FictionJunction new song “black rose” (digital release July 26, 2025)

[CloisteredFlame]

Not bad. Depending on the lyrics though, the song may not be as literal as its name.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Also, maybe wishful thinking but hope EMIKO is in the lead 'cause who knows when we get anything with her otherwise. (*grunty cries in shuri*)

You got your wish!

Vocal：
feat. EMIKO
KAORI
YURIKO KAIDA
Joelle

I am looking forward to the 3-part harmonies supporting her

"It is a four-on-the-floor dance number with an exotic atmosphere that is perfect for kicking off the tour in a spectacular way. Please enjoy it along with the live performance." (translated from https://fictionjunction.com/information/12198/)

 

[Lorde-Kowz]

It is a four-on-the-floor dance number with an exotic atmosphere

Oh, just what I was expecting hue. An dark-ish upbeat song.

 

[Nightmare]

:/ What I was expecting:

Did u make this?

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Did u make this?

It might be AI generated.

 

[Azokad]

Yes and yes.

 

[grunty]

You got your wish!

As long as nobody takes over the bridge in a soloist capacity, yes.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

As long as nobody takes over the bridge in a soloist capacity, yes.

Point taken!

 

[grunty]

We back.

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/black-rose-fictionjunction-feat-emiko/pso0hjtngseza

https://open.spotify.com/album/21B2UJWG5Y87rjaMAMR9fx

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/black-rose-feat-emiko-single/1825565502

Qobuz sample should work for all but if the full song isn't working for you then it might in 3hours (Japan midnight) or whenever it turns midnight for you.

 

[george1234]

So we were right that its vocal ver of red rose https://youtu.be/8_b40lsiys8?
. Glad Kajiura rememberered solo violin exists

(Also cant help but to also think of https://youtu.be/P_Dw1i_0e6A? )

Quobus and apple worked for me, thanks grunty !

 

[grunty]

red rose? Where?

You can argue it's a generic oriental refrain melody and generic hoedown violin but saying it's red rose arrange? wut?

Granted I've not heard the full song yet so I'm just saying that based on the sample. I'll get back when I listen to the full thing.

Seems to me like it's going to be a fun live song as promised.

 

[george1234]

Yea me too im basing it on sample :)

Just thought the violin reminds of the uilean pipe of red rose


im music noob so dont take me so seriously

 

[Sora]

Sounds fun. Should make for a great live performance.

 

[Azokad]

First impression: good. I like what I listened. Waiting for the full song (4 minutes) in a couple of hours.

 

[Lorde-Kowz]

Muh first impression is... a happier Wonderland hue.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/black-rose-fictionjunction-feat-emiko/pso0hjtngseza

Sounds sweet! Something to get bodies moving in seats.

The first live performance will be critical to cementing the song as something to look forward to for the audience. The violin solo section requires continued charisma/vibes from Emiko and the singers since they will not be singing for a but. It's a mid-tempo-ish track so easy to move to and engage the audiences with dances and pointing and all that.

Kaori's low notes are interesting (I am guessing it's Kaori, though Joelle could also take it) and there might be a switch between Kaori or Joelle for the low notes, depending on if there's a second lead part and who takes it, which you're not a fan of anyway. Since neither of them is a contralto, Kajiura may want to give them the freedom to also sing higher instead of being relegated to just the low harmony.

I was also hearing just 2 harmony parts in addition to Emiko's lead, which was curious to me. I wonder if it's just at that part or two voice are doubling one part.

Glad Kajiura rememberered solo violin exists

When was the last time she had a violin solo in a newer song?

generic oriental refrain melody

Yeah, it had a traditional-Japanese-music-scale feel to me at the chorus. The violin solo is also more Celtic/Irish in feel, so Kajiura's doing her world-mix thing again.

Waiting for the full song (4 minutes) in a couple of hours.

This and lighthouse are both around 4 minutes, while her songs are usual 5 mins in length, or 6+ minutes for some of her anisong tracks. I will never settle for the 2-3 min trends of recent popular tracks, with no space for proper pre-choruses and bridges.

 

[grunty]

I don't know the exact statistics for Kajiura but I definitely don't think every song needs to be over 5 minutes long (although I certainly don't hope for anything to be 3 minutes or under either). I don't need every song to have a prechorus either...

Nowhere is under 4 minutes. Oblivious is barely over.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Thanks for the additional context.

Without going back to check, I think she tends to have a length of 4 mins and above for most of her songs, just with the way she develops her compositions, repeating melodies, and the way her bridges lead back to the final chorus, kajiurago, and of course her intros and outros too.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

I don't know the exact statistics for Kajiura but I definitely don't think every song needs to be over 5 minutes long (although I certainly don't hope for anything to be 3 minutes or under either). I don't need every song to have a prechorus either...

Nowhere is under 4 minutes. Oblivious is barely over.

I have a feeling you're tempted to go analyze the song lengths...

 

[grunty]

Haha, not really.