Hiroshi Kitadani Yuma Totsuka
Twenty-5 years have actually passed considering that anime track vocalist Hiroshi Kitadani launched “We Are!,” the initial opening track of the ONE ITEM television anime collection and the initial of several opening up tracks he would certainly take place to sing for the program. “UUUUUS!” the opening motif for the Egghead Arc, with its fast changes and adjustments, is the development of Kitadani, author Kohei Tanaka, and lyricist Shoko Fujibayashi — the gold triad called the “‘We Are!’ Pirates.” “UUUUUS!” indicates not just “us” yet seems comparable to the Japanese enunciation of “earth” and the Japanese word for “tomorrow” (Asu), indicating the future of the collection. Hiroshi Kitadani chatted with Billboard Japan concerning what entered into the development of this strikingly densely-packed track and what exists past.
You debuted “UUUUUS!” on-stage at the BANDAI CARD GAMES Fest 23-24 World Tour in Los Angeles, kept in late January. What was the ambience like?
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Hiroshi Kitadani: I sang “We Are!” “OVER THE TOP,” and ” UUUUUS!” With “UUUUUS!” I was a little bit stressed concerning debuting it in L.A. I seemed like it may be more secure to begin the track off with a bang in Japan initially… But currently, due to video clip streaming websites, overseas customers can view the most up to date episodes at the very same time as in Japan, so the group went wild. On phase, we were playing the opening computer animation to ONE ITEM, and the verses were likewise revealed on-screen, written phonetically in the English alphabet, so the target market sang along.
When we were children, we’d find out old anime tracks from reruns on television, today, with subscription-based streaming solutions and streaming websites, it’s very easy to listen to “We Are!” which was launched 25 years earlier. So not just do individuals that were children at that time understand it, yet also modern-day children understand it. I believe that’s why individuals all over the world love “We Are!” also 25 years later on.
Why do you believe ONE ITEM is so preferred worldwide?
Hiroshi Kitadani: Talking with individuals overseas, I commonly listen to that “In Japanese anime and manga, the main characters and their friends always get completely thrashed by their enemies, but they usually come back stronger, which really gets you in the feels.” That’s real of Luffy, and likewise of Goku from Dragon Ball. Overseas heroes like Batman or Superman are extremely solid right from the beginning, so I believe Japanese anime and comics reverberate with target markets due to just how the personalities transform their aggravation right into power.
You’ve done 5 of ONE ITEM‘s theme songs. Could you reflect on what each of those songs meant to you? Let’s begin with “We Are!” the initial opening signature tune for ONE ITEM, which appeared in 1999.
Hiroshi Kitadani: “We Are!” was my launching track as Hiroshi Kitadani. The supervisor I dealt with when I initially debuted under a previous name, later on signed up with a company called Imagine, that Kohei Tanaka was with. Because of that link, someday I was come close to and informed, “They’re going to make an anime version of the most popular manga in Weekly Shonen Jump. Kohei Tanaka is going to submit a song for the opening song competition, and we’d like you to do a temporary vocal track for it.” Then they decided to select “We Are!” for the signature tune, yet they still hadn’t yet chosen that would certainly sing it. Due partly to Kohei’s triggering, the personnel started claiming “Why not just have it sung by the singer who did the temporary vocal track?” My document business had actually simply informed me that they didn’t truly see a future for me with them, so I was questioning what to do, career-wise. So this “We Are!” deal appeared of heaven. That was the begin of my rags-to-riches tale.
In 2011, 12 years after launching “We Are!” you sang “We Go!” which was made use of in the Fish-Man Island arc, when the staff gets to the New World.
Hiroshi Kitadani: Kohei composed “We Go!” as a reaction track to “We Are!” At the moment, I was truly interested in what individuals thought of me, so I read a great deal of 2channel (laughs). I was stressed I’d take place there and see individuals claiming “Hiroshi Kitadani is back, but this song is terrible.” But, rather, when “We Go!” was relayed, there were a great deal of remarks like “Dani’s back!” and “Cool!” and “That’s the One Piece sound!” I was so satisfied I sobbed.
Then in 2016 you sang “We Can!” with Kishidan.
Hiroshi Kitadani: The deal from Kishidan was absolutely unanticipated. It was the very first time I’d sung with another person as solo musician Hiroshi Kitadani, yet we had excellent chemistry. Kishidan composed the track, as opposed to the very same triad that had actually begun with “We Are!” yet already there are followers that state they enjoy “We Can!” that makes me truly satisfied.
Then at the beginning of the Wano Country arc, in 2019, you sang “OVER THE TOP.”
Hiroshi Kitadani: “We Are!” started without any individual understanding that would certainly also sing the track. “We Go!” was a reaction track to “We Are!” So “OVER THE TOP” was the initial track that Kohei composed to-order, simply for me. We’ve collaborated a very long time, so he had the ability to create a tune with the singing array where I do my finest vocal singing, where I might provide the track a distinct charm and draw out its taste. The pandemic begun after I launched the track, so I haven’t had several possibilities to do it on phase, yet it’s a tune that I desire much more individuals would certainly have opportunities to listen to.
How did you really feel when you initially listened to “UUUUUS!” the existing opening track?
Hiroshi Kitadani: To be straightforward, my initial feedback was “Huh?” Like “It’s tolerable…yet I choose songs much more like ‘OVER THE TOP.’” But Kohei said “It grows on you,” and, sure enough, the more I heard it the better and better it sounded. The show opening is on YouTube now, and it has over 10 million views. One of the comments on the video said “It’s the very best track up until now.” I understand Kohei need to constantly be under a great deal of stress, so I’m impressed that he recommended this track, which is so enthusiastic yet dangerous.
I seem like “UUUUUS!” need to have been tougher to sing than any one of the previous tracks. Do you have any kind of standard suggestions for any individual attempting to sing it?
Hiroshi Kitadani: It’s tough to find up with any kind of sort of concise suggestions (laughs). However, for all 5 of the ONE ITEM tracks, not simply “UUUUUS!” I’d state it’s important to sing it with a smile on your face. When you sing while grinning, that smile appears in your voice, making the track brighter and much more amazing. When I was taping “We Are!” there were a great deal of essential individuals in fits at the recording. It was my very first time taping because sort of ambience, and I obtained truly stressful. On top of that, each time I’d complete taping a take, they’d be murmuring to every various other. I remained in the recording cubicle, so I had no concept what they were claiming. I was beginning to get involved in an adverse frame of mind, assuming “Was that a bad take?” when Kohei claimed “This is a song that’s going to give hope and inspiration to people around the country, so smile when you sing it. When you sing with a smile, your voice will have a smile.” That broke me from it. I sang while grinning, and they claimed it was an excellent take. I’m truly happy for the suggestions Kohei offered me, and it’s something I value in my heart already.
—This meeting by Harunoto initially showed up on Billboard Japan
