(POLL) Yuki Kajiura tracks with MAKEOVERS (or multiple versions) (as of 2024)

[grunty]

For shits and giggles since nothing's really happening right now. Part Deux.

Let's refresh our memories with Yuki Kajiura tracks that got MAKEOVERS over time. (Note: expanded to multiple studio versions, rather than just makeovers/selfcovers - more on that below.) I imagine I've not listened to some of these studio recordings in years, as I'm usually going back to versions that I remember liking (or very rarely go back at all if I am satisfied with their YKlive appearances). Excited to revisit them. Would you consider them successes or flops?

In your replies please vote for your favorite versions from choices provided OR say that you don't like any version of the song. Try to be specific with a year/album/performer, if the song title alone isn't enough to differentiate versions. If I somehow missed a studio recording (of a song in discussion) that you like, please specify! (More on that below.) To be honest I'm also thinking we could skip the voting part and just chat about it. I guess we'll see how it goes.

Before I start blogging (there's more of it below), take a look at recordings to discuss this week:

WEEK #5​

chronological​	alphabetical (desc.)​	random​
canta per me original ver. Japanese ver. FICTION ver. ​	Tsuki no Shijima original ver. ultimate mix ​	Mizu no Akashi original ver. acoustic ver. FictionJunction ver. ReTracks​

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WEEK #5 BREAKDOWN​

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canta per me (2001 NOIR ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK I) Performance: Yuriko Kaida listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura A.Guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa Accordion: Yoshiaki Sato Violin: Hitoshi Konno Cello: Ayano Kasahara Vocal & Background Vocals: Yuriko Kaida
canta per me - Japanese ver. (2001 NOIR - blanc dans NOIR album) Performance: Kirika Yumura (CV. Houko Kuwashima) listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura vocal: Houko Kuwashima acoustic guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa accordion: Yoshiaki Sato violin: Hitoshi Konno cello: Ayano Kasahara background vocals: Yuriko Kaida
canta per me (2003 "FICTION" / Yuki Kajiura album) Performance: Deb Lyons listen	written by Yuki Kajiura All Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal: Deb Lyons Acoustic Guitar: Jay Berliner Accordion: Gil Goldstein Violin: Paul Woodiel Cello: Chris Finkel

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Tsuki no Shijima (2006 Tsubasa Chronicle Vocal Best) Performance: Yui Makino listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura all keyboards & programming: Yuki Kajiura electric guitar: Koichi Korenaga electric bass: Tomoharu "Jr" Takahashi violin: Hitoshi Konno viola: Takahiro Enokido cello: Ayano Kasahara chorus: Yuriko Kaida
Tsuki no Shijima-ultimate mix- (2008 "Makinoyui." / Yui Makino album) Performance: Yui Makino listen	lyrics: Yuki Kajiura music: Yuki Kajiura arrangement: Yuki Kajiura keyboards & programming: Yuki Kajiura bass: Tomoharu "Jr" Takahashi electric guitar: Koichi Korenaga violin: Hitoshi Konno viola: Takahiro Enokido cello: Ayano Kasahara backing vocals: Yui Makino

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Mizu no Akashi (2003 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED SUIT CD vol.3) Performance: Lacus Clyne (CV. Rie Tanaka) listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Programming, Keyboards & Piano: Yuki Kajiura Cello: Ayano Kasahara
Mizu no Akashi -Acoustic Ver.- (2003 "Chara de Rie" / Rie Tanaka album) Performance: Lacus Clyne (CV. Rie Tanaka) listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura *could not find any scans or musicians credits* Note: Appears to be the same recording as original but stripped down in mix.
Mizu no Akashi (2009 "Everlasting Songs" / FictionJunction album) Performance: FictionJunction listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Arrangement & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal: WAKANA Acoustic Piano: Nobuo Kurata Cello: Ayano Kasahara
Mizu no Akashi ～ReTracks (2012 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED Reunion Series Part 2) Performance: Lacus Clyne (CV. Rie Tanaka) listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Arrangement & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Strings: Kiyo Kido Strings

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END OF WEEK​

Wall of text:
I originally wanted to make a thread for discussing YK's selfcovers only but then I kept adding more and more tracks and loosening criteria and as of now my list stands at over 50 titles (each with several studio versions to discuss). That's obviously too many recordings to talk about at once so I decided to try making it into a weekly thing for forum engagement. We'll see how that goes - hopefully the thread doesn't die immediately.

I'm thinking of posting 2-3 SETS of recordings in the middle of every week (not more than 7 recordings total) so there's hopefully enough time for everyone to listen & discuss them around weekends. Just to give it a bit of a random feeling, I'm going to try posting one set chronologically, one set alphabetically (alternating asc./desc.), one set random (though it ended up being the last one alphabetically in the first week, lol, some luck); and avoid repeating artists or shows/albums in the same week. You should get the idea from the first set. I know I already went over that aforementioned 7 recordings limit - do comment, if you feel this is already too many recordings to discuss for one week...

Just because we will be moving on to new sets of titles every week, it shouldn't mean that you can't discuss songs that we had already talked about - just be specific in your posts. Previously discussed titles will be listed in a spoiler in one of the following posts.

My current list is a bit of a mess as far as my decisions & criteria go. I'm still on the fence about including certain recordings (with minimal differences compared to the original) but also feel bad about excluding them when I do include a similar version of another song for decent reasons (like comparing to a 3rd or 4th version)... Eh, it is what it is, nothing's ever perfect. I did make the decision to exclude :

• remixes not produced by YK (like old See-Saw remixes);
• efforts like "salva nos ~ dialogue remix ver." or "full size mix" ("kouya ruten ~full size mix" is pretty pointless and do many actually people go back to the shortened edits of "romanesque" or "I have a dream"?);
• lyric/vocal theme song expansions of BGMs, like "let the stars fall down"<=>"Manten". Taking them into consideration would put me in a position of including songs based on melodies/leitmotifs, rather than other full tracks. That means that even tracks like "el cazador"/"cazador del amor" and "Sagitta luminis"/"Hikariful" are excluded as of now.

But there's exceptions to every rule and I'm sure some might not agree with certain choices. If you feel some type of way about tracks that I skipped (or maybe accidentally missed), please mention them - we can always add more if the thread stays alive, lol. That's always a big if...

Like in the previous poll thread, I will try to provide links to official youtube uploads, which hopefully work internationally - drop a comment if they don't. As some of these tracks are more obscure, there may not be official uploads available unfortunately. I'll try having a version up on mega, if there's absolutely nothing on youtube.

 

[grunty]

Here's all titles that are on my list as of now (chronologically):

Spoiler

soba ni ite
koi no kiseki
seiya
canta per me
lullaby
salva nos
himitsu
gin no hashi
ZODIACAL SIGN
EVOLUTIONAL GIRLS ORGANIZATION
Obsession (if I want to include Kioku 90sec Liminality version, I think one has to do Obsession TV-Mix too)
key of the twilight (technically FICTION ver is a full remix, albeit one very true to the original)
fake wings
daiya no genseki
open your heart
anna ni issho datta no ni
shizuka na yoru ni
kimiga ita monogatari
kioku (if I want to include Obsession TV-Mix, I think one has to do Kioku 90sec Liminality version too)
Beginning
sekai no hate
mizu no akashi
akatsuki no kuruma
here we stand in the morning dew
image theme of XenosagaII
hoseki
Fields of hope
velvet no inori
life goes on
shinkai no kodoku (will be on backburner until I can find the full ReTracks)
everlasting song
michiyuki
you are my love
tsubasa
kimi wa boku ni niteiru
honoh no tobira (will be on backburner until I can find the full ReMix2013)
tsuki no shijima
storm
synchronicity
oblivious
kimi ga hikari ni kaete iku
kizuato
sprinter
fairytale
Magia
symphonia
Point Zero
let the stars fall down
battle is to the strong
beginning of the end
dogfight
world is tumbling down
alleluia
dolce
kimi no gin no niwa
ring your bell
sore ha chiisana hikari
moonlight melody
Hibari
haruhayuku

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Previous weeks:

Spoiler: week01

WEEK #1​

chronological​	alphabetical (asc.)​	random​
Soba ni Ite 1999 / Tatsumi Hoshikawa game ver. 2002 / Saeko Chiba single ver. ​	Akatsuki no Kuruma original ver. acoustic version piano supplement ver ReTracks​	ZODIACAL SIGN OST ver. FICTION ver. ​

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DL FOR SONGS THAT I COULD NOT FIND ON YOUTUBE
mega.nz/file/R55xWRbY#4c4ATd9NXwk5Fi7TeoVoD32x9M5Eq4D_YiRpvDmJBB4
Pass: "cpm"

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WEEK #1 BREAKDOWN​

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Soba ni Ite (1999 Meguri Aishite PS1 Game Disc CD-Audio Data) Performance: Tatsumi Hoshikawa * listen (not on youtube; check link above)	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura *could not find any scans or musicians credits* Note: The game's end credits list 星川龍美 as the singer.
Soba ni Ite (2002 "Daiya no Genseki" / Saeko Chiba single) Performance: Saeko Chiba listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Keyboard & Programming: Yuki Kajiura AG: Masayoshi Furukawa EB: Bakabon Suzuki Percussion: Noriyasu Yoshizaki cho: Yuriko Kaida

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Akatsuki no Kuruma (2003 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED SUIT CD vol.4) Performance: FictionJunction featuring YUUKA listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Keyboard & Programming: Yuki Kajiura A. Guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa Cello: Ayano Kasahara Percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi Background Vocal: Kaori Nishina Note: This initial release is credited to "FictionJunction featuring YUUKA". "Destination" booklet additionally credits E.Guitar to Furukawa as well - no other booklet does. I tried comparing the tracks but as far as I can tell they are the same. v( '')v
Akatsuki no Kuruma ～acoustic version (2003 "Akatsuki no Kuruma" / FictionJunction YUUKA single) Performance: FictionJunction YUUKA listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura FictionJunction YUUKA - All Keyboard & Programming: Yuki Kajiura - Vocal: Yuuka Nanri A. Guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa Cello: Ayano Kasahara Percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi Background Vocal: Kaori Nishina Note: No additional credits for this specific track. "A. Piano, Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura" is listed separately from musicians but only the instrumental "piano version" track has a dedicated "A. Piano: Yuki Kajiura" credit.
Akatsuki no Kuruma piano supplement ver (2006 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED~SEED DESTINY "THE BRIDGE") Performance: FictionJunction YUUKA listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura *could not find scans or credits*
Akatsuki no Kuruma ～ReTracks (2012 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED Reunion Series Part 2) Performance: FictionJunction listen / listen (2)	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Programming: Yuki Kajiura Guitar: Koichi Korenaga Guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa Bass: Tomoharu "Jr." Takahashi Drums: Masuke Nozaki Percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi Strings: Hitoshi Konno Strings Note: Song is credited to "FictionJunction". Yuuka Nanri and Kaori Nishina are not mentioned in the booklet but it sounds like all vocals were reused from the original.

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ZODIACAL SIGN (2002 Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) listen	Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura *no musicians credits in booklet*
zodiacal sign (2003 "FICTION" / Yuki Kajiura album) listen	written by Yuki Kajiura All Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal: Kaori Nishina Strings: Dunn Pearson Strings Orchestra Conductor: Yuki Kajiura Percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi Percussion: Noriyasu Yoshizaki

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Spoiler: week02

WEEK #2​

chronological​	alphabetical (desc.)​	random​
Koi no Kiseki 1999 single ver. 2003 album ver.​	you are my love Eri Itoh / English ver. Yui Makino / Japanese ver.​	Velvet no Inori / Hoshikuzu Velvet no Inori Hoshikuzu​

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DL FOR SONGS THAT I COULD NOT FIND ON YOUTUBE
mega.nz/file/154ShRLL#_7XRnOduUg1m6NQYKkwUisVnHQTQdtCh_BA3L8M8ke8
Pass: "cpm"

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WEEK #2 BREAKDOWN​

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Koi no Kiseki (1999 "Koi no Kiseki" / Saeko Chiba single) Performance: Saeko Chiba * listen (not on youtube; check link above)	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura *no musicians credits in booklet*
Koi no Kiseki (2003 "melody" / Saeko Chiba album) Performance: Saeko Chiba listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Keyboards & Programming: YUKI KAJIURA E.Guitar: KOICHI KORENAGA E.BASS: STING MIYAMOTO Drums: KYOICHI SATO Chorus: KAORI NISHINA

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you are my love (2005 Tsubasa Chronicle Future Soundscape I) Performance: Eri Itoh listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura all keyboards & programming: Yuki Kajiura acoustic guitar: Masayuki Chiyo vocal & chorus: Eri Itoh Note: English lyrics.
you are my love (2006 "Amrita" / Yui Makino single) Performance: Yui Makino listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura vocal & acoustic piano: Yui Makino Note: Japanese lyrics.

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Velvet no Inori (2004 Fantasy Sound & Reading: The Velveteen Rabbit) Performance: Noriko Ogawa * listen (not on youtube; check link above) * archive also includes my hackjob replication of Hoshikuzu's structure using prologues from the Fantasy Sound & Reading album.	Lyrics: Noriko Ogawa Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura vocal & background vocal: Noriko Ogawa all keyboards & programming: Yuki Kajiura percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi strings: Hitoshi Konno Group chorus: Kaori Nishina, Fion
Hoshikuzu (2009 "Everlasting Songs" / FictionJunction album) Performance: FictionJunction listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Arrangement & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal: KEIKO, KAORI Chorus: YURIKO KAIDA, WAKANA, KEIKO, YUKI KAJIURA Strings: Hitoshi Konno Strings Percussion: Ikuo Kakehashi

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Spoiler: week03

WEEK #3​

chronological​	alphabetical (asc.)​	random​
Seiya 2000 Juliet ver. 2005 FictionJunction YUUKA ver. ​	Alleluia single ver. piano ver. ​	Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru original single ver. TV-Size type1 TV-Size type2 ReMix2013​

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DL FOR SONGS THAT I COULD NOT FIND ON YOUTUBE
mega.nz/file/ptoCAQJY#uhAvezKr4FyqEumJz2tY6FnbZPWN7j4pds9zbRjXOkk
Pass: "cpm"

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WEEK #3 BREAKDOWN​

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Seiya (2000 "Seiya Silent Night" / Juliet single) Performance: Juliet * listen (not on youtube; check link above) * archive includes the full single.	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Juliet (MINAMI AOYAMA SHOJO KAGEKIDAN) Akane Saikyo : Yuuka Nanri Megumi Kashihara : Rina Nakayama Shizuka Hanamura : Mayo Chiharu Kogure : Kanako Sugawa Programming: Yuki Kajiura Guitar: Susumu Nishikawa Chorus: Kaori Nishina
Seiya (2005 "Destination" / FictionJunction YUUKA album) Performance: FictionJunction YUUKA listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Vocal: YUUKA All Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura E.Guitar: Koichi Korenaga E.Bass: Tomoharu "Jr" Takahashi Drums: Kyoichi Sato A.Piano: Masato Matsuda Chorus: Kaori Nishina

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Alleluia (2013 "Alelluia" / Kalafina single) Performance: Kalafina listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura All Arrangement & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Guitar: Koichi Korenaga Drums: Kyoichi Sato Bass: Tomoharu "Jr." Takahashi Keyboards: Hirotaka Sakurada Strings: Kiyo Kido Strings Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
Alleluia～piano ver.～ (2016 Winter Acoustic "Kalafina with Strings" / Kalafina album) Performance: Kalafina listen	Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Piano Arrangement: Hirotaka Sakurada All Chorus Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Piano: Hirotaka Sakurada

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Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru (2005 "Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru" / See-Saw single) Performance: See-Saw listen / listen (2)	Lyrics: Chiaki Ishikawa Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Vocal & Chorus: Chiaki Ishikawa All Keyboards & Programming: Yuki Kajiura A.Guitar: Masayoshi Furukawa E.Guitar: Koichi Korenaga Strings: Kido Strings Conductor: Koji Haishima * Mixed by TAKASHI KOIWA * Presumably. Listed in See-Saw Complete Best.
Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru TV-Size type1 (2006 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.9) Performance: See-Saw listen Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru TV-Size type2 (2006 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.10) Performance: See-Saw listen	Lyrics: Chiaki Ishikawa Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura Note: Presumably the same musicians as regular version. There's no musicians listed in vol.9 booklet and I could not find the booklet for vol.10.
Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru ～ReMix2013 (2013 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED Reunion Series Part 4) Performance: See-Saw listen	Lyrics: Chiaki Ishikawa Music: Yuki Kajiura Arrangement: Yuki Kajiura New Mixing Engineer: Tony Volante Note: Presumably the same musicians as regular version. There's no musicians listed in this booklet.

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Spoiler: week04 f/z

WEEK #4 - FATE/ZERO
(musicians dump straight from booklet, without paying attention if they actually appear in tracks)​

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Point Zero listen let the stars fall down listen the battle is to the strong listen the beginning of the end listen (2012 Fate/Zero tokuten OST1) dogfight listen / dogfight #2 listen the world is tumbling down listen (2012 Fate/Zero tokuten OST2)

Point Zero-Live arrange ver.- listen let the stars fall down-Live arrange ver.- listen the battle is to the strong-Live arrange ver.- listen the beginning of the end-Live arrange ver.- listen dogfight-Live arrange ver.- listen the world is tumbling down-Live arrange ver.- listen (2017 Fate/Zero Original Soundtrack)

composed by Yuki Kajiura ALL Keyboard & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal & Chorus: Yuri Kasahara, Eri Itoh (OST2 only), Yuriko Kaida, Hanae Tomaru Chorus: Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus Strings: Kiyo Kido Strings, Hitoshi Konno Strings Flute: Rie Akagi Guitar: Koichi Korenaga Acoustic Guitar: Koichiro Tashiro (OST2 only) Clarinet: Kimio Yamane Horn: Nobuaki Fukukawa, Tsutomu Maruyama, Hirofumi Wada, Takato Saijo, Takanori Takahashi, Kazuko Nomiyama Trumpet: Kazuya Honma, Homare Onuki Trombone: Shinsuke Torizuka, Hiroki Sato, Yu Tamaki, Jyunji Yamaguchi

composed by Yuki Kajiura ALL Keyboard & Programming: Yuki Kajiura Vocal & Chorus: Yuri Kasahara, Eri Itoh, Hanae Tomaru, Yuriko Kaida, WAKANA, KEIKO, KAORI Chorus: Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus Strings: Kiyo Kido Strings, Hitoshi Konno Strings Flute: Rie Akagi Electric Guitar: Koichi Korenaga Acoustic Guitar: Koichiro Tashiro Drums: Kyoichi Sato Bass: Tomoharu "Jr." Takahashi Percussion: Obawo Nakajima Horn: Nobuaki Fukukawa, Tsutomu Maruyama, Hirofumi Wada, Takato Saijo, Takanori Takahashi, Kazuko Nomiyama Trumpet: Kazuya Honma, Homare Onuki Trombone: Shinsuke Torizuka, Hiroki Sato, Yu Tamaki, Jyunji Yamaguchi Live arrange ver. Manipulator: Yoshio Ohira

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[grunty]

and one more reservation just in case the lists get too long for one post...

 

[grunty]

Kay, let me try.

"Soba ni Ite"

The song itself isn't really all that today so I guess it comes down to the arrangement & performances. I'm kind of flipping back and forth between liking both and liking neither, lol. One day I will like the acoustic sound of Saeko's version but not really care for her vocals (just a smidge too rough to really enjoy), on another day I will be okay with the straightforward genericness of the game version (and prefer the vocals over Saeko's). I wouldn't skip them if they came up in my playlist but neither version really goes anywhere for me. I wonder if I've become (or maybe always have been) conditioned to "leading" performances & melodies, because even looking at something like KAI from Parade - Aimer is leading that song; when the cello comes in for the bridge, it is leading it. In Soba ni Ite... everything is laidback and just "there" - even the guitar bridge in the game version...​

​

I think I'll go with Saeko's version just for the extra lyrics & acoustic-"reflecting on life by the fireplace"-vibe. Makes more sense with those lyrics than the game arrangement, I guess.​

​

+1 Saeko version​

"Akatsuki no Kuruma"

I remember being obsessed with this song back when the standalone single came out and overplaying both the original and acoustic versions - I probably got to a point of being sick at the thought of hearing it again, lol.​

​

The borderline acoustic feeling of the original recording with its prominent a.guitar, keyboards, cello, groovy percussion and vocals floating over it is still magical to me all these years later. The cello bridge is ingrained in my brain. For some reason everything feels effortless to me. It's also extra weird because despite it's chill groove, it's not supposed to be a happy song in any way. Yuuka also deserves some credit for her delivery 'cause this could very easily have been a very grating vocal performance. (GJ to Koiwa for working on those vocals rec&mix, too.)​

​

The acoustic version starts really nice for me, loving the kb & cello (though am a bit surprised with a.guitar taking a backseat; also Re:lyrics) but then something is missing once the first full refrain hits. It kind of feels lost in the reverb and oddly rushed in a way. I realize it's (mostly?) the same recording - I can only guess the percussion synths & e.guitar in the original were grounding the whole song for me. How curious.​

​

piano supplement version is well... just that. The additional piano doesn't really make me feel anything, I don't think it improves the original, I don't think it destroys it... it's there. Might as well stick to the original, lol.​

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Now ReTracks I was prepared to hate as I remembered being disappointed with cello no longer having the bridge to itself. To my surprise... listening it now I actually don't hate the new bloated strings arrange & live drumming & bass. The intro cello does make it up for the bridge just a little bit and I find the strings arrange pretty to the point I kind of wish they didn't bother reusing the a.guitar parts in the intro (granted, lyrics lol). Do I think it supercedes the og? Nah, but if you want another version of the song to listen to to spice it up, this is not a fail at all IMHO.​

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+1 original, +1 ReTracks, acoustic is surefine, piano supplement is forgettable.​

"ZODIACAL SIGN"

I'mma keep it quick. I really don't like the solo violin in the FICTION version (especially the first few phrases). I don't particularly like how the strings sound in general in the recording/mix either but I can take that as an artistic choice. What I really DO like and what pushes this version over the original OST version for me is how clean all the synths & percussive elements are.​

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+1 FICTION ver​

 

[CloisteredFlame]

4c4ATd9NXwk5Fi7TeoVoD32x9M5Eq4D_YiRpvDmJBB4

For the sake of those who will try to access it, this is the key, starting from "4" and ending in "4" as well.

 

[grunty]

Oh did it not want to take the "!" when entering the key on mega? Silly mega, I'll fix it. Sorry for the trouble.
I just copied it over from my Meguri Aishite gamerip post in the guide thread. That was all text without actual links so it was easier to copy in one go to recreate the url (which required the "!" at the time).

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Oh did it not want to take the "!" when entering the key on mega? Silly mega, I'll fix it. Sorry for the trouble.
I just copied it over from my Meguri Aishite gamerip post in the guide thread. That was all text without actual links so it was easier to copy in one go to recreate the url (which required the "!" at the time).

You were already so detailed with the rest of the post so I know it was an oversight. No worries.

I just kept trying variations from the outside in until I got it.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Akatsuki no Kuruma piano supplement ver
(2006 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED~SEED DESTINY BEST "THE BRIDGE")
Performance: FictionJunction YUUKA

OK, so this version really got me listening to the interplay between the piano and the guitar, especially the early intro and after the vocals came in.

It was from this version (listening in order) that I really started to notice Kajiura's playing and not listen as much to the vocals.

 

[Decretum]

Soba ni Ite: Okay, so the Mega link didn’t end up working for me, so I only listened to the Saeko version. I’m not that familiar with most of Saeko’s songs, but I do like her voice and the song is a decent ballad. Not one of Kajiura’s best, but still solid.

+1 Saeko (or not since I didn’t listen to the other version. But since most of my enjoyment came from her voice I feel like this would be the result anyways.

Akatsuki no Kuruma: This is one of the best songs Kajiura has ever written, and I adore Yuuka’s voice, so I can listen to this one over and over again. The original wins out for me, though, but that’s mostly because I think the original arrangement is phenomenal. The ReTracks version is decent, but I would never listen to it over the original. Something felt ‘off’ about the acoustic rendition, and the piano supplement version doesn’t really add much. Easy choice.

+1 Original

Zodiacal Sign: I remember absolutely despising this song when I was first really getting into Kajiura. Oh how the times have changed. When I’ve listened to the two in the past, I hadn’t noticed much of a difference. Back to back, though, the mixing on the OST version sounds really off. The vocals are really quiet, and it kinda throws off the vibe of the song compared to the Fiction rendition.

+1 FICTION

 

[grunty]

It's alive!
@Decretum if you could respond to my PM, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to figure out the link issue.

Edit:
For now I put the full direct link in a code tag in the main page. Hopefully that works.

 

[george1234]

OK, so this version really got me listening to the interplay between the piano and the guitar, especially the early intro and after the vocals came in.

It was from this version (listening in order) that I really started to notice Kajiura's playing and not listen as much to the vocals.

Me too i love this ver of Akatsuki the most

 

[MushiMushi]

This is quite a big trip down the memory lane!


Soba ni Ite
I barely recall the existence of Soba ni Ite so thank you very much guronti for sharing the file
(and after listening to it I remember why I don't have it saved anywhere in my collections... this song is just very unmemorable... XD)

Saeko's version just feels much more polished, mature and cleaner, bringing out the qualities/characteristics of YK much nicer than the original version, and Yuriko's feathery voice finds its place better here. The slower tempo is more pleasing and suitable for the relaxing daily life vibes of this song too.

+1 Saeko


Akatsuki no Kuruma
Unlike many others, while I did appreciate its beautiful melody, this song did not quite touch my heart when I first heard it as an edgy child with severe chuunibyo I also never watched the Gundam series back then, nor did I bother understanding the lyrics.
I remember very clearly that my first impression of it was Yuuka's voice being too sharp to my liking. It wasn't until a few years later when I started embracing the YK music world seriously that I somehow suddenly got accustomed to Yuuka's voice after listening to her MADLAX/El Cazador stuff and the Everlasting Songs album, and thought her many works with Yuki were lovely glistening gems that I would treasure forever.

When I relistened to the Original version some years later, having grown up a bit, the song just felt completely different to me. I've come to realise that Yuuka's voice/interpretation is the definition of '切なさ' here. It makes me feel pain from its sharpness, which fits the melancholic theme perfectly.

The song lured me into its vast, unrelenting feelings of yearning and sadness so naturally, so dearly, as if the guitar strings being plucked were my heart strings, the tender, Yuki-signatured Cello bittersweet and mellow... I also couldn't stop looping the song for days, dwelling in its vivid, soul-moving warmth of sunset, loneliness, lamentation and longing - it expresses so much emotions, so heavy yet gentle, that it makes me want to sigh and shiver... it's so poignant.

The Acoustic version has a water-like, lighter, quieter and soothing tint of serenity compared to the Original, as if the 'character' in the song had come to peace and acceptance with her conflicting thoughts. I would probably prefer listening to it over the Original sometimes, depending on my mood - especially when if I wanted to enjoy Yuki's crystal-like piano colours (ironically, I like the piano here a lot more than that in Piano Supplement version). And, the sweet sweet Cello here shapes the lonely emptiness of one's heart and mind from the 'outside' and 'underneath'.

The Piano Supplement version is like the younger sister of both Original and Acoustic.

The ReTracks version is special, one distinctive difference I'd say is that it gives me the feels of the instruments 'singing together' with the voice. However, it somehow feels a bit too light-hearted at place with the drum rhythms, or the arrangement in general, that sets it apart from the Original as something that seems to tell quite a different story from what it's supposed to tell - it's probably a suitable reinvention for Live settings though? I don't dislike it, but I won't treat it the same as the Akatsuki no Kuruma that I know by heart!

+1 Original, +1 Acoustic


Zodiacal Sign
Maybe I've been to too many YKLs with Zodiacal Sign, nowadays whenever this song is mentioned it only reminds me of the liveliness and playfulness of utahimes/FBM/YK on stage, and ofc the classic 'window-mopping' motions the audience does with them.
I can tell Yuki enjoyed throwing out all those mysterious digital electrical sounds when she wrote this piece, and she always had fun singing the song.

It has been a long time since I last listened to the original OST version. Listening to it now makes me wonder: did it feel that cloudy/blurry/bubbly and otherworldly to me in the past?

The FICTION version is just the one I'm far more familiar with.

The song itself is a nice composition on its own with all the unique flavours and details, but while I enjoy it, it's not something that I particularly adore or resonate with. My favourite part starts from around 2:47 to around 3:15, especially during lives. It feels to me that the whole song's energy is being built towards that part, then releasing it in a swinging, relieving way that always makes me smile in satisfaction. (Sorry this I may be describing it in a weird way... not sure how to word it better D:)


+1 FICTION

 

[SurgamIdentidem]

Soba Ni Ite
I actually didn't know this song. Thank you grunty for the links!
I've never been a fan of the Saeko Chiba era, and this song won't change my opinion in the slightest. In fact, I find it remarkably boring, even compared to the other Saeko Chiba stuff. It's not "bad" but just forgettable, like most of Saeko's stuff is to me. I'll go against the grain here and go with the original game version. I think the shorter track length and guitar solo work in the songs favour. I also kind of like the original singer more.
I guess, you can call me a Saeko Chiba hater...

+1 game ver.

Akatsuki no Kuruma
A classic, and for good reason! I actually appreciate all of the four versions to various degrees, but the original and the Re:Tracks version stand out the most to me. Actually, back in the day, I happened to listen to the ReTracks version before I had heard the original, so it has a special place in my heart for that reason. Also, I prefer the more "modern" arrangement and strings. Still, the original sounds more balanced overall, and has aged quite well in my opinion. It's a tie for me!

+1 original, +1 ReTracks

Zodiacal Sign
Uhg... +1 random live version

No seriously, the vocal mix just sucks in both versions! But if I had to choose, the Fiction version sucks less overall, although the fist violin sounds like it was played by an old man with parkinson...

+1 FICTION

 

[grunty]

Soba Ni Ite
(...)
I also kind of like the original singer more.

I think this is perfectly understandable. Like I said, there's moments where I don't resonate with Saeko's singing either (in various songs).

Zodiacal Sign
(...)
although the fist violin sounds like it was played by an old man with parkinson...

To me it feels more like the violinist was like "this simple phrase is beneath me, let me put my spin on it and add some life to it"... aaaaaaaaand we got what we got... lol.

 

[SurgamIdentidem]

To me it feels more like the violinist was like "this simple phrase is beneath me, let me put my spin on it and add some life to it"... aaaaaaaaand we got what we got... lol.

Lol! Sounds like a realistic scenario actually.

Reminds me of that experience I had when I was singing in a mixed choir and then a woman wanted to join who was clearly trained in classical singing. She was singing Kasahara-style vibrato regardless of the style and mood of the song and didn't mix well at all with the rest of the choir. Although she was obviously very skilled, it ended up sounding awful. The conductor kindly asked ther to tone her vibrato down a bit and that was the last time we had seen her.

Bottom line is: Having high level technical skills and having a sense for what fits and what doesn't (musicality) are two different things entirely.

 

[grunty]

I may have a different take on your example (without knowing more details) but, at the end of the day, that was still on her for wanting to fit in when her voice was trained for different things (or even just naturally suited different things). Sux if joining a choir was her wish but not everyone has to do everything/be good at everything. Frankly, probably not many people are. Surely not every choir singer could do whatever she did.

Whereas the example in my zodical sign post was speculative suspicion of ego, lol...

 

[george1234]

It sounded like someone who unappreciated her skills or someone who likes to be around people less skilled than her so that she stands out as the best.

Anyway i remember liking original zodical sign untill i heard that live that was better but now got bored of that too since its overperformed

 

[grunty]

week2 lets go~

 

[george1234]

2 weeks for what ?

 

[CloisteredFlame]

2 weeks for what ?

I believe grunty means it's time to share the 2nd week's list of different songs for our consideration.