Kalafina 19th single "Blaze" ED for Arslan Senki Fuujin Ranbu

indeed, this is the Kalafina trajectory.

I am very sad about this blaze. no emotion, no originality, just a few beats at the end of the episode and that is all.

The "Kalafina" in seventh heaven is no more (has been this way for quite some time). I thought Kalafina would hold its stand but instead is being gobbled by the anisong industry.

It's funny but the feelings that we have for the new songs are usually either "I don't hate it" or "I hate it". The occassional surprise is there but the general trend is downhill with ever steepening slope.

edit: don't get me wrong, when I complain about Kalafina, it's not their singing (there is that too most of the time) it's KAJIURA! Her compositions and the venues picked for Kalafina.
 
venues themselves specifically may not be the problem, it's what anisong/anime industry demands. Kajiura does NOT hold the originality she had for past anime (i mean Seesaw era and early and I dare say "true" Kalafina era) songs. Kajiura goes along with it.

just look at grunty's post about tv-size songs. each had a flavor and such emotion.

when I say emotion, I delve into the personal/opinion realm but if you look at the compositions objectively, the recent Kalafina songs are repetitive, unoriginal, simple.
 
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I didn't like this song very much at first, but it's growing on me with each listen. At the "ima made mo" part I was like 'wait, who's this....? Oh, Hikaru!' She sounded gorgeous! I quite like the "arukidashiteta" and the Wakana's pre-chorus "daremo chigau, yume o kanadete" but Keiko gets a single line? This has been happening with the past few singles. I hope she gets just a few more, because she sounded quite emotional.
 
I'm just going to assume Kajiura is tired of thinking of anything new and just keeps doing her job because it's her job and it pays her living.

I'm probably wrong but I don't see any other reason for her releasing such unimaginative stuff for practically the last two years. It feels like she has a few ideas for songs here and there and realises that there's not enough material for a full release, so just falls back on bland filler material to make up space. SAO is a good example of this, as is Bokumachi.

I honestly don't see any future anime themes or soundtracks being any good at all. Unless she leaves the industry I suspect she's going to stagnate forever.
 
She's likely being pressured at least somewhat by the contracts she's getting. It's all speculation anyway.

But regardless, the last decent thing tied to an anime that she did was Madoka Rebellion. What's she done since then that's been good? Non-anime tie ins like Hanako to Anne, b-sides and album original tracks. Seems a little coincidental that the anime related works are consistently and almost exclusively worse than those that aren't for so long. Plus the fact that the recent Kalafina singles sound so typically anisong doesn't help.
 
I think Kajiura's main reason for Kalafina's style change is the ever-growing popularity of the group. Because of that, she's now making songs that she knows that will sell well and the general anime community will like, instead of the niche songs that she used to write (that we like but many anime fans don't like/don't care). If you look at it, heavenly blue was a hit with the anime community, yet here it's one of the most criticized songs. Far on the Water is the same way.
 
@Seasonreaper: Well she can always go and compose for a game or a live action movie if she feels like. Xenosaga is beyond amazing especially if you listen to the unreleased materials, and Hanako proved she can write good music for non-anime movies too. I dont know what kind of contract that is, i thought she signs separate ones for every season or movie series she is doing, so if she didnt feel like she could reject the SAO movie and Heavens Feel.
 
Anison this, anison that... What? I honestly fail to see how blaze is more "anison" (in that negative way) than Anna ni issho datta no ni for example.

juchanx3 said:
It seems to me that Kajiura is observating other anisongs and copy the structure from them.
Remembers something from Nana Mizuki, Eir Aoi, Lisa etc.
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Mizuki's latest song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcphTDSdo8Y
Eir's opening for Arslan: https://twitter.com/kagayakiru/status/749518421658853376
Don't know which Lisa you meant but if LiSA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWbW5Y1W2s) then I also don't see what's "current Kalafina" got to do with her...
 
@grunty
I'm not saying it's negative, just generic. I like it, I said.

I always loved Kalafina because they have such a unique style... like Oblivious, Lacrimosa, Red moon etc. If you compare these old songs with Blaze...
 
Watched the TV size.

Gosh, the running. That screams "shounen anime" so much :XD:

Hikaru sounds really good here, though. I do wish there was more Keiko
 
juchanx3 said:
@grunty I'm not saying it's negative, just generic. I like it, I said.
Click to expand...
The way I read it you called it a mishmash of Mizuki/Eir/Lisa. And I question that. My first comment and See-Saw comparision was in regards to this song apparently being "more anison" than other Kalafina or well liked Kajiura songs. I myself just don't hear it!
juchanx3 said:
I always loved Kalafina because they have such a unique style... like Oblivious, Lacrimosa, Red moon etc.
Click to expand...
Etc? That was 7 years ago.

And in what way exactly is blaze less unique? To the point that it's apparently "NOT KALAFINA STYLE". What exactly is KALAFINA STYLE? When I play blaze TV-size all I can think is "Kalafina". I may not like it as much as I like their first stuff but it doesn't make it sound any "less Kalafina" to me. Fascinating.

PS. I'm starting to think I'm a hipster.
 
I am actually quite optimistic for this song, especially we see Hikaru as the lead here. I don't mind them having their music go beyond what is usually heard of them before so that they can reach more people. It may sound like common anisong nowadays, but it still carries that Kalafina identity that has always been present since oblivious. Love it or hate it, but that's Kalafina for ya.
 
@grunty
You hear that way, but for me and other members they don't think it's Kalafina. It's just my feeling... I don't have to explain it. And you don't have to get mad at me. :hide:

Anyway it's better for me working in Kaijura gift, instead of discussing this.
 
Westkana said:
Watched the TV size.

Gosh, the running. That screams "shounen anime" so much :XD:
Click to expand...

Dont forget that this Arslan Senki (as well as previous season) is re-adaption of the source material. There were OVAs between 1990-1996 so now they are still trying to stick to the old style :) the running scene is part of it.
 
@juchanx3 Sure, you don't HAVE TO explain it (and I assure you I'm not trying to be mean so I apologise if I come across that way). I'm just curious what "Kalafina" is for everyone. I mean, I've been HATING on Kalafina/Kajiura (not to mention Wakana :p) for the past 5 years or so. Why is this post-heavenly-blue-era suddenly "not Kalafina" for so many people? Why is blaze the boiling point?
 
^ Maybe because it doesnt have audible piano/violin (strings replace)/flute and chorus/ as much harmonies as most other kalafina songs (?)
 
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