Renegades (One Ok Rock song)
"Renegades" | ||||
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Single by One Ok Rock | ||||
from the album Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō: The Final Soundtrack | ||||
Released | 16 April 2021 | |||
Recorded | February 2020 | |||
Studio | Decoy Residental Recording Studios (Suffolk, England) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:05 | |||
Label | Fueled by Ramen | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jamil Kazmi | |||
One Ok Rock singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Renegades" on YouTube |
"Renegades" is a song by Japanese rock band One Ok Rock. The song was produced by Jamil Kazmi, written by Takahiro Moriuchi, Ed Sheeran and Masato Hayakawa of Coldrain, and was released on 16 April 2021.[1][2]
The song serves as the main theme for the live action manga, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final.[3]
An acoustic version of "Renegades" was later released onto digital and streaming platforms on 30 July 2021.[4]
Background[]
A week prior to the release of the single on 9 April 2021, the band shared a 30 second teaser of the music video on YouTube to hype up the release of the single, which would be slated for release on 16 April 2021.[5][6]
Composition[]
"Renegades" has been descibed by critics as being an alternative rock and a pop rock song.[7][8] The track runs at 154 BPM and is in the key of F minor. It runs for four minutes and 5 seconds.[9] The song was written by Takahiro Moriuchi, Ed Sheeran, Masato Hayakawa, David Pramik, Adam Hawkins and Jin Jin.[10]
According to NME, "Renegades" is all about conveying an urgent message that calls into question about the current state of affairs in the world around us, and this would be how "Renegades" serves as an anthem for renegades who refuse to allow their battles and passions to be ignored.[1] In an interview with J Rock News, Moriuchi would express how the song connects to being the main theme for the Japanese blockbuster Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, in which he would say that "Renegades" relates more to the protagonist than the overarching plot of the film.
"A lightness, love, and hope that shines from within. I think those aspects really connected with our band."[11]
In another interview which was uploaded to the official One Ok Rock YouTube channel, Moriuchi would also explain about how "Renegades" needed to hark back to more of a rock sound in order to properly convey the message of the song, which has lots of anger in it.
"I think we need to trace back to our early intentions. I think anger can only be truly expressed in rock music. So it’s our duty as rock musicians to play rock."[11]
Music video[]
The music video for "Renegades" was released alongside the single on 16 April 2021, and was directed by Toshi Atsunori.[12] The official video was released on the Fueled by Ramen YouTube channel, while a Japanese version of the video was released simultaneously on the band's official channel.[13]
The video starts off with individuals in desperation, struggling and in complete despair. As the video showcases these individuals, who eventually come together to form the "The Renegades" as the song describes. The band performs the song in a different setting altogther to begin with, though as the crowd forms, the cliff face openes up as the renegades walk towards the band and then back the way they came from, with the band following in tow. The frontman, Takahiro Moriuchi, singing the song as well as the other band members performing the song are then suddenly transported to a mountainous region as an artificial sun forms behind them as they sing the rest of the song, calling out to the renegades who walk towards them, before they stare at the sun and watch the band perform the final chorus as the video ends.
The only difference in the Japanese version of the music video is that there are Japanese subtitles.
The Japanese video for the song surpassed 2 million views within the first 24 hours of being published.[14] By the end of its first week, both videos (Japanese and International) would tally up to a combined total of 7.5 million views.[15][16]
As of June 2021, the combined total of the two videos tally up to over 20 million views on YouTube.
Track listing[]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Renegades" | 4:05 |
2. | "Renegades - Japanese Version" | 4:05 |
Personnel[]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]
One Ok Rock
- Takahiro "Taka" Moriuchi – lead vocals, lyrics
- Toru Yamashita – lead guitar
- Ryota Kohama – bass guitar
- Tomoya Kanki – drums
Additional personnel
- Jamil Kazmi – producer
- Dan Lancaster – recording engineer, studio engineer
- Adam Hawkins – mixing, arrangements
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Rhys May – assistant producer
- Kyle Moorman – production assistant
Charts[]
Charts (2021) | Peak positions |
---|---|
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] | 47 |
Japan Billboard Hot 100[19] | 4 |
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] | 25 |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Daly, Rhian (16 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK share new single ' Renegades', co-written with Ed Sheeran". NME. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Tuck, Dylan (16 April 2021). "NEWS: One OK Rock drop new single, 'Renegades'!". Dead Press. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Claire Layug, Margaret (19 April 2021). "Ed Sheeran works closely with ONE OK ROCK for 'Rurouni Kenshin: The Final' theme song". GMA Network. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Renegades (Acoustic)". OneOkRock.com. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Carter, Emily (9 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK tease new single Renegades, co-written by Ed Sheeran". Kerrang!. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Jack (9 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK ARE RELEASING A NEW SINGLE CALLED 'RENEGADES' NEXT WEEK". Rock Sound. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Wills, Elena (16 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK RETURN WITH ED SHEERAN CO-WRITTEN ANTHEM "RENEGADES"—WATCH". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
Existing at the intersection of gritty alt rock and radio-ready pop, the song stands easily as a rousing anthem for the masses.
- ^ Stickler, Jon (16 April 2021). "One OK Rock Drop New Single Renegades Co-Written By Ed Sheeran". Stereoboard. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
The pop-leaning rock track reflects on the current global circumstances, and serves as the theme song for the upcoming Japanese film Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, out on April 23.
- ^ "Key and BPM of Renegades by One Ok Rock". Musicstax.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ London, Amanda (19 April 2021). ""Renegades" by ONE OK ROCK". Song Meanings+Facts. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ONE OK ROCK shouts rebellious rallying cry in "Renegades"". J Rock News. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ Fueled by Ramen (16 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK: Renegades [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ One Ok Rock (16 April 2021). "ONE OK ROCK - Renegades Japanese Version [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "One Ok Rock - Renegades Japanese Version [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". (Wayback Machine). 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "ONE OK ROCK: Renegades [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". (Wayback Machine). 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "ONE OK ROCK - Renegades Japanese Version [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]". (Wayback Machine). 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Credits / Renegades / One Ok Rock". Tidal. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "One Ok Rock Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "One Ok Rock Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "One Ok Rock Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
External links[]
- 2021 songs
- 2021 singles
- One Ok Rock songs
- Songs written by Ed Sheeran
- Songs written by Masato Hayakawa
- Alternative rock songs
- Pop rock songs