"Gurenge" (紅蓮華, "Red Lotus") is a song by Japanese pop singer Lisa from her fifth studio album Leo-Nine. It was released as her fifteenth single digitally on April 22, 2019,[1] and received a physical release on July 3, 2019.[2] Commercially, the single peaked at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart, and number two on Billboard Japan Hot 100. It was used as the first opening theme song for the Japanese anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.[3]

"Gurenge"
Regular edition and digital EP cover
Single by Lisa
from the album Leo-Nine
B-side
  • "Propaganda"
  • "Yakusoku no Uta"
ReleasedJuly 3, 2019
Recorded2019
StudioOnkio Haus & Victor (Tokyo)
GenreRock
Length3:58
LabelSacra Music
Composer(s)Kayoko Kusano
Lyricist(s)Lisa
Producer(s)Ryo Eguchi
Lisa singles chronology
"Akai Wana (Who Loves It?)" / "Adamas"
(2018)
"Gurenge"
(2019)
"Unlasting"
(2019)
Alternative cover
Limited anime edition cover
Music video (short version)
"Gurenge" on YouTube

Background and release

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On March 24, 2019, the official website of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba revealed the opening theme song "Gurenge" that would be sung by Lisa.[3] The song was released digitally on April 22, 2019,[1] and received a physical single on July 3, 2019, on three editions; regular, limited, and limited anime edition.[2] The song was featured live on YouTube channel The First Take and also on 2019 Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[4][5] The song also featured in her fifth album Leo-Nine.[6]

Reception

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"Gurenge" won a Newtype Anime Awards for 2019 best theme song,[7] and won on 34th Japan Gold Disc Award for Best 5 Songs by Download.[8] The song has been covered by people across the world on YouTube. One of them was the Japanese duo Garnidelia, who made a self cover of the song in their official YouTube; the cover is part of their official cover, titled Garnidelia Cover Collection.[9] An instrumental rendition of the song was featured during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[10]

Commercial performance

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"Gurenge" reached number three on the Oricon Singles Chart,[11] two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and one on the Japan Hot Animation.[12] In May 2019, "Gurenge" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for 100,000 full-track digital music downloads.[13]

In July 2020, "Gurenge" was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for 1,000,000 full-track digital music downloads.[14] "Gurenge" became the first single by female artist to surpass 1 million downloads in the history of Oricon Digital Single Chart. The single also become the third overall single in the chart's history to do so, after Kenshi Yonezu's 2018 single "Lemon", and his 2019 single "Uma to Shika".[15]

Music video

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The music video for "Gurenge" was directed by Masakazu Fukatsu.[16] and produced by Hiroshi Takayama.[17] The video features Lisa using red scarf & black cloth as motifs, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and red shorts, dancing alongside two demons. Sometimes the scenes would show the demons with black and red effect.[18] The video ends with Lisa donning a demon mask. The demons are played by Shinji Kanazawa and Mai Shimizu.

Track listing

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Regular and limited edition – CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Gurenge" (紅蓮華)LisaKayoko KusanoRyo Eguchi3:58
2."Propaganda"Toru HidakaPablo A.K.A. WTF!?Pablo3:21
3."Yakusoku no Uta" (やくそくのうた)Tomoya TabuchiTabuchiEguchi4:38
4."Gurenge" (instrumental)   3:55
Total length:15:52
Limited edition – DVD
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Gurenge" (music video)Masakazu Fukatsu3:56
Total length:19:48
Limited anime edition – CD
No.TitleLength
1."Gurenge"3:58
2."Propaganda"3:21
3."Yakusoku no Uta"4:38
4."Gurenge" (TV version)1:29
Total length:13:26
Limited anime edition – DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Gurenge" (TV version without credit)1:39
Total length:15:05
Digital EP – digital download, streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Gurenge"3:58
2."Propaganda"3:21
3."Yakusoku no Uta"4:38
4."Gurenge" (instrumental)3:55
5."Gurenge" (TV version)1:29
Total length:17:21

Personnel

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Musicians
  • Lisa – vocals, lyrics (1)
  • Toru Hidaka – lyrics (2)
  • Tomoya Tabuchi – lyrics (3), composition (3)
  • Kayoko Kusano – composition (1)
  • Yuichi Takama – bass
  • Pablo – composition (2), arrangement (2), guitar
  • Osamu Hidai – drums
  • Ryo Eguchi – arrangement (1, 3), other instruments
Production

Accolades

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Awards and nominations for "Gurenge"
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
9th Newtype Anime Awards 2019 Best Theme Song Won [7]
34th Japan Gold Disc Award 2020 Best 5 Songs by Download Won [8]
39th JASRAC Awards 2021 Domestic Works Won [19]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Gurenge"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[36]
Physical
Platinum 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[37]
Digital
Million 1,000,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[38]
Streaming
Platinum 100,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Gurenge"
Region Date Format Version Label
Various April 22, 2019 Pre-release Sacra Music
July 3, 2021 Digital EP
Japan CD+DVD Limited
Limited anime
CD Regular

References

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  1. ^ a b "紅蓮華 – Single" (in Japanese). iTunes Store. 21 April 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "LiSAニューシングル「紅蓮華」、7/3(水)リリース決定☆" (in Japanese). Sacra Music. April 29, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Anime's Video Previews LiSA's Opening Song". Anime News Network. March 24, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "「紅白」初出場は日向坂、Foorin、LiSA、ヒゲダン、キスマイ、King Gnu、ジェネ、菅田将暉" (in Japanese). Natalie. November 14, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  5. ^ "LiSA to Perform 'Gurenge' on New YouTube Channel 'THE FIRST TAKE'". Moshi Moshi Nippon. December 6, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "LEO-NiNE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 27, 2019). "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Promare anime win top Newtype Anime Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "The Japan Gold Disc Award 2020 | Winners" (in Japanese). Japan Gold Disc Award. February 26, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Harding, Daryl (August 9, 2020). "GARNiDELiA Covers LiSA's Demon Slayer OP 'Gurenge' in Slaying MV". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Lacerna, Michael (August 9, 2021). "Demon Slayer Theme Song Closes Out Tokyo Olympics". CBR. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Gurenge – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. ^ "紅蓮華 - Chart Insight" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  13. ^ レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Inspection Certification of Paid Online Music Distribution] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 2, 2020. Choose May 2019 from the dropdown menu.
  14. ^ レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Inspection Certification of Paid Online Music Distribution] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 2, 2020. Choose April 2020 from the dropdown menu.
  15. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 28, 2020). "LiSA's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Song Tops 1 Million Downloads". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  16. ^ "SPACE SHOWER Music Video Search". SPACE SHOWER Networks Inc. Retrieved June 2, 2020. (in Japanese)
  17. ^ "7/3リリース「紅蓮華」ミュージッククリップ公開☆" (in Japanese). Sacra Music. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "Lisa Releases Music Video Clip of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Opening Theme 'Gurenge'". Moshi Moshi Nippon. June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "39th JASRAC Awards". JASRAC. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "LiSA (dupe 1) Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "LiSA (dupe 1) Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  22. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation [ 2020/06/08 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  23. ^ "LiSAの合算シングル売上" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Oricon Top 20 Anime Singles: 2019-07-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "LiSA (dupe 1) Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  26. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2019-07". Oricon. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  27. ^ "Oricon Top 10 Anime Singles: 2019-07". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  28. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2019". Billboard Japan. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  29. ^ "Oricon Top 100 Singles: 2019". Oricon. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング 2019】嵐が18年ぶり200億円超えで総合首位、米津玄師、あいみょん、髭男がデジタルシーンを席巻 | 年間合算シングルランキング 26位~50位". Oricon (in Japanese). December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  31. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2020". Billboard Japan. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Oricon Top 100 Singles: 2020". Oricon. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  33. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング2020】嵐、総合で通算9度目の首位獲得 | 合算シングルランキング 1位~10位". Oricon (in Japanese). December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  34. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2021". Billboard Japan. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  35. ^ ""JAPAN HOT 100"15周年を記念したオールタイムTOP50発表 1位は米津玄師「Lemon」". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  36. ^ "Japanese single certifications – LiSA – 紅蓮華" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 2020年12月 on the drop-down menu
  37. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – LiSA – 紅蓮華" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 2020年6月 on the drop-down menu
  38. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – LiSA – 紅蓮華" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 2020年5月 on the drop-down menu