Why Heart-shaped Chant is my favourite Mizuki Nana song of 2007
So I got my Live Formula DVD from Amazon JP (great bargain there btw @ 4600yen, I’ll talk about it a little later, maybe) and I just had to re-live and share this mesmerizing moment:
It’s all about the arpa (Italian for harp) - the arpa in the composition adds another dimension to the music of the song which you don’t find often in your average pop-inspired anisong. The off vocal version of Heart-shaped Chant, one of the rare off vocals which I actually listen to, shows this off quite well, but watching it being performed live is yet another level altogether.
The arpa performer, both in the original score and in the video, is Agematsu Mika - she’s the sister of Elements Garden’s Agematsu Noriyasu (Eternal Blaze, Dancing in the velvet Moon etc) and is a renouned award winning professional arpa player. Her official page has an English version so you can read about her there. Apparently when they originally recorded the song, Agematsu Mika just went in to the studio and played her arpa impromptu. She deserves major credit for making Heart-shaped Chant into such a special song, without her arpa, I seriously doubt I would like the song as much as I currently do.
May 11th, 2008 at 02:51
I couldnt agree more. This performance of Heart Shaped Chant is of epic levels
May 11th, 2008 at 03:43
Watching the DVD now and that part was frickin’ awesome! Actually that whole section was probably one of my favs so far; just Nana-chan singing with minimum background music/effects.
Now I’m glad I ordered two copies. A dang steal for the price and included poster XD
May 11th, 2008 at 03:51
…successfully restrained myself from seeing the youtube link. Few more days until my DVD comes. Should’ve paid for fastest shipping cost. *slits wrist*
May 11th, 2008 at 04:35
> moyism
Nana’s accoustic corner in her concerts are always the highlight of her concerts. I loved how she whipped out and played the harmonica for Crystal Letter as well.
Out of curiosity, why two copies? XD
May 11th, 2008 at 05:13
Yea, the harmonica was definitely something out of left field but a nice treat nonetheless.
Bought two copies cause I’m crazy bout trying to get FP extra goods. Already had one copy on preorder but then I heard there may be some extras (i.e. poster) that I wasn’t sure I would get. So ordered a 2nd copy elsewhere that I knew would send me the stuff. Plus at ~65USD it wasn’t gonna kill me. Now that I’m watching through all of it (on the 3rd disc), it was definitely worth it. Especially considering how much footage you get compared to other R2 DVDs I’ve bought (I’m looking at you general anime and Animelo releases >_>)
May 11th, 2008 at 07:00
I’m reminded of the beautiful acoustic version of Hikari from Nana’s The Museum concert DVD. This is almost better.
Damn, we need her in the US badly!
May 11th, 2008 at 13:38
It is said that talent attracts its own kind. It certainly seems true, considering that Nana Mizuki has managed to assembled a group of similarly talented musicians to support and co-perform with her.
Hearing Nana’s live voice in harmony with such a well played harp was indeed a special moment, and once again proves that Nana Mizuki is leaps and bounds ahead of any other seiyuu-singers, where live-performance is concerned.
May 11th, 2008 at 19:38
Damn HMV send mine late again…
Aboust this song…
It’s a great performance but it could be better if there are “real strings” like original version. I didn’t see strings in this song but see in Orchestral Fantasia.
May 12th, 2008 at 23:50
When I first heard this months ago, I came for the harp and the 6/8 time signature (I think that’s the time signature, but correct me if I’m wrong), and stayed for Nana’s awesome vocals.
May 12th, 2008 at 23:50
When I first heard this months ago, I came for the harp and the 6/8 time signature (I think that’s the time signature, but correct me if I’m wrong), and stayed for Nana’s awesome vocals. Definitely my favorite track from her. :3
May 13th, 2008 at 02:17
this one was one hell of a post, I can’t wait to see the DVD. Btw, I became really interested in the arpa player so I visited her website. To my surprise, it’s not only in japanese and english, but it also features spanish titles. I tried to find out what http://www.agematsu-mika.jp/english/tesorito/index.html this was (”tesorito”, it seems like some sort of guestbook) but I couldn’t, since the fields are in japanese. Could you help me on this one ?
May 13th, 2008 at 02:58
Darn…. my DVD finally arrived yesterday and i can only say WOW after viewing it. The live performace for heart-shaped chant and pray is totally AMAZING. :)
May 13th, 2008 at 04:08
> Sebastian
Well according to the page “tesorito” means treasure in Spanish, and that part is actually for applying to join her fanclub. The form is for people wanting to join her fanclub to fill in.
May 13th, 2008 at 23:59
Yeah, I know what it means since I’m a spanish speaker, sorry if I didn’t make myself clear. I was surprised for that very same reason (she’s from South America, same as me) and as a consequence became interested in signing a guestbook. Anyway, you did help me to find out that it wasn’t a guestbook (too baD), so indirectly you did answer my question. Thanks!
May 15th, 2008 at 16:10
Finally, she got No.1 in Oricon weekly chart ?
http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dm/w/