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ellezetsubo · 1 year ago

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It’s interesting how when Tenn got upset at Riku for his stunt, he specifically referred to their parents as the reason.

During this scene, I had expected Tenn to say something more general or generic like “You could have gotten hurt” or “That was so dangerous. Why did you take such a risk?”. Or at most on a personal level (because how serious the situation looked), “Don’t know you know how worried you made me?”

But here, he specifically mentions the concerns from the perspective of their parents.

One reason may be because of what happened at the end of Second Beat (when IDOLiSH7 and TRIGGER try to confront imposter Zero)

(funny enough, this was also on episode 15. Well played, Troyca)

If Tenn feels like his scoldings don’t have the same effect on Riku because they’re “no longer family”, then it makes sense why he’d tried to appeal to Riku’s concern for their parents instead of something more general or personal coming from Tenn (which if that is really the case, then wow. Props to Tenn for thinking about that on the spot, despite the situation he was in).

Another reason (and far more heavily into speculation territory. Please take it with a grain of salt):

I don’t think Tenn mentioned only their parents as a way to deliberately mask his own concern for Riku like he normally does in past seasons. He, the professional among professionals, damaged an idol’s face. He’s definitely not thinking straight and probably acting on the spur of the moment, unless he really collected himself half a second later.

Compared to how Tenn normally is, there is something almost raw and unrestrained with the way he said that line to Riku. It was kind of like he was drawing from a distant memory or imagining something worse was about to play out during the earlier confrontation.

I don’t think has to be from a single specific incident from the past per say (though it could be). It could be several situations growing up where there were close calls with Riku’s health, and then he overheard their parents’ conversations afterwards. If those sorts of memories had been accumulating for Tenn for many years (especially at his age), it may be possible it became a deep-seeded fear for him that he hasn’t gotten completely over. So when he saw Riku having an attack (which is the first time he’s seen in person in a long time since childhood) in what looked to be dire, helpless circumstances, those old memories and fears may have been brought up.

Ultimately, I don’t really know what was the exact conditions regarding Tenn’s deal with Kujo, if providing relief to his parents was part of it, or how Tenn really felt about his situation (other than that one vague comment in Second Beat). But to see all what you build up and sacrificed for to protect only for it to come crashing down in this one life-or-death situation, for something Tenn may view himself responsible for (getting kidnapped and not being able to escape), its not unlikely that those old memories about Riku and his parents were on his mind, even subconsciously. Him thinking of those memories and fears being about to play out maybe be why Tenn says that more oddly situation-specific line to Riku.

But this is mostly speculation with not much concrete evidence to actually support it. It is probably will be leaning much more to the first reason rather than the second reason since there is something in the story to tie it back to, but I still want to explore reason 2 nonetheless. Regardless, I found this scene peculiar, if not interesting. Hopefully Tenn’s past will be explored more in detail at some point.

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ellezetsubo · 1 year ago

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After all, you're just a hysteric humanoid

Hysteric Humanoid by ALKALOID Song Analysis

Lyric Translation by Distorted Heart (@/ibitsunahaato)

Overview:

Break free from an empty shell of a life that you are taking where you are meeting excessive expectations. Living impassively and following the lies is as good as dead. Question your own limits and live the way your human heart wants to.

Note: This analysis is my interpretation of the song from the translated English lyrics with a bit of digging from the Japanese lyrics (analyzing the use of some kanji's/words). However, I may not have the wide scope of the song especially if there are deeper meanings/references in the Japanese original. Feel free to correct my mistakes and I am up for discussions! Enjoy!

Before we go any deeper into this song, let us define the two words in the title, "Hysteric" and "Humanoid".

Hysteric in common knowledge is an adjective or something that you would describe a person who is already on the verge or is in insanity. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is defined as "an overemotional or unstable person." [1]

Humanoid, on the other hand, is commonly used in science fiction and even fantasy to describe something resembling a human. It is used primarily on robots or entities that look uncannily like humans but aren't humans themselves.

We defined these two words as the song (as it should) revolves around these ideas and it will help you wrap your head around the points that I will one-by-one introduce, and later on we will string together.

Take note that we will refer to "persona" in this song to take up the second-person pronouns, as this song could be interpreted to be directed to someone or they are talking to someone else. It will make explanations a bit easier in the long run!

We will tackle the humanoid part of the song, which is the persona that is being referred to a lot throughout it.

This persona is depicted to be following a set of rules and expectations that are laid out in front of them. That's why the first stanza is already calling out this behavior, particularly how it feels so inauthentic or putting up a facade just to please someone else.

The immobile pride sunk in deja vu The appearance you put up doesn't feel authentic In front of the implicitly drawn borderline Aren’t you just trying to please them?

Note that this persona is going along with the flow, meeting expectations as they do. However, it is described as a mockery of themselves and even goes as far as comparing it as if you're dying or lazy, it's as good as you not having a worth or purpose.

Thinking that you've come this far just by going with the flow, all you're doing is mocking yourself

Why? Keep imitating and die Why? To be impassive* is to be lazy

*indifferent, apathetic

There's another line that interested me when I first saw the lyrics

The immobile pride sunk in deja vu

This specific line is hard to crack due to how it's written. So, we will tear it up piece by piece and make our own whole!

This line is quite similar throughout some translated lyrics that I cross-referenced, most of the time the adjective that is followed by pride is synonymous with restricted. In Japanese, it is written "ガンジガラメ" which in kanji form is "雁字搦め". It means to be bounded or restrained (according to the dictionary on hand or foot), leading to immobility. It restricts freedom, basically.

Another thing to note is that sunk (translated from "溺れた") apart from being translated literally to drowning in water, could also be translated to drowning in something else, like an addiction, losing your mind in the process.

The word pride is written in katakana, so we will take the English meaning of it. Pride is not just what we call "being proud", but also the awareness of someone's dignity, someone's worth.

The word déjà vu is as it is, a feeling that you have experienced something, particularly an event, even though you haven't.

Based on these little details we picked apart, we could interpret this line as restricting your own self-worth to something you believe that you experienced already or at least something that you know already.

It doesn't make sense at first but the persona we are talking about is a humanoid that goes on what is expected. They are restricted to what is already been tested because it is the best course of action. That's how most computer processes work, they will troubleshoot a problem and choose a solution provided by the system. It's a cycle, a loop.

It perfectly describes a humanoid, a human-looking figure that isn't human at all. They are also described as if they are robots (mostly humanoids are used for robots, especially if you are a fan of sci-fi movies featuring cyborgs, AI robots, and such) due to the use of words such as deletion, rewrite (as if of a computer programming script) and even this specific line:

A life with better graphic resolution

However, this humanoid of ours is seemingly human to begin with and they have a little history provided by these lines:

Rumors about classmates who parted ways have disappeared Despite being the same batch, only we remain trapped Depending on others and making excuses stopped working long ago But I've just started myself And you? A classroom that killed your "identity" Anesthesia awaiting well-arranged shipment Even if you start blaming others now No one will listen to you Even if you resent them, they'll never reconsider

It's quite a mysterious and complicated history in a song, however, it will explain a lot of things that will be said next and even to what or maybe whom this song is targeted.

These lines pertain to the past of what made the humanoid humanoid that they are now. It is said this "classroom" killed their identity or even their essence, (the identity in the original lyrics is "ラシサ"). The use of anesthesia here is very interesting because as well all know, it is used to numb pain, which is most commonly used during surgeries and operations. It mainly disables our senses and awareness.

This aligns with what the humanoid is now, it's an empty shell that only follows what is expected of it. It is devoid of what makes a human, a human, their identity, senses (particularly emotions), and awareness.

The song is all about pushing this humanoid to break free and be human again.

Even after deletion, you’re still stained deeply After all, you’re a humanoid

It is said it is hard to get this "humanity" back, it is implied in this specific line that even if they removed this kind of thinking in their mind, they are already used to doing it. After all, it's hard to get off the path you are used to walking over and over again. However, it is reminded that they are not something that is made, they have a soul. The only thing they need is passion to break free out of this life.

We're not man-made. A soul lives in us Dye it red with the passion flowing in

They encourage the humanoid to learn life from others and even explore things, and they will realize that everything doesn't fall between just bad or good, best or worse, evil or good.

If you could learn about life from others Wouldn't that be great? From here on out, it’s an unexplored territory A world which is neither black nor white

Even if it is hard to find their own passion, they are encouraged to question their own limits and even live a better life than this robotic lifestyle that the persona has.

Once you start rewriting, things will go well Keep dreaming Humanoid Even today, don't give up on a human heart; Claim it even if it hurts We live under excessive expectations Question your limits And a life with better graphic resolution

And that's basically the song!

But we aren't done yet~

What if I tell you this song describes ALKALOID so much?

"Well, duh, of course. It's an ALKALOID song, it's not surprising." I hear you say.

Well, you are right. But there's more to it.

It does not describe just ALKALOID, but their experiences and certain people that made that experience.

If you read throughout the song, it perfectly describes what is ALKALOID, especially during the main story. All of the things described above are what essential ALKALOID was or is supposed to be. They are meant to meet expectations, particularly how they are supposed to get in MDM and get enough likes to get in the second part. They are meant to please the higher-ups, after all, they are just test subjects of Eichi's plan.

Which perfectly segues us to important details in this song!

If you have noticed, I have left these specific lines out of the song analysis above.

Why? The lie you’ve imitated Why? Dreams turn out to be alluring traps There’s no way anyone can know your true thoughts Why? A style of unnecessary mass production? Why? Instigate a tragedy and dive They have a silver tongue and a deceptive face If you’re careless, you’ll just get tripped up

Why? Keep imitating and die Why? To be impassive is to be lazy There’s no way anyone can know your true thoughts Why? Then is this what it means to be a villain? Why? Being idealistic all the time is tough They sure have a silver tongue, the pitiable mad scientist That’s enough

This has important lines that will point us to the last nail in the coffin to put this case to rest.

A style of unnecessary mass production?

As I said earlier, ALKALOID is the first test subject of Eichi's grand plan. The basic gist of it is the mass production of idols that shine just enough instead of creating one idol or more likely a unit that will shine brighter (which was commonly referred to as Trickstar who rose to stardom almost overnight).

The verses above pertain to someone who is deceptive and the cause of all of this which is how ALKALOID sees Eichi during the main story. Every line is quite perfectly fitting. "Instigate a tragedy and dive" prefers to how Eichi talked to ALKALOID, particularly about Crazy:B and his plans for them to be his pawns or quite fittingly, his soldiers. "Being idealistic all the time is tough" refers to how hard everything was to get in place with Eichi's plans (and even by extension Ibara's). I am leaving the rest of the lines for you to interpret.

This is what makes me think that this song is quite directed not really just to Eichi, but to the whole higher staff of Ensemble Square that what made all of it to fruition.

This is wholly why I was interested in picking apart this song as it's quite a bold song to sing, especially being under the one you are trying to direct this at. I might be reading this too much, but every line in the song actually pertains to the events that happened to the main story. It just fits too well.

Extra Analysis

There's also a certain part of the song that fits a certain person a little bit too well:

If you ever read Obbligato, you know who I am talking about, or who are the people I am talking about.

This is mainly why I chose Tatsumi as the little banner for this analysis because I believe and I've seen others see this as a song for Tatsumi or of Tatsumi.

These verses perfectly describe what happened in Obbligato.

Rumours about classmates who parted ways have disappeared Despite being the same batch, only we remain trapped

This particular line refers to Kaname (HiMERU) and Tatsumi who unfortunately stopped years off at Reimei Academy due to an incident we will talk about later.

Depending on others and making excuses stopped working long ago But I've just started myself

I believe this might be pertaining to how Tatsumi is starting again especially being bedridden in a hospital for years due to an injury he gained during the incident which perfectly segues us to the next line!

A classroom that killed your "identity" Anesthesia awaiting well-arranged shipment

These lines struck me the most. I am actually heartbroken to even type these words, but basically, this describes the incident in which Kaname was induced into a coma. A classroom might refer not to a literal room, but a group of people, particularly classmates. This line might be directed to HiMERU (oremeru) especially how his identity now is the identity of his young brother.

Even if you start blaming others now No one will listen to you Even if you resent them, they'll never reconsider*

*could be interpreted as not holding a grudge

This makes me believe these lines are directed at him, especially how his relationship with Tatsumi. How he blames Tatsumi and resents him and how Tatsumi never holds a grudge on such things and even takes it himself.

That's your little bonus analysis. :>>

Well, that's a long-winded one!

A little recap, this song pertains to a "humanoid" who goes on to meet excessive expectations and encourage them to break free and find their own path. The humanoid is ALKALOID themselves and we explained how it might be directed to a certain someone or group of people.

I'll be perfectly honest, this is such a hard song to crack and this isn't even what you could understand in this song. However, I like analyzing along with you! I'll be happy to hear your additional analyses of this song. It's also quite hard because it leans heavily on metaphors and I had to dig into the Japanese original of this one. As I said in the beginning, for any clarifications and corrections, kindly send them to me!

All in all, I had fun analyzing it due to how much you could pull in even one line! It is honestly amazing how it could pertain to a lot of things. It's such a fun and challenging song to crack. It beautifully encompasses ALKALOID and the message it sends to us:

Choose it with your own heartbeat

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