Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"
Official song cover
Single by Yoko Hikasa
from the album Couleur [ja]
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Starting line"
ReleasedMay 8, 2013 (2013-05-08)
Recorded2013
Genre
Length4:56[2]
LabelPony Canyon
Composer(s)Rei Ishizuka [ja]
Lyricist(s)Mike Sugiyama [ja]
Yoko Hikasa singles chronology
"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"
(2013)
"Owaranai Uta [ja]"
(2013)

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Japanese: 美しき残酷な世界, lit. "The Beautiful and Cruel World") is a song by Japanese singer Yoko Hikasa, whose lyrics were written by Mike Sugiyama [ja] and music composed by Rei Ishizuka [ja]. The song was released on May 8, 2013, as the debut single of Hikasa from Pony Canyon, and is best remembered for its use as the first ending theme for the first season of Attack on Titan.

Background and production

The singer Yoko Hikasa had previous experience in voice acting and singing since first working on the April 2009 anime K-On!, but declined offers to debut as an artist.[3][4][5] Her opinion reportedly changed after performing for more major roles, citing specifically her experience of performing live in the TV anime Ro-Kyu-Bu!. She decided to make her debut with a producer who had repeatedly called her beforehand.[3][4][5]

At the production press conference for Attack on Titan on December 8, 2012, Hikasa announced that she would sing the first ending theme for the anime.[6] She followed up with the announcement by stating that "We're working hard on it, and I think it'll be a song that fits the world of the anime".[6] The director of Attack on Titan Tetsurō Araki reportedly supervised the creation of the lyrics to ensure the song matched the theme the show was going for.[7] Two months later on February 8, 2013, the title of the song was announced, and the information that the song would be released to the public from Pony Canyon on May 8 of the same year.[8][9] It was also announced that CDs would be released for three consecutive months starting after this songs release,[8] with an official website being opened to coincide with the announcement.[9] As for the recording itself, it reportedly only took the short time of three hours to complete.[1]

Release

The song was released in two versions; the first limited edition (PCCG-01343), which also included a DVD containing the music video for the song, and the regular edition (PCCG-70180). The music video was choreographed to reflect the feelings of Eren Yeager, the main character of the anime, and his desire for freedom.[10]

The single's coupling B-side song was titled "Starting line", and was also a rock number, but faster-paced.[11] The song was originally planned to be part of the album Glamorous Songs [ja], but ended up not being recorded and was released along with this single.[10]

Live performances

The song was unveiled for the first time at the Attack on Titan stage event of Anime Contents Expo 2013 held on March 31, 2013,[7] before the song was originally released.[8] The song was also performed at Animelo Summer Live 2013 held on August 25, 2013, which was also Hikasa's first solo appearance.[12] The song was performed live for the last time as part of Hikasa's first live tour "Le Tour de Couleur" on October 4, 2014, at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.[13]

Track listing

CD Single[2]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"Mike Sugiyama [ja]Rei Ishizuka [ja]Takayuki Negishi4:56
2."Starting line"Emi Inaba [ja]Yuki Nara [ja]Yuki Nara3:37
3."Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Instrumental)   4:56
4."Starting line" (Instrumental)   3:36
Total length:17:06
DVD (First Limited Edition)
No.TitleLength
1."Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Music Video) 

Personnel

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"

  • Hiroyuki Koike – Strings
  • Yuya Komoguchi – Guitar

"Starting line"

  • Yuki Nara – Guitar
  • Riku Sakurai – Bass
  • Yamauchi Yuu [ja] – Drums

Promotion

Magazine

Radio

Television

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[18] 35
Billboard Japan Hot Animation[19] 8
Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales[20] 7
Count Down TV (broadcast on May 18)[21] 9
Oricon Daily[17] 7
Oricon Weekly[22] 9
Oricon Monthly[23] 41
Soundscan Japan [ja][24] 5

References

  1. ^ a b Koyanagi, Daisuke (April 14, 2013). "SPECIAL COLUMN". hikasayoko.com (in Japanese). Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "美しき残酷な世界 [CD+DVD]<初回限定盤>" [Beautiful Cruel World [CD+DVD] <First Press Limited Edition>] (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "日笠陽子 始動。" [Yoko Hikasa started.]. Lis Ani! [ja] (in Japanese). 13. M-ON! Entertainment: 158–165. April 25, 2013. ISBN 978-4-7897-7191-7.
  4. ^ a b c "本日デビュー! "アーティスト・日笠陽子さん"登場!" [Debut today! "Artist Yoko Hikasa" appears!]. Mu-Comi Plus! (in Japanese). Nippon Broadcasting System. May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Narimatsu, Satoshi (July 20, 2013). "日笠陽子「Glamorous Songs」インタビュー" [Interview with Yoko Hikasa "Glamorous Songs"]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "「けいおん!」日笠陽子、アニメ「進撃の巨人」エンディングテーマでソロデビュー決定" ["K-ON!" Yoko Hikasa to make solo debut with anime "Attack on Titan" ending theme] (in Japanese). Cinema Today. December 8, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "【ACE2013】神谷浩史もサプライズ登場!梶裕貴、石川由依、井上麻里奈、日笠陽子が登壇!『進撃の巨人』" [[ACE2013] Hiroshi Kamiya makes a surprise appearance! Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, and Yoko Hikasa will be on stage! "Attack on Titan"]. Koepota (in Japanese). April 1, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c ""てへぺろ"日笠陽子、5・8ソロ始動! 怒とうの3ヶ月連続リリース" ["Tehepero" Yoko Hikasa starts solo on May 8! Angry 3 months consecutive release] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "てへぺろ(・ω<)! 声優の日笠陽子がソロ本格始動、3か月連続CDリリース" [Tehepero(・ω<)! Voice actress Yoko Hikasa starts her solo career, releasing CDs for 3 consecutive months] (in Japanese). Tower Records. February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "日笠陽子 始動。" [Yoko Hikasa started.]. Lis Ani! [ja] (in Japanese). 13. M-ON! Entertainment: 163. April 25, 2013. ISBN 978-4-7897-7191-7.
  11. ^ "日笠陽子1stシングル特典&2ndシングルジャケ&MVを大公開!" [Yoko Hikasa's 1st single bonus & 2nd single jacket & MV are open to the public!]. Anime Times (in Japanese). May 2, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "日笠陽子、アニサマで『進撃の巨人』ED曲を熱唱。「アニサマにソロで出るのは初めて」" [Yoko Hikasa sings the ED song for "Attack on Titan" at Anisama. "This is the first time I've been to AniSummer solo."]. BARKS [ja] (in Japanese). August 26, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "日笠陽子、最新ライブツアーが3月18日にBD/DVDでリリース" [Yoko Hikasa to release latest live tour on BD/DVD on March 18th] (in Japanese). Tower Records. January 14, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "声優グランプリ 2013年 06月号" [Seiyu Grand Prix June 2013]. Seiyu Grand Prix [ja] (in Japanese) (June 2013 ed.). Shufunotomosha. May 10, 2013. ASIN B00CA6I2RA.
  15. ^ "今夜のゲストは、日笠陽子さん♪" [Tonight's guest is Yoko Hikasa♪]. The Nutty Radio Show Onitama [ja] (in Japanese). May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "アニスパレポート【第475回】" [Anispa Report [No. 475]]. A&G Super Radio Show Anispa [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "日笠陽子「美しき残酷な世界」オリコンデイリーランキング7位!" [Yoko Hikasa "Beautiful Cruel World" Oricon Daily Ranking 7th!]. Lis Ani! WEB (in Japanese). May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "美しき残酷な世界 : 日笠陽子" [Beautiful Cruel World : Yoko Hikasa]. Count Down TV (in Japanese). TBS TV. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "美しき残酷な世界(初回限定盤)" [Beautiful Cruel World (First Press Limited Edition)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "you大樹" [You Big Tree] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  24. ^ "週間 CDソフト TOP20 シングル ランキング TOP20 2013年5月6日 – 5月12日 調査分" [Weekly CD software TOP20 single ranking TOP20 May 6, 2013 – May 12 survey]. PHILE WEB (in Japanese). Ongen Publishing [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.

Read other articles:

American actress Gillian JacobsJacobs in July 2014BornGillian MacLaren Jacobs (1982-10-19) October 19, 1982 (age 41)[1]Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.EducationJuilliard School (BFA)Occupation Actress Years active2005–present Gillian MacLaren Jacobs (/ˈɡɪliən/; born October 19, 1982) is an American actress. She is known for playing Britta Perry in the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015), Mickey Dobbs in the Netflix romantic comedy series Love (2016–2018), and Mary Jayn...

 

American car and truck manufacturing company Willys–Overland MotorsWillys Factory in Toledo, Ohio, in about 1915Company typePrivateIndustryAutomotiveFounded31 May 1908FounderJohn WillysDefunct1953; 71 years ago (1953)FateMerged into Kaiser JeepSuccessorKaiser JeepHeadquartersToledo, Ohio, United StatesProducts Automobiles Off-road vehicles Brands Jeep MB SubsidiariesCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company(1917–1920)Overland Automobile Willys (pronounced /ˈwɪlɪs/, Willis&#...

 

German writer Grave of Christian Heinrich Spiess in Bezděkov Christian Heinrich Spiess (4 April 1755 – 17 August 1799) was a German writer of romances and later pulp fiction, horror stories. Life He was born in Freiberg in Saxony. For a time an actor, he was appointed in 1788 controller on the estate of Count Caspar Hermann von Künigl at Besdiekau in Bohemia, where he died, almost insane, the result of his weird fancies, on 17 August 1799.[1] Spiess, in his Ritter-, Räuber- and G...

جبل العرفاء الموقع السعودية  المنطقة محافظة الطائف  إحداثيات 25°31′33″N 43°00′32″E / 25.5257068°N 43.0088682°E / 25.5257068; 43.0088682   تعديل مصدري - تعديل   جبل العرفاء يقع الجبل على بعد 35 كيلومتر شمال شرقي الطائف غرب المملكة العربية السعودية. الآثار يعد جبل العرفاء من أكبر ...

 

Silvia Baraldini Silvia Baraldini (Roma, 12 dicembre 1947) è un'attivista italiana, condannata negli Stati Uniti per associazione sovversiva. Ha fatto parte negli anni sessanta del movimento di lotta contro la Guerra del Vietnam e poi dagli inizi degli anni settanta e fino agli ottanta negli Stati Uniti del movimento rivoluzionario di sostegno alle lotte di liberazione nazionale degli afroamericani e dei portoricani. Fu membro anche dell'Organizzazione 19 maggio, legata al Black Liberation A...

 

Academy Awards ke-86Poster resmi yang menampilkan Ellen DeGeneresTanggal2 Maret 2014 (2014-03-02)TempatDolby TheatreHollywood, Los Angeles, California, A.S.Pembawa acaraEllen DeGeneres[1]ProduserNeil MeronCraig Zadan[2]Pengarah acaraHamish Hamilton[3]SorotanFilm Terbaik12 Years a SlavePenghargaan terbanyakGravity (7)Nominasi terbanyakAmerican Hustle dan Gravity (10)Liputan televisiJaringanABCDurasi3 jam, 35 menit ← ke-85 Academy Awards ke-87 →...

Частина серії проФілософіяLeft to right: Plato, Kant, Nietzsche, Buddha, Confucius, AverroesПлатонКантНіцшеБуддаКонфуційАверроес Філософи Епістемологи Естетики Етики Логіки Метафізики Соціально-політичні філософи Традиції Аналітична Арістотелівська Африканська Близькосхідна іранська Буддій�...

 

High-speed rail line in Saudi Arabia Haramain High Speed RailwayOverviewNative nameقطار الحرمين السريعStatusOperational[1]TerminiMedinaMeccaStations5Websitesar.hhr.saServiceTypeIntercity, high-speed railwayOperator(s)Saudi Arabia RailwaysRolling stock Talgo 350 SRORidership50 million per year (expected)[2]HistoryOpened11 October 2018; 5 years ago (11 October 2018)TechnicalLine length453.0 kilometres (281.5 mi)Number of tracks2Track gauge1,435...

 

سامسونج رجبي سمارتمعلومات عامةالنوع هاتف ذكي الصانع إلكترونيات سامسونجموقع الويب http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I847ZKAATTأهم التواريختاريخ الإصدار أبريل 2012؛ منذ 12 سنوات (2012-04)الوظائفالكاميرا - الخلفية:04 ميجابكسل- الأمامية:31 ميجابكسلالخصائصالمعالج الرئيسي 1400 ميجا هرت�...

American speedway rider Greg HancockBorn (1970-06-03) June 3, 1970 (age 54)Whittier, California, United StatesNicknameHerbieWebsiteofficial websiteCareer historyGreat Britain1989–1996Cradley1997-2001Coventry2003–2005Oxford2006–2007Reading2013PooleSweden1992-1994Getingarna1995-2009Rospiggarna2010-2017Piraterna2018–2019DackarnaPoland1992–1994Leszno1996–1997Gniezno1998–2004Wrocław2005Gdańsk2006–2009Częstochowa2010–2011Zielona Góra2012, 2014Tarnów2013Bydgoszcz2015Rybni...

 

جيمس تاركوفسكي (بالإنجليزية: James Tarkowski)‏ تاركوفسكي مع بيرنلي عام 2017 معلومات شخصية الاسم الكامل جيمس آلان تاركوفسكي[1] الميلاد 19 نوفمبر 1992 (العمر 31 سنة)[2]مانشستر، إنجلترا الطول 6 قدم 1 بوصة (1.85 م)[3] مركز اللعب مدافع الجنسية إنجليزي معلومات النادي النادي الح...

 

Prefektur Tottori 鳥取県PrefekturTranskripsi Jepang • Jepang鳥取県 • RōmajiTottori-ken BenderaLambangKoordinat: 35°27′N 133°46′E / 35.450°N 133.767°E / 35.450; 133.767NegaraJepangWilayahChūgoku (San'in)PulauHonshuIbu kotaTottoriPemerintahan • GubernurShinji HiraiLuas • Total3,507,05 km2 (1,35.408 sq mi)Peringkat41stPopulasi (June 1, 2016) • Total570.569 • Pe...

American firearms manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah Cobra ArmsCompany typePrivateIndustryFirearmsDefunctFebruary 24, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02-24)HeadquartersSalt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.Area servedUnited StatesProductsPocket guns, HandgunsWebsiteOfficial site Old Cobra Enterprises d/b/a logo Cobra Firearms, also known as Cobra Arms and officially as Cobra Enterprises of Utah, Inc. was an American firearms manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Cobra Firearms w...

 

Wilderness area in Minnesota, United States Agassiz WildernessIUCN category Ib (wilderness area)LocationMarshall County, Minnesota, United StatesNearest cityThief River Falls, MNCoordinates48°20′41″N 95°53′00″W / 48.34472°N 95.88333°W / 48.34472; -95.88333Area4,000 acres (16 km2)Established1976 (1976)Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agassiz Wilderness was designated in 1976 by the United States Congress and has a total of 4,0...

 

Ein politisches Spektrum ist ein Ordnungssystem, das politische Ideologien mithilfe von geometrischen Achsen vergleicht. Ursprung und bis heute verbreitetste Anwendung ist die eindimensionale Unterscheidung in links und rechts. Zur genaueren Klassifikation politischer Ideologien werden heute aber auch verschiedene andere eindimensionale oder mehrdimensionale Klassifikationssysteme verwendet. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Eindimensionale Modelle 1.1 Geschichte 1.2 Mögliche Gegensätze 1.2.1 Egalitär ...

Part of a series aboutImperialism studies Theories Dependency theory Intercommunalism Neo-Gramscianism Neocolonialism Social imperialism Super-imperialism Three Worlds Theory Ultra-imperialism World-systems theory Concepts Ecologically unequal exchange North–South model Unequal exchange Superprofit Uneven and combined development People Samir Amin Giovanni Arrighi Paul A. Baran Charles Bettelheim Ľuboš Blaha Nikolai Bukharin Arghiri Emmanuel John Bellamy Foster Andre Gunder Frank Michael ...

 

The Perfect Mile Cover of paperback, depicting Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile recordAuthorNeal BascombLanguageEnglishGenreNon-fictionPublisherMariner BooksPublication date2004Publication placeUnited StatesPages344ISBN0-618-56209-5OCLC54001404Preceded byHigher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City Followed byRed Mutiny: Eleven Fateful Days on the Battleship Potemkin  The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve...

 

Australian musician (1956–2022) This article is about the co-founder and singer of the rock band The Saints. For the musician Chris Bailey, see Chris Bailey (musician, born 1950). For other uses, see Chris Bailey (disambiguation). Chris BaileyBailey (right) with Peter Wilkinson and Caspar Wijnberg, in Amsterdam in 2006Background informationBirth nameChristopher James Mannix BaileyBorn(1956-11-29)29 November 1956Nanyuki, Colony of KenyaOriginBrisbane, Queensland, AustraliaDied9 April 2022(20...

Brazilian footballer and manager Leao redirects here. For the East Asian dynasty, see Liao dynasty. Leão redirects here. For other uses, see Leão (disambiguation). Émerson Leão Leão in 1982Personal informationFull name Émerson LeãoDate of birth (1949-07-11) 11 July 1949 (age 75)Place of birth Ribeirão Preto, BrazilHeight 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)Position(s) GoalkeeperSenior career*Years Team Apps (Gls)1968–1970 Comercial 1971–1978 Palmeiras 163 (0)1978–1980 ...

 

Book by Robert G. Hoyland Seeing Islam as Others Saw It Book coverAuthorRobert G. HoylandLanguageEnglishSeriesStudies in Late Antiquity and Early IslamSubjectIslamic Empire—History—622–661—HistoriographyIslamic Empire—History—661–750—HistoriographyMiddle East—Civilization—To 622—HistoriographyPublisherDarwin PressPublication date1997Publication placeUnited StatesMedia typeHardcoverPages872ISBN0-87850-125-8OCLC36884186Dewey Decimal939.4 21LC ClassDS38.1 .H69 199...