This music video is really beautiful, and makes you think about the novel Flowers for Algernon (which was also made into a movie). It made me want to watch the movie again. It is really hard to describe but I really like the song's melody (with its melancholy).
"Komm, Süsser Tod" (Japanese title: 甘き死よ、来たれ; "Come, Sweet Death" in English) is a song that was used in the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The song has its lyrics originally in Japanese, written by the creator of Evangelion, Anno Hideaki. This was then translated by Mike Wyzgowski into English for the actual rendition of the song and was performed by Arianne with music by Sagisu Shiro.
This is a cover by the band at Beyond Ghibli, a YouTube channel that talks about anime.
I know, I know I've let you down I've been a fool to myself I thought that I could live for no one else But now through all the hurt & pain It's time for me to respect the ones you love mean more than anything So with sadness in my heart (I) feel the best thing I could do is end it all and leave forever what's done is done it feels so bad what once was happy now is sad I'll never love again my world is ending
I wish that I could turn back time cause' now the guilt is all mine can't live without the trust from those you love I know we can't forget the past you can't forget love & pride because of that, it's killing me inside
It all returns to nothing, it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down In my heart of hearts I know that I could never love again I've lost everything everything everything that matters to me, matters in this world
I wish that I could turn back time cuz now the guilt is all mine can't live without the trust from those you love I know we can't forget the past you can't forget love & pride because of that, it's killing me inside
It all returns to nothing, it just keeps tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down It all returns to nothing, it just keeps tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down It all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down, letting me down, letting me down
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The original Japanese lyrics are actually quite dark... more in line with the theme of seeking a return to nothingness through death to escape from the pains of life. Just reading it makes me depressed, so I am glad the English lyrics managed to capture part of the despair without really tumbling into the temptation of death as a solution to pain.
This song was played during episode 19 of Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃). Personally, I think it was this song that brought attention to this anime series and helped launched the series to its current height. A song that encapsulated the entire struggle of the protagonist. A person who lost so much and whose future looked so bleak. Fighting impossible battles. Searching for a solution that may not exist. Yet he kept on. No matter how much is lost, there is nothing else to do except to live on and keep moving forward.
When you think you have lost all hope... listen to this song.
This is a video of the live rendition by singer Nakagawa Nami.
Was good to know you But I'm not gonna Pretend I'm all better Thought we were forever
Hearts still in pieces And your shadow follows me places, all the time I can't shake this feeling of loneliness That's just life I guess
But I believe, someday soon I'll learn to overcome it The scars will heal, heart will bloom No more dwelling 'Cause today I choose to say "I will love again someday" So I'm not gonna stay Paralyzed 'cause I'm not by your side
Time passes slowly Makes me feel lonely Gotta stop feeling sorry I can't always feel worried
Mind won't stop spinning And I keep on overthinking, all the time I hope with time the healing will mend my soul And I can let you go
But I believe, someday soon I'll learn to overcome it The scars will heal, heart will bloom No more dwelling 'Cause today I choose to say "I will love again someday" So I'm not gonna stay Paralyzed 'cause I'm not by your side But I believe, that I will be, much better eventually But I won't forget our love, ever
Time heals all, know that time heals all I believe that someday soon I'll remeber you with a smile And overcome And I will overcome
Someday soon I'll overcome Someday soon I'll Over, over-come I choose to say "I will love again someday, again someday," I'll overcome
What draws me to this series is the central theme: how hard it is to tell someone close to you that you love him/her. Because of that very close friendship. Because you don't want to lose that dearest of friend by admitting romantic interest for fear that he or she may not feel that same way romantically. You want to take the relationship to the next step, yet you are afraid that it may end up ruining the relationship, so you stay comfortable and try to be satisfied with the current way things are. All the while, wanting to move forward, yet hesitant for fear of loss.
In life, we are always afraid to take a step forward into the unknown. The more we have now, the harder it is for us to take a step forward that may risk losing what we currently have.
I love you. But do you feel the same way? Do I dare to let you know? What if you don't feel the same way? What if I am just a good friend? Will letting you know my true feelings ruin our friendship?
This is a song from the Violet Evergarden OVA, which was supposed to be a work which Violet came up with as part of a request for a play, to be performed by an actress. The undelivered letters...
Just hearing this song brings back images of Violet Evergarden's story into my mind so strongly that tears well up in my eyes. The song's name, Michishirube, means "signpost" in Japanese. It is a fitting way to describe the role that Major Gilbert has on Violet Evergarden, guiding her growth as she learns about human emotions. More on the song at the end of the post.
"あなたの声がみちしるべ" literally means "your voice is my guiding light". This is really Violet's song about Gilbert. His voice has guided her throughout life. It was his voice that gave her the orders to kill, guiding her actions during the war. His voice that taught her how to speak, read, and write, which eventually formed the basis for her to have her own thoughts.
It was his voice that gave her the order "Live and be free." Which became the source of her determination to continue living after the war, even though she had lost both arms, lost her major, and eventually realized the severe consequences of her actions during the war. It allowed her to live through grief and guilt.
It was his voice that told her "I love you." Which became her motivation to be an Auto Memories Doll so that she could learn what that phrase means, and eventually allowing her to discover the human emotions within her.
It was his voice that said he hoped she will one day grow to become a person who matches her name. It guided her after the war to become a person worthy of the name Violet, which is both a beautiful flower and the name of a goddess in her world.
For good and bad, it was his voice that had been guiding her actions all this while. And so, every time I hear this song, I am reminded of their story... a story of love and guilt.
This is the opening theme song of the Violet Evergarden anime series, and it never fails to bring the story back to my mind. The lyrics "why am I crying" really makes me wonder why am I crying as I listen to this song.
(Today is kind of an important date. And I thought this song from K-On!! actually expresses what I feel quite well, so rather than reinvent the wheel, I will just post the song here.)
The movie is about two timelines, crossing each other every five years, but running in opposite directions.
And then I chanced upon this song, 約束 (Yakusoku) by リリィ、さよなら。(Lily Sayonara).
I thought it is a song that would really fit the story of "My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday". Especially the part about meeting and parting in each other's lives.
The lyrics:
「でも、もし生まれ変わったらその時は探すからね。」
そんな悲しいこと言わないで ‘来世で’ なんて望まないよ
A favorite poem, with a present-day presentation. I really love the way it was arranged and expressed; I think it really brought out the meaning and emotions of the poem.
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,
not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the queen.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.
Couldn't keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.
Don't let them in, don't let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know.
Well, now they know!
Let it go, let it go!
Can't hold it back any more.
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door.
I don't care what they're going to say.
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway.
It's funny how some distance,
makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do,
to test the limits and break through.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I'm free!
Let it go, let it go.
I am one with the wind and sky.
Let it go, let it go.
You'll never see me cry.
Here I'll stand, and here I'll stay.
Let the storm rage on.
My power flurries through the air into the ground.
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back; the past is in the past!
Let it go, let it go.
And I'll rise like the break of dawn.
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand, in the light of day.
Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway...
All of us have dreams, if we work hard enough, our dreams will come true.
How many of us remember our childhood dreams? How many are still working on those dreams? How many are living different dreams? How many have fulfilled their dreams?
And not just about ourselves. What about our dreams for Singapore? What were our dreams for our Singapore? Have we been making progress towards fulfilling those dreams? Have the dreams changed?
Do we still share the Singapore dream?
The video below was aired in 1990, although the song was first written a few years before that. I still remember the video, and seeing it again brings back many memories, of childhood dreams, of schooling days, of inspiring teachers. It brings tears to my eyes.
Count On Me Singapore
We have a vision for tomorrow, just believe, just believe
We have a goal for Singapore, we can achieve, we can achieve
You and me, we'll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We're going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve
There is something down the road that we can strive for
We are told no dream's too bold that we can't try for
There's a spirit in the air, it's a feeling we all share
We're going to build a better life, for you and me
We can achieve, we can achieve
Count on me Singapore, count on me to give my best and more
You and me, we'll do our part, stand together, heart to heart
We're going to show the world what Singapore can be
We can achieve, we can achieve
Chorus:
Count on me Singapore, Count on me Singapore
Count on me to give my best and more, count on me Singapore
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