Quick question

[microphone]

Did Ayu write "progress" specifically for Tales of Xillia?
I'd like to think she read the game script and wrote the lyrics based on the game's lore or message.

[TeamAyu2004]

I think they hired her and she wrote it for the game.
There was an interview where she said she was writing it and that was a few months before the game was released... I think we can only assume that.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by microphone

Did Ayu write "progress" specifically for Tales of Xillia?
I'd like to think she read the game script and wrote the lyrics based on the game's lore or message.

That is the case of what happened with progress.

Translated by Misa-chan:

First up was a video message from Hamasaki Ayumi-san, who will be singing the theme song for 『TOX』. As the representative music Queen of Japan, her message created excitement at the “Tales of Festival 2011″ venue! Furthermore, the theme song title was revealed to be 『progress』. This title was given to flow with the game’s theme, with a wish to “move forward, while holding on to unwavering faith”.

From the message video shown at the venue, it was revealed that the artist singing the game’s theme song will be Hamasaki Ayumi. The reason why Hamasaki-san was picked was because “Hamasaki-san’s songs always have a strong theme, and will be able to reach young people”, explained the producer from Baba. After looking through the extensive database of details from the game, we had a conference call with Hamasaki-san at about 5~6am, where she revealed that the theme song had been completed.

Having understood the game’s details, Hamasaki-san said that “I made a song that can send my message”. A song that combines the intentions of the 『Tales of』 staff and Hamasaki-san herself, we hope to hear it soon.

I hope the game comes out here, though it's 99.9% likely that it won't have the song.

[TeamAyu2004]

I think it will be like the other tales games has the song, minus the words

[microphone]

Thanks, truehappiness.

They should provide subtitles for the states side release. An instrumental version is not a bad idea though. It's just too bad a lot of Americans get their feathers ruffled over hearing theme songs in a foreign language.

[relmy]

^ I don't think that's the issue with Tales of... games, a lot of RPG games leave the vocals in Japanese because of the target audience.

I think with Tales of... it's probably because they get well known singers, probably a lot of fuss over rights and stuff with the labels. Most RPGs just use a singer who is affiliated with the composer.

[mellody]

Not sure if anyone realized this or not.

The fact that Ayu changed the lyrics (just a word actually) in progress performance in Kouhaku last year (from "futari" to "Nippon"), I think progress has a message for the disaster victims, maybe.

[microphone]

@relmy
Bonnie Pink (Ring a Bell) and BoA (White wishes) recorded English versions for the American release. I think they did it under the instruction of NAMCO. I don't know if any other Tales of... games had an English version recorded though.

I did notice that that but I didn't know what she meant. At first, I thought I missed a line in the studio recording but I realized she changed it for that performance.

[LacusClyne]

^nah, Ayu will be most unlikely to record a song in other languages.... Who... Chinese version was a surprise for Chinese fans, but a English song....hmm

[kinix]

Originally Posted by LacusClyne

^nah, Ayu will be most unlikely to record a song in other languages.... Who... Chinese version was a surprise for Chinese fans, but a English song....hmm

Not really... there's a chance if they've requested from her...
eg. snow white...

[Delicious n Bold]

Let's all make a petition and request an English song!
lol you never know, might be worth a shot.

[mellody]

Originally Posted by microphone

I did notice that that but I didn't know what she meant. At first, I thought I missed a line in the studio recording but I realized she changed it for that performance.

I guess it's because the Kouhaku theme, Sing for tomorrow, hopefully the song message delivered to every people in Japan, especially the victims, I guess.

Onaji toki o kizande onaji mirai shinjite ru Nippon
Kinou no namida mo kyou no egao mo shinjitsu na mama

Which become:

Japan is having the same time and believing in the same future
Our tears yesterday and our smiles today are both true

[douggn]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

That is the case of what happened with progress.

Translated by Misa-chan:


I hope the game comes out here, though it's 99.9% likely that it won't have the song.

I think with tales of games, they get a different English singer. But Namco Bandai are looking to bring more Tales of games over. Tales of Xillia has been trademarked in Europe and America but that's about all that's been said so far, which is a good sign for the game going to be released overseas