Wikipedia

Mesmerizer (song)

"Mesmerizer" (メズマライザー) is a 2024 song by Japanese music producer 32ki (pronounced "Satsuki") featuring vocals by Vocaloid virtual singer Hatsune Miku and Synthesizer V [ja] Kasane Teto. The song's accompanying animated music video, created by Japanese animator "channel", reached 10 million views on YouTube within two weeks of its release, unprecedented for Vocaloid songs.[2][3][4]

"Mesmerizer"
Single by 32ki
from the album Circus's Detail
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedApril 27, 2024 (2024-04-27)
Genre
Length2:37
Songwriter(s)Satsuki
32ki singles chronology
"Cryokinesis"
(2023) 		"Mesmerizer"
(2024) 		"Obsolete Meat"
(2024)
Music video
"Mesmerizer" on YouTube

Background and release

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The music video for "Mesmerizer" was released on April 27, 2024, and the song was released for streaming on May 17.[5] The song was included on 32ki's first album, Circus's Detail, which was released during Niconico Chokaigi [ja] 2024.[2][6] The song's stems have been made available to the public as part of the "Remix Project" by Dwango.[7]

Composition

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"Mesmerizer" contains a high-density mix, a rhythmic and hooky sound, and lyrics that leave room for interpretation.[8] 32ki said that the melody is influenced by "high-speed singing/high range" songs written by such as Japanese music producer Tohma and kemu [ja].[9] Patrick St. Michel of The Japan Times described the song as "jagged sonic textures — with Jersey club touches buried beneath clattering beats — and tops it off with vocals courtesy of Miku and fellow synthesized character Kasane Teto".[10] The song explores the theme of "mesmerism".[6] The lyrics also examine the desire to escape from reality and the danger of losing oneself to escapism.[5]

Music video

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The music video for the song was created by "channel"[a], whose fan-made animation for "Rabbit Hole" by Deco*27 went viral on social media in February 2024.[5][6] In the music video, Hatsune Miku and Kasane Teto dance to cheerful singing and rhythmic effects, wearing clothing in the style of an American diner.[11] Despite the video's bright colors and the song's upbeat instrumental, disturbing details are littered throughout the video. Teto's use of distress signals is hidden throughout the video, including her signing "help" in American Sign Language, showing the Signal for Help, and blinking the SOS pattern. Before the first chorus, the pose both Teto and Miku make with their hands and arms, combined with the tridecagram flashing "mesmerizer!!" in between them, makes the letters "SOS". This is the same pose used in the thumbnail.

Halfway through the video, Miku succumbs to hypnosis, and she begins to lose control of herself. During the "QUIZ TIME!" segment before Miku gets hypnotized, the first letters of each answer spell out "HELP", as well as the fourth letters spelling out "SOS". At the start of the final chorus, Miku goes completely insane and begins to dance wildly, now with sharp teeth, her tongue out, and the subtitles become mojibake. Teto continues to dance, although visibly frightened by Miku's transformation.[5][6] During the final seconds of the video, although obscured by a shower of confetti, it is possible to see Teto's eyes close momentarily, her distressed expression fading to a vacant smile, implying that she also has gotten hypnotized.[1]

Reception

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The music video for "Mesmerizer" uploaded to YouTube reached 10 million views on May 11, 2024, 13 days later.[3] The song is also the third and fastest song to surpass one million views on Niconico utilizing Synthesizer V [ja],[6] and the second fastest among all Vocaloid songs.[12] On June 27, 2024, the video surpassed 50 million views. A commemorative illustration was made by channel the following day. The song has also inspired a large number of Internet memes. Patrick St. Michel argued that the song "shows how Miku and the software she represents remain vital to the musical ecosystem of the 2020s".[10]

On October 2, 2024, the song was included in Sega's rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!.[13] A doujin turn-based rhythm game has been released.[14]

Chart performance

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The song debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Japan Niconico VOCALOID SONGS TOP20 chart for the week,[15] later topping the chart for five consecutive weeks, and entering the top 20 of "Japan Songs (South Korea)" for three consecutive weeks. It also debuted at No. 65 on the Japan Hot 100 on May 29, 2024.[16][17] On May 30, 2024, the song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Global Japan Songs excl. Japan chart.[18] Additionally, the song reached No. 3 on the Heatseekers Songs chart.[19] In June 2024, the song ranked on Billboard Japan Niconico Vocaloid Songs Top 20' Half-year chart at No. 6 after releasing for five weeks.[20]

It ranked No. 2 on the YouTube Japan Daily Top Music Videos chart on May 13, 2024.[6] On May 22, 2024, it debuted at No. 5 on the YouTube Japan Weekly Top Songs chart.[21] Additionally, "Mesmerizer" became the top-searched term on Nico Nico Pedia [ja] Weekly HOT Word Ranking on May 8, 2024.[22]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Mesmerizer"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[23] 65
Global (Billboard Global Japan Songs excl. Japan)[18] 13
Heatseekers Songs (Billboard Japan)[19] 3

Release history

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Release dates for "Mesmerizer"
Region Date Format
World May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)[24][25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Also known as "channelcaststation".

References

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  1. ^ a b "「メズマライザー」歌詞の意味は？ポップな音楽に隠された闇を考察！". UtaTen (in Japanese). 2024-05-28.
  2. ^ a b "連載『lit!』第101回：いよわ、r-906、Chinozo、サツキ…『ニコニコ超会議2024』で注目を集めたボカロ曲4選". Real Sound (in Japanese). 2024-05-12.
  3. ^ a b "【ボーカロイド音楽専門レーベル『KARENT』配信情報】5月16日（木）～5月22日（水）に13作品の配信をスタート！". PR Times (in Japanese). 2024-05-22.
  4. ^ "YouTube 6000万再生 「メズマライザー」のボカロP・サツキが大ヒット曲制作秘話を語る！ FM NACK5『ウォルピスカーターの社長室からお送りします。』". PR Times (in Japanese). 2024-07-28.
  5. ^ a b c d "ボカロP サツキの楽曲「メズマライザー」1000万再生を突破 2週間で快挙達成". KAI-YOU (in Japanese). 2024-05-13.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Creepy Nutsそっくり？謎のミャンマー語ロックとは / 「メズマライザー」をヒットさせた2人の新たな才能". Natalie (in Japanese). 2024-05-17.
  7. ^ "ネット最大のボカロイベント 【The VOCALOID Collection ～2024 Summer～】詳細発表 FRUITS ZIPPER『プロセカ』『まいまいまいごえん』とのコラボが実施決定！". PR Times (in Japanese). 2024-06-07.
  8. ^ "連載『lit!』第107回：吉田夜世、サツキ……2024年上半期にバズ曲を生み出したボカロP最新作4選". Real Sound (in Japanese). 2024-06-23.
  9. ^ "2024年上半期ボカロ名曲まとめ　人気曲「メズマライザー」「イガク」ほか15選". KAI-YOU (in Japanese). 2024-06-29.
  10. ^ a b Patrick St. Michel (July 15, 2024). "Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?". The Japan Times.
  11. ^ "「メズマライザー」が考察ブームで一躍話題に！ 初音ミク×重音テトによるポップな曲に隠された狂気――動画を手掛けたクリエイターが意味深なポストを…". Livedoor (in Japanese). 2024-05-16.
  12. ^ "【ビルボード】"ニコニコ VOCALOID SONGS TOP20"、サツキ「メズマライザー」3週連続首位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-05-22.
  13. ^ "「プロセカ」，メズマライザーを4周年記念楽曲キャンペーンで実装". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). October 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Mayo Kawano (2024-09-17). "Mesmerizer: trippy vocaloid fangame combines saving Hatsune Miku with Undertale-style battles". AUTOMATON.
  15. ^ "【ビルボード】"ニコニコ VOCALOID SONGS TOP20"、吉田夜世「オーバーライド」通算9回目の首位獲得". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-05-01.
  16. ^ "【ビルボード】"ニコニコ VOCALOID SONGS TOP20"、サツキ「メズマライザー」4週連続首位に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-05-29.
  17. ^ "【ビルボード】"ニコニコ VOCALOID SONGS TOP20"、サツキ「メズマライザー」首位を独走して5連覇に". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-06-05.
  18. ^ a b "【ビルボード】Creepy Nuts「Bling-Bang-Bang-Born」グローバル・ジャパン・ソングス19週連続首位 XG「WOKE UP」3位初登場／サツキ「メズマライザー」急上昇". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-05-30.
  19. ^ a b "【Heatseekers Songs】BABYMONSTER「SHEESH」4週ぶりに首位奪還". GetNews (in Japanese). 2024-05-30.
  20. ^ "Billboard JAPAN 2024年上半期チャート発表、Creepy Nuts／SixTONES／Mrs. GREEN APPLEが首位". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-06-07.
  21. ^ "【YouTubeチャート】サツキ & 初音ミク & 重音テト「メズマライザー」初登場5位". Oricon (in Japanese). 2024-05-22.
  22. ^ "「メズマライザー」「(ﾟ∀ﾟ)o彡゜えーりん！えーりん！」が急上昇 ニコニコ大百科 週間HOTワードランキング（2024/05/01-2024/05/07）". Livedoor (in Japanese). 2024-05-08.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of 3 June 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Mesmerizer". KARENT.
  25. ^ "メズマライザー" (in Japanese). OTOTY.
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