Mar 6, 2012

KIZUNA ~ Connecting Through Music

Theme song of the Japanese drama "Saka no Ue no Kumo" ("Clouds Over the Hill")
"Stand Alone"

  

Song by Soprano Maki Mori begins around 2:50

Stand Alone

Music: Joe Hisaishi (“Spirited Away”, “Departures”, “Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi”)

Lyrics: Kundo Koyama (“Departures”)
                         

A small light shines on the road we have come
A bud of hope gazes afar
The more a man hesitates and suffers,
They grasp strength, are able to dream
With dignity I take off
Heading for those mass of clouds

I search for the road that I walked with you
A prayer given by one
Shall connect the hearts of many
Spreading my arms toward the sky
Collecting the pouring light
I send it off to a friend
In hopes it will reach him
My dreams are fulfilled
Boundless thoughts are carried on tomorrow’s wind

I do believe
A new age is coming around
With dignity I take off
Heading for those mass of clouds

(translation by flowerbossa)


A scene from the drama. (starring Masahiro Motoki)



☆ A message and song for the people in the stricken areas by Maki Mori.
(her song begins around 1:05 piano accompaniment by renowned pianist Ikuyo Nakamichi)



NHK Website: Messages from the Artists

http://www.nhk.or.jp/toppage/message/

9 comments:

Shinji said...

Dear Flowerbossa,

What a pleasant surprise today when I've seen your post! How are you? I hope you're feeling better and that all is marching well for you and your family. I can't complain, I was ill some weeks ago (that's why I haven't sent you the e-mail), but now I'm fully recovered and I think is not bad since is only the second time in the last four years, right? ^^

Besides, thank you for this beautiful and inspiring song and the translation. Maki Mori has a really beautiful voice, I think I've seen her before, but I'm not sure. It could be possible that she was involved with Maestro Seikyo Kim in an album or something? Also, I've noticed that the music composer and the lyricist have been involved in "Departures" soundtrack and is a movie I've pending to watch since a long time, even when the lovely Ryoko Hirosue appears in it!

Again, thank you for your always warm posts and I'm really, really glad to see you again here ^^

Please, stay well and take care!

Best regards,
Shinji

flowerbossa said...

Konnichiwa Shinji-san,

Arigato for coming by.

Yes, Maki Mori did an album with Maestro Seikyo a few years ago, but unfortunately I do not have it^^; The maestro spoke very highly of her when I got his autograph.

I cannot say I will be updating this blog frequently... perhaps same time next year?^^

Please take care!

Love,
flowerbossa

Anonymous said...

Hi,I'm Yoko.

For about a year so far, it's rare that I visit YJ's fan site.

Today I happend to visit you and listened to the song that had impressed me. I wanted to listen to it once again and on the day the drama "Sakanoueno kumo" aired I set the channele to NHK around when the drama was over.But only to find hamming.

the singer's voice is transparent and so beautiful. It's like an instrument.

flowerbossa said...

Konnichiwa Yoko-san,

Arigato for stopping by!

Yes, as you may remember, the drama "Sakanoueno kumo" had 3 sections, and the there was a different version of "Stand Alone" to each of them. The first was done by Sarah Brightman, the second by Maki Mori, and the third by Mai (daughter of the composer!)

Needless to say, I like Maki Mori's version the most!!

Love,
flowerbossa

Ida said...

Dear Flowerbossa,

So nice to see you here again. I have been looking in on your Blog now and then but you have been busy I'm sure somewhere else. Hope you are doing fine and in goood spirit and health.
It's beautiful music and as it says in the head line music connects although I don't understand the language. Thank you for the translation. I have recently found a Japanese artist called 」小田和正/Kazumasa Oda and one song in particular that was recorded on a BYJ fan video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUdCk_dloa0&feature=player_embedded
Interesting how much one can learn about new things and often one thing leads to another and I end up with new interests. So much fun.
Until next year then... Take care
Ida

flowerbossa said...

Dear Ida,

Hello! So nice of you to come by^^

I see you developed an interest in Kazumasa Oda - it's amazing how he still keeps his clear voice when he is already 63. He was devastated by last year's disaster as he attended an university in Sendai, but it seems he has recovered the strength to sing again. I'm sure his music will bring comfort to many people.

By the way, I recently discovered that a friend of mine from my school days now lives in Eslov! She has shared some of her photos, and they are just beautiful~ She had a bad case of asthma in Japan, but she happily claims that the symptoms cleared up when she started to live in Sweden. I'm very happy for her!

Please stay well^^

Love,
flowerbossa

Ida said...

Dear Flowerbossa,

I hope that your friend will have a good life here in Sweden. We have alot of freshe air here:-)

Ida

flowerbossa said...

Dear Ida,

I'm sure she enjoys living in your country!

I am looking forward to hearing about her life in Sweden when she comes back to Japan on vacation^^

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

Hello Lalique!

love,
flowerbossa