Her music has also been featured in several other studio Key visual novels alongside collaborations with 麻枝准, such as Tomoyo After ~It's a Wonderful Life~ (智代アフター ~It's a Wonderful Life~), Clannad & Clannad Afterstory, and Angel Beats. Her voice and music has also been sampled in games and anime, like Beatmania IIDX, RFOnline, and Gunslinger Girl.
Lia started out with I've Sound, appearing on I've Girls Compilation vol. 2 「verge」with 鳥の詩 -short ver.- She then released her first single with I've, SHIFT -sedai no mukou- (SHIFT -世代の向こう-). After this she released her final song with I've, Disintegration, on the compilation of the same name.
During the two year transition to her current label, Queen's Label, she has been featured on several happy hardcore and trance compilation. The enigmatic LIA albums, are examples of this. Her debut solo album on Queen's Label is the album prismatic. Since then she has released three more albums: Colors of Life, gift, and dearly. Colors of Life and gift show yet another side of Lia: classical, thanks to composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (崎元仁).
In 2007, Lia released a compilation box set titled 'Lia & LIA COLLECTION ALBUM-Special Limited BOX-'. The box set includes 3 volumes: Vol.1-「Diamond Days」, Vol.2-「Crystal Voice」 and Vol.3-「SPECTRUM RAYS」.
Both 「Diamond Days」 and 「Crystal Voice」 contain most of Lia's works from I've Sound (Light Colors, Tori no Uta, Farewell Song, etc.) as well as other songs, whilst 「SPECTRUM RAYS」 consists of her trance style, including remixes of songs from the previous volumes, such as Tori no Uta.
荒城の月
Lia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
めぐる盃 かげさして
千代の松が枝 わけ出でし
むかしの光 いまいずこ
秋 陣営の 霜の色
鳴きゆく雁の 数見せて
むかしの光 いまいずこ
今 荒城の 夜半の月
かわらぬ光 誰がためぞ
垣に残るは ただかつら
松にうたうは ただ嵐
天上 影は 変らねど
栄枯は移る 世のすがた
写さんとてか 今もなお
ああ荒城の 夜半の月
The lyrics of Lia's song 荒城の月 portrays a poetic description of the seasons of spring, autumn and the present time, with different symbols and expressions to depict each of them. The first stanza of the song talks about a beautiful gathering during the spring season in which people are sharing drinks and admiring the blooming flowers. The second lines of the stanza, "千代の松が枝 わけ出でし" (shidai no matsu ga eda wakeideshi), implies that the invincible spirit of the pine tree has been passed down from previous generations.
The second stanza shifts to autumn where the singer describes the beautiful sight of geese flying in formation while showing the number of them. The following line "植うる剣に 照りそいし" (uuruken ni terisoi shi) symbolizes the reflection of a shining sword that represents valor and courage, which still remains unchanged from its previous time. Finally, the last stanza of the song describes the present time in which the moon rises over the ruins of the fortress, and the singer it is unclear to whom that undying light is dedicated to.
Overall Lia's song, 荒城の月 is a beautifully written and composed piece, that uses nature and symbols to express a deeper meaning beyond the words.
Line by Line Meaning
春 高楼の 花の宴
During the spring, there is a grand feast in the high tower, surrounded by the beauty of the flowers.
めぐる盃 かげさして
While passing around cups of sake and sharing them, the shadow cast by them is a reminder of the transience of life.
千代の松が枝 わけ出でし
The pine branches that have lasted for generations have become the symbol of the town.
むかしの光 いまいずこ
The light of the past has disappeared, and it is uncertain where it has gone.
秋 陣営の 霜の色
In the autumn, there is a color of frost in the military encampment.
鳴きゆく雁の 数見せて
The number of geese that fly away while crying is a reminder of the fleetingness of life.
植うる剣に 照りそいし
The bright light reflected on the polished sword reminds us of the valor and glory of the past.
今 荒城の 夜半の月
Now, the midnight moon over the abandoned castle ruins brings the memories of the past.
かわらぬ光 誰がためぞ
The unchanging light illuminates the darkness for whom?
垣に残るは ただかつら
The only thing remaining are the ruined walls decorated with thorny bushes.
松にうたうは ただ嵐
The winds only sing to the pine trees.
天上 影は 変らねど
Although the shadows in the heavens never change, the world on earth is always changing.
栄枯は移る 世のすがた
The world always changes, and the prosperity and decline of individuals also follow it.
写さんとてか 今もなお
Even though times have changed, the song of the midnight moon over the deserted castle still echoes today.
ああ荒城の 夜半の月
Ah, the midnight moon over the abandoned castle ruins.
Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.