One of the coolest things about anime is that some shows become so popular that the voice actors are saddled into making what are called "image songs." These are basically songs that are done in-character. America had a similar fad, years ago, during the reign of vinyl... did you know that Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, and The Brady Bunch Kids had 'character song' records?
Well, Fushigi Yuugi is no different, and in fact was so popular that it spawned three image song CDs; "Character's Vocal Memories," "Seiryuu Counterattack," and "THTC." Along with these focused records, some character songs were stuck in with other random CDs (Fushigi Yuugi spawned about ten records total, including soundtracks and the OAV series.)
Anyway, we're here to focus on Chichiri, who, because he can actually sing really well, whipped out five songs; three of which are solos, one duet, and one with THTC (which stands for Tamahome, Hotohori, Tasuki, and Chichiri.)
Big thanks to Animelyrics.com for providing the Romaji lyrics. The English lyrics are my more "artistic" interpretations of the Japanese, as inferred through comparing different translations from Animelyrics.com, Tetris Translations, Buruma.net and Babelfish.
Chichiri's voice actor is Tomokazu Seki, who's had well over fifty roles in various anime over the years.
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Let's start with "Kachou Fuugetsu" (Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon) which appeared on the "Character's Vocal Memories" CD. You can download this song at the Fushigi Yuugi multimedia site, just scroll down to the bottom of the page. This is one of the songs I'm trying to memorize for the karaoke room at Anime Boston this year; it's fun, loud, and has a great tune.
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Romaji hana no saku sekai ni
kaze ni mimi wo sumaseba
mune no
kanashimi no kawa wo koete
ten no chichi miagete
hito wa hitori ja nakute
migi no
yorokobi no yama wo nobori
kanashimi no kawa wo koete
|
English In a world where flowers bloom,
If you listen closely to the wind,
Deep within
Crossing the river of sadness,
I look up at Father Sky,
People are not alone;
On my right
I climb the mountain of happiness,
Crossing the river of sadness,
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Next, another song from "Character's Vocal Memories," "Ochanoko Saisai Hengen Jizai" (It's a piece of cake to change my appearance!) You can also get this song at the Fushigi Yuugi multimedia site.
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Romaji daiichi no NIKIBI kazan wo kusugutte
fuuin sareta kioku no futa wo ake
egao no shita ni
ochanoko saisai hengen jizai
(Spoken:) "Ahhh, muzukashii uta na no da!" Taikyoku-zan de denju sareta chikara
kyou mo kyou tote
ochanoko saisai hengen jizai
(Spoken:) "Oira no hou ga minna o mitehoshii no da!" hitori ga suki datta
(Spoken:) "Ha, ha, ochanoko saisai na no da!" ochanoko saisai hengen jizai
*BOOM!* |
English Tickle the volcanoes that pimple the Earth
Open the box of sealed memories
Even I hide my true self
It's a piece of cake to change my appearance
(Spoken:) "Aaaah, this is a really hard song!" If I don't use the power I was taught on Mt. Taikyoku,
Every day
It's a piece of cake to change my appearance
(Spoken:) "It's my choice to look after you!" I liked being alone
(Spoken:) "Ha ha, it's a piece of cake!" It's a piece of cake to change my appearance
*BOOM!* |
Chichiri's last solo is "Mizu-Kagami" (Water Mirror) which I took the name for my shrine from. This song is so sad, and beautiful... and it has the best, most meaningful lyrics ever. It's Chichiri's strong intense side, shining through. *swoon* You can download it, again, from the Fushigi Yuugi multimedia site. It appeared on the fifth OAV2 CD, "Mizu-Kagami."
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Romaji meguriawase hitotsu machigaeba
nagarete-yuku mizu ni utsuru
nakushita no wa shinjiau kimochi
nagarete-yuku mizu ni utsuru
mizukagami de kokoro no kage wo mireba
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English Make just one mistake in an encounter,
Reflected in the flowing water,
I had lost my belief in feelings
Reflected in the flowing water,
I can see the darkness of my heart in the water-mirror,
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Here's Chichiri's duet with Tasuki, "Aoi Jiyuu, Shiroi Nozomi" (Blue Freedom, White Wish) which I'm also working on memorizing my part to, so as to perform with Gregg, who's going to Anime Boston as Tasuki. We're going to rock. This song is great, too... haha. It appeared on volume 4 of the OAV2 CD series, "Sensitive Mind."
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Romaji Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
aoi sora ni wa aoi jiyuu ga aru
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English Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Both:
In the blue sky, lies blue freedom.
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Finally, we have the THTC song from the THTC single, called "Metcha Hajikete, Gattsu Tobashite" which translates, poorly, as "All fired up and shooting guts." Cursed idioms. A more sensical, but far less cool, interpretation could be "All fired up and exuding confidence." This one is a riot, to hear the interactions between the characters. Good stuff.
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Romaji *****SPOKEN***** Tasuki:
Chichiri:
*****END SPOKEN***** All:
*****SPOKEN***** Hotohori:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Chichiri:
Hotohori:
Tamahome:
*****END SPOKEN***** Tamahome:
Hotohori:
Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Tamahome:
All:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Chichiri:
All:
*****SPOKEN***** Chichiri:
Tamahome:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Tamahome:
*****END SPOKEN***** Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Tasuki:
All:
*****SPOKEN***** Tamahome:
Hotohori:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
*****END SPOKEN***** |
English *****SPOKEN***** Tasuki:
Chichiri:
*****END SPOKEN***** All:
*****SPOKEN***** Hotohori:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Chichiri:
Hotohori:
Tamahome:
*****END SPOKEN***** Tamahome:
Hotohori:
Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Tamahome:
All:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Chichiri:
All:
*****SPOKEN***** Chichiri:
Tamahome:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Tamahome:
*****END SPOKEN***** Hotohori/Chichiri:
Tamahome/Tasuki:
All:
Tasuki:
All:
*****SPOKEN***** Tamahome:
Hotohori:
Chichiri:
Tasuki:
Hotohori:
Tasuki:
Chichiri:
*****END SPOKEN***** |
Most images the work of Abby P, aka Lady Millicent, 2002, 2003.