On/Off openings - Vampire Knight

Oh the lack of updates~ What a busy world. However, I bring you a personal music analysis of both Vampire Knight opening themes! Read it at your leisure.

On/Off is a pop duo consisting of twin brothers who is well-known for singing the opening songs of Vampire Knight + Guilty.

Naoya Sakamoto and Kazuya Sakamoto debuted in 2007.

1st opening of Vampire Knight - Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi (Two beats and a red sin)
2nd opening of Vampire Knight Guilty - Rinne: Rondo (Cycle: Rondo)

This is a review based off both opening themes of Vampire Knight and Guilty. It comparatively looks at the differences in song composition and the blend between both singers.

• People who aren't musicians can still understand it!!
  
• I am not concerned about the lyrics.
  
• Sorry if I sound too meticulous in picking up details and in no way do I want to criticise the effort gone into producing these songs, I just want to be able to practice my musicianship and keep those skills up~

Full lyrics, music and summary are provided under the cut :D

Since both are equal in terms of singing (duo), gaps of 'emptiness' surfaces easily with the use of only 2 singers. Duo groups are uncommon because it is difficult to work with both voices equally unless it is closely blended with each other. Since Naoya and Kazuya are identical twins with similar voice tones, they formed a duo group. But the thing is, their singing style is different. One has a rounder tone whereas the other has a softer tone. Therefore, care must be taken in order to utilise both singers well. You'll understand what I mean when you read further on.

I have added these 2 songs (tv size) here so play it as you read my summary.



Before I knew that both singers were twins, when I first listened to Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi, I could easily distinguish two singers after the second line was sung.

• Intro: Who said that the organ in the beginning of the song makes it seem more dark or vampire-like?
  
• Easy exposure and off balance - especially for hitting the higher notes, the tone for each individual varies. I felt that the first opening doesn't seem to flow that nicely and becomes too broken up.
• The song becomes slightly better used when one voice is supporting the other through harmony
• The layers of the song left On/Off quite empty - especially when base, drums and 2 chords on the piano are used. The violin, added later, is being swallowed up!
  
• If both sings the same melodic tune...it is too empty!!
• When the song becomes too empty, the accompaniment will have to strive hard to not leave the singers hanging dry.
  

I felt that Rinne Rondo had a better balance between the usage of both voices.

• Intro: Starts off like a waltz 3/4 timing with strings (plucked and bowed) and then switches to piano, bass and bell chimes (I like the momentum of this song better than the 1st).
  
• Has a less noticeable change between both voices by substituting small piano phrasing or interludes
• Then it comes to a different but repetitive rhythmic pattern countering against the singer. The accompaniment is supporting the singer and the singer is still able to project himself properly with good balance
  
• The chorus welcomes harmony where one voice is the solo and the other supports it with a different melodic line. I think that it is suited very well here.
• The ending finishes off the same style as the introduction. This was written with a good balance and flow to it.
  

That's all I wanted to say! Lyrics below, enjoy!

Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi
赤く赤く赤く揺れて
夢の夢の果てへ
離れられない


もう何度も諦めては押し殺すたび
行き場の無い感情が目ウィ覚ましてく
汚れの無いその微笑み残酷なほど
遠い存在だとわかるよ


癒えない傷　心蝕むだけなのに
闇の（中に）今も（宿る）想いを抑えきれない


赤く赤く赤く揺れて
夢の夢の果てへ
出逢ってしまった運命が廻り出す
誰も誰も知らない秘密
堕ちて堕ちて堕ちて
もう戻れない　罪を刻んでも　きっと


孤独の淵歩きながら救われていた
どんな時も変わらないリアルな瞳
でも光が眩しいほど生まれる影は
深く色濃く忍び寄るよ


ふたつの鼓動　まるで合わせ鏡のように
似てる（けれど）違う（痛み）無限に続いていく


赤く赤く赤く燃えて
すべてすべて消して
叶うことの無い幻が動き出す
強く強く儚い夜を
超えて超えて超えて
逃れられない　罪に溺れても　きっと


赤く赤く赤く揺れて
夢の夢の果てへ
出逢ってしまった運命が廻り出す
誰も誰も知らない秘密
堕ちて堕ちて堕ちて
もう戻れない　罪を刻んでも　きっと


Romaji
Akaku akaku akaku yurete
Yume no yume no hate e
Hanarerarenai


Mou nando mo akiramete wa oshikorosu tabi
Ikiba no nai kanjou ga
me wo samashiteku
Kegare no nai sono hohoemi zankoku na hodo
Tooi sonzai da to wakaru yo


Ienai kizu kokoro mushibamu dake na no ni
Yami no naka ni ima mo yadoru
omoi wo osaekirenai


Akaku akaku akaku yurete
Yume no yume no hate e
Deatte shimatta unmei ga mawaridasu
Dare mo dare mo shiranai himitsu
Ochite ochite ochite
Mou modorenai tsumi wo kizande mo kitto


Kodoku no fuchi arukinagara sukuwarete ita
Donna toki mo kawaranai riaru na hitomi
Demo hikari ga mabushii hodo umareru kage wa
Fukaku irokoku shinobiyoru yo


Futatsu no kodou maru de awase kagami no you ni
Niteru keredo chigau itami mugen ni tsuzuite iku


Akaku akaku akaku moete
Subete subete keshite
Kanau koto no nai maboroshi ga ugokidasu
Tsuyoku tsuyoku hakanai yoru wo
Koete koete koete
Nogarerarenai tsumi ni oborete mo kitto


Akaku akaku akaku yurete
Yume no yume no hate e
Deatte shimatta unmei ga mawaridasu
Dare mo dare mo shiranai himitsu
Ochite ochite ochite
Mou modorenai tsumi wo kizande mo kitto


Translation
Shaking in red, in red, in red
To the edge of the dream, of the dream
We can't be separated


Already, every time when I'm stifled to death after I give up again and again
My emotions that have no place to go wake me up
Your unblemished smile knows it's an existence
So distant that it's cruel


Even though the incurable wound only eats away at my heart
Even now I can't completely hold back my thoughts (that dwell) (within) the darkness


Shaking in red, in red, in red
To the edge of the dream, of the dream
We met; destiny begins to turn
A secret that no one, no one knows about
As I fall, I fall, I fall
I certainly can't return anymore, even if I carve out my my sins, surely


While I was walking in the abyss of loneliness, I was saved
By realistic eyes that never change
But a shadow born as the light is bright
Deeply and pronouncedly creeps up to me


The two heartbeats are exactly like mirrors facing each other
The (pains) are similar (but) different and continue infinitely


Burning in red, in red, in red
Erasing everything, everything
An unfulfilled illusion begins to move
Strongly, strongly
Overcoming, overcoming, overcoming the fleeting night
I certainly can't escape, even if I drown in my sins, surely


Shaking in red, in red, in red
To the edge of the dream, of the dream
We met; destiny begins to turn
A secret that no one, no one knows about
As I fall, I fall, I fall
I certainly can't return anymore, even if I carve out my my sins, surely

Rinne: Rondo
白い薔薇の花びら　ひとつふたつ開けば
あの日の記憶蘇るでしょう
安らぎに照らされて　花を咲かせた夜は
甘くせつなく　色づいていく


光る糸を辿るように　時間(とき)は静かに流れて
満ち引く揺れに添いながら　人は生まれ変わる


貴方の微笑みは　胸を溶かすぬくもり
どこかで見た　淡い夢のよう
沈む夕日に　今を切り取られても
二人の影は重なっていく


果てしなく遠く　限りなく深く　交わった運命のように
何度もつかんで　何度も失って　やっと廻り合えた事
空が地を求め　花が雨を待ち　夜が明日を恋うように
二つの心が　一つだったこと　こんなにも求めてたの


永い眠りほどいて　今宵めぐり逢えたら
二人の輪廻曲(ロンド)　さあ　踊りましょう


過ぎた日々を流すように　月はやさしく潤んで
記憶の先にもう一度　愛しさが溢れた


貴方の年月を　二重に歩めるなら
影となって　守っていたい
吹き迷う風　二人を遠ざけても
信じることを忘れないで


宛てない煌めき　儚い揺らめき　漂う幻のように
彷徨いながらも　変わらない場所へ　やっとたどり着いた事
闇が陽を奪い　嘘が罪に泣き　過去が未来を裂いても
巡りゆく様に　きっとこの場所を　私は選んでいたの


果てしなく遠く　限りなく深く　交わった運命のように
何度もつかんで　何度も失って　やっと廻り合えた事
空が地を求め　花が雨を待ち　夜が明日を恋うように
二つの心が　一つだったこと　こんなにも求めてたの


白い薔薇の花びら　ひとつふたつ散る時
優しい朝に染められるでしょう
そして生まれ変わって　貴方の胸に咲けば
二人の愛は永遠になる


Romaji
shiroi bara no hanabira
hitotsu futatsu hirakeba
ano hi no kioku
yomigaeru deshou
yasuragi ni terasarete
hana wo sakaseta yoru wa
amaku setsunaku
irozuiteiku


hikaru ito wo tadoru you ni
toki wa shizuka ni nagarete
michi hiku yure ni soi nagara
hito wa umarekawaru


anata no hohoemi wa
mune wo tokasunu kumori
dokoka de mita
amai yume no you
shizumu yuuhi ni
ima wo kiritorarete mo
futari no kage wa kasanatteiku


hateshinaku tooku
kagirinaku fukaku
majiwatta unmei no you ni
nandomo tsukande
nandomo ushinatte
yatto meguri aeta koto
sora ga chi wo motome
hana ga ame wo machi
yoru ga ashita wo kou you ni
futatsu no kokoro ga
hitotsu datta koto
konnani mo motometeta no


nagai nemuri hodoite
koyoi meguri aetara
futari no rondo
saa odorimashou


sugita hibi wo nagasu you ni
tsuki wa yasashiku urunde
kioku no sakini mouichido
itoshisa ga afureta


anata no nengetsu wo
futae ni ayumeru nara
kage tonatte mamotteitai
fuki mayou kaze
futari wo toozaketemo
shinjiru koto wo wasurenaide


atenai kirameki
hakanai yurameki
tadayou maborishi no you ni
samayoi nagaramo
kawaranai basho e
yatto tadoritsuita koto
yami ga hi wo ubai
uso ga tsumi ni naki
kako ga mirai wo saite mo
meguriyuku you ni
kitto kono basho wo
watashi wa erandeita no


hateshinaku tooku
kagirinaku fukaku
majiwatta unmei no you ni
nandomo tsukande
nandomo ushinatte
yatto meguri aeta koto
sora ga chi wo motome
hana ga ame wo machi
yoru ga ashita wo kou you ni
futatsu no kokoro ga
hitotsu datta koto
konnani mo motometeta no


shiroi bara no hanabira
hitotsu futatsu chiru toki
yasashii asa ni somerareru deshou
soshite umarekawatte
anata no mune ni sakeba
futari no ai wa eien ni naru


Translation
If the white rose petals open one by one
Will the memories from those days revive?
Illuminated by tranquility, the night that makes flowers bloom
Is sweet yet painful and becoming colored


Like following a shining thread, time is quietly flowing
While people stick to the movement of flow and ebb, they are reborn


Your smile is the warmth that melts my chest
Like a faint dream that I had somewhere
Even if the present moment is cut up by the setting sun
Our shadows are overlapping


Endless and far, boundless and deep, like destinies that crossed each other
I grasped it again and again, I lost it again and again, the fact that we were finally able to meet
Like how the sky yearns for the earth, the flowers wait for the rain, and the night falls in love with tomorrow
I yearned so much for the fact that two hearts were one


If we can relieve ourselves from eternal slumber and see each other tonight
Come on, let's dance in our rondo


Like moving through the passed days, the moon is tender and clouded
And beyond my memories, love overflowed again


If I can walk through your moments for a second time
Then I want to become a shadow and protect you
Even if the blindly blowing wind estranges us
Please don't forget about believing


An aimless sparkle, a fleeting wavering, like drifting illusions
Even while I wandered, I finally made it to the place that won't change
Even if the darkness steals away the sun, lies cry to sins, and the past splits apart the future
As if going around to places, I'm certain that I chose this place


Endless and far, boundless and deep, like destinies that crossed each other
I grasped it again and again, I lost it again and again, the fact that we were finally able to meet
Like how the sky yearns for the earth, the flowers wait for the rain, and the night falls in love with tomorrow
I yearned so much for the fact that two hearts were one


If the white rose petals scatter one by one
Will we be dyed by the tender morning?
And if I am reborn and bloom in your chest
Our love will become eternity

Credits for Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi lyrics
Credits for Rinne Rondo lyrics

Official Website - http://www.onoff-net.com/
On/Off community - http://www.imeem.com/groups/384OCCfJ,onoff/