[Odin]

I am still in a blue mood, however that does not mean that I should force this mood onto others. A couple of days ago, I spoke of my favorite anime, as a child: “Queen Millenia” Now a quarter century later I would speak of a new favorite.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) is a television anime series that debuted on Chiba TV in spring of 2006. Since it's first airing it has risen to cult status in Japan and around the world. The anime won the Animation Kobe Award for TV Feature in 2006. At the Sixth Annual Tokyo Anime Awards, the series won the category "Best TV Anime Series," beating competition from the likes of Code Geass and Death Note.

I would remark that it not a show for everybody. The series aired in a bizarre anachronic order, that is confusing for many. The shows also is peppered with a number of rather deep subjects. Subjects like existentialism, omphalos hypothesis, Anthropic principle, theory of relativity, principals of quantum time travel, and obscure pop culture, are par for the course in this otherwise light hearted series.

It is about a first year high school student who, unbeknownst to her, possesses the power to change reality. The story is told from the point of view of Kyon. Kyon enters high school as a first year student and meets a strange girl by the name of Haruhi Suzumiya. During her class introduction, she states that she has no time for normal humans and asks that any time-travelers, aliens, or espers come out and join her. Interested in her, Kyon becomes the first person to solicit a normal conversation from Haruhi. What follows is an almost schizophrenic adventure as Haruhi sets out to make her dreams become a reality.

Haruhi Suzumiya is voiced by Aya Hirano. A multi-talanted seiyū and J-pop singer who has had roles in several anime, visual novels, and TV commercials in Japan. She won the "Voice Acting Award", a the Sixth Annual Tokyo Anime Awards. Her popularity was confirmed at the first Seiyū Awards, where she won "Best Newcomer (female)", for her role as Haruhi Suzumiya; the same role also won her a nomination as "Best Main Character (female)". At the same awards, she was also nominated for "Best Supporting Character (female)", and earned two nominations for "Best Single" (One of which is a solo, Bōken Desho Desho; the other was a group nomination for the single Hare Hare Yukai) In 2007, she won "Best Voice Actor" at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. She began her career at age 10, and became know for her ability to portray “maturity with a young voice.” She landed her first leading role in “Kiddy Grade” as the voice of Lumière. She has gone on to play many part, such as Konota Izumi of Lucky Star. She is equally skilled in the realm of music. She has 19 singles to her name and two albums. While she often seen playing the guitar, she has an extraordinary talent for the piano and organ.

The music you are about to hear is taken directly from the CD of “Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsumeawase.” The video is taken directly from the scene in show, where this is performed. I have included the original Japanese lyrics, and a English translation.

So I would like to present to you Aya Hirano's “God Knows...” with video from “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.”

God Knows...

kawaita kokoro de kakenukeru (I run past others with a parched heart.)
gomen ne nani mo dekinakute (Sorry, I can't do anything.)
itami wo wakachiau koto sae (You won't even let me)
anata wa yurushite kurenai (Share our pain together.)

muku ni ikiru tame ni furimukazu (To live on without tarnish,)
senaka mukete satteshimau (I face your back and head out without looking back)
on the lonely rail (on the lonely rail)

watashi tsuiteiku yo (I will follow you.)
donna tsurai sekai no yami no naka de sae (No matter how agonizing the world is,)
kitto anata wa kagayaite (You will shine even in its darkest corners.)
koeru mirai no hate (Cross over the end of the future,)
yowasa yue ni tamashii kowasarenu you ni (My weakness will not shatter my spirit.)
my way kasanaru yo (my way is overlapping with yours.)
ima futari ni God bless... (For the two of us, God bless...)

todokete atsuku naru omoi wa (This warming affection that reaches me,)
genjitsu tokashite samayou (It melts my reality and roams my heart.)
aitai kimochi ni riyuu wa nai (I don't need a reason for wanting to meet you,)
anata e afuredasu Lovin' you (Just my overflowing feelings, Lovin' you)

semete utsukushii yume dake wo (For now, let's paint a beautiful dream)
egakinagara oikakeyou (And chase after)
for your lonely heart (for your lonely heart)

yamete uso wa anata rashikunai yo (Stop it, it's not like you to lie.)
me wo mite kore kara no koto wo hanasou (Look at my eyes and let's talk about our future.)
watashi kakugo shiteru (I am prepared,)
kurai mirai datte (Even if the future is bleak,)
tsuyoku natte unmei kaerareru kamo ne (I might be able to change destiny if I become stronger.)
my wish kanaetai noni (But for my wish to come true,)
subete wa God knows... (Everything is God knows...)

anata ga ite watashi ga ite (You are here, I am here.)
hoka no hito wa kieteshimatta (Everyone else has disappeared.)
awai yume no utsukushisa wo egakinagara (While we paint the beauty of this fleeting dream,)
kizuato nazoru (We trace out the lines of our scars.)

dakara watashi tsuiteiku yo (That's why I will follow you.)
donna tsurai sekai no yami no naka de sae (No matter how agonizing the world is,)
kitto anata wa kagayaite (You will shine even in its darkest corners.)
koeru mirai no hate (Cross over the end of the future,)
yowasa yue ni tamashii kowasarenu you ni (My weakness will not shatter my spirit.)
my way kasanaru yo (my way is overlapping with yours.)
ima futari ni God bless... (For the two of us, God bless...)