The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced on Thursday that it has certified Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu’s 2022 single “Kick Back” as Platinum. According to RIAA, Yonezu’s single is the first Japanese-language song to receive Platinum certification in the United States.
Courtesy of Sony Music
©Sony Music
The RIAA certifies a single as Platinum if it attains 1,000,000 units. A “permanent digital download” counts as one unit, while “150 on-demand audio and/or video streams” count as one unit as well.
A press release by Sony Music noted that news of “Kick Back” achieving Platinum certification comes just after the release of Yonezu’s latest single, “Iris Out.”
Yonezu also commented on the Platinum certification saying:
I am thrilled to hear that ‘KICK BACK’ has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. This song was written as the opening theme for the 2022 TV anime series Chainsaw Man. Daiki Tsuneta (King Gnu/MILLENNIUM PARADE) co-arranged the song with me, and I just remember it as a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I’m sure we must have had our share of troubles and had to work things out by trial and error, but there’s a tendency to forget how hard things were once the difficulties have passed. When I look back on the production of the song, I realize how carefree I was and how much fun I was having , and I have nothing but fond memories of this time. The music video was directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama. It’s hard to describe, but it’s an amazing music video unlike anything anyone’s ever seen. The video shoot was pretty tough. So I guess I do remember this particular experience as incredibly difficult, but it still brings back great memories, a wonderful chapter in my life. The video’s fantastic, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.
Earlier this year, when I was out on my world tour, the crowds went wild whenever ‘KICK BACK’ started playing. That was the moment when it struck me once again, just how popular Chainsaw Man is internationally, as well as the sheer magnitude of the power—or energy, if you will—that ‘KICK BACK’ holds. Additionally, Frost Children worked on the remix of ‘KICK BACK’ to coincide with this year’s release of CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC. Frost Children, musicians who have been some of my personal favorites for a while now, agreed to do the remix. When I first heard their remix, I was blown away by the incredible range they displayed, and it sounded phenomenal right from the very first note—it really made me want to yell ‘Yes!’ I still vividly remember that feeling, that moment when I first heard it. It was my first-ever remix experience, and I discovered just how much fun it can be. Thank you very much. I hope you’ll enjoy the song as well as its remix. So that’s it from me, Kenshi Yonezu.
Sony Music released “Kick Back” in November 2022 after it played as the opening theme song for Chainsaw Man. One year after its release, the song received Gold certification by RIAA. “Kick Back” is the first song written and performed in Japanese to receive Gold and now Platinum certification.
Yonezu’s latest single “Iris Out” is the official theme song for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. The film opened on September 19 in Japan and will open on October 24 in the United States.
Sources: Email correspondence, RIAA’s website, X/Twitter account
AloJapan.com