[b]Thoughts about CARNIVAL.[/b]
Scroll down for the tl;dr version.
Aside from the cover(s) and the PV. This song is just awesome in so many ways.
Why? I think one of the main factors is the dynamics of the song. It takes the main characteristic of the alternative rock song, quick change of a soft sound to a hard sound, in an interesting way. It uses it in its full potential. If you approach the song, focusing on its dynamics you can distinguish various layers.
The song starts off with just one guitar, the rhythm guitar. But it plays the melody, on which the whole song is based. It has a clear sound, those clicking strokes (how do you call that technique?) filling up the gaps, sounds pretty cool, contrasting the “normal” sound. Then after this brief, pleasant introduction, layer 2 kicks in. Bringing in the voice, drums and bass. The drums, other than just setting the beat, uses some kind of drum roll (not exactly), which fits nicely with the “clicking guitar”. The bass, other than just hitting the root notes, uses some slides, which also melts in perfectly. Sawao’s singing is imitating his guitar playing or vice versa. These first two layers (half a minute long) are the actual intro, leading to the third layer. Which is the first soft-hard transition. Sawao still singing the verses in same melody, but with a louder voice and also in a more rough/tougher manner, the lead guitar comes in, warming up for kicking some serious ass. Now the song actually becomes a duet between Sawao’s voice and Manabe’s lead guitar. Then, for a few seconds, the song slows it’s pace and lowers its volume, with Sawao singing:
“Te wo nobashitemo”[teeeee, ooooo, noooo, baaaa, shiiii, te, mooo] with each syllable sung extended. (layer 4) Then after this brief interval, an explosion of sound bursts out, turning the chorus into an expression of intense emotions breaking out.(the second soft-loud transition) This in its way enhances the message/meaning of the lyrics and the emotions it contains.
The “Te wo nobashitemo” (Even if you reach your hand out for it)
Contrasted against:
“Mukuwarenai jidai
Sukuwarenai mirai
Kimi to kisu shite waraikorogeru” (ah ha, ah ha, ah ha ha ha [sic])
Meaning:
This generation will receive no reward
The future can’t be saved
We kissed and fell to pieces laughing (ah ha, ah ha, ah ha ha ha ) I just realized that this may actually, be understood as laughter.
“ah ha, ah ha, ah ha ha ha”, note that this “ah ha, ah ha” changes its sound during the song.
In this case, it brings you smoothly to the first solo(!) part of Manabe’s lead guitar. (layer 5) As we all do love Manabe’s guitar work and especially his solo’s, it’s a true treatment to have two separate solo parts throughout the song.
After this little solo comes verse + chorus + “real” solo(layer 6). Now the song is really on track, and speeding up to its climax. After that awesome solo of Manabe and Sawao rapidly hitting that guitar with powerful power chords, (they are power chords, right?) the song, goes back to layer 4. Sawao singing gentile and slowing down the pace, singing each syllable extended again. But now, layer 4 itself it extended by Sawao singing two sentences instead of one this time.
“Futari douji ni
(echoed by the guitar)
Yume de mita no sa”
We both dreamed it
At the same time
Then for one more time, the chorus KICKS in, giving you one more shot of adrenaline.
After that, the song goes to layer 2 again, with the distinct drums (rolling) and Sawao singing in a more telling manner. Repeating what he said in the beginning of the song: “I’ve been waiting for the day I’d meet you”.
(And ironically, that’s what I have been waiting for. The day I meet Sawao.)
[b]Tl;dr version[/b] : What makes this song so awesome, besides the solo’s of Manabe, is imo the dynamics and structure of the whole song. It optimizes the use of the soft-loud contrast. This song has two points where a sudden change from soft to hard is heard. First after the intro, Second after the bridge. Basically it goes like this:
Intro: Rhythm guitar (15 secs)
louder
Extended intro: Rhythm guitar + drums, voice and bass (15 secs)
louder
Verses: Rhythm guitar(+really turns into rhythm guitar + distortion), voice(+gets louder), drums, bass + lead guitar. (15 secs)
softer
Bridge/Pre-chorus: I do not actually know why this section sounds softer (probably because Sawao sings more subdued). Maybe it is because the chorus that follows is just remarkably louder. (7-8 secs)
Louder x2
Chorus: Simply said: all instruments play louder. (and faster?) Shin hitting that crash cymbal.
I don’t know what actually happens here, haha. Other than just an explosion of sound coming to your ears. (15 secs)
Then it just repeats: verses, bridge, chorus, solo
Louder
Solo: If you don’t think this is louder than the chorus, think again. You probably set the volume up when the solo is going on, hahaha. (30 secs
)
Softer
Extended bridge/pe-chorus
Louder
Chorus for the third time
Softer
Extended Intro again/Outro
Softer
End: Song ends without fade-out.
I totally rediscovered this song, it was one of the first songs of the pillows I listened to. I don’t get why I overlooked it awesomeness ever since though. I probably stated the obvious, but this song is just crafted very well and the pillows perform it very well. It doesn't feel rushed like some songs on PL, Sawao's voice doesn't sound nasal/strained like in some GD songs, the song does not feel repetitive like some songs on Ooparts and it does not feel all too poppy like some songs of WU or PP.
