Unhappy Refrain
Unhappy Refrain is the debut and only studio album by Japanese musician Wowaka, independently released by his record label Balloom on May 18, 2011. A Vocaloid record with math rock and electronic influences, Unhappy Refrain features lyrics about depression, suicide, and bullying.
The album was Wowaka's commercial breakthrough, peaking at number six on the Oricon Combined Albums Chart and number 22 on the Oricon Digital Albums Chart. It is ranked among the most influential Vocaloid albums ever made.
Background
Wowaka, previously known as Genjitsutouhi-P, debuted as a vocaloid producer in 2009 with the song In the Grey Zone.. He released three mini-albums before founding the independent record label Balloom in March 2011, alongside other prominent vocaloid producers, such as Toku P, Fullkawa Honpo and Hachi. Unhappy Refrain would be produced 2 months later as the first release under the label.Composition
The album is characterized by obscure lyrics depicting thoughts of young women in fast-paced melodies, and known for its themes around suicide, depression, and bullying. The album's artwork was designed by Gaph, with art direction by Fullkawa Honpo, a close friend of Wowaka who was also a vocaloid producer. The promotional music videos credited Wowaka by his other alias, Genjitsutouhi-P, coming from the phrase "Escaping from reality, how nice!".Wowaka credited Hatsune Miku as his influence for his music and Unhappy Refrain, stating: "I never gave it a second of thought 10 years ago as I posted songs, but no matter how you look at it, Hatsune Miku is the one who got me to start music. Miku is sort of like a mother figure to me." However, the darker subject matter of the record led Wowaka to depart the Vocaloid industry, which he claimed was to protect his well-being.
Legacy
The album was commercially successful, peaking at number six on the Oricon Combined Albums Chart for 13 weeks straight and number 22 on the Oricon Digital Albums Chart. Unhappy Refrain inspired many Vocaloid producers and fans to create covers and derivative works based on his songs. Musician Kenshi Yonezu, previously a Vocaloid producer under the name Hachi, was a close friend of wowaka. He praised him for having a deep impact on the concept of "Vocaloid-esque" music among Vocaloid creators, and that since his own music was also influenced by wowaka, he held his greatest respect for him. Other musicians that feature wowaka as an inspiration include Inabakumori.Track listing
Original release
All music and lyrics written by Wowaka.Remixes
All lyrics written by Wowaka.Personnel
- wowaka – songwriter, composer, producer
- acane madder – producer
- Captain Mirai – producer
- Dixie Flatline – producer
- John Davis – mastering
- Shuichi Watanabe – mixing
- Toku – producer
- whoo – producer
- Fullkawa Honpo – art direction
- Gaph – artwork
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| Oricon Combined Albums Chart | 6 |
| Digital Albums Chart | 22 |