re:TYE Re: - The Monthly Q&A! - August 2023 Week #2 (Patreon)

Hello! Welcome to another week of Q&A with your friendly neighborhood Spiral as your guide!

I'm still getting used to doing these posts as this segment is very much a WIP, but I'm glad that people seem to be enjoying these little segments so far so it makes me glad we're trying new things!

As a reminder, this month's question is:

'What is your favorite set of re:TYE/TYER lyrics and why? (Can be ones you’ve written or just your favorite one from the channel) - submitted by Hiltonium'

We're following up the lyrical chaos of August 2023 with the week #2 answer from Jefferz!

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August 2023 QOTM - Jefferz

I read this question and was like “piece of cake” before I realized that according to the google doc/sheet records, re:TYE has released 94 covers and TYER 274 covers...that’s not including the 20 smth additional tracks that are mid-production at any given time-

To make it a bit easier, I decided to pick a favorite set of lyrics per lyricist starting with Airi/愛梨。 which might be kind of troll since she’s only written lyrics for one song so far for re:TYE (+ a few tv-size works for TYER). That being said what’s lacking in quantity is made up by quality as I liked what she did with Yuzurenai from The Rising of the Shield Hero a lot (particularly the chorus). 

With just a little faith we can become strong
Even if that’s all that remains though it all feels so wrong
All the things you taught me just felt so flawed
But one day I realized all your words paved a way
Shining bright, they found a home and they're now here to stay  
Even if we part ways I know now, I’ll find my way back to you someday

-Yuzurenai (The Rising of the Shield Hero S2 ED) written by 愛梨。

She also has provided the source translation for a bunch of re:TYE lyrics for less popular songs or those with productions before other translation sites release their translations; having an in-house translator also do the lyrical adaptation really makes the adaptation process seamless and less prone to mistakes or subtleties lost in translation (愛梨。recently qc-ed the source material for the new Horimiya OP I’m working on and it definitely gave better context than most line by line translations).

For Mero, as tempting as it is to go with Torodara’s Orange purely based on the miracle that she got a pseudo rhyme with Orange, I’m going to go with Sayonara Gokko from Dororo. There are some songs and genres where you can write lyrics on autopilot mode but that one not only requires powerful emotions to be conveyed but also with a flair for classical imagery. I haven’t watched all of Dororo yet but from what I know of the show, Mero really nailed the tone of the show/song with a wonderful flow to match the source material.

*JEFFERZ EDIT: I completely forgot about Souvenir from Spy x Family which Mero also worked on (which is not out yet as I’m currently working on the mix as we speak), it’s stellar and has an effortless flow. Ya’ll are in for a treat when it’s done-

Sneak preview of Souvenir's Chorus:

Placing down a ribbon on the sights I see,
I’m allowing open eyes to choose them for me

I’ll be picking every single scenery like they’re souvenirs, before I start heading home

Greeted by new seasons, I’m changing too
So how can I describe what I’m feeling to you? 

Where upon our journey do I tell you that I’ve been wiping tears, before we start heading home?

-Souvenir (SPY X FAMILY OP2) written by Merobean

I feel like Spiral probably has written the most lyrics out of all of the current or past re:TYE/TYER members which makes singling out one set of lyrics pretty difficult. The first one that popped to mind was Kirameki but I realized I’m probably biased having sung it twice. Then I remembered one of our earliest covers which was Nostalgic Rainfall from After the Rain. Spiral is often known for how she handles shoujo and romance songs but Nostalgic Rainfall imo is Spiral at her finest. After the Rain is an understated drama and her lyrics for the song perfectly capture Akira’s perspective and frame of mind in the first ⅔ of the show. The lyrics also just flow really, really well without resorting to common/cheap rhymes and are both playful and mature, the perfect blend to match the show.

Cause after all the rain
There’ll be a rainbow
Our eyes will meet and I’ll know
This love someday may reach you
Even though you’re so slow!
Soon the summer rain’ll fade It shines and brings another day
Lululala oh I’m in love with you!

-Nostalgic Rainfall (After the Rain OP) written by Spiral

And as for my own works, I firmly believe Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku from Tokyo Ghoul √A is my magnum opus as an adapted lyricist and don’t think I’ll ever be able to write lyrics in such a poetic way that matches the show and character it’s referencing (which is ironic as I hadn’t watched any season of Tokyo Ghoul at the time and had only read a three paragraph synopsis on wikipedia for bg context). But that one doesn’t really count since it was originally for TYER and was just a re-release remaster for re:TYE.

For re:TYE specifically, I’m going to go with Torches. My favorite genre or style of song to adapt is one that has a lot of visual imagery or complex emotion and both the song itself and Vinland Saga gave me so much to work with. I might’ve gone a bit overboard with some of the ship references but the two lines “Raise your torch and light the way, turn the darkness into day” is one of those perfect phrases and lightning in a bottle I’m always trying to recapture. Also being able to come up with several other lines for other parts of the song that rhyme with “darkness into day”, Torches is one of my proudest works (+nobody could’ve done the lyrics any more justice then what Angela did in the final cover).

Listen to me, cleave your way again, again
Look to the future and the journey sailing to the end
Although the ocean there cannot be seen through all the haze
Remember now, you're not alone and so raise your torch and light the way
Turn the darkness into day

-Torches (Vinland Saga ED01) written by Jefferz

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And that's Jefferz's answer! I (Spiral) went ahead and added some little lyric snippets including the bonus one of Souvenir which is being released later this year (in time for new season hmmmm who said that...)

Tune in next week for another Q&A session (a late August submission and the next question reveal)! Be sure to submit your questions if you want to be featured and be sure to tell us what your favorite lyrics are~

Have a great day everyone!