Through the eyes of Merry (メリーの目)
Playback Part 9 - "Before 'Haikarasan ga tooru'"
written by Kenichi / translation by eurydike
Actually, Tetsu should have written this month’s issue, but he had to take a break (due to avian influenza) so that I hurriedly come to the rescue and tell you about the time we recorded “Haikarasan ga tooru”.
Did you know that, in fact, there are five versions of this song? First the silver one limited to stores (which came in a bag), the golden one (round shape) limited to mail orders, the additional one in a bronze bowl, then the one that featured “Tokyo Telephone” (in a common record case) and the re-recorded “Haikarasan ga toorisugita ato...”. People who own them all are very rare.
At the time we recorded the first three versions, we didn’t have our own staff yet and had to find a studio on our own by talking to certain people. In the end, we recorded in a certain studio in Shimokita. The engineer (who resembled Lucky Ikeda) [Note: Japanese choreographer and comedian], who gave us a bad feeling, was incredibly impressive.
The one to start recording (his part) was our drummer Nero and the impact was strong. The pressure and the liveliness of the sound were overwhelming. (We’re used to it by now though.) Nero had pictures of himself playing the drums taken; I had the feeling he had gotten drunk by his own self (laughs).
The next to record was Tetsu on the bass. Back then I thought playing a bass doesn’t suit this man. But in the studio I couldn’t feel that way anymore. [Note: Chances are that I got this one wrong, I’m not sure... ^^;]
I was next. While I was recording, Yuu said “No, here we need this” to me from the side and changed the sound on his own accord. I had come up with that tune since before I joined Merry, I hadn’t been too attached to playing guitar yet (at least I don’t consider myself so), that’s why it wasn’t any good (laughs).
Then it was Yuu’s turn. Honestly, he played good. He is my partner and my rival in one go.
Gara was the last. “Tick Tack” – I heard it and fell in love with it. After all, recording the singing took a very long time, the same part had to be recorded again and again, to me they all sounded the same. Actually, it was Gara himself who decided [Note: If something was alright or not.]. It seemed more and more difficult to me, but when I started thinking that, it was done. (laughs)
After the song-recording was done, it was time for the final recording: the chorus. The choir consisted of all the band members plus some guests, but why was Tetsu the only one who didn’t take part? (laughs)