Battle Without Honor or Humanity
"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" (バトル・ウィズアウト・オナー・オア・ヒューマニティー) is an instrumental music piece by Japanese rock musician Tomoyasu Hotei. It was originally featured in the 2000 film New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (also known as Another Battle) by Junji Sakamoto, for which Hotei wrote the soundtrack and also stars in as an actor.
"Another Battle" | |
---|---|
Single by Tomoyasu Hotei | |
from the album New Battles Without Honor and Humanity and Electric Samurai | |
Released | November 29, 2000 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:28 |
Label | EMI Music Japan |
Songwriter(s) | Tomoyasu Hotei |
Audio | |
"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" on YouTube |
On the film's soundtrack, the piece is titled "New Battles Without Honor and Humanity Theme" (新・仁義なき戦いのテーマ). A live performance of the song appears on Hotei's 2001 live album, Rock the Future Tour 2000-2001. The piece was introduced to Western audiences three years later in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 1 and its soundtrack, where it received the title "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" Three versions of the track are featured on Hotei's 2004 album Electric Samurai. It was released as a single on June 30, 2004, under the title "Another Battle" (アナザー・バトル). The song was named the 80th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2020.[1]
In 2023, the song regained notoriety in Japan thanks to its use in some broadcasts of the Japanese national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, including the final.[2]
Single track listing
- "Battle Without Honor or Humanity – Original Mix"
- "Battle Without Honor or Humanity – Samurai Mix"
- "Battle Without Honor or Humanity – Guitar Karaoke"
Personnel
Personnel for 2004 single version;
- Tomoyasu Hotei – guitar, bass, keyboards
- Toshiyuki Kishi (Abingdon Boys School) – programming, audio edit
- Yoichi Murata – horn arrangements, trombone
- Masahiko – trumpet
Use in popular media
Films
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity
- Kill Bill Volume 1
- Zoom (trailer only)
- Transformers
- Shrek the Third
- Kung Fu Panda (trailer only)
- Hotel for Dogs
- Team America: World Police
- Made of Honor
- Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil
- The Dictator
- Les Dalton
- The Mitchells vs. the Machines
- The Boss Baby: Family Business (trailer only)
- Minions: The Rise of Gru (trailer only)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Television episodes
- Dancing With the Stars (season 10 finale)
- Raising Hope (Season 1 Episode 22)
- Black-ish (Season 3 Episode 2)
- Bones (Season 12 Episode 6)
- My Name Is Earl (Season 1 Episode 13)
Commercials
Video games
"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" is featured in the 2007 video game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA for the North American PlayStation 2. A cover of the song also appears in the Pop'n Music series in Japan: Pop'n Music 13 Carnival for the PlayStation 2, and Pop'n Music 17 The Movie and Pop'n Music 18 Sengoku Retsuden for arcades.
The song also appears in the Gran Turismo HD Concept trailer for the PlayStation 3, and as DLC for the multi-platform game Rocksmith 2014.
Radio/podcasts
- Ron & Fez, during their time on WJFK-FM
- The Herd with Colin Cowherd radio show syndicated in the United States via Fox Sports Radio, simulcast on Fox Sports 1
- The Chris Moyles Show, former breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 - used to introduce their 'Half Time' feature on the show at 9 am
- BaD Radio Show radio show on 1310 The Ticket Dallas
- d20 Docking Bay on the Order 66 podcast
- Used as the theme from The Tom Sullivan Show, a talk radio program syndicated in the United States via NEWSTALK 910 AM in San Francisco, CA from 12 noon to 3 pm.
- Used on alice 105.9 FM Denver weather announcement
- Used as the opening theme for Drive Time Sports, a local caller-driven sports show on KABZ 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock, AR.
- Used as the theme for GLoP Culture podcast.
Sports
- Played as theme song for the NPB and Samurai Japan baseball broadcasts in Tv Asahi (ANN)[2]
- Played when Queens Park Rangers take to the field at their home ground, Loftus Road
- Played before kickoffs at home Pittsburgh Panthers football games as well as home Pittsburgh Steelers games
- Played when Motherwell FC takes to the field at their home ground, Fir Park
- Played at Bristol City FC's home games at Ashton Gate Stadium
- Played at Sheffield United FC's home games at Bramall Lane
- Various professional wrestlers have used it for their theme music. Paul London used it during part of his tenure in Ring of Honor while Hallowicked has used it outside of his home promotion of CHIKARA Pro, most notably in IWA Mid-South's 2006 Ted Petty Invitational tournament. Yukio Sakaguchi has started to use it since beginning his career in 2012 with Dramatic Dream Team and previously used it in two of his mixed martial arts fights in the Pancrase and Shooto promotions.
- Also used by Pro Wrestling Stable Makai Club
- The Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team use "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" for their home games at Fred Bramlage Coliseum.
- New York Giants pre-game kickoffs at MetLife Stadium
- Played during video reviews at Madison Square Garden during New York Rangers games.
- Bayern Munich Starting XI
- Played when Inter Milan take to the field at their home ground, San Siro
- Played when the Tampa Bay Lightning lose an NHL hockey game in overtime
Background music for television shows
- The X Factor UK — first three series as entrance music before contestants' performances
- The X Factor USA — used as a dramatic music in many critical moments of the show
- The Block - Australia — judges entrance
- The X Factor UA — judges entrance
- Cultura moderna — Italian game show; used when wheeling out the shed containing the mystery celebrity guest.
- AKBingo! — pre-match trash-talk exchange
- Mogali Rekulu — Telugu TV series. Used as background music for character R.K. Naidu.
References
- "ヤング・ギター厳選『ギター・インストの殿堂100』名演ランキング". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
- "Tomoyasu Hotei announces use of "BATTLE-" also for WBC telecasts: "It's a blessing! and joy"". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
- "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
- "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2019-11-14.