Struggling musician Seiji attends the foremost debut of Gilty x Gilty, the place they sing a tune with lyrics written by…Seiji.
Loyal SoraNews24 readers already know our Japanese-language author Seiji Nakazawa, who’s lined matters resembling the perfect anime of the previous 10 years, the visually terrifying expertise of consuming an octopus egg, and why the native practice from Tokyo to Chichibu is for suckers. However what it’s possible you’ll not know is that along with writing articles like these, Seiji additionally writes J-pop lyrics.
Seiji began his lyric-writing gig in 2020, not lengthy after the beginning of the pandemic. That timing created an odd state of affairs, although, as even two years into the lyricist life, he’d by no means gotten to see and listen to musicians singing the phrases he’d written dwell on stage, since so many concert events and excursions have been cancelled or postponed.
That modified final week, although. With coronavirus countermeasures being regularly eased in Japan, idol unit Gilty x Gilty, or “Girugiru,” as they’re identified to followers, held a live performance in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood on June 28, and Seiji was capable of attend the present.
▼ Seiji, on his approach to the live performance
As Seiji rolled as much as the venue, he was feeling a fancy mixture of feelings. He’s cherished music since his teenagers, when it provided a creative escape from the oppressive ambiance at college the place he was being focused by bullies. After graduating from college, Seiji labored part-time jobs with the dream of saving up sufficient cash to maneuver to Tokyo, be a part of a band, and grow to be a big-time musician…however he solely achieved the primary two of these three objectives. Not one of the bands he’s joined have had a lot success, and so when he discovered that Gilty x Gilty was having their main debut live performance on the Spotify O-East live performance corridor, he couldn’t assist however be aware that he had by no means performed at such a big facility.
So regardless that Seiji solely wrote the lyrics for one among Gilty x Gilty’s songs, “Stigma,” he was feeling the stress of his inventive expression being a part of one thing with such a grand scale. On the identical time, he was impressed by the robust turnout of Gilty x Gilty followers, who had been displaying their help for the group by already lining up exterior the door.
As soon as the doorways opened, the place rapidly crammed up, with a big portion of the gang made up of women of their teenagers wearing gothic fashions, and most of the male attendees trying, in Seiji’s phrases, like “doll otaku.” The music began, and followers on the entrance standing space started leaping and shouting in time with the music, whereas on the again, area parted for enthusiastic wota-gei “otaku dance” glow stick routines.
However whereas followers had been expressing it in several methods, everybody had gotten swept up in pleasure for the music. After which it was time for Gilty x Gilty to sing Seiji’s tune, “Stigma,” full with the lyrics he’d written being projected onto the stage background.
Seiji all of a sudden discovered himself in a reflective temper. “I used to be by no means capable of make it up on a stage like this,” he thought. “There are in all probability all types of the explanation why, however one factor that’s been a continuing in my life, since I used to be just a little child, is that I don’t have the ability to attract folks to me. I wished to alter that a part of me, and that’s why I first wished to grow to be a musician, however ultimately, I couldn’t do it. It hurts.”
“However…Girugiru’s efficiency was so robust, so nice that it purified all these feelings, and watching them, I felt like I used to be about to have tears streaming down my face.”
“It felt so good.”
Watching the sunshine filling up the live performance corridor, Seiji got here to a conclusion. “There was part of me that I couldn’t change, so matter how onerous I attempted, however now that a part of me has grow to be this mild. That’s not so dangerous. I’ve obtained to engrave this scene in my soul. Acquired to engrave this second. Engrave it. Engrave it.”
“Engrave,” by the way in which, can be a key phrase within the lyrics of “Stigma,” which embrace the road, “Engrave the proof that I’m alive into myself, as a prayer to replenish the vacancy.”
Sadly, there’s not at present a music video for “Stigma,” however Seiji recommends Gilty x Gilty’s “Himitsu no Hako” (“Secret Field”) for these in search of an excellent instance of their sound, which he describes as grittier than typical sugary candy idol music.
Gilty x Gilty can even be performing dwell on the upcoming Rad Jam (July 17 at Aichi Sky Exp) and Sekigahara Idol Wars (July 22-24 at Momokubari Undo Park) musical occasions, the place Seiji hopes others will really feel that very same purifying impact he skilled watching them on stage.
Associated: Gilty x Gilty official web site, Gilty x Gilty Twitter, Rad Jam, Sekigahara Idol Wars
Images © SoraNews24
● Wish to hear about SoraNews24’s newest articles as quickly as they’re printed? Comply with us on Fb and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]
