More songs should have string accompaniment. Or at least real instruments more often. That would, like, totally be awesome. It was that type of thing that made Maaya Sakamoto songs so great (when she was still with Kanno, anyway).

You know, I'm a firm believer that although most of what we hear on the radio today, or what most of the western and westernizing world consider "popular" music is full of synthesizers and effects and electric guitars and other such whatnots, I still think there's a part in everyone that longs for the simple orchestral instruments the world has known for centuries. And I think that whenever an artist decides to incorporate even perhaps simply a piano or lone violin into their song (and does it well), it has the potential to become incredibly successful. I mean at least, that's my reasoning for why that song by Vanessa Carlton a few years back was so popular..

But anyway, that was a tangent. Ignore it.

What the hell was I going to talk about? Oh yes.
Well, it feels like it's been forever since I first started to religiously mark off the days on my calendar until I could get my hands on some Aria music, but at last I can finally listen to Undine, the opening song of this show, in its full length and to my leisure.

This is the first song from Makino Yui I've heard, I think, and though I of course think her voice is lovely and a wonderful choice, I believe the real star of the show here is the arrangement by Miss Mina Kubota. ..Which is a name I've never heard before. And it makes me VERY curious...
Anyhow, I offer people who like either of the songs on the single the songs to give the karaoke versions a chance as well. Yeah, I know, I usually ignore it too.

Unless I want to sing karaoke...

...but, y'know, it's not like ...I really do that..

*ahem*

The lyrics to Undine are beautiful, as well. Here, have them. Maybe a tanslation later.

EDIT: added the translation (the hell took me so long to do that), also fixed some points in the lyrics. Also, I'm starting to like the c/w song Symphony more and more each time I hear it. ..though the karaoke version sounds like something you hear after award shows...

Undine (Japanese Version) 頬をなでる　優しい風 波音に　揺られて 体の中　ほどけてゆくよ 目を閉じて　見えてくる 風の行く道が さあ　漕ぎ出そう　光る波へ 笑顔が　すぐ　こぼれる ねえ　伝えよう　このときめき 風にのって　あなたのもとへ 行くわ　ウンディーネ 風が凪いで　振り返れば 夕映えに　照らされ 心までも　染まってゆくよ 見上げれば　響きだす 星たちの歌が さあ　漕ぎ出そう　遥か未来(あす)へ 水面に　夢　広がる ねえ　見つけよう　まだ知らない 宝物を　あなたと一緒に 探そう　ウンディーネ 澄み渡る空へと　鳥が羽ばたくよ いつも見慣れてた　景色なのに こんなに愛しく　思えるなんて…

Undine (Romaji Version) hoho wo naderu yasashii kaze namioto ni yurarete karada no naka hodoketeyuku yo me wo tojite mietekuru kaze no yukumichi ga saa, kogidasou hikaru nami e egao ga sugu koboreru nee tsutaeyou kono tokimeki kaze ni notte anata no moto e yuku wa UNDINE kaze ga naide furikaereba yubae ni terasare kokoro made mo somatteyuku yo miagereba hibikidasu hoshi-tachi no uta ga saa, kogidasou haruka asu e minamo ni yume hirogaru nee, mitsukeyou mada shiranai takaramono wo anata to issho ni sagasou UNDINE sumi wataru sora e to tori ga habataku yo itsumo minareteta keshiki na no ni konna ni itoshiku omoeru nante...

Undine
(English version)

while shaking with the sound of the waves,
the gentle breeze that grazes my cheek
comes apart within me

I close my eyes and I see
the path the wind is blowing

so let's row towards the shimmering waves
with an overflowing smile
and I will tell you all about the way my chest throbbed
while riding the wind, and will return to you
as an Undine

As the wind begins to die down, I look back and
see that the setting sun has reached
even my heart and dyed it its color

I look up and begin to hear the stars'
echoing melody

and so let's row to that far-off tomorrow
where our dreams spread over the water's suface
and let's find that still unknown treasure
that you and I are searching for
together as Undines

and the birds fly towards the clear sky
and I realize how this always familiar scenery
has become so precious to me...

Labels: ARIA, Music

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