#meramipop

Fumo Nue Houjuu Music of the Day 44:

Draw the Emotional - Vanished Truth

Collapse of the sky (2010) · Metalcore

Arrangement: Heian Alien

05. 星空ロマネスク (Starry Sky Romanesque) (04:32)

Artist: サリー (Sally)

Arrangement: シュリンプ (Shrimp)

Lyrics: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: レス (Less)

Original: Ame-no-torifune Shrine (Track 5)

Source: 鳥船遺跡 ~ Trojan Green Asteroid

The boundary between Cover and Arrange is a strange one, but now it’s time for me to talk about probably my most hated thing in the fandom: Bad Apple Covers.

Bad Apple is the theme of Lotus Land Story’s third stage, and it’s not a bad theme. However, if you’re reading this and you know Touhou, when I say “Bad Apple”, one very specific arrange, and one specific video should come to mind.

Now, talking about that video, and not the one above, Nomico’s vocals are decent, the video is well made, and Alstroemeria Records is still one of my favorite circles. Yet... That one video has made me hate the song so, so much.

It started a trend, and people copy that video, remix that arrange, or even just do a metal cover of it as seen here. Is this technically a Bad Apple arrange? Yes. However, it takes very little artistic freedom, and much like many other Bad Apple copypastas, takes the lyrics DIRECTLY FROM that one video that millions of people seem to love.

We’ve heard it. It has been done before. Over and over again. The only thing saving this arrange other than the unique take on instrumentals is that Merami is on vocals. 

I hold nothing against Draw the Emotional for this. It’s just... I’m listening to the same thing for the billionth time, just now with Merami vocals. And this is one hell of a complaint coming from someone that has four hours of Desire Drive arranges stashed away! 

Half the point of Touhou arranges is that all takes on a theme share something in common. But at this point, it’s too much. There’s no artistry in it any more, especially not when you copy/paste Haruka’s fucking lyrics, and may I say again HARUKA’S FUCKING LYRICS, over a different take on a specific version of a theme. 

I have more thoughts on this, but you can consider this Part 1 of the Bad Apple Rant. 

I fucking hate this theme now. As I have since like 2012-2013.

02. ヒカリ (Light) (06:52)

Artist: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)

Arrangement: RD-Sounds

Lyrics: RD-Sounds

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: 綴 (Compilation)

Original: The Grimoire of Alice (Extra Stage Boss Theme: Alice Margatroid)

Source: 東方怪綺談 ~ Mystic Square

03. A-Yah-YAh-YaH-YAH! (07:22)

Artist: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)

Arrangement: RD-Sounds

Lyrics: RD-Sounds

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: 綴 (Compilation)

Original: Wind God Girl (Photo Theme 5)

Source: 東方文花帖 ~ Shoot the Bullet

08. 月光照らすはシリアルキラー (The Moonlight Illuminates a Serial Killer) (05:49)

Artist: 凋叶棕 (diao ye zong)

Arrangement: RD-Sounds

Lyrics: RD-Sounds

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: 宴 (Feast)

Original: Lunar Clock ~ Luna Dial (Stage 5 Boss Theme: Sakuya Izayoi)

Source: 東方紅魔郷 ~ Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

02. どうして… (Why...) (06:13)

Artist: 凋叶棕 (diao ye zong)

Arrangement: RD-Sounds

Lyrics: RD-Sounds

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: 宴 (Feast)

Original: Maiden’s Capriccio ~ Dream Battle (Stage 4 Boss Theme: Reimu Hakurei), Eternal Shrine Maiden (Levels 1-4, Jigoku Levels 16-19 Theme), Spring Lane ~ Colorful Path (Vs. Reimu Hakurei)

Source: 東方永夜抄 ~ Imperishable Night, 東方靈異伝 ~ Highly Responsive to Prayers, 東方花映塚 ~ Phantasmagoria of Flower View

02. Vanished truth (03:20)

Artist: Draw the Emotional

Arrangement: ゆよゆっぺ (yuyoyuppe)

Lyrics: 締め切り前日のおまいら

Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)

Album: Collapse of the Sky

Original: Heian Alien (Extra Stage Boss Theme: Nue Houjuu)

Source: 東方星蓮船 ~ Undefined Fantastic Object