Kalafina - Live vs. Studio
I think we all agree that Kalafina songs usually sound live a WHOLE lot better than the studio version. In my opinion, this is especially the case for the fairly old songs, where some songs like “Ongaku” or “destination unknown” just had been edited to death. Those songs also highly benefit from the live band. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that all songs by Kalafina always sound better live, do they? Here are some of picks where I actually prefer the studio version.
So what do you think? Which studio versions are superior to their live counterparts and why?
1. Kantankatan
Right off the bat, I know this one is a bit unfair because there is only one recorded live version of “Kantankatan”, namely the one from the 10th Anni. I have heard the acoustic version twice before that concert, but in the end I still kinda prefer the studio version. I feel like Wakana conveys the heavy emotions of the song more convincing there and Hikaru just sounds SO much better... same for Keiko actually.
2. Ashita no Keshiki
Again, there aren’t many live recordings of this one, and especially the 9+ONE version is kinda ruined by Hikaru’s strained voice. Keiko’s support is basically the only thing that I would consider the saving grace of this particular live version because you can really hear how much she has improved her technique over time. This is also one of the few songs where I would consider Wakana’s “old” voice more fitting. Her high but frail rendition in the 9+ONE version where you can hear her struggles with the high notes always bothered me...
3. Seventh Heaven
I’m a bit conflicted on this one. There are quite a lot live versions and usually, I love them all. It’s again a song that benefits more of Wakana’s “old” voice in my opinion... but Keiko just sounds SO MUCH BETTER live, her voice is usually deeper-toned and much more emotional.
4. identify
Being such an uptempo song, this one should be live better and most of the time it is. However, I don’t like Wakana a lot there, because she interferes with her high voice a little bit too much for my taste. Of course there are some effects going on in the studio version, but compared to e.g. “Ongaku” it’s a lot more subtle. The bridge and the final chorus are the parts I actually consider superior, I don’t why those have such a bigger “oomph” moment than the lives. However, the studio version does lack that raw fun and power of the live versions.
5. ring your bell
Yeah, it’s no secret that I don’t really like that song, but the studio version is a lot more bearable than almost all live versions lol
6. Natsu no Asa
Again, only one live version... but the studio version makes me more emotional somehow. It’s Wakana’s voice that again is more convincing while delivering the lines and emotions or something like that. I dunno xD
7. Märchen
Same as “Kantankatan” and “Ashita no Keshiki”... Although this is Hikaru’s song you can hear her exhaustion during the 9+ONE live and she + Keiko just don’t sound as powerful as they do in the studio version.
