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Da-iCE ARTICLE: [mu-mo Station] Da-iCE “Kumo o nuketa aozora” Release Special Feature [1/6] - “Even common words can be unique if combined accordingly” (11/19/18) | CGM

With implied and literal translation. PM me for mistakes/errors. Please put proper credits if you use.

Da-iCE “Kumo o nuketa aozora” Release Special Feature [1/6] - “Even common words can be unique if combined accordingly ”

Da-iCE “Kumo o nuketa aozora” Interview [pt.1]

Suitable to adorn the last of Da-iCE’s 5th anniversary, the warm mid-ballad “Kumo o nuketa aozora” will be released on November 21, 2018 (Wednesday). We thoroughly covered this work that was originally created under strong aspiration, “With our own words, we want to send a message to everyone who listens”! This is an interesting 6-part short series, in total.

--- The present piece “Kumo o nuketa aozora” is created under what theme?

Sota: When it was time to release the single, we discussed with everyone and we arrived at a certain concept. We wanted to release such songs that can be played in weddings.  And so, we did this song.

--- The lyrics of the single title track were written for the first time by the 3 members, Sota-kun, Taiki-kun, and Yudai-kun, right?

Sota: It was decided already that the song would be completed through the lyrics I’ve written, but on the way, they [the staff] said that I needed it to brush it up. And since I have no much time left when it was decided, I thought that I won’t be able to do it alone, and so I asked for Taiki-kun’s help. Taiki-kun brushed up the lyrics I gave him, and then, Yudai-kun entered. Together as three, we rewrote the lyrics from the top. The theme of the wedding song that I thought was “Blue sky through [behind] the clouds”. I decided it to be the title, itself, and started writing from there. When I first heard the song [the melody], I already thought that it was a ballad with a very positive bright tone, and so I thought, as much as possible, I wanted to make the lyrics positive as well.

--- What parts have changed when Taiki-san and Yudai-san joined?

Sota: I talked to them first [and foremost] that I didn’t want to change the concept of the verse 3, but when Yudai-kun explained his point of changing the verse 3, I took it and advanced from there since. Actually, the lyrics have changed, but I think it’s good because we were able to change it to a more meaningful one. I should not stop from thinking about the parts I don’t want to change, right? Although I already thought that “there’s no better idea that will come up this time”, as we went on to our discussion, better lyrics were coming up, and that led me to the conclusion that my fixed concept wasn’t that meaningful enough. There, I felt that it was better to keep on addressing the problem if there was any.

--- By the way, what are those words in verse 3 [line 3 of verse 3]?

Sota: The line is now “Shadowed heart, illuminating light” [light illuminating the shadowed heart] [Kageru kokoro, terasuhikari] but it was “Shadowed heart, a person that is close” [a close person with a shadowed heart] [Kageru kokoro, yorisou hito] before. But a “shadowed heart” has a little negative [minus] image. Also, it was a little bit hard to understand who it was singing to. The “person that is close” can be yourself or your opponent or another person. And so, we thought that if we turn those words to a more positive ones such as “illuminating light”, which can be applied to anything in the song, the negative image could be lessened. Also, it could be heard more as “positive”.

--- What are the others’ thoughts about this song?

Yudai: This time, I got the chance to see the lyrics made by different writers who joined in the competition. It was very interesting. There were many phrases such as “Woken Up”, “Morning” and “Curtain”. On melody A, there was this line “Your sleepy talks [usually nonsense] after waking up” [Megasametara, kimi no negoto]. Right there, it had a solid direction already. I think the reason why such words came out, it was because the perspective of the song’s melody and interpreter’s had aligned in agreement. Just like how it went to Sota, I also got inspired by the words “curtain” and “morning”, and so I think that part is strong.  There, the choreography also linked [matched], and so this phrase, I think, is also the most dramatic part of this song…

Taiki: For me, the theme that Sota had brought up at the beginning was very interesting. “Blue sky” and “clouds” are overly used words, but “Blue sky through [behind] the clouds” as a group – I think no one has ever used it yet. They are common words, yes, but they could also become unique if you would combine them accordingly.

Hayate: As soon as I heard the song, I imagined people crying with a smile on their faces as we perform it LIVE. Tears of happiness that is. Also I think, I would also cry while dancing to it. I like the intro very much.

Toru: Personally, when I first heard the melody, I felt great sadness and sorrow, but when the lyrics came in, the song became mild. It turned out to be gentle and bright. Even the choreography, itself, has deep and intense moves, making someone move to tears even by only watching the dance. I think it has become a dance, showing all the strengths of marriage and resolving the problem as a man determinedly.

--- So, what are your inner thoughts about having the last single installment for your 5th anniversary then?

Sota: When we were deciding about the theme, because it’s the last single for our 5th anniversary, the idea of releasing a Da-iCE “warm ballad that’s not heartbreaking”, which was frequently requested by fans, came out. Also, recently, I haven’t been singing Da-iCE’s so-called “heartbreaking ballads” and so, that kind of proposal came out. Moreover, since it seems like there had been no song with a title “Blue sky through [behind] the clouds” yet, I thought that it would be nice to write it. And since it’s the last of our 5th anniversary, we wanted to have a bright ending. Instinctively, I was like “go work on the 5th anniversary [single], since it’s indeed your 5th anniversary.” With that in mind, I wrote the lyrics.

--- The second song “Refrain” is a different ballad piece as compared to the title song, what was your thoughts when you first listened to it?

Yudai: I thought that it was really a good song. A sad and painful song it is, although I thought as well that it’s like those Da-iCE songs in the past with dramatic feelings on critical moments (laughs).

Sota: This song is actually a song that we recorded 4 years ago. It was from the same writer of the song “REASON”. Although the release date of it was not yet decided before, we ended up recording it until the summer of 2014, then left it there, thinking that we would release it someday. That’s why, in there, you would recognize some vibes from 4 years ago and so…

--- Haven’t your voice changed after all those years? Was there a particular problem came out from that?

Yudai: Well, I think the basics, such as the habit and the way of singing, haven’t changed. Although I think also that there’s still a subtle difference [nuance], which is a bit younger compared to now. The voice itself…

Sota: …sounds smoother now.

Yudai: Yes, I have the same opinion as that. But, of course, I can’t deny myself in the past. Now, if I listen to it, sometimes there are points I want to do now instead, as to what I did when I was singing it before. But, the works in those days are the works in those days. It’s just that, the right timing came for that song [Refrain] to be released this time.

--- Also included in this work is an acoustic version of “Kono kyoku no sei” that was released on 2015. Can you tell us why and how did you rearrange this piece?

Sota: Right from the start of this year, we’ve been attempting to sing our past songs in acoustic version or even in bossa version. This time, we chose “Kono kyoku no sei” which seems so popular to our fans. We decided to rearrange it because it’s a song that is being enjoyed LIVE [by everyone] mostly.

--- This acoustic version is sung by 5 members. What was it like singing altogether?

Sota: I really like singing together. It’s something new. Before, there was no instance where all members were singing and dancing together until this, and so, I like to try such things as well. Also, I like to hear the performers’ voices on the surface [upper]. Singing, together as five, a danceable song in full power is exciting, and I think that would give a wow effect or something.

--- We’ve been told that the two of you want to sing.

Hayate: If given the opportunity… (laughs). I always think… looking at the 2 vocals, I think it’s hard to sing while dancing, I don’t feel like I can do it (laughs).

Toru: “Kono kyoku no sei” was very fun to record. ‘Will sing if there’s a demand for it (laughs). Since it’s something for those who listen up to the last [song], yes, I want to respond if there’s a demand for it (laughs).

--- So… Speaking of your 5th anniversary, can you tell us what was your turning point, looking back over the past five years?

Sota: At the time of our major debut, I think the catchphrase “Face value 75” was a turning point (laughs). It seemed nice walking around and be called as that. I don’t want to deny that I felt like it, but I was very surprised at that time. At the time of our indies, as much as possible, we didn’t release our visuals, and we didn’t make anything like putting our faces and photos on jackets and other goods. We wanted the people to see us for real. We wanted to be known through our music and dance and not only through our appearance. But, when our major debut came, surprised by the change, I didn’t feel like showing my face. I was very surprised myself. I’m not sure if that was considered as a turning point but for me it was a turning point.

Yudai: At that time, I felt like I really don’t want to go outside. I hid my face and just started walking (laughs).

Hayate: That was surprising thing indeed. I didn’t expect that we would be selling so (laughs).

Sota: Yes, yes, when they show us the media materials before our debut, there was the phrase “Face value 75” written in small letters. When we asked, “What is this for?” They told us, “That’s okay. This won’t be visible anyway [will not take great attention].” But, on the day of our debut, when I looked through my cellphone in the dressing room, on the net news, there was an article written “Face value 75 Da-iCE debuts!” It was published something like that (laughs). It was also given as a cue on TV. Since, there were so many things, whether good or bad, that could be said to a group with “Face value 75”, it became our punchline. I observed around and concluded, that punchline was good.

Yudai: But, for us concerned [the one being called as “Face value 75”] … (laughs).

Sota: For us concerned, I guess we’ve been quite overly valued after all… I laughed though when we entered as “a group to compare with” (laughs).

Hayate: And so, at that time, I was always speechless whenever they say, “A group with a label of ‘Face value 75’…” (laughs).

Yudai: Other than that, there was also “All about romance, extreme masochist, tearjerker, heartbreaking song”.

All: (laughs out loud)

Sota: That’s “Mou ichido dake”, right?

Yudai: It’s a very good ballad.

Sota: When I was looking through the net news on the date of the release, the words “tearjerker heartbreaking song” came out. Actually, it was a catchphrase we didn’t expect to have. We didn’t imagine that phrase to be applied to that song. It was quite a nice ballad. It was truly surprising for us.

Hayate: The title was also different originally.

Sota: The title was really “to the last man”, but in order to sell and make the song more touching, we settled on making the title “Mou ichido dake [Just once more]”.

Taiki: It was time to put a lever on it.

--- Do you have any other comments?

Taiki: Anything else? I think that’s the best I have now (laughs).

--- That’s it? (laughs) Well then, can you tell us the things you want to do in the future?

Yudai: Because there had been no energetic songs for a while, I’d like to do a danceable song. Since there are lots of ballad songs in production now, which we have in stock, I want to go energetically all in even more.

Sota: Like “EVERYBODY”, “PARADIVE”, and “HUSH HUSH”, I think that is good since there are no recent loud songs that the audience can enjoy just by listening to it.

Taiki: Crazy songs you mean (laughs).

--- Da-iCE is currently on tour. Can you tell us what enthusiasm you have for the rest of your performances?

Yudai: We are already halfway through it. It’s happening so fast. There are basically other live shows during the tour. They even let us perform in school festivals this year. Since we are recording new songs, the time to delve into the music is long, I think. The delivery of the tour is also fulfilling. I am doing it while having fun. I want to run through from here at once.

Sota: Speaking of the tour, because we are trying new things this time, while adjusting to the “1 performance after the other” [back-to-back performances], I think the quality we are delivering is steadily improving every time we perform. And so, I am hoping for those who have seen the performance once to come again. We would be happy if you would go and see our improvement in a short period of time.

From: https://station.mu-mo.net/articles/AGkHp

Ayumi Hamasaki Tour Goods Release Date and Campaign

After teasing previews last week, Ayu’s official site has finally announced the release date for the new goods. The tour goods will be available for order online Friday 19:00 (JST). They will eventually live here; overseas fans can purchase from here with a third-part Tenso.com account. Ayu confirmed that these goods are only pertain to the first part of the tour, indicating we will get at least two more waves of goods as the tour progresses.

Those who purchase the new tour goods online or at venues will qualify for a free rubber coaster while supplies last (pictured top). Those ordering online will specifically qualify for the green (top right). If you are ordering online, you must have a mu-mo account and be logged in when you make your purchase.

KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2017 ~W FACE~ [Goodies]

Da-iCE GALLERY: [mu-mo Station] Da-iCE “Tonikaku HEY” Special Feature [pt.3] (6/14/17)