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| Maaya Sakamoto with Kobato, Suu(Clover) and Sakura Kinomoto(Cardcaptor Sakura) |
Maaya Sakamoto (坂本 真綾 Sakamoto Maaya, born March 31, 1980 in Itabashi, Tokyo) is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter, actress, and seiyū. (Wikipedia)
A multi-talent, isn't she?
At the age of about 15, she got her debut voice acting role in the anime TV series Vision of Escaflowne as the female character Hitomi Kanzaki. Maaya was a perfect match for the role considering Hitomi's age in the show was 15. In addition to providing Hitomi's voice, Maaya also performed the Escaflowne opening song, "Yakusoku wa Iranai" and several insert songs. She also reprised the role in the Escaflowne Movie: "A Girl in Gaia". (maayasakamoto.net)
She continues giving her voice (both as a seiyuu and as a singer) for many anime, games, cd dramas and radio programmes and she also has played some theatrical and live-action roles.
Much more than CLAMP, Maaya's name is connected to the one of Yoko Kanno. Maaya debuted with Yoko Kanno as her only composer till the 'Lucy' album. Since then she has collaborated with other composers as well.
Next, the songs that follow are my favourite of her.I'll start off with her anime songs.
Platinum
My world
is made of dreams, love, and worries.
But there are still things lying hidden
that I can't even imagine
[...]I want to find my dream... I want to make it come true...
There is nothing that I can't overcome
if I only believe.
Just like singing, just like miracles,
"feelings" can change everything!
And from the 10-years old Sakura to the 15-years old Sakura...
Sonic Boom
Run, my consciousness that becomes free now
Reach, ride on wings of primary colors and soar up
Certainly Ill make it in time, I can definitely meet you on the other side of the very end
Hurry, to where my most precious person is
Ill truly lose you as it is now; before that
The answer had been determined forever
We knew it
Our thoughts will take shape
We call it the future
For epic anime, epic strong and sentimental songs...
aoi hitomi
This one-time love will end eventually, but
I think you will stay with me for eternity.
kiseki no umi (sea of miracles)
The dark night sky separates us
to lay bare our hearts as they call out to each other.
Cast off your useless trappings. Some things can only be seen
when you've lost everything.
[...]What does everyone seek by fighting?
Does spilled blood cause flowers to bloom?
Until the precious tomorrow is in my hands...
Until the day we meet...
[...]Love is the miracle I have found!
hemisphere
Tell me, what is the definition of "strength"?
Does it mean to hurt yourself,
or perhaps to throw yourself away to protect someone who you should protect?
[...]When I was stood on the edge of a cliff,
"Adversity" grabbed my arm,
and for the first time, I could see where I was.
Towards a wider field; towards somewhere deeper, larger...
I'm just heading towards a world which I can't even imagine.
I want to know about myself...
triangular
The laws that govern my fantasies,
When I gave them a kick from the back,
I tripped and fell over the passion evolved.
Breathing alone takes up all my strength.
Come for me, I am drowning.
blue ether
The light comes as grains, and then as waves
You appear first as a bird, and then as the universe
[...]I always wanted to be beside you
But I was so far from you
That I couldn't even hear your music
Azure, azure, azure journey
gravity
maybe this time tomorrow
the rain will cease to follow
and the mist will fade into one more today
something somewhere out there keeps calling
am I going home?
will I hear someone singing solace to the silent moon?
zero gravity what's it like?
am I alone?
is somebody there beyond these heavy aching feet
still the road keeps on telling me to go on
For Maaya's songs there have been made two sweet and beautiful short films (animated music videos).
universe
I’m looking up at 60 hundred million lonelinesses
Fixing my eyes on this boundless sky
Carrying this teeny-tiny wish
In the rouund stars, a blue lamplight is lit
The universe
[...]I keep stretching out upright
The true answers are within me
uchuuhikoushi no uta (astronaut's song)
I had a rather wonderful dream
That I was an astronaut and you, a farmer
I flew into your sunburnt arms
And we were enveloped in the gentle, spring wind
Other songs of her
Kaze ga Fuku Hi (The days the wind blows)
Walking by the beautiful blue sea
I realise that what I'm worrying about is really meaningless
[...]The self I haven't met, perhaps I can meet
[...]Although I'm getting used to who I've become, I'm still always changing
I don't mean I'm unaccustomed to myself, though, because I'm sure that this is me
ongaku (music)
Look only at me.
Trust in my hope.
Kindness, impatience, looseness, arrogance, tranquility, confinement,
though the many different feelings are fighting,
love is singing, only love continues to live on.
Don't easily waste your stinging emotions without remorse.
I want to protect you,
because the voice of your humming
is fllowing into me and filling my heart.
birds
The noise becomes more and more distant, the scenery fades and falls from view
These eyes and ears and fingers and even these heels quietly tremble and go an awakening
They are in love in love in love in love
And they are solely yearning for you
Show me the light and lead me out from here
Hold me so tight that I am unable to breathe ---more, even more intensely
I need nothing else, only you are the one single beautiful thing in the world
Cast off everything and take flight
[...]Share me your pain and show me your weaknesses, even all the lies that you can't hide ---more, leave more of them with me
No matter what sort of dishonest and tainted things I may find at the depths of your heart
I will touch them for you
inori (prayer)
The moon and the sea become full
The light and darkness dissolve and become reincarnated
The sky is torn from my heart
When will the light dissolve and awaken and live life?
yucca
The future won’t arrive
If I stay like this, it won’t ever arrive
This small shell of mine, I have to get out of it
[...]Sorrows handed to me in person
They exist to be overcome, so I feel as I look up at the sky
Everyone goes on dying alone but
No one can go on living alone
Someday, surely someone and I will fall in love with one
another as well
I.D.
[...]I think while walking
To put up a brave front and
To be too dependent on others
Aren’t any different from one another after all
Wandered here and there
Even pretended to be dead
I was planning on becoming something
As different as possible but
There was no problem ever to begin with
Someday I will come to love
The tender past
[...]Being able to admit I love what I truly love
That’s all it takes to make me feel very happy
That’s why I should just continue to be bold
So that my voice will become the same as that of my heart
hikari are (let there be light)
In case my voice still reaches someone
I want to vow to them that I haven’t forgotten what love is
Someday I’ll show you that I’ll walk again embracing warmth
I want to believe in that strength; the courage to make a fresh start in life is still within me
[...]There are people who’ve soon split up after not being able to say the important things
I’m still as clumsy as ever, but even so I want to live my life with someone
Let there be light
Let it overflow
everywhere
Everywhere
Though I’d always been searching for a place to go home to, it was there all along
We were born to be loved, I’m sure
My hometown is everywhere
life is good
Life is a canvas
And the paint is hope and promise
The world is ours
No one could ever take it from us
The sky is blue
The day is new
The sun is shinin’ down
You know life is good
We’ve got each other
And that’s all we need
Hey! It’s okay
We can paint the world bright, any color
Yeah, coming back from nowhere or on the way
Don’t be afraid
Just be happy that we’re not our mothers
Slavin’ over papa all night and day
The last song is dedicated to my Neko-kun :D
a happy ending
Let’s live together in this room
There’s nothing in it, but the view is good
We’ll grow the flowers you like
We don’t have any money, but we love each other
Oh lady, my lady
Although they say we’re too different
My lady, sweet lady, we should hold each other
You and I are the same
Oh lady, my lady, smile for me
You love me too
So many years have passed since then
We don’t have any money, but we’re living
Our kids are grown, so...
Oh lady, my lady
Although they say we’re all wrinkled now
Oh lady, sweet lady, we should hold each other
Now and back then are the same
Oh lady, my lady, smile for me
I love you
Forever, even if I’m reborn
My lady, sweet lady, smile for me
Oh my beautiful one
Let’s live together in this room
There’s nothing in it, but the view is good
We’ll grow the flowers you like
We don’t have any money, but we love each other
Oh lady, my lady
Although they say we’re too different
My lady, sweet lady, we should hold each other
You and I are the same
Oh lady, my lady, smile for me
You love me too
So many years have passed since then
We don’t have any money, but we’re living
Our kids are grown, so...
Oh lady, my lady
Although they say we’re all wrinkled now
Oh lady, sweet lady, we should hold each other
Now and back then are the same
Oh lady, my lady, smile for me
I love you
Forever, even if I’m reborn
My lady, sweet lady, smile for me
Oh my beautiful one
More to read:
Maaya's interviews and comments on her songs : http://sakamotomaaya.com/blog/25/maaya-sakamoto-s-picks
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