CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
Interesting idea, but yeah, the instrumentation and mixing switch would be jarring!
Oooooh! Nice idea.
(POLL) Yuki Kajiura tracks with MAKEOVERS (or multiple versions) (as of 2024)
- Thread starter grunty
- Start date
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
week14 lets go~
Edit:
I just realized that I should've also had the courtesy waltz/Yami no Uta on my list, since I included E.G.O.. Doubt it's on youtube though... so that means uploading and I thought I was already done with that. Goddamit. Guess I'll leave it for the end and we'll see if there's anything else that I can't find on youtube... or maybe it can be on the backburner 'til I find the missing Gundam tracks...
Edit:
I just realized that I should've also had the courtesy waltz/Yami no Uta on my list, since I included E.G.O.. Doubt it's on youtube though... so that means uploading and I thought I was already done with that. Goddamit. Guess I'll leave it for the end and we'll see if there's anything else that I can't find on youtube... or maybe it can be on the backburner 'til I find the missing Gundam tracks...
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Decretum
7 billion humans. She must know I exist
Here are my thoughts on the Week 13 Tracks:
Shizuka na Yoru ni
As much as I usually like Kajiura’s electronic arrangements, the one for this song just bores me to tears. The strings on the Re:Tracks rendition make the arrangement feel a lot fuller, and I far prefer it.
+1 ReTracks
Hikari no Yukue
This one’s always a fun listen! So first off, I definitely prefer the full-size to the TV cut. The latter isn’t bad by any means, but losing the second verse does make it feel very abrupt. I had never listened to the album version before, but I prefer the single bersion’s Kajiurago intro compared to the album one’s. Still a fun song in all of its forms, but the small details make this an easy choice for me.
+1 Single
Gatherway
This is my first time hearing this song in either of its forms. I think the verses meander a bit, but the refrain’s pretty cool. It’s also just delightfully sci-fi, haha. For the FJ cover, there are some pretty choices in both the arrangement and vocal choices. Kaori was a great choice, but I still think I prefer the original. The arrangement just fits better imo.
+1 Original
Mou Ichido Kimi ni Aitai
The cello on this one is quite pretty, and the guitar is also solid. I like the melody more than the first time I listened to it (which was tbf a few years back), even if she didn’t compose it. Kajiura does a lot to shape this song, and while it may not be one of my favorites, it’s still quite sweet.
Shizuka na Yoru ni
As much as I usually like Kajiura’s electronic arrangements, the one for this song just bores me to tears. The strings on the Re:Tracks rendition make the arrangement feel a lot fuller, and I far prefer it.
+1 ReTracks
Hikari no Yukue
This one’s always a fun listen! So first off, I definitely prefer the full-size to the TV cut. The latter isn’t bad by any means, but losing the second verse does make it feel very abrupt. I had never listened to the album version before, but I prefer the single bersion’s Kajiurago intro compared to the album one’s. Still a fun song in all of its forms, but the small details make this an easy choice for me.
+1 Single
Gatherway
This is my first time hearing this song in either of its forms. I think the verses meander a bit, but the refrain’s pretty cool. It’s also just delightfully sci-fi, haha. For the FJ cover, there are some pretty choices in both the arrangement and vocal choices. Kaori was a great choice, but I still think I prefer the original. The arrangement just fits better imo.
+1 Original
Mou Ichido Kimi ni Aitai
The cello on this one is quite pretty, and the guitar is also solid. I like the melody more than the first time I listened to it (which was tbf a few years back), even if she didn’t compose it. Kajiura does a lot to shape this song, and while it may not be one of my favorites, it’s still quite sweet.
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
fake wings
(2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 1)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- Acoustic guitar is always a strong way to start a song, with that beautiful chord progression.
- Emily's voice starting immediately with harmony and the heavy effects has the haunting feel. The Latin guitar (I don't know the name) accenting the song was also delightful. Also the shaker or castanet or whatever in the background.
- I liked the mix too. Quite well done. A very atmospheric and storytelling song.
fake wings
(2003 "FICTION" / Yuki Kajiura album)
Performance: Emily Bindiger.
- Vocal starts the song (no intro) with the acoustic guitar. Emily's voice is natural and minimally effected, and the Latin guitar.
- Full strings are present as well, coming in for an interlude taking the length of a full verse.
- Second verse with vocals brings in the harmony and all the instrumentation. Better mix.
Winner: I respect the original for its atmospheric and nostalgic feel (fitting the anime I presume), but I give it to the FICTION version. Superior mix (great separation), and starting with the vocals gave it an immediacy while the original had a mood setting with the guitar giving that nostalgic feel at the start. Also hearing the vocals more true to life is always a win for me.
dolce
(2013 "Alelluia" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Chimes starting the song. The vocals start powerfully. It's essentially an acappella performance with chimes at that point.
- Love the way Keiko's voice was written for the first part of the verse to sing just one note as almost a drone, while Wakana sang the melody in her floaty voice and Hikaru moved around on the minor/crunchy notes to give that additional color. I feel Hikaru would have the most fun with those notes. The second part of the verse where the harmony became more expressive and dynamic was a great contrast to the first part, even with Keiko moving around more and going higher.
- Strings coming in on the second verse was beautiful and very appropriate. The effect on Keiko's vocal to give that full base to the rest of the vocals was very cool too.
- Also loved the fact that the end was a combination of verse 1 and 2 musically - starting a cappella and then the strings come in. The very short B melody at the end was beautiful and ending with the chimes.
- I think Kalafina got most of Kajiura's mysterious chime-sprinkled atmospheric music.
dolce～with strings ver.～
(2016 Winter Acoustic "Kalafina with Strings" / Kalafina album)
Performance: Kalafina
- The song is close to the same with some changes for a more acoustic vocal representation (less effects).
- Keiko's part is slightly more balanced in the mix, while in the original it was heavier and boomed, giving added mystery to the vocals.
Winner: The OG. Stronger auditory impact overall to my ears and mind.
everlasting song
(2005 Erementar Gerad Original Soundtrack 1)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Lovely intro with that electronic drumbeat and ASUKA's slightly sultry (mature cute) vocal in English.
- The melody of the song is a really beautiful, "innocent" one from Kajiura.
- The electronic beat is a relentless 4-4.
everlasting song～japanese edition
(2005 "everlasting song" / FictionJunction ASUKA single)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Superior start with the bright instrumentation and the guitar. I liked that start with the vocal giving room for musical development.
- Strings coming in on the second verse was appropriate. ASUKA sang in Japanese which I think I enjoyed more than the soundtrack version.
- Yuriko's voice was more natural and less atmospheric. The strings bridge hit home.
- A more natural vocal presentation closer to the YKL performance.
- The electronic beat comes up prominently later in the song, tying it rhythmically to the original really nicely.
everlasting song～ballad edition
(2005 "everlasting song" / FictionJunction ASUKA single)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA
- Cool, subdued version, with just the piano accompaniment.
- A nice song, but I'm as much a fan of this, since the vocal was the centerpiece (due to reduced instrumentation and tempo) and so needed to be more memorable, but because it was in an unfamiliar language, the enunciation wasn't fully there to give the emotional beats, and ASUKA is a limited dynamics singer (especially singing phonetically, I assume, in English) so I feel her voice was adequate but not mind-blowing.
Winner: The single version was the best for this song. Better arrangement, instrumentation, vocal performance (language familiarity) and the progression and journey of the music was just excellent for this song - final form.
(2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 1)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- Acoustic guitar is always a strong way to start a song, with that beautiful chord progression.
- Emily's voice starting immediately with harmony and the heavy effects has the haunting feel. The Latin guitar (I don't know the name) accenting the song was also delightful. Also the shaker or castanet or whatever in the background.
- I liked the mix too. Quite well done. A very atmospheric and storytelling song.
fake wings
(2003 "FICTION" / Yuki Kajiura album)
Performance: Emily Bindiger.
- Vocal starts the song (no intro) with the acoustic guitar. Emily's voice is natural and minimally effected, and the Latin guitar.
- Full strings are present as well, coming in for an interlude taking the length of a full verse.
- Second verse with vocals brings in the harmony and all the instrumentation. Better mix.
Winner: I respect the original for its atmospheric and nostalgic feel (fitting the anime I presume), but I give it to the FICTION version. Superior mix (great separation), and starting with the vocals gave it an immediacy while the original had a mood setting with the guitar giving that nostalgic feel at the start. Also hearing the vocals more true to life is always a win for me.
dolce
(2013 "Alelluia" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Chimes starting the song. The vocals start powerfully. It's essentially an acappella performance with chimes at that point.
- Love the way Keiko's voice was written for the first part of the verse to sing just one note as almost a drone, while Wakana sang the melody in her floaty voice and Hikaru moved around on the minor/crunchy notes to give that additional color. I feel Hikaru would have the most fun with those notes. The second part of the verse where the harmony became more expressive and dynamic was a great contrast to the first part, even with Keiko moving around more and going higher.
- Strings coming in on the second verse was beautiful and very appropriate. The effect on Keiko's vocal to give that full base to the rest of the vocals was very cool too.
- Also loved the fact that the end was a combination of verse 1 and 2 musically - starting a cappella and then the strings come in. The very short B melody at the end was beautiful and ending with the chimes.
- I think Kalafina got most of Kajiura's mysterious chime-sprinkled atmospheric music.
dolce～with strings ver.～
(2016 Winter Acoustic "Kalafina with Strings" / Kalafina album)
Performance: Kalafina
- The song is close to the same with some changes for a more acoustic vocal representation (less effects).
- Keiko's part is slightly more balanced in the mix, while in the original it was heavier and boomed, giving added mystery to the vocals.
Winner: The OG. Stronger auditory impact overall to my ears and mind.
everlasting song
(2005 Erementar Gerad Original Soundtrack 1)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Lovely intro with that electronic drumbeat and ASUKA's slightly sultry (mature cute) vocal in English.
- The melody of the song is a really beautiful, "innocent" one from Kajiura.
- The electronic beat is a relentless 4-4.
everlasting song～japanese edition
(2005 "everlasting song" / FictionJunction ASUKA single)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Superior start with the bright instrumentation and the guitar. I liked that start with the vocal giving room for musical development.
- Strings coming in on the second verse was appropriate. ASUKA sang in Japanese which I think I enjoyed more than the soundtrack version.
- Yuriko's voice was more natural and less atmospheric. The strings bridge hit home.
- A more natural vocal presentation closer to the YKL performance.
- The electronic beat comes up prominently later in the song, tying it rhythmically to the original really nicely.
everlasting song～ballad edition
(2005 "everlasting song" / FictionJunction ASUKA single)
Performance: FictionJunction ASUKA
- Cool, subdued version, with just the piano accompaniment.
- A nice song, but I'm as much a fan of this, since the vocal was the centerpiece (due to reduced instrumentation and tempo) and so needed to be more memorable, but because it was in an unfamiliar language, the enunciation wasn't fully there to give the emotional beats, and ASUKA is a limited dynamics singer (especially singing phonetically, I assume, in English) so I feel her voice was adequate but not mind-blowing.
Winner: The single version was the best for this song. Better arrangement, instrumentation, vocal performance (language familiarity) and the progression and journey of the music was just excellent for this song - final form.
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
fake wings
dolce
everlasting song
On the one hand I like the clean vocals on FICTION, on the other - I prefer the song without strings today... Yea... OST1 for me.
+1 OST ver
dolce
On the one hand, I don't particularly care for how heavily processed the original sounds, on the other - I like everything feeling distant in the original more than the relative clarity of with strings ver...
+1 original
everlasting song
To be honest I don't remember this song being my favorite when it came out. It definitely grew on me.
I will say I like the OST/english edition instrumental the most. I like the strings section coming after the verse to reinforce the theme and I'm not missing the guitars from japanese editio - to me it's overall more clean.
ballad edition is a no from me, but I kind of wish we got a version of it without vocals.
+1 OST/english edition (but I'm cool with the Japanese edition too)
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
Anti-strings faction LOL
Yeah, the ballad was weak. Oh just the instruments?
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
Not going to confirm, or deny.
To me [ballad edition] just doesn't work vocally in the tempo they chose and the result mostly feels forced. At least in what we got.Yeah, the ballad was weak. Oh just the instruments?
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
I agree! It felt like trying to be a bit dramatic with the whole thing. I don't think the song warranted an solo-piano-accompanying acoustic song.
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
| open your heart (2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 2) Performance: Emily Bindiger - Loved the synth-y feeling at the start, futuristic but smooth. The main instrumental riff melody came in full. - Emily's voice came in from far away with that echo (like a response/repeat) with the heavy beat. - A really vibe-y song overall. Had me dancing on my seat as I listened throughout. open your heart～reprise (2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 2) Performance: Emily Bindiger - This is closer to the current iteration. Starting with Emily's voice calling and echoing. - I liked the instrumental development with Emily calling "Open your heart/Open your heart". - Saxophone solo, electric guitar peeking in, and even some female Gregorian sounding chants saying "Agnus Dei", - When the voices came in with 3-part harmony was smooth, knowing Emily was doing all of it made it even better. Layers upon layers... open your heart (2003 "FICTION" / Yuki Kajiura album) Performance: Emily Bindiger - A voice less affected by effects. - The instrumentation came in similar to the reprise. Emily's voice was fuller in the mix. - What instrument was soloing in this version. Uileann Pipes? - The Gregorian ladies were here again. Nice. Winner: One of my dance faves from Kajiura! The track is quite meditative in its structure and the production. I enjoyed all 3 but I'll make it a tie between the original and the reprise. The original had all the vibes and momentum, but the addition elements in the reprise gave it good points, though I prefer the Uileann pipe solo in the FICTION version to the saxophone in the reprise. sprinter (2008 "sprinter/ARIA" / Kalafina single) Performance: Kalafina | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida - That start! Always epic! Hikaru bringing in the feels and Keiko harmonizing with her. - And Yuriko's floating Kajiurago floating above and blending with the violins. - I am still a fan of Maya's softer/warmer voice coming in and contrasting with Hikaru's in a lead context (less sharp). - Of course the bridge, with Yuriko floating and the interaction between Keiko, Maya, and Wakana, and then Hikaru joining. That arrangement of that section hasn't been replicated exactly the same since Maya left (Keiko's voice - When Wakana came in on that long note, and held it, and had the full vibrato at the end!  sprinter～with strings ver.～ (2016 Winter Acoustic "Kalafina with Strings" / Kalafina album) Performance: Kalafina - Strings and piano intro. - Hikaru's voice had lessened by this time and she cut short the starting notes more - less legato. More emotion from her (matured with experience and growing up so a more powerful vocal performance). - Absence of Kajiurago. I felt it. The song was more "human" - Wakana's bridge Kajiurago wasn't bad but it was missing the harmony (there should be more than two voices on it, but alas). She was light on the top notes, which was par for the course by this time. Missed Yuriko to be honest. - Powerful strings energy from the bridge till the end! Winner: No contest, the original. The strings version had a lot of character and set itself apart with more emotional (virtually live) performances. This was how they performed the song (in terms of singing passion) in most of their live versions. The original was more controlled in singing, Fields of hope (2004 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY Original Soundtrack 1) Performance: Lacus Clyne (CV. Rie Tanaka) - Soft and gentle singing by Rie over soft keys. - A gently emotional arrangement I must say. - 2-part harmony from Rie. Fields of hope ～ReTracks (2013 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY Reunion Series Part 3) Performance: Lacus Clyne (CV. Rie Tanaka) - Strings always changes things, I guess. - Interesting how Rie came in over the acoustic instruments, giving an acoustic live feel. (By the way Rie's voice made me think of rito. I think Rie's the person her voice sounded most like, now that I hear it). Winner: I prefer the original. I actually like acoustic versions of songs, but the original just had everything (less strings, if at all). SORE HA CHIISANA HIKARI NO YOUNA (2016 "Sorewa Chisana Hikarinoyouna" / Sayuri single) Performance: Sayuri - Like the panning in the guitars at the beginning, and the childlike voice of Sayuri coming in, also synths. - Enjoyed the arrangement and how the drums came in, also the electric guitar work was nice and tasteful throughout. Bass was also doing work. - The chorus had energy and expression with Sayuri's pointed thin voice (reminds me of Suzuka from Babymetal, a bit). SORE HA CHIISANA HIKARI NO YOUNA (me Hikigatari Version) (2020 "me" / Sayuri album) Performance: Sayuri - I love the expressiveness of her voice. I am only getting to really hear it for the first time through this exercise. - OK, I felt this acoustic version, only guitar needed. Wow! All the expressiveness in the voice. I would have liked to have seen her on a Kajiura stage... I can imagine she was playing herself and singing. Singer-songwriter style. Excellent guitar work! - A bold choice to just have her sing with one instrument. I don't think it was Kajiura's, to be honest, since I don't think she would have been able to resist bringing in strings.  SORE HA CHIISANA HIKARI NO YOUNA (2023 "PARADE" / FictionJunction album) Performance: FictionJunction - Of course this was beautiful as usual. With full YKL instrumentation. And Kajiurago added. - Keiko gave it some of her most expressive emotional singing, I've heard (especially in the live). - Of course the twinkling instrumentation for the verse 2 was nice too. Winner: As much as I love the original, with its sublime arrangement and mixing, and of course the FJ version (which was my first time of hearing the song during Keiko's YKL performance), for surprisingly sentimental and definitely vocal-expression reasons I will give it to the Hikigatari version! So much expression, and I really think that that she performed it all by herself. YouTube recommended a video of her singing it really live, so that confirms it in my mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWEyyWqvDg Her voice was more raw but she gave it her all. 110%! Another version at a live in 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ9KaXOq3U4&pp=0gcJCbIJAYcqIYzv [Edited ever so slightly in a few parts to to clarify my intended thoughts] |
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Decretum
7 billion humans. She must know I exist
Sorry for being late, had a strange week, so here are my reviews of the last batch:
Fake Wings
The deciding factor (for me) here is between the instrumental intro of the OST version vs. the cold open of Fiction’s rendition. I feel like the weighted vocals on the Fiction version make the song feel oddly more ‘complete’ for me? The balance on the original is nice, but doesn’t work well for my ears individually.
+1 Fiction
Dolce
I didn’t care for the original until I heard the Strings arrangement, so . . .
+1 Strings
Everlasting Song
Ughhhhhhh this song is such a slog to me. That makes it a perfect theme for Elemental Gelade! Anyways, I guess I’ll pick the Japanese version? It’s the one I’m most familiar with, and I’m not particularly attached to any of them tbh.
+1 Japanese
Fake Wings
The deciding factor (for me) here is between the instrumental intro of the OST version vs. the cold open of Fiction’s rendition. I feel like the weighted vocals on the Fiction version make the song feel oddly more ‘complete’ for me? The balance on the original is nice, but doesn’t work well for my ears individually.
+1 Fiction
Dolce
I didn’t care for the original until I heard the Strings arrangement, so . . .
+1 Strings
Everlasting Song
Ughhhhhhh this song is such a slog to me. That makes it a perfect theme for Elemental Gelade! Anyways, I guess I’ll pick the Japanese version? It’s the one I’m most familiar with, and I’m not particularly attached to any of them tbh.
+1 Japanese
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
Kay then.
open your heart
sprinter
Fields of hope
Sorewa chiisana hikarinoyouna
open your heart
They are all a vibe but I guess "reprise" is a little more complete in structure with the extra Emily vocals (but then it skips the full verses...). On the other hand the "Agnus Dei" samples are a nothingburger to me. It is interesting that the original "open your heart" is mixed by Kajiura but "reprise" by Tsutomu Okada (who I guess likes things a little more muddled/wet?) and the FICTION ver is based on "reprise" (but without the drawnout verse lyrics).
I think it's cool that Kajiura got to realize her vision fantasy with the uillean pipes in FICTION version but to me the sax isn't any worse than the pipes.
+1 og, +1 "reprise", +1 FICTION (for extra & complete Emily vocals, but "reprise" sax/"FICTION" pipes are interchangable to me; FICTION mix is a little sharp too - TBH I might like Kajiura's original mix the most XD)
sprinter
Man this song used to be such a rush for me. I remember deciphering the lyrics and having Maya's first part memorized quickly. To me this was a song with some peak vocal distribution for Kajiura (which may be a shame considering how early this was into her group vocal efforts, lol). I don't know when was the last time I was thinking about the singers in the original, but I think I genuinely forgot Maya was singing the "konna karakurino" part... or at least for whatever reason it surprised me this time. I love it but it's definitely a little messy, including how the instrumental sounds.
The strings verision I imagine would be fine to me with just the instrumental (or maybe not), but with vocals I don't like the melodramatic/"inspirational" slower tempo or vocal delivery - plenty struggling here. I'm not sure if I see the appeal of turning something like the original "sprinter" into more of a ballad.
+1 og all the way
Fields of hope
I love the og. I like things simple & clean. There's a nice energy and synergy between the vocals and instrumental. The cello is lovely. I don't think I remembered the chorus singer being unique to this, sounds great.
I don't know what's happening with ReTracks - similarly to Mizu no Akashi Rie's vocals feel just OFF to me in ReTracks. I don't know if it's the lush arrangement, the vocals being edited/processed differently or whatever else happening here... I thought I'd enjoy the ReTracks instrumental on its own more but something's just off about it for me...
+1 og all the way
PS. I actually also went back to vol16 live & I quite like it. Kind of wish they recorded it for PARADE over some other tracks. (Then again, I guess the audience doesn't really come in during the peformance so it's fine&listenable2me as is too...)
Sorewa chiisana hikarinoyouna
Pfff. The opening of the original is fine, interesting even, but the closer to the refrain the worse it gets and the refrain itself is just distorted noise. Sayuri sounds like she's going through a guitar amp almost all the time. The entire track too actually, heavy limiting on everything separately and together. If anyone likes the og, I'm happy for them. I just can't.
I don't think I knew of the "me" version at all until now. In theory, it's better. In reality, it's still mostly just overexcited yelling to me. Not for me.
FJ ver is wonderful. ^_^ Originally the bloat FBM&strings during refrain were kinda ZZzz to me but I got used to them by now. KEIKO is sweet. The verses are magical. All the different backing vocals add a lot of flavour. The piano during Keiko's stripped refrain @3:25 somehow makes me very happy. Yuriko's "ahh"s (not sure if Kaori or Keiko is also doing the lower harmony there, or it's all Yuriko) & Keiko's lyrics at the very end is just chefs kiss.
+1 FJ all the way
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CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
It definitely was! The structure of the song, the voice types/qualities, and the arrangement… chef’s kiss.
A big part of it for me is the drums. There's a reason why I prefer Sato Kyoichi as the FBM drummer. His straight 4-4 rock drum style (that he does in lives) is more energetic and appropriate for the song (and a lot of their discography, to be honest) than the ghost notes and fills that Nozaki often added (also Nozaki's penchant for rolling down the drumset at the end of songs from snare to floor room to coordinate the instrumentals full-stop at the very end of fast songs, that he did so many times in lives.
).
What songs would you want to replace with it, if you had to choose?
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
Just to be clear. You're kind of misquoting me there, lol. I did not forget about Maya.
I don't know if whatever issues I have with the instrumental come from Nozaki's performance, rather than how the general instrumental rec&mix sounds (which includes drumming I guess). Like, to me it feels very thin/constricted in the spectrum. To not say flat. Maybe to have space for all the vocals but I'm talking out of my ass.
I guess it depends how the recorded version would actually be. Perhaps it would be worse than my choices.
"Sekai no Hate" and "moonlight melody" are not my favorites from the covers on PARADE. "Sokyu no Fanfare" and "Hachigatsu no ORGAN" are not my favorites from the originals. XD
I guess there would not be any need to boot anything, considering how long the album is.
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
Yes, of course. I agree I omitted the context. It was done in the moment for dramatic effect. Lol
I agree with you. The verse is fairly OK (and quite iconic in YK world) since it's just the vocal and electric guitar riff. The chorus seems light on instrumentation because of the mix. It doesn't carry the weight or intricacy of some of the tracks we've been listening to for the past several weeks. I first got to hear "Sprinter" in the first exposure to Kalafina in the 10th anniversary, so I absorbed the fuller instrumentation, heavier drums, and expressive vocals, so the studio release was always underwhelming sonically, but for the pleasure of seeing their early selves and Maya in the MV.
It's a nice singalong track but "Fields of Hope" is definitely the superior song.
Decretum
7 billion humans. She must know I exist
Open Your Heart
The original already loses by not having the cold open imo. So that makes it a competition between the reprise and Fiction versions. I find the arrangement of the original to be fitting with its more ‘glitchy’ production, but I think the build up on the Fiction rendition just works so well, so I tend to listen to that version more.
(Though I will say, my all time favorite rendition is the 2013 Kaji Fes. performance with twelve vocalists. I know live versions aren’t counted here for understandable reasons, but I just felt like giving it a shoutout because I love it so much.)
+1 FICTION
Sprinter
This song absolutely wrecks me. I used to not care very much for it, but a few years ago something just really clicked for me and I grew to adore it. It packs so much emotionality into its fast tempo, and even at a slower one it still wrecks me to bits. I hate to choose between them, but I would probably go with the Original just because I find it easier to listen to. The Strings rendition is for when I’m in emotional pain mode, and while it’s excellent, I tend to save it for when I’m listening to the Winter Acoustic album start to finish.
+1 OG
Fields of Hope
Y’all know the drill by now; I find the ReTracks versions to be overproduced and prefer the simplicity of the original recordings.
+1 OG
Sore wa Chiisana Hikari no You na
I love this song a lot. While I have a soft spot for Sayuri’s take (though less so with its acoustic version), Kajiura’s arrangement on the FJ version is stunning.
Keiko’s voice is lovely, the chorus work is beautifully incorporated, and I love the ticking clock addition during part of the second verse. I remember when I first heard it from the live rendition, as I crossed my fingers and hoped “please let this be on Parade, please let this be on Parade.” And it was! I punched the air in joy when that track list was announced, and it’s still one of my favorite little memories of being a Kajiura fan. This song is just so important to me, so this is a a fairly easy pick.
+1 FJ.
The original already loses by not having the cold open imo. So that makes it a competition between the reprise and Fiction versions. I find the arrangement of the original to be fitting with its more ‘glitchy’ production, but I think the build up on the Fiction rendition just works so well, so I tend to listen to that version more.
(Though I will say, my all time favorite rendition is the 2013 Kaji Fes. performance with twelve vocalists. I know live versions aren’t counted here for understandable reasons, but I just felt like giving it a shoutout because I love it so much.)
+1 FICTION
Sprinter
This song absolutely wrecks me. I used to not care very much for it, but a few years ago something just really clicked for me and I grew to adore it. It packs so much emotionality into its fast tempo, and even at a slower one it still wrecks me to bits. I hate to choose between them, but I would probably go with the Original just because I find it easier to listen to. The Strings rendition is for when I’m in emotional pain mode, and while it’s excellent, I tend to save it for when I’m listening to the Winter Acoustic album start to finish.
+1 OG
Fields of Hope
Y’all know the drill by now; I find the ReTracks versions to be overproduced and prefer the simplicity of the original recordings.
+1 OG
Sore wa Chiisana Hikari no You na
I love this song a lot. While I have a soft spot for Sayuri’s take (though less so with its acoustic version), Kajiura’s arrangement on the FJ version is stunning.
Keiko’s voice is lovely, the chorus work is beautifully incorporated, and I love the ticking clock addition during part of the second verse. I remember when I first heard it from the live rendition, as I crossed my fingers and hoped “please let this be on Parade, please let this be on Parade.” And it was! I punched the air in joy when that track list was announced, and it’s still one of my favorite little memories of being a Kajiura fan. This song is just so important to me, so this is a a fairly easy pick.
+1 FJ.
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
I am not sure I've heard this version, but 12 vocalists???
All the main and guest singers, I imagine. Wow! How many of her songs have ever gotten that kind of treatment even in live contexts?
Oh yes, it's an almost perfect song from Kajiura. I just listened to the YKL17 "Hikaru surprise" version again and relished the nostalgia and feels again. I got to revisit the combination of elements that Kajiura masterful wrote into the piece:
- the use of the rhythmic guitar at the start, middle, (with strings) and at the end, to highlight Hikaru's voice and the lyrics.
- Yuriko's ever present voice helping to create the fantasy feel with Kajiurago two-voice-harmony over the punchy drama of the lyrics and instrumentation.
- the "peak vocal distribution" (as grunty put it) of the sections between the ladies, switching between them frequently to maximize the vocal and emotional qualities of their voices.
- one of my favorite uses of key changes ever from Kajiura as in the bridge she was key-switching as a dramatic counterpart to the switching of dual-harmony vocals, using it to highlight the lyric/vocalists. Simple but masterfully executed.
CloisteredFlame
YES! I live on her roof
the world
(2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 1)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- That mystical start with the overlaid vocalizations is just unique.
- Superb vocals from Emily throughout in melody and harmony (with that reverberant effect). There was an always an extra
- I noticed that the last verse came in almost on top of the last note of the chorus before it. Interesting.
- A real dance track with the straight synth bass and drums.
the world extra ver.
(2002 .hack//EXTRA SOUNDTRACKS)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- Uneasy vocals in the start, with the first verse sung with her voice seemingly in two different keys blended together.
- Different arrangement definitely but on the chorus we returned to the dance track feel of the original soundtrack.
- The vocalizations were such a big part of this song, probably more than most.
- I enjoyed the change in the strings coming in earlier around middle of the song to give a different take.
- Ooh, we had the classical "We are in the land of the twilight" come in at a point in melody then harmony. Didn't know that Emily had that classical part to her! Or was that Kasahara-sama?
Winner: I will make this a tie. I would naturally give it to the original, but the extra version had so many new ideas and elements that made it an interesting listen as well.
Kimi ga ita monogatari
(2003 "Kimi ga ita monogatari" / See-Saw single)
Performance: See-Saw
- Fun dance track! I haven't listened to Chiaki's voice in a while so it was nice to hear its peculiarities and qualities contrasted in my mind to Emily's (in "the world") both in a dance genre context (I'm listening to the tracks in order in one sitting).
- I liked the hi-hat cymbal hits on the 'and' of the bass drum.
Kimi ga ita monogatari～Dream Field Mix
(2003 "Dream Field" / See-Saw album)
Performance: See-Saw
- Different drum setup in this version. It's recorded live drums, and it's played differently with prominent snare hits.
Winner: The original just had the dance vibe much stronger so I give it to that. Though, to be honest, my favorite version ever is the live version led by Wakana in the Elemental Live (which is the first time I ever heard the song, so there is some nostalgia effect).
Life Goes On
(2005 "Life Goes On" / Mika Arisaka single)
Performance: Mika Arisaka | Chorus: Kaori Nishina
- Nice beginning with the keys and the funky drum intro before going to straight rock drumming in the guitar riff start.
- I could easily think of this being a SEE-SAW song, sung by Chiaki. There's a bit of vocal similarity in some parts.
- Kaori providing the floaty echo vocals in harmony.
Life Goes On TV-Size type1
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.6)
Performance: Mika Arisaka (it is implied that Kaori's vocals are used throughout the rest)
- Skipping the piano intro, and going straight to the guitar riff start, I think I prefer the more straightforward instrumentation
- More vocal-forward mix?
Life Goes On TV-Size type2
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.7)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- I think the intro with the half-time English section and harmony (against synths) gave some needed variation for this version.
Life Goes On TV-Size type3
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.8)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- Nice strong dance elements at the start, leading in to the guitar riff (same as the original and TV type 1).
Life Goes On ～ReMix2013
(2013 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY Reunion Series Part 4)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- Nothing much different. Maybe bass is more forward, and some different drums/synth effects?
Winner: The primary difference was in how the intro was arranged. I think I'll just give it to the type 2 version, because of the tempo variation change and vocal-first arrangement for the start.
oblivious
(2008 "oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Epic classic Kajiura! Hanae's voice really sets the fantasy feel for this song. I like the effect for her voice.
- This was, and is, a Wakana showcase and her expressive lead was really good.
- A solid dance track.
oblivious ～Fukanfuukei mix
(2008 "Re/oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Kajiura with her different starts and adding extra elements.
- Strings coming in strongly at a point. Heavier bass at some points.
- Inclusion of hints of 'Overture' - Shiki's Theme - throughout. Lovely.
Winner: OG all the way, though there were some interesting additions to the mix version.
Kizuato
(2008 "oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Strong start with Wakana's bold, original voice coming in with that ability to hold the long note and give that expanded vibrato at the end (gradually opening her mouth more I'm sure like in the early lives). I always enjoy that aspect of her voice. Her vibrato was beautiful.
- The first time I heard this song was seeing it the YKL2 with Maya. I was really on a Maya roll then and I was impressed with high falsetto.
- Wakana just spamming the long note with vibrato in this song, and I love it!
Kizuato ～piano² mix
(2008 "Re/oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Vocal performance and arrangement essentially the same.
- It's an acoustic version so of course the synths come in at the pre-chorus with the full strings as well.
- I wonder if it was just a re-use of Masato Matsuda's piano playing from the original.
Winner: OG version. I appreciate the acoustic version of the piano mix a lot, especially the similarity in the vocal performance (copy and paste, since it was the same year) compared to how the Kalafina Winter Acoustic vocals sound compared to the originals of those songs.
(2002 .hack//SIGN ORIGINAL SOUND & SONG TRACK 1)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- That mystical start with the overlaid vocalizations is just unique.
- Superb vocals from Emily throughout in melody and harmony (with that reverberant effect). There was an always an extra
- I noticed that the last verse came in almost on top of the last note of the chorus before it. Interesting.
- A real dance track with the straight synth bass and drums.
the world extra ver.
(2002 .hack//EXTRA SOUNDTRACKS)
Performance: Emily Bindiger
- Uneasy vocals in the start, with the first verse sung with her voice seemingly in two different keys blended together.
- Different arrangement definitely but on the chorus we returned to the dance track feel of the original soundtrack.
- The vocalizations were such a big part of this song, probably more than most.
- I enjoyed the change in the strings coming in earlier around middle of the song to give a different take.
- Ooh, we had the classical "We are in the land of the twilight" come in at a point in melody then harmony. Didn't know that Emily had that classical part to her! Or was that Kasahara-sama?
Winner: I will make this a tie. I would naturally give it to the original, but the extra version had so many new ideas and elements that made it an interesting listen as well.
Kimi ga ita monogatari
(2003 "Kimi ga ita monogatari" / See-Saw single)
Performance: See-Saw
- Fun dance track! I haven't listened to Chiaki's voice in a while so it was nice to hear its peculiarities and qualities contrasted in my mind to Emily's (in "the world") both in a dance genre context (I'm listening to the tracks in order in one sitting).
- I liked the hi-hat cymbal hits on the 'and' of the bass drum.
Kimi ga ita monogatari～Dream Field Mix
(2003 "Dream Field" / See-Saw album)
Performance: See-Saw
- Different drum setup in this version. It's recorded live drums, and it's played differently with prominent snare hits.
Winner: The original just had the dance vibe much stronger so I give it to that. Though, to be honest, my favorite version ever is the live version led by Wakana in the Elemental Live (which is the first time I ever heard the song, so there is some nostalgia effect).
Life Goes On
(2005 "Life Goes On" / Mika Arisaka single)
Performance: Mika Arisaka | Chorus: Kaori Nishina
- Nice beginning with the keys and the funky drum intro before going to straight rock drumming in the guitar riff start.
- I could easily think of this being a SEE-SAW song, sung by Chiaki. There's a bit of vocal similarity in some parts.
- Kaori providing the floaty echo vocals in harmony.
Life Goes On TV-Size type1
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.6)
Performance: Mika Arisaka (it is implied that Kaori's vocals are used throughout the rest)
- Skipping the piano intro, and going straight to the guitar riff start, I think I prefer the more straightforward instrumentation
- More vocal-forward mix?
Life Goes On TV-Size type2
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.7)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- I think the intro with the half-time English section and harmony (against synths) gave some needed variation for this version.
Life Goes On TV-Size type3
(2005 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY SUIT CD vol.8)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- Nice strong dance elements at the start, leading in to the guitar riff (same as the original and TV type 1).
Life Goes On ～ReMix2013
(2013 Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY Reunion Series Part 4)
Performance: Mika Arisaka
- Nothing much different. Maybe bass is more forward, and some different drums/synth effects?
Winner: The primary difference was in how the intro was arranged. I think I'll just give it to the type 2 version, because of the tempo variation change and vocal-first arrangement for the start.
oblivious
(2008 "oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina | Chorus: Yuriko Kaida
- Epic classic Kajiura! Hanae's voice really sets the fantasy feel for this song. I like the effect for her voice.
- This was, and is, a Wakana showcase and her expressive lead was really good.
- A solid dance track.
oblivious ～Fukanfuukei mix
(2008 "Re/oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Kajiura with her different starts and adding extra elements.
- Strings coming in strongly at a point. Heavier bass at some points.
- Inclusion of hints of 'Overture' - Shiki's Theme - throughout. Lovely.
Winner: OG all the way, though there were some interesting additions to the mix version.
Kizuato
(2008 "oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Strong start with Wakana's bold, original voice coming in with that ability to hold the long note and give that expanded vibrato at the end (gradually opening her mouth more I'm sure like in the early lives). I always enjoy that aspect of her voice. Her vibrato was beautiful.
- The first time I heard this song was seeing it the YKL2 with Maya. I was really on a Maya roll then and I was impressed with high falsetto.
- Wakana just spamming the long note with vibrato in this song, and I love it!
Kizuato ～piano² mix
(2008 "Re/oblivious" / Kalafina single)
Performance: Kalafina
- Vocal performance and arrangement essentially the same.
- It's an acoustic version so of course the synths come in at the pre-chorus with the full strings as well.
- I wonder if it was just a re-use of Masato Matsuda's piano playing from the original.
Winner: OG version. I appreciate the acoustic version of the piano mix a lot, especially the similarity in the vocal performance (copy and paste, since it was the same year) compared to how the Kalafina Winter Acoustic vocals sound compared to the originals of those songs.
the world - both versions +1+1. the guitar and the beats in the extra ver are so good.. do the beats in the beginning remind anyone of anything ??
Kimi ga ita monogatari - the OG +1. It's more fun even though the dream mix's vocals sound crisper.
Life goes on - the OG and type 3 and type 2 +1+1+1. that continuous bass in the remaster is rather obnoxious or maybe I am super sensitive right now. nope went back to OG, that bass in remaster is awful yuck, I felt the damage xD also, the piano and beats beginning in the OG are fantastic, type 2 and type 3's beginnings are superb too.
oblivious - the fuuku mix +1. honestly though I don't care much about the OG but the mix is interesting. the ah ahhha ah ahhh in the middle is very good. the strings of Shiki theme add to it. even though oblivious melody wouldn't be my first choice to mix with the other melodies - it's a tad weird.
kizuato - both versions +1+1. the violin and piano work so well in the acoustic version, I'd give the edge to the mix but the OG has the advantage of being OG lol.
Nier!! which was eight years after the world ! not sure if it matters lol
Kimi ga ita monogatari - the OG +1. It's more fun even though the dream mix's vocals sound crisper.
Life goes on - the OG and type 3 and type 2 +1+1+1. that continuous bass in the remaster is rather obnoxious or maybe I am super sensitive right now. nope went back to OG, that bass in remaster is awful yuck, I felt the damage xD also, the piano and beats beginning in the OG are fantastic, type 2 and type 3's beginnings are superb too.
oblivious - the fuuku mix +1. honestly though I don't care much about the OG but the mix is interesting. the ah ahhha ah ahhh in the middle is very good. the strings of Shiki theme add to it. even though oblivious melody wouldn't be my first choice to mix with the other melodies - it's a tad weird.
kizuato - both versions +1+1. the violin and piano work so well in the acoustic version, I'd give the edge to the mix but the OG has the advantage of being OG lol.
grunty
I have reached Yuki nirvana
Guess I should start catching up too.
week#Remix:
the world
Kimi ga ita monogatari
Life Goes On
oblivious
Kizuato
week#Remix:
the world
Original is classic even with all its rec&mix warts. I can't even comment on it. XD
Listening to "extra ver." today I quite enjoyed myself even if it's a v different mood for the first few minutes. The ending with guitar having a solo still feels a little weird to me but I quite like the violin not coming in after the 1st refrain and having the instrumental continue as is with the og beginning/ending vocalizing - it's quite striking when you're used to the og. If anyone had asked me, I definitely would've ditched the bridge/ending's "liminality" inserts & other vocal samples (though I guess those are there in the og too). XD
+1 og, +1 extra ver.
Kimi ga ita monogatari
Original is my version of choice. I never cared for the Dream Field mix and nothing's changed today. I could say I have an even greater dislike for it now after they denied me a potentially decent remaster of the original version on "See-Saw-Scene" Complete Best (going by how good "edge" turned out compared to its single master). The live drumming during the refrain doesn't work for me (surprisingly I am okay with it during the 1st verse). The extra guitars & bass don't work for me. I prefer the bridge solo in the og too. Iunno, the Dream Field mix feels a mess to me as if everyone was doing whatever they wanted to, whereas everything in the og soars together.
+9999 og
Life Goes On
The original is soooooo infectiously energetic/fun to me. Love how everything flows from one section to the next. The double bridge is wonderful. Mika's vocals are on point. The backing vocal arrangement is sweet. (I'm going to guess Kajiura was mostly responsible for vocal arrangements here & extra kb.)
The bonus intros in tv-sizes type2 & 3 are both pretty good but I like type3 the most. Type2 is cool but seems like it's just reusing the bridge. At the end of the day though, the original's intro is perfectly fine and enough to me. XD
I wish we knew who was responsible for those recently released digital singles for Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny. Maybe I'm in a good mood but I do feel they managed to successfully refresh those tracks without wreaking havoc with their remastering.
As for the ReMix2013, the less I say, the better. Do not like. ;p I think I would've felt okay about the more stripped sound had they at least not chosen to process the vocals how they did. Bleh.
+1 og (recent remaster too)
oblivious
Oh boy. "oblivious" is not just one of my favorite Kalafina songs - it's one of my favorite Kajiura written&produced songs. Everything about it just clicks for me - Hanae's vocals. The bass & beat. Wakana's vocals. All the vocal arrangements. The tinkling guitar & synths. THE BASS. I love it so much that Wakana going off on the sustained "wasureta" before the last refrain does not even bother me. I pity anyone who gets to cover it during YKL eventually, lol. Soooo yea. +1
Fukan fuukei mix is a weird one in that I absolutely adore parts of it... but mostly dislike how it flows as a whole.
-> interrupting the "in the garden of sinners" intro with Hanae's vocals feels super forced to me;
-> the buildup & new beat coming in for 1st verse are kickass BUT then the switch to 1st refrain feels like a cut back to the original version;
-> the transition to the 2nd verse and the verse itself are sweet again;
-> whoever came up with having the lalalas during a stripped refrain2 had a stroke of genius (I sometimes wonder if it would've worked better to have the 1st refrain be the lalala one and 2nd be the og sounding one);
-> the new stripped bridge with Hanae's vocals (maybe a little too long) and then main theme strings with the beat coming in and then the entire first verse & refrain vocals over strings is fantastic (if maybe taking too long to get to the point);
-> then that damn "in the garden of sinners" coming back on is complete BS to me - it just does not flow right to me;
-> the remix does pick itself back up and is pretty cool until the end, particularly with the "itsuka... kimi to..." being used as background vocals to the refrain (though the whole thing didn't need to have that SFXish part at the end; or Hanae for that matter considering you already used them the same way in the bridge);
-> interrupting the "in the garden of sinners" intro with Hanae's vocals feels super forced to me;
-> the buildup & new beat coming in for 1st verse are kickass BUT then the switch to 1st refrain feels like a cut back to the original version;
-> the transition to the 2nd verse and the verse itself are sweet again;
-> whoever came up with having the lalalas during a stripped refrain2 had a stroke of genius (I sometimes wonder if it would've worked better to have the 1st refrain be the lalala one and 2nd be the og sounding one);
-> the new stripped bridge with Hanae's vocals (maybe a little too long) and then main theme strings with the beat coming in and then the entire first verse & refrain vocals over strings is fantastic (if maybe taking too long to get to the point);
-> then that damn "in the garden of sinners" coming back on is complete BS to me - it just does not flow right to me;
-> the remix does pick itself back up and is pretty cool until the end, particularly with the "itsuka... kimi to..." being used as background vocals to the refrain (though the whole thing didn't need to have that SFXish part at the end; or Hanae for that matter considering you already used them the same way in the bridge);
+1 og, +1 parts of Fukan fuukei mix
Kizuato
Love the og. Don't like the piano mix much today. I know it's mostly the same recording but the piano somehow makes everything feel super rushed.
+1 og
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