Visions: Somewhere (Original FWL)

--------Somewhere by Within Temptation--------
Lost in the darkness, try to find your way home
I want to embrace you and never let you go
Almost hope you're in heaven so no one can hurt your soul
Living in agony 'cause I just do not know
Where you are

I'll find you somewhere
I'll keep on trying until my dying day
I just need to know whatever has happened,
The truth will free my soul

Wherever you are, I won't stop searching
Whatever it takes, need to know
---------------

These lyrics are abridged because this is a song which has been treated very badly by its distributor (Warner Music Group) on Youtube, which has a graveyard of shattered Somewhere music videos (including some which contain official Within Temptation video content!)

The song describes the mindset of the character named Alice throughout most of Featherwing Love.

In this context, "scratch" selectively erases the memories of its victims to protect the secrets of the featherwings.

-------Chapter 11D Alice and the Scratch-------
27: “I said we never need to kill anyone to protect our secrets … this is why, Alice,” Kisure is moving the desk back into position, careful not to bang his wings into objects the room’s camera can see. “I’ve been scratched,” Alice realizes, getting pretty weak. “Yes ... please understand that without your confidence, we had no choice.”

28-29: “They [the wings] are so amazing,” Alice sighs, “Please let me remember my promise,” she stammers as Kisure helps her ease her head onto her arms, “If I find out again, I will not- ” her eyes close, squeezing out a single tear. “I will not … ever” she repeats, losing consciousness. “Oh, Alice.” Kisure sobs, “I wish I didn’t have to do this.”

--------Chapter 21B Intervention-------
21: “Please don’t make me explain … you’ll think I’m crazy,” she begs. She flashes back to 11D.28-29, “I will not … ever.” The present. Alice throws the phone off the balcony. She turns around and says to Tamitha, “Don’t answer … these two merely had too much to drink to get you over the railing … that is the story [panel break] and if you ever see him again, tell him that Alice remembers her promise.” Tamitha nods.

Visions: Angels (Original FWL)

I have only 20min for this post, so I have to make it fast. I was bouncing around Youtube listening to various music pieces, and decided to hit Within Temptation's Angels, one I had never heard before:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKRy_uXgYc


-------Angels by Within Temptation-------

Sparkling angel I believe
You were my savior in my time of need.
Blinded by faith I couldn't hear
All the whispers, the warnings so clear.
I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door.
There's no escape now,
No mercy no more.

No remorse cause I still remember


The smile when you tore me apart.


You took my heart,
Deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke a promise and made me realize.
It was all just a lie.


Sparkling angel, I couldn't see
Your dark intentions, your feelings for me.
Fallen angel, tell me why?
What is the reason, the thorn in your eye?
I see the angels,
I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now
No mercy no more
No remorse cause I still remember


The smile when you tore me apart


You took my heart,
Deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke a promise and made me realize.
It was all just a lie.


Could have been forever.
Now we have reached the end.


...


This world may have failed you,
It doesn't give you reason why.
You could have chosen a different path in life.


The smile when you tore me apart.


You took my heart,
Deceived me right from the start.
You showed me dreams,
I wished they'd turn into real.
You broke a promise and made me realize,
It was all just a lie.

Could have been forever.
Now we have reached the end.
----------


I can't really describe this latest coup by the Storyvoice. This song describes Haifun's exact mindset where I was writing script in Chapter 21B Intervention page 10. This is a major turning point in the story, which precipitates the greatest crisis Juubi and Haifun are about to face. What is about to happen? Juubi, my quasi-angel has screwed up, and who's led straight to his door? The rest of the Featherwing Brotherhood!! Storyvoice is making a habit of doing this.

The Autumn Rain Plane Crash

In February, a few days before the crash of Colgan 3407 in the Clarence region of Buffalo, NY, I thought of an interesting scenario that would be unique to the world of the featherwings: A passenger airliner crashes because of icing problems, directly over a cold front backed up by an hard core arctic high pressure system. The aircraft is totally destroyed on impact, but at least two of the passengers survive the impact. The two ultimate survivors (anyone else surviving the impact would freeze to death in a few minutes.) One of them is the only featherwing passenger, badly injured, but able to survive the cold by deploying her wings, thus covering her body in the invisible featherwing down, increasing her metabolism, and escaping a quick death. The other is an uninjured human who is so badly underdressed for the weather that he can't build a shelter against the cold before freezing to death. He finds the injured featherwing being and takes shelter under her wings. The two quickly realize that their only hope of surviving is by sharing the wings, an extremely romantic act. The featherwing lady is unable to build a shelter because of her injuries. The wings alone are not enough to save them from the dropping temperatures (for several reasons.) The human is unable to build a shelter because, outside her wings, he will freeze to death before he can even get a decent start.

So they share the wings. At this point in the conception, the Storyvoice whispers, "He has a wife and two kids...deal with it." I, the author of this disaster, cried. I also realized that the story has an important message.

This is the Cascada Song, Track 6 of Perfect Day (Robbins Entertainment 2008)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyk5PDrP7YI (haleymeadows lyrics; rip has skips)

----Begin----
The Autumn Rain is falling down
through the clouds, hits the ground
wash away traces in the sand

And yesterday is so far away
You disappeared, love was here
I close my eyes to be with you again

You're still alive, the world is in your hand

Dream on dreamer
and the sun will always shine down on you
Keep on dreaming
It's alright, feel alive

Dream on dreamer
and the world keeps spinning 'round and 'round you go
Don't stop dreaming
It's alright, we're alive

We're alive

...

I'll light your name across the sky
I'll be with you 'til the end of time
Don't wake me up
I'm reaching for your hands

I'll never go to break your heart
No matter if you're near or far
Just close your eyes, to be with me again

You're still alive, the world is in your hand

Dream on dreamer
and the sun will always shine down on you
Keep on dreaming
It's alright, feel alive

Dream on dreamer
and the world keeps spinning 'round and 'round you go
Don't stop dreaming
It's alright, we're alive (We're alive)

Dream on dreamer
and the sun will always shine down on you
Keep on dreaming
It's alright, feel alive

Dream on dreamer
and the world keeps spinning 'round and 'round you go
Don't stop dreaming
It's alright, we're alive

----End----

Natalie, Yanou and Manian probably do not yet know that this song is about a plane crash. This song communicates the hope that the two characters have in their new life together.

This song gave the name to the aircraft, Autumn Rain: a NorSTOL K270 turboprop airliner on Mountain Lights Flight 929, which went down in the Rocky Mountains in either Alberta or BC, around 57deg lattitude north in early December of the year 12BFR (Before Flying Romance). The story has developed considerably since its conception, but I'll leave further details for publication.

On 16 June 2009, after the third pass of script work, I queried Youtube for "Autumn Rain" and found a shocker: Tears of Autumn Rain by Eternal Tears of Sorrow. It was the only significant hit. It is Track 3 of Children of The Dark (no North American distributor; Massacre Records for Europe; Marquee/Avalon for Asia)

I cried again. It even has the sound of an aircraft alarm in the background of the second verse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSi5dJlVxcQ

----Begin----
It's autumn night, the pale moon reveals my emptiness
And the hollow wrath and fear inside
I close my eyes to sense her nightly lust again
But my rage and thirst won't fade away

The nightly mist, the scent of autumn in my heart
I can hear the winter's song again
My will of life falls away like golden leaves
I'm just a flame who dies in shades

Let me feel your pain, tears of Autumn Rain
Words of blood on shore: "There is light no more"
Freezing gale of night silent stream of night
Lay us down to sleep on the crimson leaves

...

Let me feel your pain, tears of Autumn Rain
Words of blood on shore: "There is light no more"
Freezing gale of night silent stream of light
Lay us down to sleep on the crimson leaves

Let me feel your pain, tears of Autumn Rain
Words of blood on shore: "There is light no more"
Freezing gale of night silent stream of light
Lay us down to sleep on the crimson leaves
----End----

The male character realizes later that he has destroyed his family worse than he would have if he had not accepted the gift of wings. This song confirms to me that he made the wrong decision. Storyvoice has affirmed that he made the wrong decision several different ways; I think it wants me to express why adultery is so destructive ... that adultery is so destructive in fact, that it is not worth committing to gain the wings of an angel!

(25 June edit: Buffalo, not Denver (sheesh), and several paragraph spacing glitches; also added exact discography for EToS ToAR)

Visions: Inside The Fire

I happened to first hit this song on Youtube right after typing this:16.23: Juubi winces, “If we join now … we will become our monsters … You … the Haifun I want to spend the rest of my life with,” she reacts with surprise at those words as he continues, “you do not need this.” (090607 14:15 MDT) This is merely the latest experience that tells me this story is emerging from the mind of the universe through my hands and is not actually my own creation

The original name for the character is "Devon"; Haifun's name is actually more prescient since it is Japanese (and other Asian languages) for Ashes.

The voice of the song is very similar to that of Juubi's "monster", the unhealthy fantasies in his mind that have taken on a life of their own. Haifun's monster is not based on her fantasies, but her experience (I'm concerned this song might contain a nasty spoiler about that.)

-----------------
(Laughs)
Oooooh, Haifun won't go to heaven
she's just another lost soul about to be mine again
Leave her, we will receive her
It is beyond your control, will you ever meet again?

Haifun, no longer living
Who had been rendered unwhole as a little child
She was taken, and then forsaken
You will remember it all, let it blow your mind again

Haifun lies beyond this portal
Take the word of one immortal

Give your soul to me for eternity
Release your life to begin another time with her
End your grief with me, there's another way
Release your life, take your place inside the fire with her

Sever, now and forever
You're just another lost soul about to be mine again
See her, you'll never free her
You must surrender it all if you'd like to meet again
Fire for your desire
As she begins to turn cold for the final time
You will shiver, till you deliver
You will remember it all, let it blow your mind again

Haifun lies beyond this portal
Take the word of one immortal

Give your soul to me for eternity
Release your life to begin another time with her
End your grief with me, there's another way
Release your life, take your place inside the fire with her

...
Take me away, yeah
...

Give your soul to me for eternity
Release your life to begin another time with her
End your grief with me, there's another way
Release your life, take your place inside the fire with her

Oooooh, Haifun, no longer living
Who had been rendered unwhole as a little child
She was taken, and then forsaken
You will remember it all, let it blow your mind again, man

Visions: Evacuate The Dance Floor

Latest Update: 4 August 2009

I corrected the lyrics based on this "unplugged" live version of the song, where Natalie's vocals are much clearer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCFbhcLrMw

The most obvious thing about the song is well, if this were to suddenly happen at your party:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36560633@N04/3429729623/

... the song's title instruction would be followed in haste, no?

Now that I understand that last line, the "unplugged" version of the song brings up a completely different vision: that of disaster. Four years before the main story, the Featherwing Ranch clubhouse (where paraglider pilots and rocketeers gather when it is too dark to fly their devices) was struck by a tornado. Juubi's parents are the only people inside, fortunately. They call a Calgary radio station's weather hotline when they sense the tornado, but move too late to escape it. Juubi's mother is killed, his father permanently disabled. This was not inspired by the song, but has been in the story since about March, two months before Evacuate was released.

It is on Youtube here ... the official music video:

Cascada Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nouuI63FSLQ (RT)
AATW Records: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTl1ajzq0bk

I want to do Cascada fans a favor and put up the lyrics:

Evacuate The Dance Floor:
------------
Turn up the music, let's get out on the floor
I like to move it, come and give me some more
Watch me gettin' physical, out of control (uh)
As people watching me (uh)
I never miss a beat

Still the night, kill the lights
Feel it under your skin
Time is right, keep it tight
'Cus it's pulling you in.
Wrap it up, you can't stop
'Cus it feels like an overdose (feels like an overdose)

(Oh, Oh) Evacuate the dance floor!
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Oh, Oh) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, let the music take me underground

(Everybody on the floor) Evacuate the dance floor!
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Everybody on the floor) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, come burn this place right down to the ground

My body's aching to some overload (overload) [Nat echos]
Temperature's rising, I'm about to explode [Could refer to involuntary deployment of wings]
Watch me, dead intoxicated
Digging the show (uh)
It's got me hypnotized (uh)
Everybody step aside

Still the night, kill the lights
Feel it under your skin
Time is right, keep it tight
'Cus it's pulling you in-n-n-n.
Wrap it up, you can't stop
'Cus it feels like an overdose (feels like an overdose)

(Oh, Oh) Evacuate the dance floor!
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Oh, Oh) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, let the music take me underground

(Everybody on the floor) Evacuate the dance floor
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Everybody on the floor) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, come burn this place right down to the ground

(Come on and evacuate, feel the covers heating up) [I'm sure this refers to music, not bedding]
(Moving on it, fella, now push it to the top)
(Come on and evacuate, feel the covers heating up)
(Moving on it, fella, right you don't have to be afraid)

{Now guess who's back on a brand new track
They got everybody in the club going mad
So everybody in the back, get your back up on the wall and just shake that thang
You're crazy, you're ready, yo baby, let me see you write that thang
And drop it down low, low; Let me see you take it to the dance floor, yo!}

(Everybody in the core) Evacuate the dance floor!
(Everybody in the core) I'm infected by the sound
(Everybody on the floor) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, let the music take me underground

(Oh, Oh) Evacuate the dance floor!
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Oh, Oh) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, let the music take me underground

(Everybody on the floor) Evacuate the dance floor
(Oh, Oh) I'm infected by the sound
(Everybody on the floor) Stop! This beat is killing me
Hey, Dr. DJ, come burn this place right down to the ground

Visions: Precious Child

This is the first post in order of the Featherwing Love vs. Doom 3 vs. Haibane Renmai Remix

The second post is Chapter 1: http://featherwinglove.blogspot.com/2009/05/featherwing-vs-haibane-vs-doom-3-remix.html

This is not a translation! I know enough Japanese to recognise this when I found the version with the original lyrics after I wrote this one. These words came to me to match the tune of the song located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fL5n-X37h0 "Free Bird" by Koo Ootani, for Haibane Renmei. This one, I'll call "Precious Child"

To the tune of "Free Bird" by Koo Ootani, the Haibane Renmei opening theme song.

(violin)
I created you, my precious child, with all my love and care
I love you, I love you, I love everything you are
I always want, to be with you child, show you my love and care
Think of me, think of me, think of me and I will

(band, violin melody)
Always hear you and dry all your tears
I will always be there even if it doesn't feel like I'm real
Always come back, my precious child
Everytime you feel afraid of the world
Afraid of the world

(piano melody left instrumental) ... (end of opening for Haibane episode)

(flute)
I created you, my precious child, with all my love and care
I love you, I love you, I love everything you are
(piano)
I will always be there, child
Even if you run far away
I will never leave you child, for sure

(flute)
So come to me today, I want to hold you
Just rest your cares on my lap

(left instrumental) ...

Next post: http://featherwinglove.blogspot.com/2009/05/featherwing-vs-haibane-vs-doom-3-remix.html

I think a whole bunch of things inspired these lyrics. First, 安倍 吉俊 (Japanese for Yoshitoshi ABe , author of Haibane Renmei), and myself, both tend to create characters with depth, that we care for deeply. Apparently, it could be said, I put mine through hell, while he puts his through "merely" purgatory. Then there is my God. That's about it.