Born in Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Mitsuda began studying the piano at the age of five. By chance, he noticed a job advertisement for sound production for Squaresoft in an issue of Famitsu; despite a self-described "disastrous" interview with Squaresoft head composer 植松伸夫, in which he admitted he considered the job only a stepping stone to further his career and that he had never played Square's most famous games, such as Final Fantasy, executives were sufficiently impressed with his demo that he was hired as sound staff in 1992.
The release of Chrono Cross marked the beginning of his career as a freelance artist, which he continues to be, releasing both video game soundtracks and other original works under his own label, Procyon Studio. Other famous works of Mitsuda's include Mario Party, the Shadow Hearts series, and Xenosaga, a spiritual successor to Xenogears.
Radical Dreamers
光田康典 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ここまでたどってきた 時間のふちをさまよい
さがしつづけてきたよ 名前さえ知らないけれど
ただひとつの想いを あなたに手渡したくて
歴史は愛も痛みも 深く抱きとめ
消してゆくけど わたしは おぼえている
わたしの胸のおくに いつからか響いていた…
夜露のしずくよりも かすかなささやきだけど
凍てつく星の闇へ 紡ぐ祈りが
遠いあなたのそらに 届くように…
The lyrics of 光田康典's song Radical Dreamers are a beautiful testament to the power of love and the memories that it can inspire. The first few lines describe the journey of the singer, who has followed a beam of light held in trembling hands, wandering along the edges of time. Despite not knowing the name of the person to whom they wish to give their one true feeling, the singer has continued searching for them.
The lyrics then delve deeper, describing the way that love and pain are intertwined in history, and how both are deeply held and yet constantly erased. The singer remembers everything, and continues to do so. In the end, the singer reveals that they have been hearing a whisper in their heart, fainter than the dew on a dark night but more enduring. The final lines offer up a prayer, spoken into the icy darkness of the stars, hoping that it will reach the person they love in the far-off reaches of the sky.
Overall, the song tells a story of yearning and timeless love, of the way that memories and emotions can transcend time and distance. The use of metaphors, such as the beam of light and the faint whisper, evoke a sense of poetic longing and help the listener to imagine the singer's journey more vividly.
Line by Line Meaning
幼い手につつんだ ふるえてるその光を
Taking hold of the trembling light with my small hands
ここまでたどってきた 時間のふちをさまよい
Wandering along the edges of time and arriving here
さがしつづけてきたよ 名前さえ知らないけれど
Continuously searching for something without even knowing its name
ただひとつの想いを あなたに手渡したくて
Wanting to hand over just one feeling to you
歴史は愛も痛みも 深く抱きとめ
Embracing both love and pain deeply in history
消してゆくけど わたしは おぼえている
Though they may disappear, I will remember them
ずっと…
Always...
わたしの胸のおくに いつからか響いていた…
It has been resounding within my heart for who knows how long...
夜露のしずくよりも かすかなささやきだけど
It's a faint whisper, more subtle than the night dew drops
凍てつく星の闇へ 紡ぐ祈りが
Weaving prayers to the dark of the freezing star
遠いあなたのそらに 届くように…
Hoping they will reach your distant sky...
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.