The duo consists of Arika Takarano (real name: Ari Hironaga, born 28th September 1963 in Kumamoto, Japan, vocals & lyrics) and Mikiya Katakura (born 1st August in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan, music).
Never listed as official members, but always mentioned in the albums' booklets, violinists Yu Sugino and Tuyoshi Watanabe are a vital part of this duo.
Katakura met Takarano in 1985 when he just graduated from music school and was looking for a singer. As ARI PUROJEKKUTO, they released their first song Sakura no Hana ha Kuruizaki on a compilation CD named Rebel Street IV ~Some Girls one year later. Their first album Gensou Teien was released in 1988.
However, they made their major debut in 1992 as ALI PROJECT.
In the late 90s, they decided to shift their artistry to a much darker direction which Takarano referred to as a switch from Shiro Ari to Kuro Ari, they stick to the Kuro Ari concept ever since.
ALI PROJECT makes music regularly to this date which is generally highly influenced by Classical music, yet Katakura's love for experimenting is obvious. He makes heavy use of synthesizers and likes to intergrate key elements from other, often contemporary music styles and genres such as Rock, Metal, Hip Hop or even Drum 'n' Bass.
Their music's distinct sound is driven by a well-made mix of synthetic and organic, always complemented by Takarano's highly complex lyrics and clean vocals.
They developed a signature sound for Anime related work though.
鎮魂頌
ALI PROJECT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
守りぬくため
僕らは命を
投げ出せるだろうか
この手に握る
平和という名の
剣をかざして
生まれくる前の我
それは今ここに
眠る英霊か
真白き鳩が
舞い降りるたび
さわぐ梢の間
真昼の月
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君 我の代わり生きよと
頭を垂れて
祈りつづける
老いし人の背に
ゆらいだ陽炎
終わりなき悲しみを
包み抱くのは
誰が眼差しか
蝉時雨だけが
降り注ぐ日の
まばゆい空の
青さが染みる
さまよう心
呼び戻した地に
優しい姉のような
唄を聞く
ああ君 死にたもうことなかれと
真白き鳩が
飛び立ってゆく
翼の先の
光に向かい
忘れることなき
涙の川の
果てない流れを
人は渡り
生きる果敢なさ
生きる尊さを
巡る時のなか
僕らは知る
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君よ 己がため強くあれ
The lyrics to ALI PROJECT's song 鎮魂頌 (Requiem) are a reflection on the sacrifices made in the name of protecting love and peace. The singer asks if they would be willing to sacrifice their own life to protect those they love, and whether they would be willing to fight for peace with the sword of justice. The lyrics also speak to the idea of ancestor veneration, referencing the spirits of those who have come before and may be watching over them. The image of a white dove and the midday moon create a sense of peace and tranquility, while the cicada chorus represents the fleeting nature of life.
Later on in the song, the singer describes a journey through a twisting path that ultimately leads to a place where they can hear the voice of a lost loved one. This loved one encourages them to live on and not give up, and the singer reflects on the endless sadness that can be found in life, as well as the importance of cherishing the moments of beauty along the way. The song ends with the image of a white dove flying towards the light, a nod to the idea of the soul being released from the body after death.
Line by Line Meaning
愛する者を
For the sake of those we love,
守りぬくため
can we sacrifice our lives?
僕らは命を
In our hands,
投げ出せるだろうか
do we hold the sword of peace or wield a weapon of war?
この手に握る
Are we the spirits of the ancestors
平和という名の
sleeping here and now?
剣をかざして
Every time a white dove dances down
戦うのだろうか
between rustling leaves and the midday moon,
生まれくる前の我
do we hear the voice of an older brother
それは今ここに
in a place we've come upon,
眠る英霊か
saying "you, live for me"?
真白き鳩が
Praying with our heads down,
舞い降りるたび
swaying heat waves on the backs of senior folks,
さわぐ梢の間
who's the one staring at boundless grief?
真昼の月
Only on days when the cicadas' haven falls,
迷える小径
does the blue sky's color leave a stain
たどりついた地で
in the eternally flowing river of our tears
遠い兄のような
In time's rotation,
声を聞く
we come upon a kind older sister
ああ君 我の代わり生きよと
who tells us, "Do not seek death"?
頭を垂れて
As the pure white dove takes flight,
祈りつづける
its wings aimed at the light beyond,
老いし人の背に
We realize the bravery of living,
ゆらいだ陽炎
the dignity of existence
終わりなき悲しみを
In a place where our lost hearts wander,
包み抱くのは
we hear the voice of a distant brother
誰が眼差しか
as we reach the end of a winding road
蝉時雨だけが
Only on days when summer raindrops fall,
降り注ぐ日の
do we hear the song of a gentle older sister
まばゆい空の
who tells us, "Be strong for yourself"?
青さが染みる
As the pure white dove takes flight,
さまよう心
its wings aimed at the light beyond,
呼び戻した地に
we realize the bravery of living,
優しい姉のような
the dignity of existence,
唄を聞く
In time's rotation,
ああ君 死にたもうことなかれと
we come across a kind older sister,
真白き鳩が
who tells us, "Be strong for yourself"?
飛び立ってゆく
As the pure white dove takes flight,
翼の先の
its wings aimed at the light beyond,
光に向かい
we realize the bravery of living,
忘れることなき
crossing our tears' endlessly flowing river,
涙の川の
we feel the bravery of living,
果てない流れを
the dignity of existence,
人は渡り
through time's rotation.
生きる果敢なさ
In a place where our lost hearts wander,
生きる尊さを
we hear the voice of a distant brother
巡る時のなか
as we reach the end of a winding road,
僕らは知る
who's the one staring at boundless grief?
迷える小径
Only on days when summer raindrops fall,
たどりついた地で
do we hear the song of a gentle older sister
遠い兄のような
who tells us, "Be strong for yourself"?
声を聞く
As the pure white dove takes flight
ああ君よ 己がため強くあれ
its wings aimed at the light beyond.
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
小愛
愛する者を
守りぬくため
僕らは命を
投げ出せるだろうか
この手に握る
平和という名の
剣をかざして
戦うのだろうか
生まれくる前の我
それは今ここに
眠る英霊か
真白き鳩が
舞い降りるたび
さわぐ梢の間
真昼の月
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君 我の代わり生きよと
頭を垂れて
祈りつづける
老いし人の背に
ゆらいだ陽炎
終わりなき悲しみを
包み抱くのは
誰が眼差しか
蝉時雨だけが
降り注ぐ日の
まばゆい空の
青さが染みる
さまよう心
呼び戻した地に
優しい姉のような
唄を聞く
ああ君 死にたもうことなかれと
真白き鳩が
飛び立ってゆく
翼の先の
光に向かい
忘れることなき
涙の川の
果てない流れを
人は渡り
生きる果敢なさ
生きる尊さを
巡る時のなか
僕らは知る
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君よ 己がため強くあれ
Xoruam
The translation is absolute shit, therefore here is my own:
Will we be able
To throw away our lives
For the sake of protecting
Those that we love?
And will we be able
To fight, brandishing
In those hands
A sword called "peace"?
Us before being born
Those are the brave souls
Sleeping right here and now
Everytime a pure-white dove
Soars down to a tree
The branch rustles
Showing the moon in the midday sky
After losing my way
And arriving at the destined land
I hear something like a voice
Of a distant elder brother
"You go on, and live my share"
Hot air shimmering
Above the back of an old man
Hanging his head
And praying
Whose purpose is it
To embrace and hold
An endless sadness?
On those days
When the only thing that rains
Is the sound of cicadas
The dazzling azure of the sky penetrates [my heart]
From the land that calls
My wandering heart back
I hear something like a voice
Of a gentle elder sister
"Please don't die..."
Everytime a pure-white dove
Takes to the skies
It turns towards the light
At the tips of its wings
People are crossing
The endless flow
Of river of tears
That cannot be forgotten
The fragility of life
The value of life
We learn of those
In the endless flow of time
After losing my way
And arriving at the destined land
I hear something like a voice
Of a distant elder brother
"Be strong for your own sake..."
Xoruam
A few notes:
3rd stanza:
I don't really know the meaning of. There might be some deeper connotation there which completely escaped me, the only thing that I can point out is that they use "Eirei" (Heroic spirits) in writing, but "Mitama" (Soul of the deceased). Also, Japanese believe in reincarnation, so there might be some connection there.
4th stanza:
It doesn't really say "Showing the moon", it just says "Midday moon". Also, it's used probably because of the fact that moon during the day is barely visible, it's evoking imagery of transience and fragility, as well as rarity and uniqueness. They also use one of those Japanese words I love as a poetic form, but have absolutely no idea how to translate: They join "Oriru" (To come down) and "Mau" (to dance), so it's "Coming down as if it was dancing".
8th stanza:
This one is interesting. In English, sound doesn't really fall from the sky, and AFAIK neither it does in Japanese, but the word "Semishigure" (Cicadas' chorus) literally means "A seasonal rain of cicadas". Since crying cicadas are associated with late summer, the author here is evoking the image of scorching august afternoon, with no clouds on the sky, therefore "Only cicadas' voice is falling and the brilliant azure of the sky penetrates my heart"
Nicho Chan
I've literally known this song for the past 13 years and I still come back a few times a year to listen to it.
小愛
愛する者を
守りぬくため
僕らは命を
投げ出せるだろうか
この手に握る
平和という名の
剣をかざして
戦うのだろうか
生まれくる前の我
それは今ここに
眠る英霊か
真白き鳩が
舞い降りるたび
さわぐ梢の間
真昼の月
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君 我の代わり生きよと
頭を垂れて
祈りつづける
老いし人の背に
ゆらいだ陽炎
終わりなき悲しみを
包み抱くのは
誰が眼差しか
蝉時雨だけが
降り注ぐ日の
まばゆい空の
青さが染みる
さまよう心
呼び戻した地に
優しい姉のような
唄を聞く
ああ君 死にたもうことなかれと
真白き鳩が
飛び立ってゆく
翼の先の
光に向かい
忘れることなき
涙の川の
果てない流れを
人は渡り
生きる果敢なさ
生きる尊さを
巡る時のなか
僕らは知る
迷える小径
たどりついた地で
遠い兄のような
声を聞く
ああ君よ 己がため強くあれ
BoysLove
I don't know what she is saying but the tone sounds as if it is sorrowful or something. It sounds beautiful as every Ali Project song does! <3
Mary42877
such a beautiful song^_^ one of my favourite ali project's songs.
まと
毎年終戦記念日に必ず聴きます。
今や戦争を身を以て体験した方々も少なくなったのもあり、戦争の悲惨さ、死の恐怖、愚かさをも知らぬ若者が、日本は戦争すべきだと言う某サイトのコメントを見て唖然としました。
たしかに今日では世界情勢も不安定、綺麗事を宣うわけにはいくまいとは思いますが、仮に日本が当時の軍国主義に戻った際、あなたは御国の為に死ねますか？と問いたい。
大切な人を守る為に、あなたは出征できますか？
できないと答えたら非国民と罵られ、切り捨てられるかもしれません。
あなたはどうしますか？
今日は終戦記念日でしたが、様々なことを思い巡らせています。こんなに考えてしまう自分はもしかしたら、前世で太平洋戦争の際、戦死した名もない日本兵なのかもしれません。
ただ一つ、言いたいのは、戦争はしてはならない。人間を人間でなくしてしまう。なにもかも失ってしまう。生命すらも。
Xoruam
The translation is absolute shit, therefore here is my own:
Will we be able
To throw away our lives
For the sake of protecting
Those that we love?
And will we be able
To fight, brandishing
In those hands
A sword called "peace"?
Us before being born
Those are the brave souls
Sleeping right here and now
Everytime a pure-white dove
Soars down to a tree
The branch rustles
Showing the moon in the midday sky
After losing my way
And arriving at the destined land
I hear something like a voice
Of a distant elder brother
"You go on, and live my share"
Hot air shimmering
Above the back of an old man
Hanging his head
And praying
Whose purpose is it
To embrace and hold
An endless sadness?
On those days
When the only thing that rains
Is the sound of cicadas
The dazzling azure of the sky penetrates [my heart]
From the land that calls
My wandering heart back
I hear something like a voice
Of a gentle elder sister
"Please don't die..."
Everytime a pure-white dove
Takes to the skies
It turns towards the light
At the tips of its wings
People are crossing
The endless flow
Of river of tears
That cannot be forgotten
The fragility of life
The value of life
We learn of those
In the endless flow of time
After losing my way
And arriving at the destined land
I hear something like a voice
Of a distant elder brother
"Be strong for your own sake..."
Xoruam
A few notes:
3rd stanza:
I don't really know the meaning of. There might be some deeper connotation there which completely escaped me, the only thing that I can point out is that they use "Eirei" (Heroic spirits) in writing, but "Mitama" (Soul of the deceased). Also, Japanese believe in reincarnation, so there might be some connection there.
4th stanza:
It doesn't really say "Showing the moon", it just says "Midday moon". Also, it's used probably because of the fact that moon during the day is barely visible, it's evoking imagery of transience and fragility, as well as rarity and uniqueness. They also use one of those Japanese words I love as a poetic form, but have absolutely no idea how to translate: They join "Oriru" (To come down) and "Mau" (to dance), so it's "Coming down as if it was dancing".
8th stanza:
This one is interesting. In English, sound doesn't really fall from the sky, and AFAIK neither it does in Japanese, but the word "Semishigure" (Cicadas' chorus) literally means "A seasonal rain of cicadas". Since crying cicadas are associated with late summer, the author here is evoking the image of scorching august afternoon, with no clouds on the sky, therefore "Only cicadas' voice is falling and the brilliant azure of the sky penetrates my heart"
Xoruam
On the other hand, this site (for anyone able to read moonrunes):
http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~alipro/chinkon_.html
Implies VERY heavy connotations with the war. How much of it was intended however, I do not know.
oooxoxox
前にアリカ様のサイトで歌詞が載せられていましたが、 戦争で大切なものを守るために散っていった方たちの 意思は、継いで行かなければならない。 私の祖父は健在ですが、元日本兵で死にかけたことも あったそうです。 私たちは大切なものの為に戦えるのでしょうか。
じゃがいも
ああ。何百回聞いてもいいわ。
何千でも聞けるわ。
いやむしろ聞いたかもしれん。