Yaguchi Mari - Kaze wo Sagashite

[tsukinobyouin]

So Mari has done the new opening theme for One Piece, "Kaze wo Sagashite."



Youtube preview here





She's also a voice actress in the series as "Youko." I don't watch the show, so I have no idea how big of a role that is, but it sounds like a regular character. She has a few blog entries about it, which H!O has translated here. You'll have to scroll a long way down. Beware of rampant misono.



The song isn't doing much for me. It seems very generic 90s anime theme-ish, which is odd in comparison to some of the more rockish and mainstream pop themes the show has had in the past (Janne da Arc, Tackey & Tsubasa, News, TVXQ, Dreams Come True, Bump of Chicken, etc.).

[neshcom]

:click: :GIGANTICWATERMELONBIGFACE: <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... omgwtf.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



The song is nice, but she's got a lot of backup. I'm really liking it. It sounds like a Hexagon-type song, doesn't it?

[EmEl]

[quote name='neshcom' post='71802' date='Nov 16 2009, 10:00 AM']The song is nice, but she's got a lot of backup. I'm really liking it. It sounds like a Hexagon-type song, doesn't it?[/quote]

I think it actually is a Hexagon Group just with her providing the main vocals? Right? No? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Didn't she also do a voice for One Piece before? I guess now that I'm looking it up says she did some movie.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='EmEl' post='71803' date='Nov 16 2009, 11:47 AM'][quote name='neshcom' post='71802' date='Nov 16 2009, 10:00 AM']The song is nice, but she's got a lot of backup. I'm really liking it. It sounds like a Hexagon-type song, doesn't it?[/quote]

I think it actually is a Hexagon Group just with her providing the main vocals? Right? No? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[/quote]



The blog I found this news on hinted at that, but there wasn't any concrete info and I couldn't find another source that mentioned it, so I just left it out. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> Strangely, the opening sequence just names the song and doesn't list who it's by.

[Melon]

[quote name='TnB' post='71801' date='Nov 16 2009, 09:45 AM']She's also a voice actress in the series as "Youko." I don't watch the show, so I have no idea how big of a role that is, but it sounds like a regular character. She has a few blog entries about it, which H!O has translated here. You'll have to scroll a long way down. Beware of rampant misono.[/quote]



As soon as I read the title I knew it'd be a dream come true for her! :3 Her freakout in her blog was so adorable! She was so excited! Awwwww~



As a side note, is there some misono inside joke I missed? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> I'm so confused seeing it in various threads.*



She sounds a ton better here than what she did in her other single. I don't mind generic 90s anime since it's better than today's anime... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> Nostalgia aside, it's an alright song, very sweet sounding. I wish they would've given her a bit more punch to the song though. Hopefully a longer version fixes that problem. She reminds me of Shimokawa Mikuni in this song, both sing with a sweet tone to their voice, if that makes any sense.



[tinytext]I like it waaaay better than JdA's theme, which is so horrible I wish they would strike it from their discography. Not only did it ruin a good album, but it also took over in concerts! D: Kiyo's songs were always shit though, I don't know why they let his stuff through.[/tinytext]



*Or maybe it was only two...

[EmEl]

[quote name='Petit Melon' post='71807' date='Nov 16 2009, 02:38 PM']As a side note, is there some misono inside joke I missed? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> I'm so confused seeing it in various threads.*[/quote]

She's just fat. No joke.

[Tsuki]

[quote name='EmEl' post='71808' date='Nov 16 2009, 03:45 PM'][quote name='Petit Melon' post='71807' date='Nov 16 2009, 02:38 PM']As a side note, is there some misono inside joke I missed? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> I'm so confused seeing it in various threads.*[/quote]

She's just fat. No joke.

[/quote]

Amen to that. Only thing worse than a misono is a fat misono and unfortunately they always come hand in hand.

[neshcom]

[quote name='Tsuki' post='71809' date='Nov 16 2009, 04:27 PM'][quote name='EmEl' post='71808' date='Nov 16 2009, 03:45 PM'][quote name='Petit Melon' post='71807' date='Nov 16 2009, 02:38 PM']As a side note, is there some misono inside joke I missed? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> I'm so confused seeing it in various threads.*[/quote]

She's just fat. No joke.

[/quote]

Amen to that. Only thing worse than a misono is a fat misono and unfortunately they always come hand in hand.

[/quote]

To be fair, you need two hands for ANY misono.

[Pflaume]

Misono's just a bitch.



Anyway, the first thing I thought was "Awww, she must be SO excited!"



She fangirls over One Piece nonstop. I love you, Mari. Congratulations baby. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /heart.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Edit: Uh, I actually listened to the song now. It's OK. I really just care that Mari is happy. I am such a dork. I could totally play Katamari Damacy to this, though?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Man, the comments on that video are funny. People get so worked up over their cartoons.



It's a nice song. Mari's adorable. I'm happy for her. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' />



Also:

[eri]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='71826' date='Nov 16 2009, 08:30 PM']Man, the comments on that video are funny. People get so worked up over their cartoons.



It's a nice song. Mari's adorable. I'm happy for her. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' />



Also:



[/quote]

Chubby girls are still cute.



Yay for Mari, who I only appreciated when it was too too late.

[thamychan]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='71826' date='Nov 17 2009, 01:30 PM']Also:



[/quote]



Poor dog, its eyes are so begging to be left alone... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' />



But congratulations to Mari! And I also read it was a Hexagon song, plus it does sound like them, actually the opening reminds me of some of Satoda's song but I can't point out which. It is not as good for me as Seishun Boku but it is another chance to hear Mari again! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/meh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />

[tsukinobyouin]

Bump!



More info - the unit doing this song is called "Yaguchi Mari to Straw Hat," so those background people are in fact Hexigon people. Here's the cover:

img694743ddzik4zj.jpg

Still no release date.

[thamychan]

Cute! Go, Mari! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ohyeah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':geof:' /> Misono is not there, is she?

[neshcom]

[quote name='TnB' post='72835' date='Dec 9 2009, 09:23 AM']Bump!



More info - the unit doing this song is called "Yaguchi Mari to Straw Hat," so those background people are in fact Hexigon people. Here's the cover:



[attachment=97:img694743ddzik4zj.jpg]



Still no release date.[/quote]

Adorable! She's even on there twice! Is that Satoda Mai I see too?



[quote name='JSp' post='72843' date='Dec 9 2009, 11:21 AM']Misono is not there, is she?[/quote]

She's behind all the wanted posters. She has her hand around Mari, but they didn't want to stick an explicit material label on the box, so they added 8 people.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='neshcom' post='72844' date='Dec 9 2009, 12:09 PM']Adorable! She's even on there twice! Is that Satoda Mai I see too?[/quote]



Nope =/ That's Osawa Akane, if you're looking at the girl in the top right corner. I did some more poking around and found the list of members.



Wanted posters top row:

Yaguchi Mari, Shinagawa Hiroshi (of Shinagawa Shouji), Motoki Daisuke, Osawa Akane

2nd row:

Yamane Yoshiaki (of Ungirls), Chris Matsumura

Bottom row:

Haranishi Takayuki (of FUJIWARA), Satou Rika, Okada Keisuke (of Masuda Okada)



There's another picture of them all here, which makes Satou Rika look a lot like Airi.

[thamychan]

Thank you, TnB! That Satou Rika actually looks like Takahashi to me because of the hairstyle but I can also see a lot of Airi. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':geof:' /> But she's cute, I think... Anyway, Mari is still the best! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':geof:' />

[thamychan]

There is a live performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmofK4m8qQ



Oh, and the group has a release date (01/13) and a website too, under Avex: http://avexnet.or.jp/yaguchimariwithstrawhat/

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='JSp' post='72942' date='Dec 10 2009, 07:58 PM']There is a live performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmofK4m8qQ



Oh, and the group has a release date (01/13) and a website too, under Avex: http://avexnet.or.jp/yaguchimariwithstrawhat/[/quote]



I like how one guy is replaced with a cardboard cut-out <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' /> And Yamane has a pimp cane. The silly performance has made the song grow on me a little, but it's still kind of bland overall.

[lextenou]

For the first minute of the song, I couldn't figure out why it was familiar, then I had a random thought that brought it all together.



It reminds me of the Disney stage shows. The ones performing original songs in the theme parks. *happy sigh* I loved those.



Of course, now I want to dress like a random cowboy pirate.

[tsukinobyouin]

The PV is out. It's kind of lame, just performance shots mixed with a few green screen shots of them in front of Wanted posters.

[Tsujiji]

[quote name='TnB' post='73406' date='Dec 30 2009, 06:17 AM']The PV is out. It's kind of lame, just performance shots mixed with a few green screen shots of them in front of Wanted posters.[/quote]

That was pretty lame indeed~



The One Piece nerd in me wants to know who's supposed to represent who though~~ There's obvious ones, than not so much obvious ones~ <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> This is what I came up with:



Luffy →Mari

Zoro → Hiroshi

Brook → Yamane

Sanji → Motoki

?Nami → Akane (could be reversed with ↓ ?)

?Robin → Rika (could be reversed with ↑ ?)

?Frankie → Takayuki (I think? Based on the chain his neck)

?Usopp → Okada (Just a guess because of the googles)

?Chopper → Chris (..because he's petite for a dude? (joking) I honestly can't figure out why though~)





EDIT:

Going back and watching WANTED poster part of the pv one more time, i think I got it right.