She talks about 'kanashimi wa yuki ni nemuru' and 'namonaki tane'.
I think it’s a gentle, soft song with beautiful lyrics
I think it’s a gentle, soft song with beautiful lyrics
‘Kanashimi wa yuki ni nemuru’, alan’s 14th single has been released. It’s the theme song for the movie ‘Sakurada Mongai no Hen’ starring Ookawa Takao and it’s a slow, triple measure song. She sings the lyrics that carry both heartbreak and warmth in an emotional way. The b-side ‘namonaki tane’ is partly composed by alan herself. It’s the ending theme for the animation movie ‘Wake up!! TAMALA’ that was created for the International Environmental Summit. It’s a majestic song with environmental problems as its theme.
---You’ve cut your hair, haven’t you?
“Yes. I cut it the day after my second tour ended.”
---Somehow this hairstyle feels closer to you, alan-san.
“Casual? A sense of familiarity?”
---Yes. It feels more natural.
“Short hair is easier to manage, isn’t it? But after I’ve washed it, my hair curls up at the end if I just leave it like that. So I have to blow-dry it into shape. It’s a bit of a pain (laughs). But it’s still easier to manage than long hair.“
---You also have this haircut on the cover of your new single.
“That’s right. It’s my 14th single. The song ‘kanashimi wa yuki ni nemuru’ is the theme song for the movie ‘Sakurada Mongai no Hen’ starring Ookawa Takao.”
---This is the 5th time you sing a theme song.
“RED CLIFF part 1 and 2, BALLAD namonaki uta and also Hisshiken Torisashi. They’re all period movies (laughs).”
---Why is that?
“It’s strange. Maybe it’s because of the image of my songs so far? Maybe they fit my voice? I don’t know (laughs).”
---It’s also interesting to see alan-san, a Chinese, singing the theme song for ‘Sakurada Mongai no Hen’, which is a movie based on events that occurred in Japanese history.
“Even so, this song tells the story of the movie in my opinion. While it has a melody that’s easy to sing along to, it somehow has a heartbreaking tune mixed into it. And yet it’s gentle and soft. I think the lyrics are also really beautiful.”
---It’s filled with words that aren’t commonly used, like ‘era’s first cry (jidai no ubugoe)’, ‘strong passion (chishio)’ and ‘deep snow (miyuki)’. Did that make the song difficult to sing?
“It has, doesn’t it? I sang the song after my staff explained the movie’s content and after I properly understood it.”
---What part is beautiful to you?
“For example, this part: ‘I didn’t say farewell to that leaving back. I am forever waiting for the one who will never return’.”
---That’s the high point of the song, isn’t it?
“It shows the pure love women carried in those times. The samurai warriors would go off to battle and might not return. But those women would have faith and wait for their return. I watched the movie those women’s point of view in mind. Such a pure love is beautiful but sad. In contrast, couples currently immediately start dating and quickly break up. I think young people can feel pure love when they watch this movie.”
---How about you, alan-san? Pure love? Or are you the type who quickly starts dating and quickly breaks up?
“Me? I wouldn’t go as far as to say pure love, but I’m not the type that easily says goodbye. I’m perfectly in the middle (laughs).”
---I see (laughs).
“I also think this part is beautiful: ‘Roses dyed in red passion are the first flowers to bloom in this era. I should sleep in the deep snow as long as I please right now’. Passion that tries to change the country and the times. Strong hearts that fight for the future. I can feel those things. And after the battle is over, the deep snow will embrace that passion so you can sleep there peacefully… That’s how I interpret it.”
---It carries a lonely feel, but at the same time you can feel warmth as well.
“It really feels like that to me. That’s why I sang it in a controlled way and I poured more emotion into my singing that usual. Have you seen the movie?”
---No. I haven’t seen it yet.
“I think you can understand the lyrics better after you’ve seen the movie. Please watch the movie and afterwards listen to the song again.”
---Understood. Let’s continue with the b-side ‘namonaki tane’.
“It doesn’t feel like a b-side, it feels like another a-side. That’s how much I love this song.”
---You composed the song together with Kazuhito Kikuchi. How did you create it?
“Kikuchi-san played the piano and I hummed along to, that’s how the melody was born. And Ishiwatari Junji wrote the lyrics.”
---It’s the ending theme for the animation movie ‘Wake up!! TAMALA’ that was created for the International Environmental Summit.
“That’s right. My previous single ‘natsukashii mirai ~longing future~’ (2008/07) was also a message song about environmental problems. Do you know TAMALA?”
---Yes. It’s a cat, isn’t it?
“Yes. An adorable kitten. Like me, right?”
---So... in other words you’re saying you are adorable (laughs)?
“Busted (laughs)? I’m just kidding, but people often say that TAMALA and I look alike.”
---Now you mention it, you do! You both have big, round eyes et cetera.
“Thank you very much. But TAMALA is cuter. I’m in second place.”
---So you’re saying you the second cutest being in the whole world (laughs).
“Ahaha. That’s taking things too far (laughs).”
---Sorry (laughs). But the movie content isn’t just cute, is it?
“It’s completely different. Pollution keeps worsening, there’s no food, and the water is polluted. So TAMALA slowly loses her energy and healthiness… that’s the story. After I saw the movie, I sang the song while thinking about trees, the wind, animals and bugs. It’s a bit of a sad story, but it has a lot of things linked to environmental problems and it makes you think. The lyrics also fit the story.”
---You, alan-san, have a lot of opportunities to join events and shows related to environmental issues. What’s that like?
“It’s really difficult. But I try my best and try to think about the environment. I hope I can do something for the future’s sake, even if it’s just a little thing.”
---What message is locked into ‘namonaki tane’?
“Animals and humans are friends. Humans can’t exist if there are no animals on Earth. So we have to live in way that no living beings will go extinct. It’s not too late to realize this, and I think it’s good to think about what you can do for this sake. It doesn’t have to be something big, you should start with something close to you. Don’t waste water or electricity; I hope people can start with things like that. I’d be happy if people would become aware of the environment after listening to ‘namonaki tane’.”
---You’ve cut your hair, haven’t you?
“Yes. I cut it the day after my second tour ended.”
---Somehow this hairstyle feels closer to you, alan-san.
“Casual? A sense of familiarity?”
---Yes. It feels more natural.
“Short hair is easier to manage, isn’t it? But after I’ve washed it, my hair curls up at the end if I just leave it like that. So I have to blow-dry it into shape. It’s a bit of a pain (laughs). But it’s still easier to manage than long hair.“
---You also have this haircut on the cover of your new single.
“That’s right. It’s my 14th single. The song ‘kanashimi wa yuki ni nemuru’ is the theme song for the movie ‘Sakurada Mongai no Hen’ starring Ookawa Takao.”
---This is the 5th time you sing a theme song.
“RED CLIFF part 1 and 2, BALLAD namonaki uta and also Hisshiken Torisashi. They’re all period movies (laughs).”
---Why is that?
“It’s strange. Maybe it’s because of the image of my songs so far? Maybe they fit my voice? I don’t know (laughs).”
---It’s also interesting to see alan-san, a Chinese, singing the theme song for ‘Sakurada Mongai no Hen’, which is a movie based on events that occurred in Japanese history.
“Even so, this song tells the story of the movie in my opinion. While it has a melody that’s easy to sing along to, it somehow has a heartbreaking tune mixed into it. And yet it’s gentle and soft. I think the lyrics are also really beautiful.”
---It’s filled with words that aren’t commonly used, like ‘era’s first cry (jidai no ubugoe)’, ‘strong passion (chishio)’ and ‘deep snow (miyuki)’. Did that make the song difficult to sing?
“It has, doesn’t it? I sang the song after my staff explained the movie’s content and after I properly understood it.”
---What part is beautiful to you?
“For example, this part: ‘I didn’t say farewell to that leaving back. I am forever waiting for the one who will never return’.”
---That’s the high point of the song, isn’t it?
“It shows the pure love women carried in those times. The samurai warriors would go off to battle and might not return. But those women would have faith and wait for their return. I watched the movie those women’s point of view in mind. Such a pure love is beautiful but sad. In contrast, couples currently immediately start dating and quickly break up. I think young people can feel pure love when they watch this movie.”
---How about you, alan-san? Pure love? Or are you the type who quickly starts dating and quickly breaks up?
“Me? I wouldn’t go as far as to say pure love, but I’m not the type that easily says goodbye. I’m perfectly in the middle (laughs).”
---I see (laughs).
“I also think this part is beautiful: ‘Roses dyed in red passion are the first flowers to bloom in this era. I should sleep in the deep snow as long as I please right now’. Passion that tries to change the country and the times. Strong hearts that fight for the future. I can feel those things. And after the battle is over, the deep snow will embrace that passion so you can sleep there peacefully… That’s how I interpret it.”
---It carries a lonely feel, but at the same time you can feel warmth as well.
“It really feels like that to me. That’s why I sang it in a controlled way and I poured more emotion into my singing that usual. Have you seen the movie?”
---No. I haven’t seen it yet.
“I think you can understand the lyrics better after you’ve seen the movie. Please watch the movie and afterwards listen to the song again.”
---Understood. Let’s continue with the b-side ‘namonaki tane’.
“It doesn’t feel like a b-side, it feels like another a-side. That’s how much I love this song.”
---You composed the song together with Kazuhito Kikuchi. How did you create it?
“Kikuchi-san played the piano and I hummed along to, that’s how the melody was born. And Ishiwatari Junji wrote the lyrics.”
---It’s the ending theme for the animation movie ‘Wake up!! TAMALA’ that was created for the International Environmental Summit.
“That’s right. My previous single ‘natsukashii mirai ~longing future~’ (2008/07) was also a message song about environmental problems. Do you know TAMALA?”
---Yes. It’s a cat, isn’t it?
“Yes. An adorable kitten. Like me, right?”
---So... in other words you’re saying you are adorable (laughs)?
“Busted (laughs)? I’m just kidding, but people often say that TAMALA and I look alike.”
---Now you mention it, you do! You both have big, round eyes et cetera.
“Thank you very much. But TAMALA is cuter. I’m in second place.”
---So you’re saying you the second cutest being in the whole world (laughs).
“Ahaha. That’s taking things too far (laughs).”
---Sorry (laughs). But the movie content isn’t just cute, is it?
“It’s completely different. Pollution keeps worsening, there’s no food, and the water is polluted. So TAMALA slowly loses her energy and healthiness… that’s the story. After I saw the movie, I sang the song while thinking about trees, the wind, animals and bugs. It’s a bit of a sad story, but it has a lot of things linked to environmental problems and it makes you think. The lyrics also fit the story.”
---You, alan-san, have a lot of opportunities to join events and shows related to environmental issues. What’s that like?
“It’s really difficult. But I try my best and try to think about the environment. I hope I can do something for the future’s sake, even if it’s just a little thing.”
---What message is locked into ‘namonaki tane’?
“Animals and humans are friends. Humans can’t exist if there are no animals on Earth. So we have to live in way that no living beings will go extinct. It’s not too late to realize this, and I think it’s good to think about what you can do for this sake. It doesn’t have to be something big, you should start with something close to you. Don’t waste water or electricity; I hope people can start with things like that. I’d be happy if people would become aware of the environment after listening to ‘namonaki tane’.”
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