Included in the BD "LIVE - LEGEND I, D, Z, APOCALYPSE -" (released on 2013 Nov. 20), also included in the limited edition "Ki", "Tsu" and "Ne" of "MEGITSUNE" respectively (released on 2013 Jun. 19).
These are the introductory narrations for their live performances.
Overture for Legend "I" on 2012 Oct. 6th
Recently the world was ruled by the big power "Idols" with their overwhelming magic.
Including "the media", "the politics", "the economy", all were controlled by the Idols...
The music other than the idol songs was seen as harmful, and the metal was not an exception.
The metallers who were robbed of their soul prayed for the restoration of the metal.
Before long, the prayers reached "the Fox God" who is in charge of the metal.
The Fox God named three girls, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL,
"BABYMETAL" meaning "the birth of the new metal",
and, as the dark heroines of the idol scene, has sent them down to this world.
Everyone, soon comes the opening of "the Metal Resistance"!
Overture for Legend "D" on 2012 Dec. 20th
"The Metal Resistance"
It is the holy war.
It is the holy light-of-night.
Silent Night, Holy Night.
Now is the time when the big power "Idols" are in their heyday.
This is the world where the music other than the idol songs is persecuted.
The prayers of the apostles that wish the restoration of the metal
reached "the Fox God" who is in charge of the metal.
The Fox God, aiming to restore the soul of the metal,
summoned three girls, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL,
named them "BABYMETAL",
and, as the dark heroines of idol scene, has sent them down to this world.
BABYMETAL is the incarnation of the Fox God.
The descent of the god needs no words.
BABYMETAL is the incarnation of the Fox God.
The descent of the god is never permanent.
Everyone, the signal fire for "the Metal Resistance" has been sent up!!
Overture for Legend "Z" on 2013 Feb. 1st
Long, long and long ago,
there was a girl who stood up against the big power "Idols" and fought bravely.
"The Crimson Seven Days"
After the fight, the girl's soul became "the Crimson Flame",
and continued blazing for seven days.
Then, the girl's soul went up guided by Fox-Squirrel.
When, above the Valley of the Metal, the Golden Moon overlaps the Crimson Sun,
the goddess veiled in holy flame shall revive again.
ROMAJI TRANSCRIPTION AND NOTES ARE BELOW.
[i] About the Narrations
These are narrated with BGM and several painted pictures projected on the screen before BABYMETAL appear on the stage. The narration is different in each live performance. The narrations for Legend "I" and "D" above are of the basic type. They tell why BABYMETAL was formed. In 2013 the narrated story has been somewhat changed as the Metal Resistance has been going on.
[ii] About the Fox God
The Japanese usually think Inari Ookami (=Oinari-san) as Fox God, but it is a misunderstanding. Now foxes are considered to be her messengers, but Fushimi Inari (the head shrine of her) has no such a story for foxes as Kasuga Taisha has for deer. And she is a goddess of the harvest (afterward, of overall industries), so the Fox God in charge of the heavy metal has no (special) relation to Inari Ookami.
To tell the truth, in the middle of the PV of "MEGITSUNE", you see the tunnel of torii (=a guard frame of gateway to shrine) which must be of some Inari shrine. But OK because Japanese gods are tolerant.
Overture for Legend "I" on 2012 Oct. 6th
| Romaji | English Translation | Notes |
| Sakkon sekai wa kyodai seiryoku "Aidoru" no attootekina maryoku ni yotte shihai-sare | Recently the world was ruled by the big power "Idols" with their overwhelming magic. | |
| "media" "seiji" "keizai" o fukumu subete ga Aidoru ni gyuujiareteita... | Including "the media", "the politics", "the economy", all were controlled by the Idols... | |
| Aidoru songu igai no ongaku wa subete yuugai to sare, metaru mo sono reigai dewa nakatta. | The music other than the idol songs was seen as harmful, and the metal was not an exception. | |
| tamashii o ubawareta metaraa-tachi wa metaru no fukken o inotta. | The metallers who were robbed of their soul prayed for the restoration of the metal. | |
| Yagate sono inori wa metaru o tsukasadoru kami "Kitsune sama" e to todoku koto ni naru. | Before long, the prayers reached "the Fox God" who is in charge of the metal. | [ii] |
| Kitsune sama wa SU-METAL, YUIMETAL, MOAMETAL no sannin o | The Fox God named three girls, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL, | |
| "atarashii metaru no tanjoo" o imi-suru "BABYMETAL" to nazuke | "BABYMETAL" meaning "the birth of the new metal", | |
| aidoru-kai no daaku hiroin toshite konoyo ni koorin-saseta. | and, as the dark heroines of the idol scene, has sent them down to this world. | 1 |
| Shokun iyoiyo "Metaru Rejisutansu" no makuake da! | Everyone, soon comes the opening of "the Metal Resistance"! | |
Overture for Legend "D" on 2012 Dec. 20th
| Romaji | English Translation | Notes |
| "Metaru rejisutansu" | "The Metal Resistance" | |
| Sore wa seinaru tatakai. | It is the holy war. | |
| Seinaru yoru no tomoshibi. | It is the holy light-of-night. | 2 |
| SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT. | Silent Night, Holy Night. | |
| Kyodai seiryoku "Aidoru" ga zensei no jidai. | Now is the time when the big power "Idols" are in their heyday. | |
| Aidoru songu igai no ongaku ga shiitagerareru sekai. | This is the world where the music other than the idol songs is persecuted. | |
| Metaru no fukken o negau shito no inori ga | The prayers of the apostles that wish the restoration of the metal | |
| metaru o tsukasadoru kami "Kitsune sama" e to todoki | reached "the Fox God" who is in charge of the metal. | [ii] |
| Kitsune sama wa metaru no tamashii o fukken-saseru tame | The Fox God, aiming to restore the soul of the metal, | |
| SU-METAL, YUIMETAL, MOAMETAL no sannin o shookan-shi | summoned three girls, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL, | |
| "BABYMETAL" to nazuke | named them "BABYMETAL", | |
| aidoru-kai no daaku hiroin toshite konoyo ni koorin-saseta. | and, as the dark heroines of idol scene, has sent them down to this world. | 1 |
| BABYMETAL wa kami no keshin. | BABYMETAL is the incarnation of the Fox God. | |
| Kami no koorin ni kotoba wa ira-nai. | The descent of the god needs no words. | |
| BABYMETAL wa kami no keshin. | BABYMETAL is the incarnation of the Fox God. | |
| Kami no koorin ni eien wa nai. | The descent of the god is never permanent. | |
| Shokun Metaru Rejisutansu no noroshi wa agatta!! | Everyone, the signal fire for "the Metal Resistance" has been sent up!! | |
Overture for Legend "Z" on 2013 Feb. 1st
| Romaji | English Translation | Notes |
| 3 | ||
| Mukashi mukashi, sono mukashi, | Long, long and long ago, | |
| Kyodai seiryoku "Aidoru" ni tachi-mukai yuukan-ni tatakatta shoojo ga ita. | there was a girl who stood up against the big power "Idols" and fought bravely. | |
| "Kurenai no Nanoka-Kan" | "The Crimson Seven Days" | 4 |
| Tatakai no sue, shoojo no tamashii wa "Kurenai no Honoo" to nari, | After the fight, the girl's soul became "the Crimson Flame", | |
| nanoka-kan ni watatte moe tuzuketa node atta. | and continued blazing for seven days. | |
| Soshite shoojo no tamashii wa Kitsune-Risu ni yotte michibikareta. | Then, the girl's soul went up guided by Fox-Squirrel. | 5,6 |
| Metaru no tani ni konjiki no tsuki to kurenai no taiyou ga kasanari-au. | When, above the Valley of the Metal, the Golden Moon overlaps the Crimson Sun, | 7 |
| Seinaru honoo ni tsutsumareta megami ga futatabi yomigaeru noda. | the goddess veiled in holy flame shall revive again. | 8,9 |
Notes
- BABYMETAL officials seem to use always the singular form "the dark heroine of...", but I can't understand its intention.
- Grammatically "the light of the holy night" is possible, but I judge by the intonation.
- The BGM for this narration is "Nausicaa Requiem" of the movie "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind".
- "The Seven Days of Fire" is a cataclysmic global war told in "Nausicaa".
- The fox-squirrels are imaginary animals appeared in "Nausicaa".
- The original "michibikareta" is just "was guided...", but I read it as "michibikarete itta" (=went up guided...), because the original line sounds somewhat strange to me.
- I supply "toki" (=when) at the end fo the line. Or, insert "Miyo!" (=Look!) at the head of the line. Anyway, hearing this line, I feel something missing.
- "The one clad in blue" is a legendary savoir told in "Nausicaa".
- At the end of the previous concert 'Legend "D"', SU-METAL was cruicified and veiled in flame on the stage.
Re: BABYMETAL official seems to use always the singular form "the dark heroine of...", but I can't understand its intention.
ReplyDeleteThis is just my theory, however this could be a reference to the Trinity from Christian religion. Basically, one god in three persons. Because metal very often draws inspiration from religious symbolism, often twisting it for a more satanic image, they could be suggesting that Su-Metal, Moa-Metal and Yui-Metal are the Unholy Trinity and at the same time they are the one BABYMETAL. The article on wikipedia has more information in a nutshell. Of course, this theory could be wrong.
Thank you for your comment.
DeleteI too think they may have thought some Trinity or like, but also I'm afraid that they've just forgot to attach "s" like me.
Your translations are good, but I think I can help make them sound more natural. How about this?
ReplyDelete"Recently the world had been ruled by powerful pop groups with their overwhelming magic.
Media, politics, economies... all were controlled by pop idols.
Other music was seen as harmful. Metal was no exception.
Metalheads, robbed of their souls, prayed for the restoration of metal.
Before long, their prayers reached Kitsune-sama -- the Fox God -- the god of metal.
Kitsune-sama named three girls -- SU-METAL, YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL -- the dark heroines of the pop idol scene and sent them down to our world.
A new metal was born, so he called it BABYMETAL."
Let me know if you'd like more translation help. I need to practice Japanese and I love ベビメタル♥
Thank you for your suggestion, and sorry for late reply.
DeleteI know I use many expressions that are strange to native English speakers. I am ready to change the expression that I would not use if I learned English more, but I think I would still use some strange expressions.
I am afraid of the loss of information.
For example, the Japanese usually use "あね" (= older sister) or "いもうと" (= younger sister). In many situations, it doesn't matter whether she is older or younger, so both can be translated to "a sister", but probably there is a situation in which it matters to most Japanese and doesn't matter to most native English speakers. In such a situation, dropping "older" or "younger" should deprive the non-native/native readers (who care about it) of that information,
I am also afraid of the excess of information.
For example, most Japanese think loosely about singular/plural distinction. See note #1 above. It is quite unclear that the reason of the singular form is whether 'he' thought SU-METAL alone was the heroine or 'he' just forgot to append "s" though 'he' thought all the three were the heroines. Probably the fact stands around the middle. I want to keep such ambiguity if it is grammatically allowable.
There live many kinds of native English speakers: the old and the young, Eton boys, Cockneys, New Yorkers, etc. Some native's natural English might be strange to others. I couldn't single out anyone but Her Britannic Majesty.
I would like to inform you (& all readers) that I am very particular about the concept called "natural" and/or "normal".
For example, many Japanese express their opinions not so explicitly, and the literal translation of a "natural" expression of the "normal" Japanese people is probably not natural English. Some adjustment is needed, but, if you translate it to the most natural one (to you), then, to what English should you translate the expression that sounds too strong to the "normal" Japanese and whose literal translation is that most natural one? Say, the speaker is a 30 y.o. Japanese who lived in Los Angeles since 2 y.o. until 18 y.o. I've been thinking about this kind of "the difficulty of mapping" since I was 10 y.o.
And two more...
I always try to translate line by line (at the cost of the grammatical structure if necessary) because most of the translations in this site accompany some audio/visual stream. There are music for lyrics (sad melody for sad word), facial expressions & the tone of voice for interviews, pictures for these narrations. I think the text information should be synchronized with such audio/visual information as much as possible when it is superimposed on the video.
巨大勢力 "アイドル", the big power "Idols" doesn't refer to Japanese pop idols as a whole. It refers to AKB group which includes AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, etc., as expressed in "Prologue for Encore". "Ruled", "controlled", etc. are the exaggerations of the strategies of Mr. AKIMOTO, the ruler of AKB group.
English Captions added for the Overture to Legend D:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/m_EIgiIKC7Y
Hope you enjoy. \m/
Thank you for subtitling and uploading.
DeleteIt reminds me of the long way of Metal Resistance.