Koigokoro / Kiryu (original vs. rearranged)

Kanji & Romaji: hiphopvomit (original | rearranged)
Translation: myself

Lyrics & music: Sakai Mitsuki





恋心 [Koigokoro]
Enlivening love
Original version from Shuugetsuheika EP (2008)



Because my wishes (1) weren't fulfilled
I drew you within my imagination
Night after night, I'm alone
With you as my secret

Yet, I'm not satisfied
So I drew you within my imagination
What if someday everything about you was snatched away...

These relapsing conflicts
What should I do to overcome them?
Nobody can see the real intentions (2)
Or speak... Still, I...
Become the sacrifice for the sake of "enlivening love"

My feelings have been betrayed...
My tears trampled on...
I just wanted to protect you, yet
I'm too powerless in current state...
Your tears dried up already...
Your smile vanished as well...
To get rid of unrest of begging you,
I just want to protect happiness...

                                                                                                                              

恋心 -再構築- [Koigokoro -saikouchiku-] (no vid available)
Enlivening love -rearranged-
Rearranged version from Hyakki yakou full album (2016)



Unfulfilled thought is tempting me     What's the meaning of one's happiness, and...
Unfulfilled thought pulled my hand     What's lost for one's happiness

I come and go around in circles      Dizzy decomposition (3)
I approach and return to rot in stagnation     Brilliantly crumbling down

Entrusting the body alone to the thought     I got lost in a twisted distortion
Calamity given to you     Tender feelings unable to turn into "love"
Lies and fiction     Dripping honey     Tingling sweetness     Getting indulged [in that]
While lamenting alone... I wish from the bottom of my heart

"I want you to be happy"

Tears and even smile withered away, yet you're my aesthetics


Footnotes:

1. Or thought, feeling
2. 本音 [honne] - what one really thinks; the opposite is 建て前 [tatemae] - what one says to people (usually fabricated)
3. I came up with a clever response to what Mitsuki commited there: ROTation; I humbly apologize for my unfunny dad jokes

Discussion:

No hidden meanings, no intricate motifs... And I hope that the translations are clear enough to understand what's going on. However, if something is not really comprehensible, tell me in the comment section, I shall elaborate.

The reason why I decided to put these two versions in one post is my pure curiosity itself. Also, I thought that it would be easier for you to compare them.

Musically, original Koigokoro was relatively crazy enough as a song. In the rearranged version, Mitsuki added some more spice which is also noticeable in lyrics. To the point I almost accused him of composing another eroguo-esque song. This 8 year time skip made me realize that I really should start translating Kiryu's older songs. I believe, it is a good way to see how the band has changed throughout years. I remember Mitsuki saying that he has become more wild and brave in what he composes now.

It's a decade this year after all.

Bakeneko / Kiryu

Kanji & Romaji: hiphopvomit
Translation: myself

Lyrics & music: Sakai Mitsuki




化猫 [Bakeneko]
Bakeneko / Monster cat



The karma of a person who wields the powers of life and death     Countless heartburn episodes
Blearing disguise (1) reflects in the eyes of a decapitated head

The thirst for your privation suffering... Soundly rings inside the throat (2)

Shaking from fear is but pathetic
The panic is kind of laughable
Screaming from grief is but pathetic
Shall be severely punished by the sharpened claws

If I was able to love...
If I were loved...
A silent cadaver would suffice...
Put into a cage     The experienced warmth is painful
Stolen words...
Broken heart...
Fall into the hell...

"Complete (3) darkness"

Regret of grudges is left behind... As I greedily devour

A request that leaked out of the mouth, spreaded the odor of rot around
The end of being dragged around     Revolving crimson lantern

The thirst for your privation suffering... Soundly rings inside the throat

Footnotes:

1. As in 化けの皮を剥ぐ [bake no kawa wo hagu] - to unmask one's true nature / intentions; lit. to rip off one's disguise / face's skin
2. Fun thing to notice: it is written 咽喉 [inkou] - throat, but sung as 喉 [nodo] - throat; 咽 in and of itself may stand for simply throat or choked
3. 丸い [marui] actually means round, spherical, but for me round darkness sounds, well, anile so I went a bit deeper; 丸 alone can mean inter alia round or perfection

Discussion:

Almost everyone I know loves kitties (including myself). Fluffy and warm, cute balls of fur. But if you are Japanese and your lovely feline companion manages to live over whopping 10-13 (some legends say it's 40) years, is a bit too fluffy and/or has an extraordinarily long tail (there's a reason why bobtail cats are a thing in Japan; safety first), it may transform into a mythical creature, known as bakeneko (lit. monster cat). Essentially, bakeneko are shapeshifters, much like their fox counterparts kitsune (I have already talked a bit about kitsune in Kyuubi [R]), they also possess a unique ability of making puppets out of fresh dead bodies - necromancy. They jump a couple times over a corpse in order to revive and control it.

With this brief explanation in mind, one might figure the reason behind the title Bakeneko out. I reckon, it is about a demon cat disguised as a human that wanted to be loved, but it turned out that their beloved one broke her (yup, I think it is feminine narration) heart in some way, hence our bakeneko kills her lover and since she still harbors some feelings for them, she performs necromancy on him.

Wow, Mitsuki and your love stories.

Nochi no koyoi / Kiryu [R]

Kanji & Romaji: hiphopvomit
Translation: myself

Lyrics: Kurosaki Mahiro
Music: Kujou Takemasa

Note: Okay, this one might be truly disturbing for some individuals. Not recommended if you're a sensitive person. Like, really.