Forum - View topicHai Fidelity - Gackt: 0079-0088
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LuckyAstei
 Posts: 227 |
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comming as a fan of old school anime I personally don't mind the songs getting reinvisioned for a newer audience, granted I find myself rocking out more to Gakct's version of Ai Senshi than Daisuke Inoue's version.
as for the Insturmental I kinda wish he did sing the lyrics for Sunna no Juuka it was a bueatiful song. As for his Zeta Gundam themes they are about the only good part that came out of the Horrid Movie Trilogy. |
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Flame-X
Posts: 39 |
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As a big Gundam fan, I think Gackt did an excellent job covering those songs. Ai Senshi is really catchy especially in Jrock version. I highly recommend buying this album!
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penguintruth
 Posts: 8461 Location: Penguinopolis |
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As much as I appreciated some of the songs Gackt did for the Zeta movies (which was about the only thing I could appreciate about those travesties), I found his covers of the songs from the original movie trilogy to be painful to listen to, especially "Meguriai".
I appreciate that he's a big Gundam fan, though, especially one of classic Gundam. |
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violetsquirrel
 Posts: 69 Location: Australia |
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Interesting review! I'm a music fan (and, okay, a Gackt fan) more than a Gundam fan, so I never really thought about the songs in terms of how they'd fit in with the Gundam universe before. I'm kind of curious about the fact that the section about Dears talks about it purely as the themesong to a ride rather than as a song in its own right though, considering that people buying the album are going to be hearing it on its own, not repeated while standing in line for a ride. I'll admit I'm biased to wanting to hear opinions on it though since it's probably my favourite song of his
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aluria
 Posts: 367 Location: New Westminster, B.C., Canada |
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While the songs sound quite interesting, I've never been able to stand Gackt's voice. Who knows, maybe I'll give one of the songs a try. . .
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reversethief
 Posts: 44 |
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Great review! But then I'm totally bias. +Gackt Fan for Life+
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s3r3nity
Posts: 30 Location: happy town usa |
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I think it probably should've been mentioned that all but two of these songs (Ai Senshi and Megurai, if I'm not mistaken...) have been released on previous albums, and they are not new versions. So, if you're a Gackt fan that already owns his previous albums, don't buy this one expected a gold mine of new songs, as my sister did. She really thought that they would be re-recordings, not just the same songs slapped on a new album.
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Cassandra
 Posts: 1356 Location: Birdsboro, PA |
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I did say they were re-releases. In the second paragraph. I even pointed out the original albums that most of them came off of. If they were re-recorded, I would have pointed that out along with the differences between the original version and the new version, like I did with his versions of the older songs. |
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s3r3nity
Posts: 30 Location: happy town usa |
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Alright, I'm sorry, I should've read more closely. Based on my experience though, it would've been helpful to hear that This Is Not a New Songs Album, it is a collection of old songs and then two covers.
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Renaisance Otaku
 Posts: 469 Location: Modesto, CA |
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Being a fan of both Gackt and especially Gundam, I was looking forward to this. Having heard it, I'm a bit disappointed. Gackt's better than this.
While I won't argue that the originals aren't dated (they are), they still are good pieces, at least to a fan of the genre as well as those who know what they're getting into. While I really liked Gackts Zeta work (particularly Metamorphoze), I'm surprised at some of his choice for the covers, particularly Ai Senshi. My problem is not the one the reviewer states at the end of this review. I have no problem updating "old school" music. After all, it's not like old school fans don't listen to new stuff as well. I've even enjoyed another Gundam remix album, the rare "Psyche Gundam: Four's Counterattack". That had its share of misses, but most were great songs in the spirit of things. It's that the mark of a great cover is a modernizing or extension of the song that embodies the original. Gackt both succeeds and fails here. Ai Senshi is easily the worst of the bunch. Maybe it was a mistake to listen to the original beforehand, but I was rather appalled at his arrangement. It's not that his vocals are bad, but rather that they're the only things vaguely similar to the original. I know rehashing it would be bad, but the new version basically sounds like Gackt is singing the lyrics to Ai Senshi alongside a completely different song. Basically, it's kind of like singing the wrong lyrics at karaoke. Listening it a few times has me liking the chorus, as it's the most in tune part, but the guitar at the beginning not only changes the sound but also the notes and beat, and it really just doesn't feel like Ai Senshi, but just another of Gackt's songs, but in this case, he couldn't come up with any lyrics. To a non Gundam fan, I'm sure it's great, but to those familiar to the original, it's something to kind of scratch your head to and wonder. It messes so much with the song that it's unrecognizable minus the lyrics. It's still decent as a song once you get past it (which takes a while for a fan), but it's a dreadful cover. I can't say of even like the new arrangement on original merits. It sort of lacks verity and depth. The tune just isn't that catchy. I'll admit to not even liking the original on first hear, but somehow, after the Vs. games drill it into your head ten times in a row during a Jaburo stage, it kind of grows on you. The old sound may be dated, but, like the rest of them, they fit first Gundam wonderfully. It's sort of relaxing, yet still fitting. I somehow doubt anyone listens to a near thirty year old OST and expects it not to sound sort of funky. Heck, they'd probably be disappointed if it did sound like something modern. In twenty years, we'll probably think the same of Gackt's new versions. I'm sure Gackt's will eventually grow on me as well, but I really wish he'd taken more care in structuring the background into something a bit more textured and coherent, and befitting the original tone, rather than throwing it all away. This sounds just like something a new mecha show would have, and not even one of the memorable ones. Don't get me wrong. I understand the need to add one's own spin to things, and that staying too faithful defeats the point entirely, but a good cover should convey the original spirit of the song. Gackt's new rendition fails miserably at this, even if it could work as an action sequence song, and isn't even one of his better works. Sunna no Juuka fairs better. That's probably because of the instrumental nature. Without vocals, the tune has to be true to the original. The only thing I don't get is the somewhat needless sound effects. It something of a shame he didn't sing this, as his vocals could serve the song well. As it stands, there's not much to it. I've only listened to it once. I can understand penguintruth's reservations about Meguriai (I'd be interesting in hearing their thoughts on it). Of the covers here, it's easily my favorite song being done. Naturally, after the horrid Ai Senshi, and somewhat blase Sunna no Juuka, I was naturally a tad nervous. Unlike penguintruth though, I can easily say it's my favorite of the three. Though it's not perfect. The opening was a pleasant surprise. After something completely different on Ai Senshi, the opening, and overall tune of Gackt's Meguriai, is very similar to the original, merely beefing up and modernizing the sound. It's sounds nicely somber and ethereal. My lone problem is the first chorus. Instead of building it like the original, he drops off completely before hitting it, then slams you with heavy guitar. This is all well and good, but after the somewhat mournful and somber (and wonderfully fitting) opening, it just feels out of place. That, and female vocal is just plain bad, however brief. The song's not really about power, at least to me in the show, as it's generally a somber song which grows hopeful at the chorus (note that I know not the english meaning of the lyrics  ;. The strong guitar really just over does it so early in the song. Strings, or even a softer guitar, would've worked much better, especially had it flowed into it instead of an abrupt switch. Fortunately, despite that misstep, the rest is about spot on. The entire middle section fits perfectly, and does the original justice. While on the first listen, the first chorus sort of ruined the second one for me, on repeat listens, it works rather well.
It seems obvious to me that Gackt, being the Gundam fan he says he is, probably spent the most effort on this one. Fans of things tend not to push it as much as non fans would, and while Ai Senshi still makes me wonder what he was thinking when he did it, Meguriai show a much greater respect for the feel of the original. As for how fitting they are to the show, it's an interesting approach to a review. Gackt's versions may very well fit modern interpretations of how a mecha show should sound. In fact, many new shows do often have the "hit 'em with hard guitars and soulful/angsty vocals" approach. Ai Senshi is the one here that sounds the most stereotypical. Could they fit the Gundam Movie Trilogy? Maybe. Especially if you think action is best conveyed only through heavy guitar. The reviews statements on, "not aging well" had me thinking about the Vs. games, in which you hear these songs endlessly in some stages. It's sort of hard not to think that these songs in their original forms serve the original quite well as is. Sure, they have a 70s-ish vibe but playing the intense showdown with Char at A Boah Qu with Inoue's Meguriai repeating endlessly in the background actually has a sort of surreal quality to it. It might date a show, but hardly doesn't serve the notion of Space Opera. Sometimes an appeal can be found in the kitsch nature of something. It's like how Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb is incomparable to the awful country rendition made for a trailer due to it's unique sound. Comparing modern sensibilities in musical taste to late 70s ones is sort of meaningless. Gackt's versions have they own qualities, but, with the possible exception of Meguriai, and maybe Sunna no Juuka, they just don't feel UC Gundam to me. They sound like any other Jrock song. Maybe that's what's popular, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be nor against a modern take on UC classics, but Gackt's approach is at once somewhat close (Meguriai) to horridly off (Ai Senshi, feeling all the depth of a Gundam SEED opening instead the defense of Jaburo). I like Gackt's music, but outside of Meguriai, these just aren't One Year War. |
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