→Unfinished→ English Ver.

Speaking of lyrics…

KOTOKO’s latest full solo album is called Kuchu Puzzle. The limited edition version of the thing is actually loaded with bonus stuff, except you wouldn’t be able to tell just by looking since it sits in a standard clear slipcase form factor. Continuing the trend from her last album there’s this art project angle to this that makes me scratch my head, as the cover of the LE version is an actual jigsaw puzzle, but it’s KOTOKO so who am I to complain?

One of the bonus item is a bonus CD. In a single clear jewel case, the sheet of paper on the cover says as much: “→Unfinished→ -English Ver. KOTOKO”…

If you didn’t know, →unfinished→ is a collab between KOTOKO and Sats, who is most notable for being the guy behind Fripside and Ultima. He wrote and arranged the song, while KOTOKO furnished it with lyrics and vocals. In the English version of →unfinished→ (which somehow uses a capital U instead of a lower case u) motsu translated the song into English and KOTOKO sang it. I am someone who likes the original version of this song. I wish I was unapologetic about liking this song–it’s very Sats–but I certainly cannot hide this fact. I certainly can’t hide it after typing up some song lyrics.

My impression? I like how it’s in English. But while the lyrics retain the meanings for the most part, it lost a lot of what made it signature KOTOKO. Instead, it’s very much like motsu’s other works. The anison rapper is most notable for his English skills, and of course, rapping skills. And the ability to do push-ups. I don’t know, but the active half of MOVE has his own signature touches and phrase choices, and it feels very motsu at times, in this version. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely different.

KOTOKO’s delivery is pretty okay. I mean, I am in no place to say anything LOL. There is already an extensive block of English in the original version of this song so you should have an idea of how it would be like if KOTOKO just kept rolling.

→Unfinished→ English ver.
Lyrics: KOTOKO English Translation: motsu Music & Arrange: Satoshi Yaginuma

Hurry up, hurry up, to your place hurry up
It’s a voice in my mind, makes me run so fast
What am I chasing for? how can I overcome?
All I got to do is accelerate for you

*
we are tossed by the waves of pain and tears
I’m tossed into the fray
..tossed by various fortune
wake up your brain!
flashed in the sky
It’s a burst of sensation

Forgot to stand up long ago
Didn’t know just how to try again
Since when I haven’t had my voice?
Although it was a beautiful silence

So when I was down on my knees
You came up and made me see
The view that was monochrome
Suddenly turned into full of colors

Now that I wish you are just the way you are
Now that I wish you never stop going through the world
Let your voice be so free, baby send it for me
Oh anytime we are connected through the blue sky

**
Moving up, moving up, to the place moving up
Your heart, my heart, now that they start moving up
To the touch, to the feel, wanna know everything
With the spiritual sense of my world
Hurry up, hurry up, to the place hurry up
It’s a voice in my mind, makes me run so fast
What am I chasing for? how can I overcome?
All I got to do is accelerate for you

(* Repeat)

Staring at the darkness
Tell me what are you looking for
Struggle inside of yourself
It’s now that I can feel you more and more

It’s no one but you that I have in my heart
It’s no one but you that I can share the whole of my life
in a virtual paradise, it’s an unstable life
Oh only we have to do is believe each other

(** Repeat)

You would cry for me, I will smile for you
For your eyes that I adore, wanna make them shine more
Heart beat with the heat now it goes so deep
The unfinished dream will come true

Moving up, moving up, to the place moving up
Your heart, my heart, now that they start moving up
To the touch, to the feel, wanna know everything
With the spiritual sense of my world
Hurry up, hurry up, to the place hurry up
It’s a voice in my mind, makes me run so fast
What am I chasing for? how can I overcome?
All I got to do is accelerate for you
All I got to do is accelerate for you

(*2 Repeat)

Guitar: a2c
Recorded & Mixed by Satoshi Yaginuma
Vocal Direction: motsu
Recorded at Sunset Studio, Geimori Bee Studio
Recording Engineer: Yoshiaki Kato (S-prism), Keizo Matsumoto (m-size)
Assistant Engineer: Kai Kawasaki

Special Thanks: Keisuke Taguchi (Avex Management Inc.)