Thursday, 31 May 2012

飛蘭 Faylan - WHITE justice

Just came back from a short vacation and realized that a lot of songs were released while I was gone -_-.
Oh well, the song this time is the ending song for Gundam Age-3. I have seen Faylan's songs here and there while browsing sites but this is the first time I actually listened to one of them. I must say, I am pretty addicted to this song. I sing along every Sunday when Gundam Age airs.
Wanting to know more about Faylan, I went to her official blog and I must say, that is one gorgeous lady. Not only does she sing but she writes her own lyrics as well. According to her blog entry, the WHITE from the song's title refers to the color of the Gundam. From my understanding of the lyrics, WHITE justice depicts the feelings of the warriors involved in a war.
If you think you have heard the whole song with just the TV size ending, you are quite mistaken. The full version packs a few twists and turns and there is even a ballad version that comes with the single.
With regards to the anime, Kio just went through the grow-up-after-someone-dies phase much like his father and grandfather. I am expecting really great things from him after his demonstration of his incredible X-Rounder abilities.

纏う白い希望に 命を預け
運命が交わった 震えるこの宇宙で

「愛してた・・・」と 最後に言葉を残し
微笑んだ幻が 受け継いでく正義

強く優しい瞳に 映った赤い火は
いつか涙で 散らすよ
もう逃げたりしない 僕等は誓った

哀しき時代を生きてく 果敢な勇士
選んだ道を信じたら 突き進めばいい
奪うだけじゃ救えない 命に気づいたら
過去の涙が 現実を導きだす
全ては守るべき明日へと

む意識の中 笑顔を翳し
触れていた感覚が ふいに甦るよ

掌の記憶から 光を放ち
正解はないけれど 確かに抱く夢

‘‘帰る場所は此処にある” 聞こえたその声に
奇跡集めて飛び立つ
だから戦うよ 栄光掴むまで

儚き瞬間を見つめた 気丈な勇士
躊躇うよりも 後悔で泣かないように
信じてるよ 宿った魂の絆が
熱い鼓動を 目覚めさせてくだろう
新たな革命の未来へ

誰もが一人では 歩むことは無理だろう
恐れなくていい
足掻き喚き 苦しんだ跡の傷には
痛みよりも 共に真の喜びを知るよ

(欺かないで生きてく)
高き野望で
(抗わないで見つめた)
怯まない意思を刻む 

哀しき時代を生きてく 果敢な勇士
選んだ道を信じたら 突き進めばいい
奪うだけじゃ救えない 命に気づいたら
過去の涙が 現実を導きだす
新たな革命の先には
全ての守るべき明日へと
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
matou shiroi kibou ni inochi wo azuke
unmei ga majiwatta furueru kono sora de

[aishiteta...]to saigo ni kotoba wo nokoshi
hohoenda maboroshi ga uke tsuideku seigi

tsuyoku yasashii hitomi ni utsutta akai hi wa
itsuka namida de chirasu yo
mou nigetari shinai bokura wa chikatta

kanashiki toki wo ikiteku kakan na yuushi
eranda michi wo shinjitara tsuki susumeba ii
ubau dake jya sukuenai inochi ni kizuitara
kako no namida ga ima wo michibikidasu
subete wa mamoru beki asu e to

madoromu ishiki no naka egao wo kazashi
fureteita kankaku ga fuini yomigaeru yo

tenohira no kioku kara hikari wo hanachi
seikai wa nai keredo tashikani idaku yume
"kaeru basho wa koko ni aru" kikoeta sono koe ni
kiseki atsumete tobitasu
dakara tatakauyo eikou tsukamu made

hakanaki toki wo mitsumeta kijyou na yuushi
tamerau yori mo koukai de nakanai youni
shinjiteru yo yadotta tamashii no kizuna ga
atsui kodou wo mezame saseteku darou
aratana kakumei no mirai e

dare mo ga hitori de wa  ayumu koto wa muri darou
osorenakute ii
agaki wameki  kurushinda ato no kizu ni wa
itami yori mo tomo ni shin no yorokobi wo shiru yo

(azamuka naide ikiteku)
takaki yabou de
(aragawa naide mitsumeta)
hirumanai ishi wo kizamu

kanashiki toki wo ikiteku kakan na yuushi
eranda michi wo shinjitara tsuki susumeba ii
ubau dake jya sukuenai inochi ni kizuitara
kako no namida ga ima wo michibikidasu
aratana kakumei no saki ni wa
subete no mamoru beki asu e to
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 I entrust my life to the white hope I clad myself in
The intersecting destinies shake the skies

"I loved..." were your last words
As a vision of you smile, I inherit your justice

The raging flame reflected in those strong yet tender eyes
will one day be scattered by tears
We swore that we will no longer run away

Determined warrior who lived through sorrowful times
Once you believe in the path you have chosen, just charge through everything
Realize that lives cannot be saved by taking others away
The tears of the past led us to the present
and everything will bring us to a future that we must protect

In my slumbering consciousness, my smiling face was covered
I awaken abruptly as I felt the touch of someone
The memory in my palm was releasing light
There is no right answer but I was definitely embracing this dream

"There is a place we can return to here" hearing this voice
I took off with miracles
That is why I will fight until I attain glory

Firm warrior gazing at a transient moment
Rather than hesitating, don't cry with regret
Believe in the bonds connecting our souls
Awaken that fiery pulse
Towards a future of revolution

No one can carry on just by himself right?
There is no need to fear
The scar left from struggling and squirming
rather than pain, it will teach you shared joy

(Live without deceiving)
Engrave your unfaltering intention
(Watch without disputing)
with your great aspirations

Determined warrior who lived through sorrowful times
Once you believe in the path you have chosen, just charge through everything
Realize that lives cannot be saved by taking others away
The tears of the past led us to the present
Ahead of a new revolution
Towards all the futures we must protect
 



Wednesday, 9 May 2012

May'n - Chase the world

May'n, short for Mei Nakabayashi, is a young diva in the japanese music scene. She is best known for being Sheryl Nome's singing voice in the series Macross Frontier. She possesses a powerful voice despite her young age and has been to many countries to perform.
Chase the world is the opening song for the anime series "Accel World". It is written by Akio Inoue and composed by Daisuke Asakura, the two creative minds behind Takanori Nishikawa's T.M.Revolution. (Takanori is known for Rurouni Kenshin's ending theme "Heart of Sword" and countless songs for the Gundam Seed series)
Accel World is set in a world where everyone is connected to a global network via a neuro-linker. A certain group of people was selected to possess the program called "Brain Burst" which enables users to accelerate their minds and perform superhuman feats. Users enter the network in their avatar form and fight other users to gain points that allow them to accelerate in the real world.
Haruyuki the protagonist is a short and pudgy boy who is constantly bullied at school. He got introduced to the program by the school's idol Kuroyukihime. The story is about how Haruyuki's life transform through using the program and how the two of them fight on to unveil the truth behind the program and the true potential the human brain holds.

この瞳(ひとみ)は鮮やかに舞う キミしか覚(し)らない
踏み込んで覚醒(め)ざめる セカイへ

俯き過ぎて小さい  僕だけの景色が
組み立てたジオラマの嘘だと
合わせ辛い視点に 気付いている


駆け出してゆく未来は 美しさを手に
それぞれが翔べる場所を 問い掛けてく


この瞳(ひとみ)は鮮やかに舞う キミしか覚(し)らない
加速して初めて 往(ゆ)ける僕は僕の先へ

もっと昂(たか)く もっと強く キミに届きたい
踏み込んで覚醒(め)ざめる chasin' the world

何度もなぞり続けて 擦り切れてしまった
「諦めてしまえ」と云う文字が
築かせた壁を 壊したがっている

直向(ひたむ)きに祈る声も 闇に割れる夜
叶わない残酷さを 潜(ひそ)ませても

この翼で 想うよりも 遥かに羽撃(はばた)く 
抑えない鼓動が 運命を進ませるなら


願う前に 戻る前に キミを抱き締めて
彼方へと 跳び立つ changing' your world

この瞳(ひとみ)は鮮やかに舞う キミしか覚(し)らない
加速して初めて 往(ゆ)ける僕は僕の先へ

この翼で 想うよりも 遥かに羽撃(はばた)く 
抑えない鼓動が 運命を進ませるなら


もっと昂(たか)く もっと強く キミに届きたい
踏み込んで覚醒(め)ざめる セカイへ!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

kono hitomi wa azayaka ni mau kimi shika shiranai
fumikonde mezameru sekai e

utsumuki sugite chiisai boku dake no keshiki ga
kumi tateta jiorama no uso da to
awase tsurai shiten ni kitsu iteiru

kakedashite yuku mirai wa utsukushisa wo te ni
sorezore ga toberu basho wo toikaketeku

kono hitomi wa azayaka ni mau kimi shika shiranai
kasoku shite hajimete yukeru boku wa boku no saki e

motto takaku motto tsuyoku kimi ni todokitai
fumikonde mezameru chasin' the world

nando mo nazori tsudukete surikirete shimatta
"akiramete shimae" to iu monji ga
chizukaseta kabe wo kowashita gatteiru

hitamuki ni inoru koe mo yami ni wareru yoru
kanawanai zankoku sa wo hisomasetemo

kono tsubasa de omou yori mo haruka ni habataku
osaenai kodou ga  unmei wo susumaseru nara


negau mae ni modoru mae ni kimi wo dakishimete
kanata e to tobitatsu changing' your world


kono hitomi wa azayaka ni mau kimi shika shiranai
kasoku shite hajimete yukeru boku wa boku no saki e


kono tsubasa de omou yori mo haruka ni habataku
osaenai kodou ga unmei wo susumaseru nara


motto takaku motto tsuyoku kimi ni todokitai
fumikonde mezameru sekai e!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Only you can perceive my eyes dancing vividly
Awaken as you step into a new world


I was always looking down and my vision
was like a diorama, a pack of lies
I know that it is hard for you to see things like that


The future that is running off is trying to grasp beauty
We start to question the places that we can fly to


Only you can perceive my eyes dancing vividly
As I accelerate, for the first time I could see myself heading somewhere


Higher, faster, I want to reach you
Awaken as you take a step in, chasin' the world


I tried tracing it countless times but it always gets cut off
The wall that I built with the words "Give up!"
is asking to be destroyed


The earnest voices of prayer in the night that gets ripped by darkness
Even if I have to hide unspeakable cruelty


These wings will get you further than just thoughts
If this irrepressible pulse can edge destiny on 


Before I wish, before I return, I want to embrace you
Leap into the other side, changing' your world


Only you can perceive my eyes dancing vividly
As I accelerate, for the first time I could see myself heading somewhere

These wings will get you further than just thoughts
If this irrepressible pulse can edge destiny on 

Higher, faster, I want to reach you
Awaken as you step into a new world!







Sunday, 6 May 2012

Haruna Luna - 空は高く風は歌う Sora wa takaku Kaze wa utau

The sky is high, the wind will sing. This is the ending song for Fate/Zero season 2. As with all the Fate/Zero songs so far, the lyrics touches on sadness and a journey to change things.
 With the episode that just aired, we got a glimpse (ok maybe not, it WAS a full episode) of kiritsugu's past. We found out what made him the way he is now and that he was a kind little boy before the incident happened. With that, his whole perspective of the world and the people that lived in it changed. Yet, he still wants to save the world albeit in a more drastic way abandoning the pretty things like "chivalry" and "playing fair".

どうして空はこんなに青くて
何も悲しみを知らぬように
いつも躊躇わず明日へと崩れ落ちる

 いのちは足りないまま生まれて来るのね
痛みが満たすものもあるのね
欠け落ちた心に貴方が触れて

 二人で行く未来は
穢れのない強さで

空は高く風は歌う
夢を見てた
歓びへと
人はいつか辿り着ける
子供の瞳で貴方は信じた
側にいるよ
凍り付いた森を抜けて
その瞳が世界の嘆きに
迷わぬように

どうして届かない光だけが
いつも何よりも眩しい正しさで
叶わない明日へと人を裁く

冷たい背中にそっと触れてみた
世界の優しさを信じない人だから
誰よりも優しかった

生きていたよ未来へ
空に風を残して

夢はどこに眠るのだろう
いつか誰もいなくなった
この岸辺に寄せて返す
光の欠片になれると信じた
闇に還る想いたちが
燃え尽きてく
その灯りを標に
世界はまた夢を見る

空は高く風は歌う
貴方が見た夢の記憶
その叫びが
優しい木霊を
返しているよ
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
doushite sora wa konna ni aokute
nani mo kanashimi wo shiranu you ni
itsumo tamerawazu ashita e to kuzure ochiru

inochi wa tarinai mama umarete kuru no ne
itami ga mitasu mono mo aru no ne
kake ochita kokoro ni anata ga furete

futari de yuku mirai wa
kegare no nai tsuyosa de

sora wa takaku kaze wa utau
yume wo miteta
yorokobi e to
hito wa itsuka tadori tsukeru
kodomo no hitomi de anata wa shinjita
soba ni iru yo
koori tsuita mori wo nukete
sono hitomi ga sekai no nageki ni
mayowanu you ni

doushite todokanai hikari dake ga
itsumo nani yori mo mabushii tadashisa de
kanawanai ashita e to hito wo sabaku

tsumetai senaka ni sotto furete mita
sekai no yasashisa wo shinjinai hito dakara
dare yori mo yasashikatta

ikiteita yo mirai e
sora ni kaze wo nokoshite

yume wa doko ni nemuru no darou
itsuka dare mo inakunatta
kono kishibe ni yosete kaesu
hikari no kakera ni nareru to shinjita
yami ni kaeru omoi tachi ga
moe tsukiteku
sono akari wo shirube ni
sekai wa mata yume wo miru

sora wa takaku kaze wa utau
anata ga mita yume no kioku
sono sakebi ga
yasashii kodama wo
kaeshiteiru yo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why is the sky so blue
as if it knows no sadness
It always crumbles into tomorrow without hesitation

Lives are incomplete when given birth into this world
and there are those who fill it with pain
but you touched my fragmenting heart

The future that the two of us seek
requires pure strength

The sky is high, the wind will sing
We had a dream
towards happiness
Some day people will achieve it
You believed it with child-like eyes
I'm always here for you
Run from the frozen forest
lest those eyes waver
with the sight of the world's lamentation

Why is it always the unreachable light
that is so glaringly righteous
judging people towards an unfulfilled tomorrow

I tried to softly touch your cold back
You were a person who didn't believe in the kindness of this world
and that is why you are kinder than everyone else

We lived our lives for a future
so leave the winds in the heavens

Where does a dream sleep?
when a day comes that everyone is gone
You can return to my shore
You believed that we will become fragments of light
Our thoughts burn themselves out
as they return to darkness
Using this light as a signal
the world dreams again

The sky is high, the wind will sing
The memory of the dream you had
That scream
is coming back
as a gentle echo


Thursday, 3 May 2012

秋赤音 Akiakane - 文学少年の憂鬱 Bungaku shonen no yuuutsu

The song I am translating this time is by Akiakane. Similar to Yanagi Nagi, she is a nico nico douga singer. She is also a talented artist and animator however she has never shown her face to the public. Akiakane is known for her strong vocals and screamo but the song I am sharing this time is a slower one. It is still very intense and emotional though.
This song is from her debut album ぼろぼろな生き様 (boroboro na ikizama) which translates to a worn-out way of life. The title of this song means Melancholy of a literary young man and yes there are 3 "U"s in yuuutsu.

いっその事 どこか遠くへ
一人で行ってしまおうかな
学校も 友達も バイトも
何もかも 全て投げ出して

京王線 始発駅 人の群れ
財布を落とした 女の子が泣いてる
すぐに電車が滑り込んできて
席にあぶれた人は舌打ち
急に全てがどうでも良くなる
僕は冷たい人の仲間入り

誰か名前を呼んで 僕の
突然悲しくなるのは何故
世界を飛び出して 宇宙の彼方
ぐるぐる回る想像で遊ぶのさ
涙が出る前に

ボクの好きな小説家 キミも読みなよ
随分前に 自殺した人だけど
「恥の多い生涯だった」って
「嘘ばかりついて過ごしてた」って
暗い奴だなと笑ったけれど
どうしても頭から離れない

誰か声を聞かせて すぐに
一人きりで電車に揺られて
線路を飛び出して 月の裏側
天まで昇れ そして君がいた
あの日へ逆戻り

「拝啓 ボクハ アナタノヨウニ
イツカドコカデ 死ンデシマウノデショウカ」

恥の多い生涯だったって
嘘ばかりついて過ごしてたって
でも アナタのようにはなれないよ
ボクは文学好きな ただの人

誰か名前を呼んで 僕の
突然悲しくなるのは何故
世界を飛び出して 空の上まで
お願い 何もかもを振り切って
走り抜けて

行け
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

isso no koto dokoka tooku e
hitori de itte shimaou kana
gakkou mo tomodachi mo baito mo
nani mo kamo subete nage dashite

keiou sen shihatsu eki hito no mure
saifu wo otoshita onna no ko ga naiteru
suguni densha ga suberi konde kite
seki ni abureta hito wa shita uchi
kyuu ni subete ga dou demo yoku naru
boku wa tsumetai hito no nakama iri

dare ka namae wo yonde boku no
totsuzen kanashikunaru no wa naze
sekai wo tobidashite uchuu no kanata
guruguru mawaru souzou de asobu no sa
namida ga deru mae ni

boku no suki na shosetsuka  kimi mo yomi na yo
zuibun mae ni jisatsu shita hito dakedo
[haji no ooi shougai datta] tte
[uso bakari tsuite sugoshiteta] tte
kurai yatsu da na to waratta keredo
doushitemo atama kara hanarenai

dare ka koe wo kikasete sugu ni
hitori kiri de densha ni yurarete
senro wo tobidashite tsuki no uragawa
ten made nobore soshite kimi ga ita
ano hi e gyaku modori

[haikei boku wa anata no you ni
itsuka dokode shindeshimau no desho ka]

haji no ooi shougai datta tte
uso bakari tsuite sugoshiteta tte
demo anata no you ni wa narenai yo
boku wa bungaku zuki na tada no hito

dare ka namae wo yonde boku no
totsuzen kanashikunaru no wa naze
sekai wo tobidashite sora no ue made
onegai nanimo kamo wo furikitte
hashirinukete

yuke
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rather, should I just go somewhere faraway
alone
School, friends, job
throw everything out

A huge crowd of people waiting at the first station of the Keiou line
A little girl was crying because she lost her wallet
The train immediately slides into place at the station
The person who got a little burnt by his seat clicked his tongue
Suddenly I didn't care about my surroundings
and with this I joined the ranks of cold people

Somebody please call my name
Why is this sudden sadness coming over me?
Take off from this world and fly to the other end of the universe
I'll just play in my spinning imagination
before the tears come out

My favorite novelist, you should read his works
He committed suicide a while ago though
"I lived a life full of shame"
"I lied through my life" he said
I laughed at him for being so dark
but I couldn't get him out of my head

Somebody please let me hear your voice right now
I am all alone, being shaken by this train carriage
Take off from the rails to the dark side of the moon
Rise up to the skies and you were there
Everything rewinds back to that day

"Will I die somewhere sometime just like you did?" (This was written in letter form)
(Also, it was written in katakana to show a void of emotions)

To say "I lived a life full of shame"
and that "I lied through my life"
I cannot be like you
because I am just an ordinary literature-loving human

Somebody please call my name
Why is this sudden sadness coming over me?
Take off from this world and fly above the heavens
Please, shrug everything off
and keep on running

Go




Wednesday, 2 May 2012

ViViD - REAL

This is the opening song for Gundam Age, the third generation. Gundam Age is an anime that runs through three generations of main characters. They are namely Flit Asuno, Asemu Asuno and Kio Asuno. Grandfather, father and son respectively. My World by SPYAIR was the ending song during Asemu's generation.
Age-1 was about sacrifices and war, death and revenge.
Age-2 was about growing up under great expectations and realizing that no one can be yourself but yourself.
I am looking forward to what Age-3 will bring.
Moving on to the song. ViViD is a visual-kei band under PS Company and they are The GazettE's juniors. ViViD has provided theme songs to anime such as Level E and Bleach. However, I feel that they have toned down their sound for REAL, similar to what The GazettE did for Shiver(opening theme to Black Butler 2) It is not as heavy as their other tracks but its still a pretty good song.
 I dislike how there are a lot of closeups on the members' faces in their promotional videos but I think fan-girls will disagree. Nevertheless, they still make good music and I like the vocalist's voice. REAL is a song about motivation to fight. Something that is very needed if you send a kid to war in a Gundam. Well, Kio's story isn't well-established yet since only 1 episode of Age-3 has been aired. However, just like his dad and grandad he possesses qualities of a hero. Courage and selflessness.

届かせて この胸に
かさかに残る君の声を
夢じゃない現実で
さまよい続けてた

立ち止まるのも前に進むことも
後退りな気がしてた
閉じ込められた四角い宇宙(そら)の下
息を潜めてた

冷たい頬を伝わる 過去の弱さぬぐって
光差す場所へ この手を伸ばすよ

届かせて この胸に
かさかに残る君の声を
夢じゃない現実で
探し続けてる

迷いながらも 先に進むことが
少しの「強さ」をくれた
夕焼け色に 気づいた空の下
息を切らしてるよ

近くにいたのに分からずに
遠く離れたら分かること
いつでも あなたは笑ってた
いつでも 隣でいてくれた

近くにいたのに分からずに
遠く離れたら分かること
どれだけ あなたが大切か
どれだけ かけがえないものか

忘れていた鼓動を もう一度確かめた
歩きだせるのは あの日があるから

届かせる その胸に
たしかな想い 僕の声を
終わらない現実で
叫び続けていく

届かせて この胸に
かさかに残る君の声を
夢じゃない現実で
探し続けてる

届かせる その胸に
たしかな想い 僕の声を
終わらない現実で
叫び続けていく
未来(あした)を信じて

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

todokasete kono mune ni
kasukani nokoru kimi no koe wo
yume jyanai genjitsu de
samayoi tsuduketeta

tachidomaru no mo mae ni susumu koto mo
atozusari na ki ga shiteta
toji kome rareta shikakui sora no shita
iki wo hisometeta

tsumetai hoho wo tsutawaru kako no yowasa nugutte
hikari sasu basho e kono te wo nobasu yo

todokasete kono mune ni
kasukani nokoru kimi no koe wo
yume jyanai genjitsu de
sagashi tsuduketeru

mayoi nagara mo saki ni susumu koto ga
sukoshi no [tsuyosa] wo kureta
yuuyake iro ni kiduita sora no shita
iki wo kirashiteru yo

chikaku ni ita no ni wakarazu ni
tooku hanaretara wakaru koto
itsudemo anata wa waratteta
itsudemo tonari ni ite kureta


chikaku ni ita no ni wakarazu ni
tooku hanaretara wakaru koto
dore dake anata ga taisetsu ka
dore dake kakegaenai mono ka

wasureteita kodou wo mou ichido tashikameta
aruki daseru no wa ano hi ga aru kara

todokaseru sono mune ni
tashikana omoi boku no koe wo
owaranai genjitsu de
sakebi tsuduketeiku

todokasete kono mune ni
kasukani nokoru kimi no koe wo
yume jyanai genjitsu de
sagashi tsuduketeru

todokaseru sono mune ni
tashikana omoi boku no koe wo
owaranai genjitsu de
sakebi tsuduketeiku
ashita wo shinjite
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let your weak lingering voice
reach me
This isn't a dream
I continue wandering in reality

Whether to stop or move forward
I feel like I'm retreating
Locked in under this square space(sky)
I held my breath

My cold cheeks tell me to wipe away my past weakness
and stretch my hand out to where the light shines

Let your weak lingering voice
reach me
This isn't a dream
I continue searching in reality

Moving ahead in confusion
gave me a little strength
Under the sunset-colored sky
I cut my breathing

There are some things that you will only understand
after taking a step back
You were always laughing
You were always beside me

There are some things that you will only understand
after taking a step back
How important you are to me
How irreplaceable you are to me

I reaffirmed the pulsation that I forgot
I can move on again because of that day

Let my thoughts and voice reach you
while screaming
in this never-ending reality

Let your weak lingering voice
reach me
This isn't a dream
I continue searching in reality

Let my thoughts and voice reach you
while screaming
in this never-ending reality
Believe in the future(tomorrow)

ChouCho - 優しさの理由 Yasashisa no riyuu

The reason for kindness, yasashisa no riyuu. The opening song for Hyouka.
I must say, I love the animation for Hyouka. The sweet explanation graphs when Oreki the main character is solving mysteries, the transitions in the opening song. Everything just flows so smoothly. Even though the anime is set in school, the dialogues are so interesting and really set me thinking. Oreki being a "low-energy human" who doesn't like being overly-enthusiastic and his motto of not doing unnecessary things and if it's necessary, to do it as fast as he can. Things like that really make this anime interesting. However, this makes the anime hard to sub. As I was watching it, many a time I didn't know what the characters were saying without relying on the subs. Also, there were some controversy over which sub group's subs were more accurate.
On to the song (finally). This is the first time I am listening to a song by Choucho. The composition isn't mind-blowing but its really easy to listen to. Pretty upbeat track and smooth vocals. I found the lyrics to be descriptive and imaginative, just like the accompanying animation. It is probably a song describing the feelings of Chitanda (heroine) towards Oreki. Although I do wish that there is more to her than just being in love with Oreki.

退屈な窓辺に吹き込む風に
顔をしかめたのは 照れくささの裏返し

曖昧にうなずく手のひらの今日
描いてる自分は少し大げさで
何か変わりそうな気がしているよ
心に呼びかける君のせいだね

曇り空 のぞいた予感
手をのばそう いつよりも力強い勇気で

光も影もまだ遠くて それでも僕らは
優しさの理由が知りたい
今は誰の名前でもない 輝きの彼方へ
全部過去になる前に 見つけに行こう

この世界はまるで頼りないねと
うそぶく僕の目をからかうように
君が見てる空は何色だろう?
きっと青く高く清らかなはず

すれ違い 近づきながら
いつの日か 戸惑いも受け止めていけたら

言葉のままじゃもどかしくて だから何度でも
不器用に重ねてしまうね
喜びも悲しみもここで 意味が生まれること
二人気づきはじめてる その理由も

言葉のままじゃもどかしくて
何度でも 不器用に重ねてしまうよ
声にならない切なさごと
この思い、君に届け

光も影もまだ遠くて それでも僕らは
優しさの理由が知りたい
今は誰の名前でもない 輝きの彼方へ
全部過去になる前に 見つけに行こう

君が過去になる前に 見つけるから
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

taikutsu na madobe ni fukikomu kaze ni
kao wo shikameta no wa terekusasa no uragaeshi

aimai ni unazuku te no hira no kyou
egaiteru jibun wa sukoshi oogesa de
nani ka kawarisou na ki ga shiteiru yo
kokoro ni yobikakeru kimi no sei dane

kumori zora nozoita yokan
te wo nobasou itsu yori mo chikara zuyoi yuuki de
hikari mo kage mo mada tookute sore demo bokura wa
yasashisa no riyuu ga shiritai
ima wa dare no namae demo nai kagayaki no kanata e
zenbu kako ni naru mae ni mitsuke ni yukou

kono sekai wa marude toyorinai ne to
usobuku boku no me wo karakau youni
kimi ga miteru sora wa naniiro darou?
kitto aokute takakute kiyoraka na hazu

sure chigai chikazuki nagara
itsu no hi ka tomadoi mo uketomete iketara

kotoba no mama jya modokashikute dakara nando demo
bukiyou ni kasanete shimau ne
yorokobi mo kanashimi mo koko de imi ga umareru koto
futari kizuki hajimeteru sono riyuu mo

kotoba no mama jya modokashikute
nando demo bukiyou ni kasanete shimau yo
koe ni naranai setsunasa goto
kono omoi, kimi ni todoke

hikari mo kage mo mada tookute sore demo bokura wa
yasashisa no riyuu ga shiritai
ima wa dare no namae demo nai kagayaki no kanata e
zenbu kako ni naru mae ni mitsuke ni yukou

kimi ga kako ni naru mae ni mitsukeru kara
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I was by the window out of boredom
I scowled at the wind to hide my embarrassment

Nodding vaguely, "today" is in the palm of my hand
I envisioned myself to be more grandiose than usual
I feel like something is about to change
it must be because you were tugging at my heartstrings

I had a premonition to look up at the cloudy sky
Let's stretch out our hands with reassuring courage

Light and shadow are still faraway but
We still want to know the reason for kindness
It's still not anyone's name yet but on the other side of the radiance
Before everything becomes the past, let's find it

This world seems unreliable
As if to tease my exaggerated eyes
What color is the sky you see?
It must be high up, blue and pure

Passing each other, coming closer
Someday, when I am able to accept the feeling of being lost

It is tantalizing for it to just stay as words
That is why I won't mind piling up my awkwardness
Happiness and sadness will be given new meaning here
and we will start to realize the reason

It is tantalizing for it to just stay as words
That is why I won't mind piling up my awkwardness
My unheard pain
Please let my feelings reach you

Light and shadow are still faraway but
We still want to know the reason for kindness
It's still not anyone's name yet but on the other side of the radiance
Before everything becomes the past, let's find it

Before you become the past, I will find it