eien no yume

B=Pass, June 2005, Part 2

Translated by: Sweiled

1. Please DO NOT take my translations and use them for whatever reason, without my permission.
2. Please DO NOT publish my translations elsewhere without my permission. Please kindly link back if you want, but DO NOT copy and paste them.

[number] = more explanation of the sentence below
xxx = more detailed explanations
[xxx] = what I felt a certain part of the sentence meant
(xxx) = other meanings of the word or literal translations or missing word/words not specifically mentioned. For e.g. The fans screamed when (Gackt and his band members) entered the stadium! Read it like you will a normal sentence.
=xxx= = real brackets used in the interview

There are 2 interviewers (Kouichi Tanaka and Mami Akagi) for this magazine. The questions by Tanaka will be bolded while thoseby Akagi will be bolded and underlined

I: Even so…… When you make the songs based on the plot of “MOON PROJECT”, how do you reflect that story or the images you have of it in the songs?
G: Nn, how to say it… The story is not clearly reflected. [1]
[1] Literal translation is ‘You can see the story and yet you can’t… That’s what I think.’ Basically saying that he did not reflect the story or images in the songs clearly but purposely made it ambiguous.

I: For example, how did you make “BLACK STONE” and “Ash”?
G: Ah, but “BLACK STONE” is a bit different. This song had a time period of it’s own originally, but as I was writing a draft of the lyrics… I thought I would write a song to commemorate the death of one of my staff because it happens to be his one-year death anniversary at that time. So I rewrote the lyrics again while trying not to deviate from the theme of the story. That’s why this song does not just talk about a situation that occurred in the story but also includes my own personal feelings…… And to that end, it became something widely talked about.

I: I see. I thought that the “君 (kimi: you)” you sang of here was a woman…… But that’s not the case, you were actually thinking of your staff who passed away.
G: Yes, I wrote it with the intention of commemorating him. That’s why the “君” here actually refers to a man.

I: Aah, that is why even though the lyrics are sad, you can say the whole song is rather manly. You feel strength and bursting speed (from it).
G: Yes. It’s not the feeling of sadness and pain that I wanted to express through “BLACK STONE”, but rather, “We can already smile as we talk about you now. So we are moving on like this (lit. running)…… We are starting to move on. So it’s all right.” [1] I wanted to express that. (lit. sing that)
[1] The way he said that. “Dakara daijyoubu da yo” makes it feel as if there is a hidden sentence behind. Like, “So it’s all right, you don’t have to worry anymore” or “So it’s all right, you can rest in peace now” Kind of feels like that.

I: By the way, this “BLACK STONE” also has the meaning of ‘power stone’ [1] attached to it, doesn’t it?
G: “BLACK STONE” was his name. And another reason is…… Within our family group, this =while showing (us) the black onyx beads he wears on his hands= Everyone would definitely carry this. That’s why the word “BLACK STONE” itself has become a synonym for “family” or “nakama” [1]…… You can say it is a symbolic item…
[1] Nakama: Closer than normal friends. Companion, gang, etc…

I: I see…… I was wondering if the reason you released BLACK STONE was because it plays an important role in the “MOON” story as a ‘power stone’.
G: Hahahaha. You have a vivid imagination.

I: Well, the songs really encourage all kinds of imagination!
G: (laughs) Well, I really think so.

I HAVE FINALLY REACHED HERE…… THIS IS ME

I: I would like to talk about the sounds next though. “BLACK STONE” has a rock tune with a strong, straight band sound, while “～メタモルフォーゼ～” has an intense hard 'rock' feel to it. [1]
[1] All the descriptions are direct from katakana used in the interview. I have no idea what ‘band sound’ is.
G: That’s right. Well, when you talk about my music, “hard rock” genre…… I’ve always thought that it’s rather difficult to express (my music) with only the “rock” genre. That’s why the most troublesome thing is, for example when I go overseas and someone asks me, “What do you do?” I reply with “I’m a musician, singer”, right? Then they will ask, “Aah, I see. What type of songs? (lit. Your genre?)” “Type of song…… Unn.” And then I’ll stop and think. I include classical music in my songs, I include this type and that type…… But it is extremely troublesome to explain that, so normally I’ll just reply, “rock.” That’s all I can say.

I: If you say, “I play shakuhachi too, and use shamisen occasionally” [1], they will definitely misunderstand.
[1] Shakuhachi is a Japanese bamboo flute and shamisen is a 3-stringed Japanese guitar. He played shamisen for the introduction of his 2004 concert, Sixth Day Seventh Night, “泡沫の夢 “ (Utakata no yume: ephemeral dream)
G: (laughs) That’s why it’s difficult to determine my place in music genres…… I’ve been thinking a lot about it recently. For example, there is this word “mixture” isn’t it? And it occurred to me that ‘mixture’ would be a way to describe my music. However, mixture is already an existing genre, right?

I: Yes. Just by the word ‘mixture’, one would automatically think of a specific rock genre.
G: Yes, yes, yes. I think it’s also quite wrong to think of it that way. That is why it’s difficult (to tell them which genre my music belongs to) if I don’t explain it in greater details.

I: Well, how about “Gackt music” or “Gackt world”?
G: Iya (Well)…… I think it’s a bit difficult to refer to those as music terms. (laughs) If you divide the genre, I think what you call the “loud” genre (would be most suitable). But it’s also not right to say that I (as an individual) belong to the loud group…… [1]
[1] In “I” here, he is referring to him as an individual and not talking about his music. So first he said that ‘mixture’ would be a good way to describe his music except that it’s already an existing genre. People tend to associate ‘mixture’ with a specific rock genre and so he thinks that it is not quite the right word to describe his music. After that he said his music would fall under the “loud” genre if it were to be divided. However, he himself (characteristic, etc) is not a loud person. So you can only describe his music as ‘loud’ but not Gackt as a person who is “loud”. …Ok, did I just confuse you guys more? ^^”

I: But putting the topic of genre aside…… Strong, heavy sound and grand scale music with a lot of rich elements included, those are the feelings I got from “～メタモルフォーゼ～” and the other songs. Is that the type of sound that will be the spirit and core of “MOON PROJECT”?
G: Aah…… But I think…… rather than say it’s “MOON”, it’s more my own self who is walking towards that direction now. Not because “I want to do this kind of genre now” but that I have finally reached here after walking down various paths….. “This is me”

I: In other words, it was not that you planned for “MOON PROJECT” to have a hard ‘rock’ as it’s core?
G: Yes. Our musical inclinations and the directions we go are always changing along with the themes we do. You also look (for other different styles) as you are doing that current theme. And so, as we slowly find our way and change bit by bit like this, we reach this point where we currently are.

I: Indeed, that (theory) also applies to the vocal. No matter which song you pick of the 3 current releases, you can tell that they are much more prominent. You started trying a new vocal style during the latter parts of the “Crescent” album production and I felt that it has improved (lit. evolved or progressed) and stabilized since…… It feels as if you have reached here after much searching and changing.
G: That’s right. But I feel that it can still be developed (伸びる nobiru: stretch; extend; make progress; grow) some more. In short, this is not the final. I can still improve.

I: That this has not been perfected yet.
G: Yes. Though I’m already very comfortable with the feel of the song. [1] Vocal wise, it’s not like in the past where I’ll go, “I don’t get it, I don’t get it” anymore. Now, if I found something, (I won’t just be satisfied with it,) I’ll keep looking for something better. (lit. aim for much higher) It is totally different in that sense.
[1] He used the word ‘kimochi’ here, which means feeling. So he thinks that the ‘feeling’ of the song has become very good.

I: I see.
G: For example, I’ve only performed (lit. sang) “BLACK STONE” around 5 times, right? But that is all right because I’ve already managed to capture the way the feel of the song should go. It’s the same with “Ash”.

I: I see… Well then, are the songs used for the next “MOON PROJECT” all ready?
G: Well, it has not been completed yet. I would like to release the album sometime between late summer and early fall…… That is why if I don’t start now, I won’t make it in time.

THERE IS NO POINT IF WE DON’T GO BEYOND THE BORDERS OF ENTERTAINMENT

I: …… If for example, we release the albums pertaining to “MOON PROJECT” to the Asian countries sometime in the future, and play the movie (MOON CHILD) as well, I think it will be somewhat of a culture shock. They will be shocked.
I: Because I think the Taiwanese, Koreans, Chinese (, etc.) have probably never seen, heard nor come into contact with anything like that before.
G: Yes, I think it’s impossible. I don’t think that such a person exists. [1]
[1] Not quite sure about this part myself, but I think he meant that there is no person who could have come into contact with such a story before. As in experience such a story themselves.

I: If others could listen to it, that could become the bridge that connects the cultures of the Asian countries. Just like what Gackt-kun has mentioned in the "Iyaa Book". =On page 052=
G: Yes, that is indeed what I’m hoping to achieve. Not just making music, but I want to become that bridge…… I want to create opportunities for the different countries to be connected. I really want to do that. Oh yes, I often hear this question from the Korean artists, “How did you manage to produce such a great concert!? I can still understand it if you were in America.” Even things like number of concerts I hold are different. They said, “But if you hold such huge concerts in so many places, you can never break even no matter how you plan, right?” And at such times, “There is no such thing as break even.” That’s what I’ll tell them…… The point here is not about breaking even.

I: That this is not about money.
G: Yes. More importantly, I think it’s meaningless to hold concerts if you don’t go beyond what you call the borders of entertainment. Because it won’t remain in (the audience’s) heart otherwise. Well…… If I am not capable of doing such a concert, I think it’s also fine to do one which simply lets you move along to the music. [1] But since it is already visualized in my head, I feel that it would be a waste and disrespectful [2] if I don’t realize it. There are people who cannot do it even though they wanted to try making something like that. But at least in my case, I already have a picture of it in my mind…… I guess you can say it’s my duty or mission to turn those thoughts into forms.
[1] As in do not do a concert which crosses the border of entertainments but simply something for the audiences to enjoy, for them to sway and move along to the music. Literal translation is music which lets you sway to and bang your head against.
[2] He used the word ‘shitsurei’ here. So it will be disrespectful to those who wanted to but cannot achieve that.

I(both): Yes, yes.
G: If there are other artists like me around, I would like to see them. That person’s concerts or the album he/she releases. I would really look forward to it.

I: Even you yourself would think that way?
G: Yes, I do. But actually…… I think I probably watch more music videos and things like that than anyone else. But till now, I have yet to watch any video or stage (concert) that moved me. There are times when I would think that a particular moment or act [1] is great, but I have never been impressed or amazed (lit. be shocked) by one whole concert before.
[1] Actually he used the word “装置 souchi” here which means equipment, device or installation, etc. So he was impressed by the act/image/scene/effect created by that equipment. That was why I used the word ‘act’ eventually.

I: Even those from other parts of the world?
G: Not even from other parts of the world. None at all.

I: But you have felt that in movies right?
G: Of course. Which is why I think movies are great. You see, even the scale is different. The scale of the budget and the viewing numbers are different (from those of concerts).

I: You mean the number (of people watching it)?
G: Yes.

I: But it is true that Gackt-san’s stages have a lot of meanings to it and you see things which you have never seen before…… There is such a surprise (驚き odoroki: surprise; astonishment; wonder; shock) and impact to be found.
G: Yes. I think the reason why I can use such interesting styles is because (my music) is based on 'rock'. If I were a hip-hop dancer or singer, the things I can do would be limited, woudn't it? But because I’m based on 'rock', I can do interesting things. But why I choose such a hard path, even I would wonder at times.