#junko iwao

[logray]

PERFECT BLUE (1997) dir. Satoshi Kon — @giftober 2025 | Day 26: Something Tiny — TJ MIKELOGAN's HALLOWEEN HORROR 2025 EVENT | Day 26: Foreign Horror

[cinematicjourney]

Perfect Blue (1997) | dir. Satoshi Kon

[rosy2k]

岩男潤子 『18番街の奇跡』 (1995)

[keyloveseveryone]

Key the Metal Idol CD Booklet Interviews

There are some interesting interviews in the back of the CD booklet for the Key the Metal Idol soundtrack.

Raw scans and google translate below.

To start off with:

Chiyako Shibahara, the voice actress for Miho Utsuse and Beniko Komori.

Transcription:

"When I heard the tracklist, I was worried that it would be ruined if I sang it, because it was such a great instrumental piece. But when it came to recording, I didn't even think about the fact that I was a newcomer or that I was Shibahara Chiyako, I was completely in the shoes of (top star) Miho. When singing "Runaway," I thought about how I wanted my fans to like it. And of course, I meant Miho's fans.

"Memories" is a type of song I've never sung before, and I studied how to sing it quite a bit, but when I sang it as Miho, it came out very naturally. I'm very surprised at myself, but it felt as if Miho had descended into me.

On the other hand, I struggled with "Aria" because I couldn't figure out how Miho would sing this kind of song. I couldn't imagine Miho loginv someone "even if it meant giving up everything." Terashima-san told me, "The songs you struggle with and worry about end up becoming your favorite songs later on," and after that, I listened to each song so much that the tape wore out, and it's true that "Aria" is my favorite (according to him)."

Chiyako Shibahara

Next is Sario Kijima, who wrote the OP "In the Night" and the ED "I'm by Your Side"

Transcription:

"When I met Director Sato, there was no footage yet, only character sketches. In that situation, I was tossing around hopes and anxieties in my head, wondering whether I would be able to create a song that matched Director Sato's image. However, I had a rough idea of the melody I wanted during our meeting. I wrote the lyrics, imagining myself as Key. The line "Find me… and lead me to the exit…" is heartbreaking, and I personally like it very much. I remember how happy I was when Director Sato and the other staff members brought treats to the studio during the recording, even in the heat. Let's work together again."

Theme song lyrics/composition/song

Sario Kijima

Tamiya Terashima, who oversaw the music.

Transcription:

"As a composer, when I create music, I always make it a point to "create a character" before I begin composing. In dramas and movies, actors often create a character in order to fully immerse themselves in the role they've been given, and for me, it's also an important step in order to immerse myself musically in the work. However, this time with "KEY" it was a little difficult. That's because it's "abnormal" (laughs). I think it's full of songs that you'd never find on an album by a regular artist

By the way, Chiyako-chan cried several times during this recording. Maybe it was because she was scared of Shibuya-san (the female lead), but also because many of the songs were difficult, and as she practiced singing them, her voice became hoarse, and I think she was so frustrated with herself that she cried. At times like that, I would have just panicked, but Shibuya-san, as expected, kept her cool. I really thought that women are more dignified in situations like these. But Chiyako-chan also seemed a bit amateurish at first, but gradually she made the songs her own. That kind of sensitivity is impressive. When I met her the other day for the first time in a while, she had become so confident and dignified.

Also the way the director gave instructions was very intuitive, in a good way, so it was easy to understand. Record company directors often give specific images, like "it's like this song by so-and-so," but in the director's case, he has a clear, intuitive image of the song, so it's very easy to understand. It makes me wonder what kind of music he listens to on a daily basis, and even the music that might be considered underground has a pop quality to it. I'd like to enjoy a long discussion about music next time.

Looking back on the whole thing this time, I felt like I was lucky enough to write a song. I think that shows how well I was able to "create the character." If I were asked to write one now, I'm sure it would be impossible."

Tamiya Terashima

Hiroaki Sato, the director of the show.

About OP/ED

"When I asked her to write a song, all we had was the storyboard for the first episode and a character chart, and it seems that Takashima thought the work "KEY" was incredibly grand, and a huge theme was swirling around in his head, but all I asked her was, "Please write a love song."

"In The Night" is more of a song to dance to than an opening theme. However, I originally wanted to make the opening theme a dark dance piece, so I asked them to take on the challenge. The storyboard imagery was heavily inspired by the mysterious world of the lyrics.

On the other hand, I think "I'm By Your Side" fits perfectly into the world of "KEY" as a song, including as an arrangement, but I was a little worried whether the quiet intro would fit in with the "it's over" atmosphere of the final scene. However, when I watched the finished product (of the video), I thought the lingering feeling was quite good. The poignant lyrics only added to that."

About the insert song

"The setting is that Miho was at the peak of her career as an "artist" around the time of "The Fugitive," so I asked them to make it feel somewhat grandiose. I also asked them to make it a rock song, but not a typical rock song, because it's listened to not only by rock fans, but by people of all ages and genders. Perhaps because my request was a bit twisted, Terashima ended up making it quite acrobatic. I think rock with Tin Honey is groundbreaking.

The dramatic change in Miho's image from "Memories" and "Aria" compared to "Runaway" is something that would be unheard of for a Japanese idol today, as an image change for a single artist. That's how broad Miho's personality is, but in that sense, she had an image closer to big overseas artists, so I mentioned her real name as a model. Who…? I'll leave that to your imagination.

When I was asked to write a song for Miho, I had to expand on the image of what kind of artist Miho is in the world of "KEY" but I felt like I was immersed in the story and supervising Miho's project, so it was a different kind of fun from the opening and ending songs. I made up a little story based on the image of the song and used it as reference for the lyrics, but the lyricist was stunned by the content, which was so far removed from the world of "KEY." I think that's what was said."

Hiroaki Sato

Junko Iwao, the voice actress for Key (Tokiko Mima), and Miki Nagasawa, the voice actress for Sakura Kuriyagawa.

The details on the ending theme are very interesting.

Transcription:

"A very sad and mysterious story…

If I had never come across this work… Key and I became one, as if I was sucked into her clear eyes.

I want to continue watching over you forever and ever… This song is a message to Key and myself, and a "thank you" that I want to convey to everyone."

Junko Iwao

"When KEY's Ver. 1 was completed, I heard this song for the first time.

To be honest, I was surprised when I heard it. It was such a passionate love song. I had heard from the staff that the ending theme was based on Sakura's feelings, so I took the lyrics themselves to be Sakura's word.

During the recording, I was worried about how to sing this technically very difficult song, but there was only one answer. "I'm By Your Side" is sung by the "Sakura" inside me."

Miki Nagasawa

Chiyako Shibahara, the voice actress for Miho Utsuse and Beniko Komori again.

Also Kikuko Inoue, the voice actress for Toyoko Mima.

Transcription:

"'Love me' was full of passion. To love wholeheartedly without thinking about the consequences "It can't be helped. I love you." "Leave me was sung while thinking of a certain person. Both songs were expressed by Utsuse Miho using my body.

---To all those who love Miho---"

Chiyako Shibahara

"It was tender, sad, painful and hearbreaking… It was a strange experience, with all sorts of emotions swirling around in my heart. Even now, I sometimes find myself humming "Lullaby" and thinking about KEY. I was happy to come across such a wonderful piece of work. Thank you very much."

Kikuko Inoue

[addictivecontradiction]

パーフェクトブルー, 1997

[majokkoradio]

Visit Original Link

"FRUITS CANDY (Sakura Tomoyo and Kero Ver.)" - Cardcaptor Sakura - 3rd Ending Cover

[autolabrum]

Watched Perfect Blue

Nightmarish. Made me shiver more than maybe any other movie I've seen. Impossibly sophisticated deconstruction of the imposition of identity onto the image of the self and the other. Beauty and ugliness are the same thing: categories that we use to construct our senses of self when we are too young to know better, that solidify into cages that we grate painfully against as we grow to understand the depth of the individual. There is not enough time, we must rush to keep up with ourselves as we age while trying desperately to shed our self-consciousness while praying that our image of reality does not fall too far out of step from those around us that we become unrecognizable to ourselves. But we will, until we suddenly cease even to desire to recognize. May we find peace.

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

Have you seen Cardcaptor Sakura (1998-2000)?

Yes

Partially

No, but I've heard of it

Never heard of it

Voting ended onMar 24, 2024