Sunday, August 1st - 3:12 am
Update
- takaj
CD Review: Shin
Kaguya Shima Densetsu - Part 2
Missed Part 1? Read
now!
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Why? Because
it's my article and she's hot, dammit. |
5000nen Kaguya Shima (Dark Plasman Iri Version)
Dark Plasman and Dark Menorah
This is my favorite of the Dark Plasman songs. His added part is so insanely
creepy. The delivery of the final two words wins me over. You have to listen
to this song - I can't describe the chill that runs over you when you hear
it with headphones on.
This song is about the legend of Kaguya Island. Not the legend of Princess
Kaguya, the legend of this Island.
But, Menorah still bugs me.
Okaasan te Nan Darou (2004 Summer Version)
Mikku, Fukku, ChibiUsa, and Mamoru
I am so glad they got rid of the beginning of this song. Originally, this
had a refrain from "Chibiusa no Hanran". Which is fine in and of itself -
however, no one but
Ayano "Chibi-Haruka"
Gunji can pull that song off.
This song is about what exactly a mother is. The kittens don't remember
their mother any more, but they are always waiting for her. Judging by the
change in the lyrics, ChibiUsa apparently doesn't get in a fight with her
mother and run away to the past in this one.
Yuu is listed as "Mamoru" for this track. Originally, his part was sung by
Endymion, and, to me, it sounds like he is trying to make his voice
distinctively different and older.
Hitosuji no Hikari no Kokoro ~ Yabou no Kao (2004 Summer Version)
Kon and Dark Plasman
Oh no! Hotaru's been possessed again!
In the Kaguya musicals, Hotaru is possessed by an kimono-wearing entity
named Kon - essentially the antithesis of Dark Plasman- that inhabits the
island. Futanashi Eriko (Hotaru / Kon) does a very good job singing. She
sounds disturbingly like the original Kon, Mita Mao.
Star Glory (2004 Summer Version)
Dark Plasman, Dark Menorah, and Dark Mirror
The original was better, but this one does have it's high points. Another
big bad we-are-evil song, this time with a bit more insight into Dark
Plasman. The best part of this song is Plasman's delivery of his solo part.
Alternating between spoken and sung lines, Yuji conveys an incredible amount
of emotion in his delivery.
Hyouchaku Shita Keredo (2004 Summer Version)
Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, ChibiUsa, and Usagi
This song is basically about how they've washed up on shore, have no food
and no way of getting home. It features a solo from each of the performers.
Manami does a wonderful job. She pulls an Ayako Morino (original Ami) and
holds the power of her voice back for the sake of the character. The next
performer to sing is Moe Oosaki (ChibiUsa), who takes over part of the
original Minako solo. She does a very good job - her voice has improved a
lot since the Kakyuu musical. Then we have our new Minako, Erika. She has a
lower voice, like the previous Minako, Momoko Shibuya. I like the tone of
her voice a lot, but I can tell she's largely untrained. And then, Risa.
Risa Honma (Rei) kicks ass in this song. She controls the volume of her
voice to match the emotion of the words. She belts in all the right places.
Sooo good. Love our former CereCere. Mai Watanabe (Makoto) finishes out the
slow part of the song. She doesn't have a very good voice. She never has.
But, she has the attitude and the acting ability to pull it off. She gets a
bit better every CD, and this one is no exception.
The second part of the song is Usagi acting like an idiot and bringing food.
Marina has way too much fun singing this. It's hilarious and great, but I'm
sorry - Fumina Hara (former Usagi) is better at it. She can sing and say
tongue twisters like no one else.
And Believe In All
Tuxedo Kamen
Your standard Tux Boy song. All I will say about it is this: When I was
listening to this song, I couldn't help but dance, and ended up knocking a
headphone out of my ear. It's that good. Good job, Kutcher-Tux.
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I call this the
stolen Uranus pose bitch-slap. |
Ice Doll
Loof Merrow, Selkie, Cairn, Serpen, and Kraken
A slow song that I believe replaces "Just Love Wasurerarenai". It covers the
pirate clan rethinking what they've been doing this entire time. A
beautiful, slow song featuring a solo from each of the clan members. My
first thought is that they are referring to Loof Merrow when they sing of
"Ice Doll", but I'll have to see the myu to be sure.
ChibiUsa no Umi
ChibiUsa
A sad ChibiUsa song. Moe does a wonderful job on this, showing lots of
emotion as she sings about the bedtime story her mother used to tell her. I
believe this to take place while ChibiUsa is captured by the Coatl.
Regardless, it's wonderful to hear ChibiUsa finally get some depth to her
character.
Oh, and the background music sounds like a Haruka Tenou / Michiru Kaiou
joint concert.
Pinky Typhoon (2004 Summer Version)
ChibiMoon
Moe's weakest song on the entire CD. Like my friend Nepy said, she sounds
like a dog barking at times. The weird thing is that...it's only
ChibiMoon. She has no senshi backup singers like normal. This was originally
a full-cast battle song, but now... I'm wondering if she's going to show up
and save the day. My girlfriend thinks that it's ChibiMoon's song as she
breaks free of the Coatl. Either way, I hope it's cut in the Kaiteiban.
Yatto Aeta ne (2004 Summer Version)
Dark Menorah, Mikku, and Fukku
Menorah and the kittens are finally reunited. A sad, sweet song. I still
don't like Menorah's voice very much, so I don't like this version very
much. However...
Haha no Ketsumyaku
Dark Menorah
...this one I like. You can tell this song was written for Mai Shibada. I
don't want to spoil any plot points, but let's just say she's pissed. A
powerful, emotional song in the same style as Ice Doll and
Chibiusa no Umi.
Take note of the romaji of the song title. They used a different reading of
the kanji than I originally reported.
Gesshoku no Crime
Dark Plasman
This...appears to be...a villain singing the big fight song! Another myu
first.
Plasman does a wonderful job on this song. You can tell this song was
written for him. His emotion in the word "crime" is overpowering. It's a
very Broadway song. He really reminds me of Jean Valjean at the end of this
song, though. "2460-1!!!!!"
Junketsu no Narcism
Oh. My. God. I love, love, love this song. A combination of traditional
Asian, J-Pop, and the island feel of Toraware no Arutuka, this song
is gorgeous. Gorgeous. The only song I can compare it to is Maaya Sakamoto's
"Kiseki no Umi".
Marina sounds wonderful. Her voice has a very ethereal quality to it. I
really hope this is a Serenity moment, or at least an Eternal
transformation. This song drives home the fact that Moon is the leader of
all of the senshi.
I'm not sure if it's the vocal director or the person who mixed the CD, but
they do a great job during the group parts. It alternates between Marina's,
Manami's, and Akiko's voices slightly rising above the rest. This song is
gorgeous and wonderful and I cannot say enough good things about it.
It also is winner for most senshi names in context as lyrics. And best
Engrish. "Ladies Fighter!"
And since you will get it stuck in your head -
the
lyrics.
Minna Dareka ni Aisarete (2004 Summer Version)
Full cast
The only song with Marina in it without a Marina solo. Her solo is replaced
by a duet with...someone. I'm pretty sure it's either Loof Merrow or Dark
Menorah. This is just a beautiful song.
LINK (1 Chorus 2004 Summer Version)
Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and
ChibiMoon
AKA "Minna Dareka ni Aisarete" - the fast version! This is one of two bonus
tracks, which means it's not in the actual musical, but rather an encore
number after. I like this version just as much as the original one. Fumina
and Marina portray such different aspects of Usagi that it's hard to compare
the two.
La Soldier (1 Chorus 2004 Summer Version)
Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and
ChibiMoon
FINALLY! It doesn't sound like it's being sung by a bunch of hyperactive
pre-pubescent girls! Like I said earlier, ever since Nao left, the voices
have been very unbalanced. Compare the "La Soldier on the Eternal
Edition 3 CD to this one and you'll understand what I mean. There's also a
calmer, more mature feeling to this song compared to earlier Marina
versions. My favorite of the Marina La Soldier's so far.
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I don't know
what Kutcher is looking at, but I bet Pluto had something to do with
it. |
All in all, I think the CD as a whole is very good - different enough
from the original Kaguya to be a separate entity. And I look forward to the
musical very much.
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