Bump of Chicken

Bump of Chicken (バンプ・オブ・チキン, Banpu Obu Chikin) is a Japanese alternative rock group from Sakura, Chiba, Japan. Their members are Motoo Fujiwara, Hiroaki Masukawa, Yoshifumi Naoi and Hideo Masu. Since their inception in 1994, they have released twenty-three singles and six albums, with a seventh album Ray to be released March 12, 2014.^[1] They are a popular group in Japan; every release since their third single, "Tentai Kansoku," has charted in the top ten on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Their music has been used in various video games and as theme songs for movies, television shows and anime in Japan.

History

The members first met in kindergarten and were classmates throughout their primary and secondary education. Bump of Chicken's first performance was in 1994, during their ninth grade cultural festival,^[1] playing a cover of The Beatles' version of Twist and Shout.^[2] In 1996, their song, Danny, won an award on 96TFM.^[3]

In 1999, Bump of Chicken released their first album, Flame Vein, on High Line Records. Later that year, they released their first single, "Lamp". In 2000, they released The Living Dead, their final release on High Line.^[4] They also held their first live tour, "Tsuaa Pokiiru (ツアーポキール)", during March and April.^[5]

Later in 2000, the group switched to Toy's Factory, releasing their first single on the label, "Diamond", in September.^[4] Bump of Chicken's first big success occurred when their single, "Tentai Kansoku", appeared on the Oricon Weekly Charts in 2001.^[6] They held two live tours, "Star Porking Tours (スターポーキングツアーズ Sutaa Pookingu Tsuaazu) 2001" beginning in March and "Surf Porkin'" beginning in July.^[5] In October, they released "Harujion".^[4] They released their first album on Toy's Factory, Jupiter, in February 2002 and was their first number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts. In the summer of 2002, their music was featured on the Japanese TV drama, "Tentai Kansoku", giving them more exposure.

At the end of 2002, the group released the single "Snow Smile". 2003 saw the release of the first double A-side single "Lost Man/sailing day".^[4] "Sailing Day" was used as the ending theme to the animated movie, One Piece: Dead End Adventure.^[1] The beginning of 2004 saw a slew of re-releases. "Arue", from their album Flame Vein, was released as a single in March. They re-released their first two albums in April. Flame Vein received an extra song and was re-released as Flame Vein +1. The Living Dead received no modifications. In July, the group released "Only Lonely Glory",^[4] which became their first single to chart at number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts.^[7] A month later, they released their fourth album, Yggdrasil, which was their second album to reach number one on the Oricon Weekly Charts.^[6] Shortly after, they released "Sharin no Uta", from Yggdrasil, as a single.

In 2005, Bump of Chicken released two singles, "Planetarium" and second double A-side single "Supernova/Karma". Karma was used as the theme song for Namco's "Tales of the Abyss. The band's next single, "Namida no Furusato" was used in a commercial for Lotte Airs.^[1] It became the group's second number one single. In 2007, they released the singles "Hana no Na" and "Mayday" on the same day. The two singles reached number one and two respectively on the Oricon Weekly Charts.^[6] Bump of Chicken released their fifth studio album, Orbital Period, on December 19, 2007. They released their first compilation album present from you on June 18, 2008. This album contains b-sides from singles and other non-album tracks.

On November 25, 2009, Bump of Chicken released its third double A-side single "R.I.P./Merry Christmas", their first single in two years. On April 14, 2010, they released "Happy" and then in the following week, another single, "Mahō no Ryōri (Kimi kara Kimi e)". Two singles also reached number one consecutively for two weeks on the Oricon Weekly Charts, the first time a band achieved this since Orange Range's "Love Parade" and "Onegai! Señorita" in 2005. They released fourth double A-side single "Uchūhikōshi e no Tegami/Motorcycle" on October 13, 2010, and they released music video for the song on Toy's Factory's YouTube channel on September 14, 2010, then it surpassed 200,000 viewers for two days. On December 15, 2010, they released sixth studio album, Cosmonaut, but the song "Merry Christmas" is not included in the album.

In 2011, Bump of Chicken announced that they wrote the song "Tomodachi no Uta" as the theme song for the animated 3D movie Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops: ~Angel Wings~, and "Tomodachi no Uta" was released as the single on February 23, 2011. They also released two singles, "Smile" on May 11, 2011 and "Zero" on October 19, 2011. "Zero" was used as the theme song for video game by Square Enix, Final Fantasy Type-0. Also in 2012, they released two more singles "Good Luck" and "Firefly", in January and September 2012, respectively. "Good Luck" was featured as the end theme to the Japanese film Always Sanchōme no Yūhi '64.

On March 6, 2013, Bump of Chicken released their first live video and album Bump of Chicken Gold Glider Tour 2012, recorded live at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan on July 3, 2012.

Members

Motoo Fujiwara

Motoo Fujiwara (藤原基央) is the composer, lyricist, guitar, and main vocalist of the group. He has written most of the music, and has also drawn the artwork for their albums 'The Living Dead' and 'Yggdrasil'. He enjoys doing laundry, cannot eat spicy foods, has poor eyesight, and enjoys playing the harmonica, which he bought for 300 yen. He also wants to be an unworldly man. In March 2006, he released a solo album titled "Song for Tales of the Abyss," which included "Karma" and instrumental versions of songs from the game Tales of the Abyss. Uses Gibson 1960 Les Paul Special Single Cutaway, Sonic fender, Gibson J-45.

• Birth date: 12 April 1979
• Birthplace: Akita, Akita Prefecture
• Position: Composer/Lyricist/Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist

Hiroaki Masukawa

Hiroaki Masukawa (増川弘明) is the guitarist of the group, and also writes most of the hidden joke tracks for albums. He is referred to as the shy member of the group, and calls himself pessimistic. His hobbies are largely anime and games. His nicknames within the band are "Hiro," "Hose," (meaning "very thin"), and "Nikke". Uses Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Stratocaster.

• Birth date: 20 December 1979
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: Lead Guitarist

Yoshifumi Naoi

Yoshifumi Naoi (直井由文) is the bassist of the group, and is referred to as the "crowd pleaser". He jokes that he "falls ill exactly four times a year." He also calls himself an anime and game otaku, and a "rare genius". His hobbies are photography and drawing; he has released an artbook containing his works, and helped with some of the album artwork. His nickname within the band is "Chama," a play on the Japanese phrase "Obotchama" referring to a rich family's son. Uses Sonic Bass, Fender Jazz Bass 65.

• Birth date: 9 October 1979
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: Bassist

Hideo Masu

Hideo Masu (升秀夫) is the drummer for the band. He describes himself as an introvert. He also mentions that he has good eyesight, cannot write kanji well, likes to go outdoors, and often gets headaches. Uses Canopus Maple Shell.

• Birth date: 10 August 1979
• Birthplace: Sakura, Chiba Prefecture
• Position: Drummer

Songs in popular culture

Their single "Arue" is a song dedicated to the fictional character Rei Ayanami, from the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. The song is listed as R.A., the initials of the aforementioned character.

Their song "Sailing Day" is used at the end credits of the anime movie One Piece: Dead End Adventure. The same song is also featured in the Guitar Freaks and Drummania series of arcade games.

The songs "Tentai Kansoku", "K", "Sailing Day", "Karma" and "Mayday" were later used in the musical arcade game by Bemani in GuitarFreaks, DrumMania, Jubeat, Reflec Beat Limelight and Pop'n Music. "Tentai Kansoku" was also featured in Metcha! Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Nanatsu no Shima no Daibouken.

The song "Karma" from their "Supernova / Karma" single is the main theme for Namco's Tales of the Abyss video game. It also is used on the anime adaptation of the game as the opening theme.

The movie Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels released on March 5, 2011, uses BUMP OF CHICKEN‘s song “Tomodachi no Uta” as its ending song. All 4 members have loved Doraemon for its unique and loving characters and story and have said that it is an honor to be chosen to sing for the new Doraemon movie.^[8]

The song "Hello, World!" from their "Hello World! / Colony" single is used as the opening song of the TV anime adaptation of the manga Blood Blockade Battlefront.

The song "Zero" from their "Ray" single was also featured as the opening song for Final Fantasy Type-0.

Discography

Singles

Digital download only

Albums

Other albums

Videos

• Video Pokiiru (ビデオポキール) (February 25, 2000, re-released on April 28, 2004)

Contains music videos: "Glass no Blues", "Little Braver", "Lamp", "Glorious Revolution"

• Jupiter (December 18, 2002)

Contains music videos: "Diamond", "Tentai Kansoku", "Harujion", "Melody Flag", "Stage of the Ground", "Bye Bye, Thank You"

• Yggdrasil (ユグドラシル) (December 1, 2004)

Contains music videos: "Only Lonely Glory", Sharin no Uta", Sailing Day", "Arue", "Snow Smile", "Lost Man", "Sharin no Uta Another Version" (hidden video)

• Puppet Show Guild (人形劇ギルド, Ningyougeki Guild) (September 20, 2006)
• Orbital Period (May 14, 2008)

Contains music videos: "Mayday", "Hana no Na", "Planetarium", "Supernova", "Karma", "Namida no Furusato", "Guild"

• Cosmonaut (October 19, 2011)

Contains music videos: "Mitsuboshi Quartet", "R.I.P.", "Motorcycle", "Mahō no Ryōri (Kimi Kara Kimi e)", "Happy", "Uchūhikōshi e no Tegami", "Beautiful Glider", "Makka na Sora wo Mita Darou ka", "Merry Christmas"

• Bump of Chicken Gold Glider Tour 2012 (Live video, March 6, 2013)
• Bump of Chicken Willpolis 2014 (Live documentary, February 4, 2015)

References

External links

• Bump of Chicken Official Website