#nine sols collage

[indiestsnake]

alright. screw it. here’s a full dissection of the lyrics of Nine Sols by Collage. Lear only knows if this’ll ever escape my drafts, but for funsies

So. This song is most likely sung by Heng, though I find some pieces (specifically the choruses) fit as being sung by Yi. That’s the surface level. Let’s get to dissecting.

Every single line.

Tao, save me.

By the way, I do not speak Chinese and I very much do not speak traditional Chinese. I will be relying on the internet. Mostly the translation from the actual music video. Apologies for mistranslations or misunderstandings.

Enough preamble.

“Hear the tempest on the shore, yet it cannot quench your hearts core”

Tempest likely refers to coming disaster, aka Tianhuo and other general dangers. The second line shows how Yi’s ambition to prove everyone wrong, to gift their race eternal life could never be blown out. Ambition is at the core of his being. And it could also be talking about Heng, unfaltering in the face of a slow death alone on Penglai. And of course, the love between siblings.

“My heart flutters wild and free, drifting where the ancient roots decree”

Obviously talking about Heng’s connection with Fusang and the spiritual freedom she has, having little fear of death and being almost incapable of holding a grudge. She’s like, Taoist plus ultra, it makes sense.

“Tales of life and death persist”

Penglai slowly dying out, along with the all catastrophes happening on New Kulun

“Yet his news is what I miss”

Naturally, Heng misses Yi. The things he’d say, his excited rambles about breakthroughs and science and such. Even when her planet is dying and her brother is lifetimes away. She still just wants to see him again, nothing more.

“Sleepless, I gaze afar, butterflies at the gate blink through ages scar”

Heng is sleepless, both from loneliness, and in comparison to those aboard New Kulun who are constantly asleep. Given Lady Ethereal and her work’s connection with butterflies, the next line is likely about the soundscapes and how they essentially transport through time. Yi’s soulscape would likely be just him and Heng, so butterflies blink through ages and scars.

“Before dawn’s light, sorrows quest unfurls”

Before Yi could come back for Heng, before the dawn of his time as a soul broke, sorrow unfurls as he and Eigong fight. Sorrows quest is the following five centuries and such.

“Tonight beneath a moonlit sky, I tread on lotus blossoms to find you”

Heng searches for traces of her brother among the fields and fields of Tianhuo flowers, either on Penglai or in the realm of Tao.

Chorus time!!!!

“Past your footsteps, slip away from death…”

This one represents both Yi’s slip with death and his fear of death. Yi has already nearly died once, and the idea of losing Heng is completely unbearable to him. Also, New Kulun is slipping away from Penglai, from the Tianhuo, from death. And past your footsteps could also mean Yi’s want for solarians to persist and pass on their knowledge forever, thus the quest for immortality.

“When the sun is falling, should I chase it?”

This one reads to me as Yi asking Heng and himself a question. Should he chase the sun, attempt the impossible, even knowing it’s unachievable? And when the sun is falling, when the night is descending on the solararion empire, should he chase it? Attempt to keep them in light forever? Avert the apocalypse no matter how much fate tries to stop him?

Naturally, his answer is yes. Yi holds his ambition at the core of his being. But in the context of a credits song, it feels like he’s reflecting on that choice, as is Heng.

“Don’t know what I am guarding, yet I can see”

Yi doesn’t really know what he’s fighting for. Revenge? Justice? Truth? And obviously, deep down, he’s fighting for Heng. But he said it himself, if Heng decided to stay, she was gone to him. He’s conflicted. But at once, he can see what he’s guarding. New Kulun. Obviously. His life’s work, all he’s dreamed of, immortality. But he just… doesn’t know why.

This also has a meaning for Heng. She doesn’t know what ideal or moral she’s guarding by staying behind. She’s just following her heart. And of course, “yet I can see” is likely her connection to the Tao and Fusang and such. Though I think the best meaning behind that lyric is the fact that Yi and Heng will always be with each other, always able to see no matter how far away.

“The sky is full of words you gifted me”

These two’s lives are molded by one another. Yi will never escape his regrets, of all the things Heng gave him that he threw back in her face for the name of science. And Heng will always have Yi with her, through his words, wisdoms, and knowledge. She’s knows as much as she does about the world because of him. It’s so evocative, ough I love this one

“Stay awake inside this ancient dream”

This reads to me as a mutual plea to one another. “Stay with me.” It also fits with the soundscapes and general reality confusion this game occasionally taps into. The Tao, yin and yang, all that. Even through time immemorial, stay awake, stay with me. Please.

*wonderful screech*

I don’t know if it’s actually real, cuz the music video+credits don’t say it but I saw a lyric site say the vocalist is screaming Yi’s name. and it just… ough, hits just right. to imagine such a visceral, digitized scream come from Heng… ough. the feelers.

“As petals fall, I dream of our past”

Pretty straightforward, Heng missing Yi and dreaming of those times they spent together. also applies to Yi, with her letters, but the mention of petals gives more precedent to Heng.

“No ailment, no pain, in sunsets glow, we’re cast”

This one’s interesting. It seems to imply either Heng and Yi or just Heng in the afterlife/flow of Tao/ something similar. No Tianhuo, No pain. Could also represent Heng’s worldview where pain and death mean little, as the Tao unites all in the end. But it gets more complicated in the rest of the verse.

“Singing as we wander, our longing so vast”

Now it seems more them wandering their worlds alone, New Kulun and Penglai, singing of each other. Makes sense since it feels like Yi and Heng are each singing parts of this, even if Heng is leading.

“Beloved, in a hundred years, may we reunite at last”

Back to pretty simple. They’ll be together eventually. Overall it feels like the verse talks about the flow of Tao and how it intertwines these two.

“When the suns are bleeding, am I falling?”

I think it refers to the Sols individual deaths by Yi’s hand, since the choruses overall seem more sung by Yi and bcuz it just fits. He asks himself if he’s gone too far, if this whole journey is just him plummeting through fate, headed for the ground. In the end, it is. Even if he finds some kind of peace in it.

“Even if the tragedy’s coming, there’s no way back.”

Pretty simplistic, neither Heng nor Yi (especially Yi) can undo their regrets. No matter if New Kulun became a floating casket the moment it left Penglai. No matter if the virus will never be stopped. No matter if Yi’s death is imminent. It wants to evoke that regret, and it does so well.

“Weave my soul into your melody…”

Stay with me, even when you are gone. A mutual plea between them again. Yi prays he is a part of Heng’s melodies on her flute, and Heng likewise hopes the Tao allows her to flow into Yi’s story and be with his song of a life. Also connects with the Tao, the “melody” of the universe and ideas like that that Heng believes like that.

“Fly away with blooming silver wings…”

Could have something to do with New Kulun leaving Penglai? Or Heng and the other solarians falling back into the Tao on metaphorical wings. Honestly, I think this one is mostly evocative window dressing. And that’s not a bad thing. It means whatever it makes you feel.

“In your eyes, the mirrors of laws flow”

This seems to be referring to something like Lear’s laws of science, and Yi’s ideas of them. The things Heng learned from him. Likewise, the laws of Yin and Yang flow in Heng’s eyes. (Fun fact, she specifically has a light red shade in her pupils that is shared with Lear. look closely, he has the same little coloring. symbolizes their connection to Fusang and such :3)

“I see a whole world unfolding”

Could be the construction of New Kulun on Yi’s part, or Heng’s connection to the Tao and Fusang. Probably both!

“Just keep walking my road”

Heng and Yi going down their individual paths, determined to find one another again.

“Let’s meet somewhere when it’s over”

Heng asking Yi to reunite with her within the flow of Tao, and Yi pleading with fate to give him one last chance to apologize.

“Countless stars descend, through realms they stream”

Possibly some Tao flow things, with how sparkly Fusang is? Also gives me Yi’s heroic sacrifice vibes, with “let’s meet somewhere when it’s over” being the last line. Not fully sure honestly. Could be more evocative extras.

“Yin and Yang entwined, guiding souls in a dream”

Much more clear. The Yin and the Yang (also symbolizing Heng and Yi) guiding souls through the Tao as the tianhuo slowly kills the solarions. Also mention of dream, could refer to soundscapes and therefore the sols and such.

“The sons of Sols will shine forever…”

Definitely refers to the sols overall, but gives me Yi specifically vibes. He will never be forgotten. He shone brilliantly till his last breath, and beyond. A ambition fueled genius from birth, who died with an explosion that rivaled the sun it stood next too. The apemen will remember. History will remember. For better or worse.

That’s it! Fucken hell. Obligatory mention that this is all my interpretation, and I doubt the band meant everything I interpreted. Probably not even half. Music is like that. So this is just my take. Feel free to add yours!

Think that’s everything. Good song. Gooder game. God i fucking love Nine Sols. Have a great day.

[feza-creations]

WHEN THE SUN IS FALLING

SHOULD I CHASE IT?

[tiabwwtws-art]

Let's meet somewhere when it's over

[pinkrosealice]

Hey Nine Sols fans! Collage has a new album out that you should go stream right now!!!!!

[the-blue-void]

Day 10000000 of people calling taiwanese chinese

:(

No the language collage used in nine sols is TAIWANESE or TAIGI you would not call Kanji from japanese chinese why are you calling Hanji from taiwanese chinese wtf is this double standard

[misskanda]

I've been completely in love with Taiwanese duo 珂拉琪 (Collage)'s songs, especially TORATORAW and TALACOWA, for their blend of Taiwanese indigenous language (Amis話), Japanese language and poignant references to Taiwanese historical events in the lyrics. Their song for the game Nine Sols is also absolutely beautiful.

I've been analysing the official Mandarin translation of their songs for fun

[astranauticus]

just gotta survive two more days until my finals are over and i can finally play the games i impulse bought!!! fuck!!!!!

[skaamit]

Так оказалось, что для меня одно из самых приятных и внезапных открытий ушедшего года связано с другим приятным и внезапным открытием 2024-го. И оба – с Тайваня.

«Nine Sols» стала сюрпризом и одной из лучших штук того года. Не просто хорошая метроидвания, а весьма компетентная, выдающаяся и чуть ли не лучшая в жанре. Так вот, прекрасную и многократно заслушанную заглавную тему игры исполнил дуэт «珂拉琪 Collage». И вот уже Они стали для меня главным музыкальным открытием того года.

Благо, у них до «Nine Sols» был полноформатный альбом, а в течение этого года от них вышло несколько новых синглов, в конце декабря окуклившихся в новый альбом «Deus Ex Machina». И это тот самый редкий случай, когда в избранное уходит буквально каждый трек, и каждый из них нравится и активно переслушивается потом. Эклектичный, ритмичный построк, хлёсткий синт, мелодичный и местами с надрывом, но грациозный женский вокал и в меру сладкий. Прям моё сокровище.

🟣 orcd.co

[spock-adoodledoo]

>clicks ninesols theme song(?) video

>cool music

>looks at comments: only one that's about the band that made the music is filled with nationalistic arguing

>ben affleck smoking jpg

[doodledrawsthings]

Have people talked about the fact that a verse from the “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” poem is being whispered at the beginning of the Collage Nine Sols credits song or am I just a silly little guy who only just watched Interstellar for the first time like a week ago.

[identityarchitect]

the sky is full of words you gifted me / stay awake inside this ancient dream (nine sols - collage)

[indiestsnake]

lookin up lyrics for Nine Sols by collage for a lyric analysis. and saw a source that. that says the scream after the first chorus isn’t just a nonspecific yell.

It’s the vocalist screaming Yi’s name.

And from the lyrics, it seems to be implied Heng sings this song.

*sobs* *melts* *explodes*

[marblecore]

just found out that in nine sols by collage the part where the singer screams is actually her screaming yi's name and now i wanna jump off a bridge oh my g

[some-triangles]

I've now played through Nine Sols twice and have gotten both endings! That means it's time to post

So, hilariously, I got the true ending first! The old woman doesn't have a third phase if you go for the normal ending, which explains why it felt so brutal I had to post about it if you do what I did. I guess the creators of the game thought you would get through your first go-round w/o finding everything, get the normal ending, and then go back to scrape and get the true ending, for which you've been prepared by beating Eigong previously. But it's a metroidvania, finding all the hidden stuff is the point. So of course I went hard mode first.

None of that is nearly as interesting as the endings themselves, though! Potted summary of Nine Sols plot: the cat furries (Han) of Peilang (China) accidentally invented the deadly Tianhuo virus (COVID) while trying to find the cure for death. So they blasted an entire island into space, taking everyone who could afford to come, and put them all in suspended animation while scientists kept looking for a cure. Why space? Because the suspended animation/paradise simulation machine requires such incredible computational power to run that they need a bunch of organic brains to do it. Luckily their spy satellite spotted a planet (Earth [Formosa]) full of primitive apemen (Formosan native peoples) whose virus-free brains would be perfect for the project.

So they kidnap a bunch of humans and bring them to their space island, which is using our sun for power, causing climate change (climate change) on earth. The humans live in a simulated primitive village and send off a bunch of kids to go "live with the gods" every year, thus keeping the simulation program supplied with fresh brains. This goes on for hundreds of years. Meanwhile the scientists come up with a COVID vaccine which turns the cat furries who take it into immortal, hivebrained mutants.

You play one of the 10 people who are responsible for this whole mess (the CCP secretariat.) You get thrown out of the council and murdered when you find out that they made COVID in a lab and get mad about it, and then you go on a roaring rampage of revenge in the hope of wresting power away from your former colleagues. Meanwhile, your mentor has decided that the mutants are the immortality they were looking for all along and decides to turn everyone into pink goo, in the usual fashion.

So! When you are on the verge of confronting her and thwarting her plans, you are given two options! Or so I thought. It turns out you only get two options if you do everything you can to bond with your human friends, which mostly involves sharing all of china's cultural treasures with the adorable kid who follows you around. (And drinking a dude's vomit. No time to explain that.) The normal, regular, you didn't do that ending involves you taking the whole station back to Penglai (again, China) where you now have a permanent population of Formosans to use for the brain machines but you are presumably nice about it, and you have turned your little buddy into a collaborator. In the GOOD ending, you send all the humans back to earth (land back) and then you blow the space island up, incidentally genociding yourself. The sole survivor of the Han furry race is a fat cat in a hover chair named Kuafu, who loves bubble tea so much he had a tank of it built into his work uniform. He will not be reproducing.

So, lest you think my bracketing is excessive - this game was made by Red Candle, a Taiwanese game company which is best known for having their last game delisted from Steam for taking a shot at Xi Jinping. The soundtrack was created by Collage, an incredible band of native Formosan descent who write their songs in a bunch of languages - Amis, Hokkien, Japanese, English - but, pointedly, not in Mandarin. The political stuff is extremely on purpose. The second ending isn't exactly meant to be happy - your death devastates your little human friend, and life is going to be hard for the humans back on gradually thawing Earth. But the game is very clear that it's the correct ending, the right thing to do.

It would if nothing else be a really interesting way to resolve the political status of Taiwan. It's a One China policy, but not that one, because they're all fucking dead over there.

Taiwan's continued existence as an independent entity is probably the best thing our imperial sphere has ever done. Can you believe one of our dictatorial buffer states democratized itself? Like, the hereditary dictator's son decided that they needed to modernize and by that he actually meant to stop being a dictatorship, if only to stop making his political patrons (us) look bad? And now because of their buffer status they get to be the only real democracy in East Asia, insulated from power and power brokers by their liminality. And still it's a colony, and the native people have lived through occupation after occupation, to the point where some young people are starting to prefer the Japanese to the KMT because better the devil you never knew. What a mindfuck. You can see why just blowing the mainland to smithereens might be tempting to some.

Anyway. What a wonderful, fascinating game, and what a statement. (You just have to game out of your mind to get to it.) Probably harsher than anything that was in Devotion, which is why it's wise to deliver your political messaging through cute furries, as long as the furry in question isn't Winnie the Pooh.

[fridurwrites]

oh? you like 9 sols? hehehehe hell yeah….

me when tragic indie games about death and letting go

they’re always SO GOOD

nine sols is so important to me you don't even know the credits theme by Collage is one of my "check out how hard I can cry" songs for sure, I mean-

[the-blue-void]

Anyways it’s probably why you can find any explanation about some parts collage’s nine sols lyrics, because it’s a language that was oppressed for hundreds of years by various different nations

& it doesn’t help that the english translation is not very direct translation of Tâi-gí, but honestly I don’t mind it that way

Take first line for example

聽海墘 大風咧吹

聽 (thiaⁿ) means listen, it means the same in mandarin, it could mean listen to someone, or in this case, it means listen to the sound of something. In mandarin people would usually specify they’re listening to something’s sound, “聽xx的聲音”, but in Tâi-gí it’s not usually the case

海墘 (hái-kîⁿ) means coastline, but if you google the hanji, you aren’t gonna find that directly, you will find an elementary school named by it, and the fact that it is near the beach. The word 海岸 (hái-hōaⁿ) means the same thing, I think using hái-kîⁿ is a better word choice, because the tone of hái-hōaⁿ is going down, but the rhythm is going up, it would sound very weird if they choose hái-hōaⁿ.

A little nuance of 聽海墘 tho, is that it could be the person is listening, or if they are is asking another to listen. Most people would take “the person is listening” at the start, but with the next line, some might interpret this as an ask. Both are valid, and I like the nuance of this.

大風咧吹 (ta-hong leh chhoe) makes even less sense, because leh is Tâi-gí specific. It means something is on going, so this line means literally “the wind blowing”

The official translation is “hear the tempest of the shore”

Also, this lyrics reminds me of 大風吹, a popular childplay in taiwan (idk where it came from but not taiwan). A person without a chair become the ghost, and they would say a something that some people in the group have, like “wearing a hat”, and everyone with a hat has to stand up and run to another chair, with the ghost trying to steal one of them

In fact, another band that Red Candle Games collabed with made a song about this