with Haruomi Hosono)ただいま ("I'm Home")3:25
14."Hirameki"ひらめき ("Flash")2:42
15."Baka no Uta"ばかのうた ("Stupid Song")3:25
Total length:47:58
LP album – side A
No.TitleJapanese titleLength
1."Barabara"ばらばら ("Scatter")3:22
2."Goo"グー (Gū)3:34
3."Kitchen"キッチン (Kicchin)4:16
4."Chawan"茶碗 ("Tea Cup")3:53
5."Daisy Omisoshiru" (Instrumental)デイジーお味噌汁 ("Daisy Miso Soup")1:31
6."Yonaka Uta"夜中唄 ("Night Song")3:51
7."Rōfūfu"老夫婦 ("Old Couple")2:01
8."Kuse no Uta"くせのうた ("Habit Song")4:44
LP album – side B
No.TitleJapanese titleLength
9."Kyōdai"兄妹 ("Siblings")2:49
10."Kodomo"子供 ("Kid")3:32
11."Sayōnara no Umi" (Instrumental)さようならのうみ ("Sea of Farewell")2:21
12."Ana o Horu"穴を掘る ("Dig a Hole")2:48
13."Tadaima" (co-written with Hosono)ただいま ("I'm Home")3:25
14."Hirameki"ひらめき ("Flash")2:42
15."Baka no Uta"ばかのうた ("Stupid Song")3:25
Total length:47:58

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for Baka no Uta (2010–13)
Chart (2010–13) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 36
Japanese Top Albums Sales (Billboard Japan)[19] 38
Weekly chart performance for Baka no Uta (2015–17)
Chart (2015–17) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 62
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[20] 42
Taiwanese J-Pop Albums (G-Music)[21] 4

Release history

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Release history for Baka no Uta
Region Date Format Label Catalogue code Ref.
Japan 16 June 2010 LP record Kakubarhythm KAKU-042 [22]
23 June 2010 CD
VICL-63626 [12]
South Korea 31 May 2011 Digital download J-Box Entertainment — [23]
Taiwan 3 June 2011 CD Rock Records GUT2349 [24]
Japan 5 February 2014 Vinyl (reprint) Speedstar Records VIJL-60130 [25]
Various 23 June 2015 Digital download — [26]
30 August 2018 Streaming — [27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "星野 源 / ばかのうた" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Baka no Uta – Album by Gen Hoshino". Apple Music. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Hoshino, Gen (25 June 2010). "『ばかのうた』星野 源 インタビュー" [Gen Hoshino Baka no Uta Interview]. Cinra [ja] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Tanaka, Hiroshi. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "星野源" [Gen Hoshino]. ListenJapan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Sakerock / Yuta" (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Life Cycle" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Songs of Instrumental" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. ^ "ホニャララ" [Honyarara] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  9. ^ "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]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). 26 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "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]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). 27 April 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b Hoshino, Gen; Higashi, Eiichi (23 June 2010). ばかのうた [Baka no Uta] (Liner notes) (in Japanese). Speedstar Records.
  12. ^ a b c "ばかのうた / 星野 源" [Baka no Uta / Gen Hoshino]. Daisyworld Records. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  13. ^ a b Tsuchida, Mayumi (25 June 2010). "星野源 / ばかのうた" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta]. Bounce (in Japanese). Vol. 322. Retrieved 2 May 2024 – via Tower Records Japan.
  14. ^ Mio. "ばかのうた" [Baka no Uta] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ^ Yamagishi, Santa; Hoshino, Gen; et al. (Ichiro Yamada) (30 May 2010). 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]. Retrieved 2 May 2024 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Hirokazu, Koike (4 July 2010). "星野源「ばかのうた」" [Gen Hoshino's Baka no Uta]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  17. ^ Osako, Maki (2011). "「ばかのうた」 星野 源" [Baka no Uta, Gen Hoshino] (in Japanese). Kagoshima, Japan: Tower Records Japan; CD Shop Awards. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "ばかのうた" [Baka no Uta] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via the You Taiju service.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 30 June 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 11 January 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  21. ^ "G-Music Charts – Week of 23 December 2016 to 29 December 2016" (in Chinese). G-Music. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  22. ^ "星野源 / ばかのうた (LP)" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta (LP)] (in Japanese). Kakubarhythm. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  23. ^ "ばかのうた (바보의 노래)" [Baka no Uta (Foolish Songs)] (in Korean). Bugs!. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  24. ^ "星野源 / 笨蛋之歌" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta] (in Chinese). Books.com.tw. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  25. ^ "星野源/ばかのうた<完全生産限定盤>" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta (Complete Limited Edition)] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  26. ^ "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"]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). 23 June 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  27. ^ "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]. Spincoaster (in Japanese). 30 August 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
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