Hocus Pocus (stylized as HOCUS POCUS) is the fifth album by Japanese pop singer Kaela Kimura, released on June 24, 2009. The album was released in formats CD and DVD.
Contents
Background & composition
In an interview with Barks.jp, Kimura explained that the lyrics of the album were focused on the real world, with "Butterfly" were she talks about marriage. It's title is described as "something like a magic spell" and says she embedded the message that "people can reinvent themselves as much as they want through their own power."
Singles & promotion
Four singles were released, Including “Mustache,” “Doko,” and “Banzai” as well as it's B-sides “Phone” and “Hocus Pocus.”
The DVD included with the first-press limited edition features music videos for each single, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the “BANZAI” music video shoot.
"Butterfly" would later be performed at the 60th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making it her first appearance.
Commercial performance
The album charted at number 3 on Oricon and stayed for 34 weeks, later being certified Platinum by the RIAJ. It would chart at number 37 on the Year-end charts.
Personnel
Credits adapted from CD Booklet:
Kaela Kimura – Vocals, Guitar (Track 2)
Shinobu Watanabe – Guitar (Tracks 1, 3, 6), Backing Vocals (Track 1)
4106: Bass (#1, 3, 6)
Takashi Kashiwakura: Drums (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9) Castanets & Tambourine (#5)
Keisaku Nakamura: Bagpipes & Synthesizer (#1) Keyboards (#3, 8, 11) Piano (#6) Keyboard Arrangement (#8, 11)
AxSxE: Guitar (Tracks 2, 9, 13), Bass (Track 9)
Kentaro Nakao: Bass (Track 2)
BOBO: Drums (Track 2)
Eiko Ishibashi: Marimba (Tracks 2, 9), Glockenspiel (Track 2), Flute (Track 9)
Isamu Fujita: Programming (Track 4)
Yasunori Takei & Hashd Potato: Sampler (Track 4)
Atsushi Suemitsu: Piano, Synthesizer, Tambourine (Track 5)
Shunsuke Suzuki: Guitar (Track 5)
Mito: Bass (Track 5)
MC Kids: Chorus (Track 5)
Yutaka Manabe: String Arrangement (Track 6)
Yutaka Manabe Strings: Strings (Track 6)
Shigeichi Aida: Guitar & Programming (Track 8)