Twenty-five years have handed since anime track singer Hiroshi Kitadani launched “We Are!,” the primary opening track of the ONE PIECE TV anime sequence and the primary of many opening songs he would go on to sing for the present. “UUUUUS!” the opening theme for the Egghead Arc, with its fast shifts and modifications, is the creation of Kitadani, composer Kohei Tanaka, and lyricist Shoko Fujibayashi — the golden trio often called the “‘We Are!’ Pirates.” “UUUUUS!” means not solely “us” however sounds just like the Japanese pronunciation of “earth” and the Japanese phrase for “tomorrow” (Asu), pointing to the way forward for the sequence. Hiroshi Kitadani talked with Billboard Japan about what went into the creation of this stunningly densely-packed track and what lies past.
You debuted “UUUUUS!” on-stage on the BANDAI CARD GAMES Fest 23-24 World Tour in Los Angeles, held in late January. What was the environment like?
Hiroshi Kitadani: I sang “We Are!” “OVER THE TOP,” and ” UUUUUS!” With “UUUUUS!” I used to be a bit anxious about debuting it in L.A. I felt prefer it could be safer to begin the track off with a bang in Japan first… However now, due to video streaming websites, abroad viewers can watch the most recent episodes concurrently in Japan, so the group went wild. On stage, we had been enjoying the opening animation to ONE PIECE, and the lyrics had been additionally proven on-screen, written phonetically within the English alphabet, so the viewers sang alongside.
Once we had been children, we’d study outdated anime songs from reruns on TV, however now, with subscription-based streaming companies and streaming websites, it’s simple to listen to “We Are!” which was launched 25 years in the past. So not solely do individuals who had been children again then realize it, however even trendy children realize it. I believe that’s why individuals world wide love “We Are!” even 25 years later.
Why do you suppose ONE PIECE is so fashionable worldwide?
Hiroshi Kitadani: Speaking with individuals abroad, I usually hear that “In Japanese anime and manga, the principle characters and their buddies all the time get utterly thrashed by their enemies, however they normally come again stronger, which actually will get you within the feels.” That’s true of Luffy, and in addition of Goku from Dragon Ball. Abroad heroes like Batman or Superman are extremely sturdy proper from the beginning, so I believe Japanese anime and comics resonate with audiences due to how the characters flip their frustration into energy.
You’ve carried out 5 of ONE PIECE‘s theme songs. May you replicate on what every of these songs meant to you? Let’s begin with “We Are!” the primary opening theme track for ONE PIECE, which got here out in 1999.
Hiroshi Kitadani: “We Are!” was my debut track as Hiroshi Kitadani. The director I labored with after I first debuted beneath a earlier stage title, later joined an company known as Think about, who Kohei Tanaka was with. Due to that connection, someday I used to be approached and instructed, “They’re going to make an anime model of the most well-liked manga in Weekly Shonen Leap. Kohei Tanaka goes to submit a track for the opening track competitors, and we’d such as you to do a brief vocal monitor for it.” Then they made the choice to go together with “We Are!” for the theme track, however they nonetheless hadn’t but determined who would sing it. Due partially to Kohei’s prompting, the employees started saying “Why not simply have it sung by the singer who did the momentary vocal monitor?” My file firm had simply instructed me that they didn’t actually see a future for me with them, so I used to be questioning what to do, career-wise. So this “We Are!” supply got here out of the blue. That was the beginning of my rags-to-riches story.
In 2011, 12 years after releasing “We Are!” you sang “We Go!” which was used within the Fish-Man Island arc, when the crew reaches the New World.
Hiroshi Kitadani: Kohei wrote “We Go!” as a response track to “We Are!” On the time, I used to be actually involved with what individuals thought of me, so I used to be studying a whole lot of 2channel (laughs). I used to be anxious I’d go on there and see individuals saying “Hiroshi Kitadani is again, however this track is horrible.” However, as an alternative, when “We Go!” was broadcast, there have been a whole lot of feedback like “Dani’s again!” and “Cool!” and “That’s the One Piece sound!” I used to be so blissful I cried.
Then in 2016 you sang “We Can!” with Kishidan.
Hiroshi Kitadani: The supply from Kishidan was completely sudden. It was the primary time I’d sung with another person as solo artist Hiroshi Kitadani, however we had nice chemistry. Kishidan wrote the track, as an alternative of the identical trio that had began with “We Are!” however even now there are followers who say they love “We Can!” which makes me actually blissful.
Then at first of the Wano Nation arc, in 2019, you sang “OVER THE TOP.”
Hiroshi Kitadani: “We Are!” started with out anybody realizing who would even sing the track. “We Go!” was a response track to “We Are!” So “OVER THE TOP” was the primary track that Kohei wrote to-order, only for me. We’ve labored collectively a very long time, so he was capable of write a track with the vocal vary the place I do my greatest singing, the place I might give the track a particular enchantment and convey out its taste. The pandemic began after I launched the track, so I haven’t had many alternatives to carry out it on stage, but it surely’s a track that I want much more individuals would have probabilities to listen to.
How did you are feeling once you first heard “UUUUUS!” the present opening track?
Hiroshi Kitadani: To be trustworthy, my first response was “Huh?” Like “It’s not unhealthy…however I choose music extra like ‘OVER THE TOP.’” However Kohei mentioned “It grows on you,” and, certain sufficient, the extra I heard it the higher and higher it sounded. The present opening is on YouTube now, and it has over 10 million views. One of many feedback on the video mentioned “It’s the very best track to this point.” I do know Kohei should all the time be beneath a whole lot of stress, so I’m amazed that he recommended this track, which is so formidable however dangerous.
I really feel like “UUUUUS!” will need to have been tougher to sing than any of the previous songs. Do you might have any fundamental recommendation for anybody making an attempt to sing it?
Hiroshi Kitadani: It’s laborious to provide you with any sort of succinct recommendation (laughs). Nevertheless, for all 5 of the ONE PIECE songs, not simply “UUUUUS!” I’d say it’s essential to sing it with a smile in your face. While you sing whereas smiling, that smile comes out in your voice, making the track brighter and extra thrilling. After I was recording “We Are!” there have been a whole lot of essential individuals in fits on the recording. It was my first time recording in that sort of environment, and I received actually tense. On prime of that, each time I’d end recording a take, they’d be whispering to one another. I used to be within the recording sales space, so I had no concept what they had been saying. I used to be beginning to get right into a adverse mindset, considering “Was {that a} unhealthy take?” when Kohei mentioned “This can be a track that’s going to provide hope and inspiration to individuals across the nation, so smile once you sing it. While you sing with a smile, your voice can have a smile.” That snapped me out of it. I sang whereas smiling, and so they mentioned it was a very good take. I’m actually glad for the recommendation Kohei gave me, and it’s one thing I cherish in my coronary heart even now.
—This interview by Harunoto first appeared on Billboard Japan
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