Although both perform under the FJ title and are collaborations with Kajiura, they are separate projects. FictionJunction songs have been featured in anime series such as Gundam Seed, Ookami Kakushi, and most recently Sacred Seven. As of August 2013 there are five vocalists: Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuuka Nanri and Yuriko Kaida. Their concerts are typically titled "Yuki Kajiura Live" and include a backing band with Kajiura herself on keyboard.
Each member is credited with her own project name, except for Yuriko Kaida. They are presented in alphabetical order:
FictionJunction Kaori, with vocalist Kaori Oda (織田かおり). The duo performed two insert songs, "Tsubasa" and "Dream Scape", which were used in Tsubasa Chronicle. "Calling" was chosen as the ending for the anime series Baccano! and "Hanamori no Oka" (花守の丘 "Hill of the Flower Guardian"?), was used in Hokuto no Ken: Toki Den.
FictionJunction Keiko, with vocalist Keiko Kubota (窪田啓子). "Kaze no Machi e" (風の街へ?, "To the City of Wind") was used as an insert song in episodes 19 and 21 of Tsubasa Chronicle, and "Nohara" (野原?, "Field") was the B-side for the FictionJunction single "Toki no Mukou, Maboroshi no Sora". Vocalist Keiko Kubota is a member of Kalafina, another singing group created by Kajiura.
FictionJunction Wakana, with vocalist: Wakana Ootaki (大滝若菜). They performed two songs for the original soundtrack of Fist of the North Star True Saviour Legend: "Hikari no Yukue" (光の行方?, "Where the Lights Are") and the Japanese version of "Where the Lights Are" bonus track. FJ Wakana sang "Paradise Regained" (an insert song for El Cazador de la Bruja) and in the Pandora Hearts soundtrack. Vocalist Wakana Ootaki is also involved in Kalafina.
FictionJunction Yuuka, with vocalist: Yuuka Nanri (南里 侑香). Kajiura’s first, longest and best-known collaboration under the FictionJunction name. The project was originally titled "FictionJunction featuring Yuuka", but the "featuring" part was later dropped to shorten the name.[3] So far, they have released several singles and two full-length albums. Yuuka can also be heard in the Madlax OST.
Yuriko Kaida (貝田由里子). She first collaborated with Kajiura for the Noir soundtrack, in which she sang the songs that helped launched Kajiura's career: "Canta per me," "Salva nos" and "Lullaby." Since then Yuriko Kaida has provided vocals for many of Kajiura’s works, mainly as background chorus. Yuriko Kaida became a main FictionJunction vocalist until 2009, upon the release of the album "Everlasting Songs" and the single "Parallel Hearts.", lending her voice to “here we stand in the morning dew” and “Himitsu” in "Everlasting Songs" and providing vocals throughout the album.
FictionJunction Asuka, with vocalist Asuka Kato (加藤あすか). They performed "Everlasting Song", an insert song from anime series Elemental Gelade. Originally sung in English, "Everlasting Song" was re-recorded in Japanese and released as a single in 2005. It reached number 53 on the Oricon weekly chart and remained ranked for three weeks. As of 2012, Kato is working on her solo projects as Aira Yuhki and is no longer a FictionJunction singer.
Albums:
- "Everlasting Songs", announced November 20, 2008, features all FictionJunction vocalists: Yuuka, Keiko, Wakana, Kaori, Asuka, and Yuriko Kaida. It was released on February 25, 2009.
- "FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live". The album contains recordings from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2: 5. Tracks 1-4 on Disc 1 are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2. Tracks 5-8 are from Yuki Kajiura LIVE Vol.#3. Tracks 9-11 (FictionJunction Yuuka) and tracks 12-14 (FictionJunction) are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009. The whole tracks of Disc 2 are new performances that have never been heard on DVDs and are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#5: Japanese Seal SP Live. Hikaru of Kalafina and Yuriko Kaida performed the chorus in tracks 9-11 on Disc 1.
Storytelling
FictionJunction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
小さな星の欠片
まだここにある
涙になるのかヒカリになるのか
明日になれば
消えてしまうだろう
夢と希望と哀しみに満たされて
少し取りこぼしても
無理矢理手に取ったものだっていいよ
カタコトのまま
夢は叶うだろう
このままずっとずっと……
夏だけが煌めいて
何かそんな風に信じて
行けるかも
愛の無いうたのような
日々だってここにある
何かが始まる
同じ話だけ
繰り返してるけど
旅人のような気持ちでいたいんだよ
何処か浮ついて
「初めて」を持て余して
無邪気な涙も
まだ軽い恋も
明日になれば
消えてしまうかな
いきなり降って湧いて夏になって
気のせいでもいいから
理由(わけ)もなく幸福(しあわせ)になる
ときもある
難しいうたのように
この日々は続いてく
もうすぐ
奇麗な和音(コード)が
始まる
咲いてみたくて
ふいに笑う
恋のようになる
こともある
小さな
今日の
物語
このままずっとずっと……
君の手を離さずに
何かそんな風に信じる
ときもある
思い出と慰めを
振り払って行けるかも
もうすぐ
新しいうたが
始まる
聞こえて来る
The song "storytelling" by FictionJunction tells a story of a small fragment of a star that falls into a corner of a quiet night. The lyrics contemplate whether the fragment will become a tear or a light and acknowledge that it will likely disappear by tomorrow. The song then reflects upon the themes of dreams, hope, and sadness and how they all lead to the journey of life. The lyrics encourage the listener to go on this journey, even if some things may slip out of their grasp, as dreams can come true. The song recognizes that life can be full of repetition and routine, but it is important to maintain a traveler's mindset and keep moving forward, even if one feels lost. The lyrics also acknowledge that life can be filled with moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting they may be. The end of the song promises the beginning of a new melody, and encourages the listener to keep holding on.
Line by Line Meaning
静かな夜の片隅に落ちてた
A small piece of a quiet night's starfall that still remains here.
小さな星の欠片
A small piece of a star.
まだここにある
It is still here.
涙になるのかヒカリになるのか
Will it become tears or light?
明日になれば消えてしまうだろう
Tomorrow, it may have disappeared.
夢と希望と哀しみに満たされて
Filled with dreams, hopes and sadness.
最短の距離で行こう
Let's go the shortest distance.
少し取りこぼしても
Even if we miss something.
無理矢理手に取ったものだっていいよ
It's OK to force something into our hands.
カタコトのまま夢は叶うだろう
Even with our clumsy words, our dreams will come true.
このままずっとずっと……夏だけが煌めいて
Forever, only the summer shines.
何かそんな風に信じて行けるかも
Believing in something like that, we might be able to go on.
愛の無いうたのような日々だってここにある
Even days without love exist here.
何かが始まる
Something is starting.
同じ話だけ繰り返してるけど
Though we're just repeating the same story.
旅人のような気持ちでいたいんだよ
I want to feel like a traveler.
何処か浮ついて「初めて」を持て余して
Somewhere, feeling restless, and struggling with first times.
無邪気な涙もまだ軽い恋も明日になれば消えてしまうかな
Even innocent tears and light love may disappear tomorrow.
いきなり降って湧いて夏になって
Suddenly pouring and becoming summer.
気のせいでもいいから
It's okay if it's just my imagination.
理由(わけ)もなく幸福(しあわせ)になるときもある
Sometimes we become happy for no reason.
難しいうたのようにこの日々は続いてく
These days continue like a difficult song.
もうすぐ奇麗な和音(コード)が始まる
Soon a beautiful chord will begin.
咲いてみたくてふいに笑う
Wanting to bloom, and suddenly laughing.
恋のようになることもある
Sometimes we fall in love.
小さな今日の物語
A small story of today.
このままずっとずっと……君の手を離さずに
Forever, never letting go of your hand.
何かそんな風に信じるときもある
Sometimes we believe in something like that.
思い出と慰めを振り払って行けるかも
We might be able to shake off memories and comfort as we go.
もうすぐ新しいうたが始まる
Soon a new song will begin.
聞こえて来る
I can hear it.
Writer(s): 島崎 貴光, Popy
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.