08 ✧ LLALTA
"Apex of the New World" by Hana Uemura
Music ✧ John Marshall, Esther Winterbourne
Lyrics ✧ John Marshall, Esther Winterbourne, Hana Uemura
~✧~
"フレスベルグの少女~風花雪月~" - Caro
The cover art of the single "Apex of the New World", by Hana Uemura. The single is also Llalta's entry in the 100th WorldVision Song Contest in Monterra, Kalosia.
~✧~ BACKGROUND ~✧~
5 editions ago, in Nakom, Yvesia, Llalta last participated with the song "The Time Of Your Life" by Titania, a completely new direction for the tiny island nation. Mixing genres both familiar and unfamiliar to the Llaltese music scene, such as R&B and electropop, it garnered much attention from international WorldVision fans and critics, considered a bold choice for a nation that had never strayed far from the 'Llaltese sound'. The song, about the insignificant significance of human life and unconditional self love, partnered with beautiful staging and an emotional performance, finished the night placing 4th, following the 4th received by Lacey the participation prior in WorldVision 90, as well as the nation's 6th top 5 in WorldVision. As a result, the hype for WorldVision in Llalta was at an all time high. With recent participations having brought successful results, audience shares exceeding 80%, and the Llaltese music industry stepping in all kinds of new directions, many considered this the beginning of a renaissance. The start of a new era. However, as WorldVision 96 rolled around, many Llaltese expected and wanted another participation, and yet, the LBN said nothing. Some theorised they were taking a break to raise funds, or struggled to find artists to represent them, or even rumours of internal conflict, but another edition came and went without any news. And another, and another. At that point, many considered Llalta in WorldVision a lost cause, a mere fantasy, as edition after edition, Llalta never appeared. Eventually, the LBN released a statement to quash the demands and questions, stating on Twitter that: "Unfortunately, we have been unable to partake in WorldVision as sufficient funding has not been secured, as well as staffing shortages. As much as we would love to share Llaltese music with the world and participate in the near future, we cannot guarantee that Llalta will be returning to the contest within the next 10 editions." Many Llaltese fans were disappointed, but unsurprised. The LBN had always faced monetary issues and schedule clashes due it's small size, which has always impacted Llalta's WorldVision participations. Most expected the same for WorldVision 100, despite the underlying hope they would participate to celebrate the centennial edition.
Behind the scenes however, the LBN had been preparing for WorldVision 100 since their last participation in WorldVision 95. After staff shortages hit the state-run company in late 2021, dropping by 20%, the network worked tirelessly to outsource staff from Britonisea. Following the temporary closure of LBN 2, the network moved half of the current operations to Doportedas, opening a small building in it's financial district. Funded almost entirely by the Llaltese government, the plan aimed to increase the network as well as develop it's educational resources and technology, as well as potentially branching out to facilitate apprenticeships and degree-level TV & Media courses in Britonisea and Llalta. Despite this, as WorldVision 100 drew nearer, the LBN regrouped their new Llaltese delegation, consisting of prior Llaltese delegates (now far improved in their field) with a few new Britonish members, bringing a new vision to the delegation. For the broadcaster, this project was a way to reinvent themselves and the projection of Llalta that the world knew, this entry the first statement of a new and improved LBN. Thus, they knew they had to put everything they had, what they knew and what they had learnt, to create something only they could produce.
Prior to the announcement of WorldVision 97, Japanese-Llaltese singer Hana Uemura had signed to the same Britonish label as Llaltese singer-songwriter and WorldVision winner, Esther Winterbourne, where the two first met. After bonding over their memories of Llalta, the two began collaborating on music together, recording a few demos, as Hana was preparing for her debut, which was aimed for the autumn of 2022. In the Spring of 2022, the LBN reached out to Esther to ask for her to enter the 100th WorldVision Song Contest on behalf of Llalta, though she declined. However, she recommended Hana Uemura to the LBN, who she knew had the potential to be a star. At first they were cautious. After all, sending someone with little to no experience in the industry was a huge risk, especially to perform in front of such a large audience, in what was speculated to be the most competitive edition of all. In response, Esther sent over a few demos that the two had recorded together, including one of "Apex of the New World". The LBN contacted Hana themselves soon after, offering the chance to perform as well as promote what would be her debut single, and though dubious, she eventually agreed. When asked what kind of song she wanted to sing, Hana responded with "Apex of the New World", to the surprise of Esther and the LBN. Though the LBN initially opposed the demo, after Hana explained what the song meant to her, they had no choice but to allow her to at least work with Esther Winterbourne and acclaimed writer and band member of Evergreen, John Marshall, to create a song that would celebrate the music of Llalta for the 100th WorldVision Song Contest. During this time, she had also worked with them to create a handful of other potential entries.
The song was first written by Esther Winterbourne for the 3rd edition of LlaltaVision: The Duels, originally sung by Esther herself. However, it was placed aside for her 2 other entries, which the LBN had deemed far stronger. Thus, it lay waste in her back catalogue of songs that would never be released. However, when she met Hana, the song ended up as one of the first that Esther worked with her on, as her vocals were the perfect pairing alongside the song. Hana had loved the song so much however, that she fought for it to be her debut single, again, to be rejected by her label. However, with the LBN promising to breathe new life into the song, as well as 2 esteemed songwriters, she knew it was her song to sing. Rewritten and rearranged over a few weeks in one of Britonisea's most modern music studios, the song transformed from a chill trap-based electropop song to a more dramatic, upbeat track with EDM/dubstep elements infused into its chorus, as well as introducing orchestral elements to create grandeur. Esther had also rewritten the lyrics as Hana had asked, introducing a completely new vision for the old song, as well as referencing past Llaltese entries. As a result, the song was proposed once again to the LBN, who after lots of thinking, decided it was the best option. Something personal, that celebrated everything that Llalta was and will be. The song was finally mixed and completed a few days after, the music video filmed over another week in multiple locations, such as St. Margarets Cathedral in St. Christopher, as well as the heavy usage of CGI, created via a Britonish team. At last, on the 20th of May, the ambitious project had almost finished, costing upwards of USD$500,000, including all the expenses of song production, filming and media campaigns, the most of any Llaltese entry to date.
Then, on the 8th of June, a multitude of rumours began to surface of Llaltese participation in WorldVision 100, though most thought nothing of them, as just rumours. Out of the blue however, the LBN confirmed participation on the following Friday, 10th of June, 6:30 PM GMT, via Twitter. The official LBN Twitter account stated that Hana Uemura was to represent the nation at the upcoming WorldVision 100. And as suddenly as it disappeared, the Llaltese hype for WorldVision returned, glad that finally, the LBN was to confirm participation. What was even more shocking was the post that came 2 days later, at 8 PM GMT on the 12th of June. A teaser photo, aptly named "Prologue" was released, of a girl walking towards a chair in a church-like hall. Immediately, WorldVision fans were excited to see what was in store, as this was the first time the LBN had ever released extensive promotions for an entry. Avid WorldVision theorists began to dissect leaked information and the information given. A teaser video was then released on the 14th, also titled "Prologue", which appeared to be the first teaser image in motion, accompanied by a mere piano. Throughout the week, 2 more teaser images were released, "Face Yourself" and "Apex", released on the 15th and 17th respectively. Each teaser showed the date 20.06.2022, which was the alleged release of the new single. Alongside the onslaught of teasers, little had any idea what the new song was to sound like, especially since this was Hana Uemura's debut single.
On the Saturday however, the music video trailer was released, and the name of the song was finally revealed to the world: "Apex of the New World". The trailer hinted at a dramatic electropop song, carried by soaring melodies and a grand horn section, something rarely seen in the Llaltese music scene. The visuals were dark yet colourful, Hana Uemura appearing in the hall, seemingly facing herself, the backdrop depicting burning moons and planets. With 2 days left before the release of the song, the single cover art was revealed on the 19th, and the song was finally revealed on the Monday, the 20th. With an ambitious promotion cycle that the LBN had never done before, at least, not for a WorldVision entry.
~✧~
~✧~ THE ARTIST ~✧~
HANA UEMURA
Age 24 (born 20th December, 1997)
Born in Akita, Japan, Hana Uemura is a debut singer, the 100th WorldVision Song Contest being her first tenure in the music industry. Born to a Llaltese mother and a Japanese father, alongside 1 younger sibling, the family moving to St. Christopher, Llalta in the wake of the millennium. There, she attended St. Christopher Academy, her passive, quiet yet amicable personality garnering her a lot of friends, even though she had only just begun to learn English. However, she soon caught up, her high academic ability allowing her to learn quickly. At first, she had taken interest in the sciences, dreaming of becoming an astronaut or a scientist. However, that dream changed at age 9, after listening to one of the Japanese CDs her father had taken from Akita. After listening to the album for hours and hours on end, she looked for more records from them, finding that Llalta had no records from Japan. After trying relentlessly, the effort was deemed futile. However, Hana found a passion for singing after singing along to the CD, and dreamed of bringing alternate styles from Japan over to Llalta, who had little to no exposure to the likes of J-Pop or the like. After taking up singing lessons with June Summerfields, her passion grew even stronger. Her vision only expanded after a family trip to Britonisea, where billboards of singers and celebrities glittered in the skyline. She often dreamed to her friends of her future career in lands far, far away, performing on a stage for thousands. Though it was a mere hobby at first, as she grew closer to 18, the light seemed closer than she imagined.
Like many other Llaltese graduates, she chose to do her degree in Britonisea, the city of Luton in particular. Though her degree was in Astrophysics, she secretly hoped to take root there, wishing that she could blossom her career. Once there however, she found it hard to integrate within the student crowd at Luton, finding herself friendless and homesick within her first year. Furthermore, her confidence had dropped greatly, and the light that she once chased no longer shined. The workload seemed endless with no end in sight, overwhelming her until she fell into a slump. She found the darkest parts of her seemed to grow like a rash, a scar she could not rid of. After a while, she had ended up lashing out at her few friends, becoming a shell of her former self, even growing depressed. The one thing that had carried her through the night was music, the music of Llalta and her other home. But even then, it had seemed a fruitless attempt to keep living. During her second year, she had dropped out of university, running away from herself and her fears. For a few months, she had ended up living in a small apartment, isolated from the world around her. However, one evening, the melodious symphony of a single piano resounded in the silent city, and for the first time in a while, she began to cry and cry until her head ached and her eyes hurt. But something inside her changed, like a flame ignited.
She worked a long time to improve herself, a year or so, facing herself in ways she had never dared to do. And for once, the days seemed bright. She had ended up singing in a bar after mustering up the courage to audition, at the will of her newfound friends, and began to find new joys in her life, and herself. She moved in with her friends, somewhere small still, but they were happy. She had also visited Llalta once again, though at first with company, to face the family she had feared to let down, even if that fear was irrational. And though she still had good days and bad days, it didn't matter to her. Her life changed when she was scouted after one show however. Though it had always been her dream, she didn't know whether it was her chance to take. Her friends pushed her to do so, offering to drive her, and perhaps buy her a dinner if she failed, and eventually, she took the chance. Recording a few Llaltese songs her mother sang to her, she nervously awaited the response. Though it took a while (especially due to her impatience), she eventually got a callback, the child in her smiling. Though Hana knew it wouldn't be easy, she chose to sign, starting late 2021.
After recording multiple demos with Esther Winterbourne, Uemura was set to debut in late 2022 with an EP. However, after being chosen to represent Llalta at the 100th WorldVision Song Contest, her debut was moved to the 20th of June, with the song "Apex of the New World". Though "Apex of the New World" is her only released track as of yet, she has stated that her sound infuses J-Pop and Electropop with the more acoustic and orchestral sounds of Llalta to create grand and fantastical songs that pay homage to the adventures and odysseys of life. "Apex of the New World" is a culmination of everything she loves in music, and a taste of what is to come in her blossoming career.
~✧~ THE SONG ~✧~
"APEX OF THE NEW WORLD"
"Apex of the New World", performed by Hana Uemura is a J-Pop song infused with a multitude of genres such as Llaltese Folk with EDM and Dubstep elements present throughout the song. Released on the 20th of June 2022, the song is a song about the odyssey that is learning to love oneself, accepting every single aspect of ourselves, positive and negative, and never giving up. We are all undefinable, complex beings of all kinds of colours that we must accept as ourselves, and only if we learn to love ourselves unconditionally, no matter how challenging, are we able to move from the past. And though we are not perfect; and we may never be, we must never give up in striving to be the bests version of ourselves, learning to grow and overcome mistakes and habits that we have fallen into unknowingly. Though sometimes it's hard to face the darkest truths of ourselves, the only way we can truly move is by facing it, embracing it, and growing as a result. But even if we do still make mistakes, we can only grow from them, not hate ourselves. To learn to connect with people, to be the light to others as you have always wanted to have yourself. And though hope seems so far away, the brightest hope comes from within. And one day, we may create the perfect reality that only the imperfections of humanity can paint.
“Apex of the New World” is about how, every person is made up of thousands of colours, like our personality, our past, our future, our identities. We are all like paintings, every second and moment another stroke on our canvas. Sometimes we make mistakes or we internalize our negative experiences, which can grow into much worse things, we can grow to resent ourselves, another shade on our canvas of life. However, the song is about never giving up and striving to be the best we can be. Accepting all our colours, and though we may not be perfect, that is perfect enough. The brightest hope comes from within, so as long as we keep going and love ourselves unconditionally and grow and nurture, we can create our “new world” where we can finally love every single colour of ourselves.
Hana Uemura at the Junterapten Pre-Party
At 4m57s long, the song was originally written for the 3rd LlaltaVision: The Duels, late 2021 by Esther Winterbourne. However, it was shelved as it was deemed too 'uncompetitive' to be an entry. Originally sang by Esther herself, the demo was far slower, implementing a trap-style beat alongside a synth-heavy chorus, far more chilled than the version presented today. However, as requested by Hana Uemura, who had re-recorded the demo in early 2022, the track was rearranged by Esther Winterbourne and John Marshall to feature a larger soundscape and a faster rhythm. Including orchestral elements, such as a triumphant horn section, the song became far grander than originally conceived, something far more impactful, something that would last. The lyrics had originally taken the perspective of someone who had overcome self-hatred, though was vastly rewritten to fit the narrative proposed by Hana, a more realistic approach which sang of someone who knows they are not yet the person they want to be, yet still strives to better themselves anyway. Encompassing a more vibrant lyrical landscape, the lyrics were also embellished with multiple references to previous Llaltese WorldVision entries, most significantly WorldVision 65 ("Just Be You!"), WorldVision 69 ("Like Memories"), WorldVision 86 ("To Live") and WorldVision 90 ("Constellations"). The song aimed to be a culmination of the journey Llalta has taken in WorldVision, taking lyrical and musical elements to create the perfect song to celebrate WorldVision 100, combining the past, present and future of Llalta. The perfect ending for the old, and the shining start for the new. Or perhaps the middle of a slow and long journey to the light!
Promoted over 10 days via numerous teaser photos and teaser videos, the song was released to critical acclaim, debuting at #1 on the Llaltese Top 20 Chart as well as appearing in various international WorldVision charts, peaking at #8 on WV Radar and #9 on the Maltese Hot 10. The entry is also 30/1 on the odds at wvworld.com (as of the 4th update, dated 25/06). The music video also reached 500 Thousand views within 2 weeks of release, being the most highly anticipated Llaltese entry as of yet. The song has also succeeded in several records so far, despite only a few weeks of release, including the highest 1st day streams (both on streaming service and Youtube) of any Llaltese song as well as charting overseas in nations no Llaltese song has charted before, and predicted to break many more with the broadcast of the contest.
~✧~ THE PERFORMANCE ~✧~
As the postcard ends, the arena dims until it is almost pitch black, the crowd cheering one final time before plunging into silence. Onstage, time seemed to slow as the start drew nearer. Taking a deep breath, Uemura rocked back and forth on the balls of the heels of her shoes, her face turned to the ground. This is it, she told herself, again and again, the chance to show everything she and her country were made of. Though she had performed a few times since her debut, the notable of which being the Junterapten Pre-Party, she had severely underestimated the sheer size of the crowd, not to mention all those at home who would be watching from the camera's eye. And yet, all those faces seemed to melt away with each deep breath, until the only person in the crowd she wanted to please, was herself. Then again, perhaps that was what made it all the more intimidating, that she would mess up her one chance to prove to herself how far she had come. Of which, she thought about what she would have thought a few years ago, during her time at university. What the child whose eyes glittered gold would have thought. To have achieved her dream, to be the light she had once chased; a little laughter escaped her pursed lips. A happiness she could not describe began to well up in her, the joy of being alive. The air was sticky and humid, yet, each breath gave her the energy to keep going. She felt the urge to run a mile, roll in the fields as the sun shone down on her, the excited feeling one might feel when they imagined all the possible stories their life would tell.
The countdown in her earpiece snapped her from her childish excitement. This is it, the moment her life had led up. She felt as if she was ready to fly, weightless, but the moment held her down. The future was ahead of her, but the time was now. She took another deep breath, shutting her eyes tightly, She thought about herself in that moment, everything she was and will be, and the her that stood upon that stage, and smiled. This was what she had dreamed of, and she thought only to savour and enjoy every note, every movement and every moment upon that stage. To do the best she that she could.
This is it.
As the song begins, the piano melody reverberates throughout the arena, the stage lighting up at once. The shot features black bars covering the top and bottom of the screen, thinning the aspect ratio vertically to create a more cinematic effect. Upon the black LED screen, a small golden butterfly flutters across the darkness from the right side of the LED screen to the centre, golden particles sparkling with each flap of its wing. The camera zooms into the butterfly, following it's movements as it pans across, ending the shot at centre stage, where Hana Uemura is revealed, standing on the main stage, eyes shut, her face tilted slightly downwards. Throughout the performance, she holds a wireless microphone, not restricting her movements. Her
outfit consists of a black strap top embellished with golden embroidery, intertwined with jewels to give a luxurious look. Wrapped around her is a draped asymmetric toga style garment which wraps around her body, elegant yet dramatic, also embellished with golden jewellery, shimmering in the lights like the scales of a fish. Around her neck sits a thick golden neck accessory which is decorated similarly to the embellishments on the rest of the outfit. Her black hair is pulled back into a half ponytail, the rest falling to just above her shoulder blades. She is crowned with a headpiece of gold jewellery; the design again matching the embellishments of the outfit, daintily wrapped against her hair. Her make-up is soft and naturally, only her cheekbones highlighted with a small amount of glitter. Overall, her outfit represents an angelic, elegant motif, dark colours keeping her image grounded in humanity.
The butterfly dissolves into a burst of sparkling gold dust behind her, forming butterfly wings with the particles for a few moments as Hana begins to sing the first line of the song, opening her eyes and looking into the camera, bringing the microphone to her lips, the lights catching her eye with a blue sparkle. As she sings "the dearest child", the music swells, building up to the introduction of the main rhythm, the camera zooming backwards as a troupe of blue and white spotlights are drawn into Hana, before releasing as the music picks up. A volley of blue lights then billow outwards as she continues to sing the introduction, a
large arched window design appearing on the black LED screen as well as 2 smaller ones upon the pillars that form from either side of the stage, a call to the music video as well as matching the grandeur and extent of the song, the butterfly dust bursting into the black. The arched window is detailed, pulsing to the beat of the song, alongside the multitude of lights that surround the stage which have also begun to pulse. As Uemura sings "who thought the argent stars were hers to hold", she raises her hand to the sky, her eyes trailing them as she looks beyond the heavens, her voice effortlessly singing the soaring melody, a slight twinge of pain highlighting her voice. A crane camera slowly circles around her from the skies, a shot angled halfway between her eye line and a bird's eye view, where the stage floor is also seen, a white light beneath Hana pulsing to the beat. She sings the beginning of the 3rd line, the music building up once again, the lights strobing alongside the beat, building up to the first drop. The LED arched window also flashes, the lines beginning to violently distort with glitchy effects. The beat then drops, the EDM/Dubstep elements of the song appearing for the first time. And with them, the lights begin to billow outwards relentlessly, a constant flow of lights in gold and blue blossoming outwards in all directions, matching the chaos of the drop. Hana, almost lost in the lights, steps forwards, behind her, the lines and shapes that once formed the windows stretching and distorting into geometric shapes, bright white lines glitching to the beat, even spilling out to the LED floor below her. The camera takes a wide pan of the stage before, taking a closer body shot of Hana, who thrusts her hands up to the ceiling, the yearning in her voice growing stronger. As she sings the final line, her hand slowly falls, pulled into a fist against her chest, the camera zoomed in, following it before making its way to her face, her eyes looking straight into the lens, glittering in the light. Every so often, a lens flare will momentarily obscure the view of the camera, but even so, she remains unfazed as she sings the final note, her voice a little withdrawn, her eyes slowly falling to the floor as the camera fades to black. As her vocals echo throughout the arena, each beat is accompanied by a different camera angle, speeding up as the beat does. Each cut fades in and out to create an almost blinking-like effect.
The dearest child, eyes glittered gold
Who thought the argent stars were hers to hold
As the years pass by, I don’t feel any older
Except the light I once chased no longer shines
As the music calms down, the camera takes a wide shot of the stage, first faced towards the audience at a slight angle, showcasing Hana walking forward towards the sea of people and flags, waving like a turbulent sea. As the music has quietened, so too have the lights, the general atmosphere of the stage far darker than before, a slightly mysterious and heavy atmosphere entering the arena. Then, the camera takes a wide shot from the front, the LED screen returning to the stained glass window graphic of before, this time with gold and blue particles gently blowing from the bottom, like the sparks of a flame. The sparks seem to ebb and flow to the beat of the song, the dim lights also pulsing gently to the heartbeat-like rhythm. The colour palette of the whole performance as of yet evokes the blue, white and gold colours of Llalta. The camera takes a pan of the stage as Uemura brings the microphone to her lips, singing the poetic lines of the first verse, her voice like a river, each silk syllable like the song of an angel. The first camera shots consist of mostly close up sequences, unmoving. These shots are interspersed with wider shots, wide views of the stage and such, showcasing Uemura's loneliness, so minuscule in front of the large arched window, her voice slightly trembling. Though the stage is dark, her face is free of shadow, a white spotlight illuminating her from above, causing her armour of jewellery to glisten, even more so on every beat, due to the myriad of other spotlights pulsing. Her voice is soft, as airy as the lyrics she sings, each note floating high above the dramatic instrumental. Her face is just as soft, a slight smile painted upon her face, though one that could either be one of regret or nostalgic delusion, each string of words displaying another memory in her mind, perhaps looked upon fondly, or perhaps looked upon with hate. On the 5th line, she turns slightly to the side, lifting her free arm into the air, her movements elegant and slow. Behind her, a sapphire blue butterfly flutters, the camera directly facing Uemura to give the illusion the butterfly is flying around her arm. Her gaze turns to her arm, where the butterfly is directed. The lights also increase in intensity as the music does, white lights flashing to the rhythm of the violin. As she sings the final line of the verse however, Uemura swirls her arm like the pirouette of a ballerina, the blue butterfly turning into a cloud of shimmering blue dust. However, as she swirls her arm, the LED dust swirls too, as if controlled by her.
A summer sky, burnished in bronze
Clouds painting odysseys
The zephyr, waltzing with leaves
Caressing my blushed cheeks
The butterfly, fluttering by
Whose sapphires wings beat soundlessly
Unnoticed, until flutters turned into typhoons
As the pre-chorus begins, Hana sings "wrathful storm", each syllable in time with each beat. As a result, 3 sets of lights flash white to each syllable, the camera taking 3 different shots. Her voice is as strong as the words she sings, her face contorting for a split moment as a brief interlude of emotion splashes across her face. Her arm swirls a little more vigorously, though still elegant, and the gold sparks that appear on the LED screen now also begin to spiral to each swirl of her hand. The LED particles begin to rise as they spiral, expanding, surrounding Hana. Furthermore, the arched windows present on the LED screens dapple light upon the stage, as if rays of sunlight were piercing through a blossom of leaves beyond, the dappled light dancing upon the stage behind her. As she sings, "uncontrollable", she pulls her free hand from the sky towards her shoulders before sliding them back to her side. Her voice tainted with regret, the bittersweet sadness of such memories seeping through the tone of her voice. As the song builds up the first chorus, the beat returns, the lights flashing more frequently and sporadically as a result. The camera circles her once, Uemura rarely looking into the camera, focussed on her story as she faces the audience. The golden dust on the LED screen also begins to swirl faster, as if it were brewing into a tornado. She sings the final line, her voice increasing in power as to build up for the chorus, the camera slowly zooms into her at her eye level. Behind her a tornado of gold and blue dust, she looks fiercely into the camera, her arm outstretched, reaching towards the viewer. Singing the final note, she flings her hand straight into the air, her index finger outstretched to the heavens, the camera rapidly zooming on it, until only a brief section of the LED screen and her hand could be seen. As for the spotlights, they flash white, blue and gold with increasing brightness and speed as the build up progresses, preparing for the drop of the chorus.
The wrathful storm, uncontrollable
I could only run away
But trapped inside, golden eyes
The child I could never face
Uemura sings the first line, "I’ll never give in", the music silencing briefly as to prepare for the drop. The camera is still zoomed in on her hand, panning around the front for a second, until the drop occurs, the EDM style drop exploding into the arena, the camera shot dropping. The camera shakes up and down a little, simulating the bounce of a fallen object, before zooming out to reveal a wide shot of the stage, though very near to Uemura's eye level, whom of which stands centre stage, hand gripped to the microphone as if it were her own heart. As the lights billow outwards to the rhythm, spotlights frantically rising upwards, replicating the chaotic, strobing lights of an EDM festival, the LED wall behind once again depicts the twisted geometric lines that it had shown before. The geometric lines shift and portray glitch-like effects in time with the song, creating an energetic atmosphere. The camera shots consist mainly of wider shots, showing the grandeur of the staging and song, the shortened aspect ratio truly enhancing the lighting effects and stage graphics, pulling the focus on Uemura, surrounded by a palace of lights, as well as closer up shots, allowing Uemura's emotions to be shown to the WorldVision viewers. Uemura slings the train of her white toga piece behind her, singing with far more power than initially showcased, though still a little restrained. Even in such a dramatic chorus, she rarely uses hand motions or moves her body as she sings her longer notes. Rather, it appears more reflective, as if singing to herself. Throughout, her eyes are guided upwards, to the back wall of the arena, as if looking to the future. However, as she sings the 3rd line, her gaze falls to her side, the camera circling her using an upwards angle, the lights almost depicted as a crown upon her head. After, as the chorus draws to a close, she sings the final line, she closes her eyes shut, reaching the higher notes as she tilts her head up, still slightly turned to the side before facing the front, a small smile displayed upon her face; a resolution.
I’ll never give in, never give up
I’ll never look back until I’ve learnt to live
Laughter and love, mistakes and pain
All the colours of being alive I must face
As the chorus ends, the music quietens down once more, Uemura's last words echoing over the instrumental. She turns towards the back before walking towards backstage centre, the spotlights around the stage pulling inwards to face towards her, dimming a little whilst still pulsing to the beat. The LED screen returns to the arched window graphic, a few gold and blue sparks once again returning to a more subdued state. As the music builds up with a whoosh, the lights billow outwards, and suddenly a filter is placed upon the camera, turning the colour palette of each shot to greyscale. The 2nd verse features a more tense atmosphere the beginning consisting of a single unstopping beat and little else, built upon via rapid camera shots, most if, not all, close ups and body shots from the front of the stage, rarely showing the audience or any features that could remove the immersion of the segment. Multiple shots feature unconventional camera compositions for a performance, such as multiple extreme close ups alongside shots where Uemura is off centre, or only half in shot. In addition, Uemura begins to sing the line, "alone I cry, stained black and blue", turning her head around towards the front as the music reduces to the beat and piano, the stage becoming darkened, a few sparse lights pulsing to the beat, significantly the lights that border the stage featuring heavily as they pulse, twisted shadows dancing upon her face. Even upon the LED screen, the arched window lights up in sporadic segments, randomly flashing in no particular order to add to the immersion. She turns around, outstretching her arm to the right, the camera following with a close up shot accordingly. However, as she draws her arm back in, the camera provides a slight pan so that it returns to a shot consisting of the chest upwards.
The 2nd half of the verse is similar to that of the 1st verse, the more orchestral soundscape returning with a flourish of colour, the camera shots no longer greyscale. From beneath her feet, a small explosion of coloured particles, mostly blue and gold, burst outwards, spreading to the bottom of the LED screen where the arched window design suddenly appears once more. Though the stage is still a little darkened, a few more lights billow outwards as before. As she sings "it’s hard to break the loop", the particles of colours upon the LED screen move, as if carried by the breeze, to form a figure of eight, following the dainty eight drawn by Uemura's free hand herself, though the formation dissipates as she sings the final line, spreading her free arm outwards, the sparks following suit, pluming into a blossom of colourful sparkles. A gleam in her eye flares in the lens of the camera, as her neutral expression is displaced by a slight smile, even if just for a moment.
Alone I cry, stained black and blue
The typhoon storms on
I cannot stop, I cannot hide
Only watch myself explode
An oath of change, written in red
It’s hard to break the loop
I can't reset yesterday, but tomorrow dawns
The 2nd pre-chorus replicates many of the lighting effects of the 1st: the flash of lights that accompany the opening 3 musical flourishes, alongside the sparkles creating a swirl behind Uemura upon the LED screen. Moreover, the arched window upon the screen continues to dapple light, though in a few more colours than the gold and blue of before. However, the segment feature camera shots that are far more dynamic, first featuring a pan that not only travels from the left to right, but also moves slightly downwards, highlighting the beautiful spectacle of the particles, swirling and pirouetting around Uemura. However, as the rhythm begins to build in preparation for the chorus, the spotlights around the stage begin to light up with each beat, including the arched window upon the LED screen. Hana begins to step forward, lights following her lead as she puts her foot down, singing the final line, "I’m braving the eye of the storm", gazing directly into the camera as the tornado of particles swirls with more vigour than before, circling behind her, representing her as the eye of the storm. Again, that same smile spreads upon her face, a hope lighting her dark eyes. The lights cloud her as they begin to flash more intensely with each building beat, the camera zooming into her before turning its focus upwards, a small golden butterfly appearing upon the LED screen, to which the camera shot consists of only that graphic, a few golden sparkles shedding from it's wings.
The eclipsed light, starless nights
I can't see beyond my reach
But day by day, scar by scar
I’m braving the eye of the storm
Once again, with the introduction of the chorus, Uemura sings the first line with a newfound strength, the music cutting out entirely bar the violin, growing louder in order to build the chorus. And again, the camera drops alongside the beat drop, shaking to simulate the energy of such a fall. The lights billow outwards again, however the lights consist of a few more colours scattered within the mass of gold, white and blue, such as pinks, purples and reds, an almost festival-like colour scheme. The LED screen projects the warping geometric shapes formed from the lines of the arched window. In addition glitch effects further emphasize the rhythmic pulsing of the lines, each major warp matching the heavy beats of the song, enhancing the visuals with the song. Uemura's voice sings each lyric as if her last, each word emphasized with the true meanings that only she truly knows. Her make-up sparkling in the lights, she turns to face the front, a glimmer in her smile as her face creases with a bittersweet joy, one that sees hope in the future, the future one has made many mistakes in their life to learn of. Perhaps she was glad to have been able to learn and grow, yet part of her wished life was easier, that she could have learnt under different circumstances. Either way, in the moment, it didn't matter, there was only the fleeting now and the everlasting future. After a wide shot of the stage, the bright and colourful lights gleaming in the camera as it panned, the audience displayed in front as their flags and faces were lit up in a chaotic strobe of lights, the shot switched to a crane camera, which zoomed into Hana from the front. All the colours of every light in her eyes, she splayed her hand across her chest, singing the final line with sincerity, shutting her eyes as the note left her lips.
Hana lets a sharp breath out as she pulls the microphone from her mouth, the camera sweeping the stage with a panoramic shot. The horn section begins after, the brass instruments playing the soaring melody of the chorus over battle drum style beat as the stage shifts dramatically in appearance. Firstly the LED screen returns to the arched window graphic of before, though multiple rows of the window appear, beginning and ending with the pillars on the side, as if it were the wall of a large hallway. However, the window panels become like that of a stained glass window, each decorated with segments that paint a scene of a flower meadow consisting of all kinds of colours like pink, green, red, purple and blue, beneath a sky, each window representing a different time of day from a rising sun in the dawn upon a pale sky, to the sun in the top of the sky, bright and yellow upon a blue noon sky. A bronzed sky that represents dusk, the moon rising, alongside one of night, a sky full of stars with the moon. The 'wall' of the LED hallway is a gold colour, with sapphire blue embellishments. Gold and blue sparkling particles also appear at the bottom ends of the screen, as before. As the horn segment blasts into the arena, like a battle song, spires of flames burst out of the sides of the stage with the beginning of every bar. The lights are darkened, though still retaining a blue and gold colour scheme, as they billow outwards, matching the heavier feeling connected with that section. At first, Uemura does an elegant twirl, moving her arms in a way that allows the fabric of her garment to trail behind gracefully, like the wind, before turning to begin to walk to the very back of the stage. Beneath her, a complex pattern featuring all kinds of rich colours used in the entry a displayed on a rug-like graphic, the patterns glowing and pulsing to the rhythm, as if it were living, the song it's heartbeat, shown as the camera takes a bird's eye view of her. As she walks, the camera takes sweeping shots of her and the stage, the shots following almost the same composition as that of a film, prioritising aesthetics during the brief instrumental section to emphasize the majestic nature of the song and its visuals, further complimented by the aspect ratio. A few shots of the audience are taken too, a small patch of Llaltese fans dancing with their Llaltese flag in the far back of the stands being highlighted before returning to the stage, in all its beautiful colours, a kaleidoscope of lights.
I’ll never give in, never give up
I’ll never look back until I’ve painted with the wind
Laughter and love, mistakes and pain
All the colours of who I am I must embrace
As the bridge begins, Hana turns around once more, lifting the microphone to sing the gentler section of the song, the instrumental being overtaken by a harmonious group of violins. Behind her upon the LED screen, the hallway design is washed away with a mass of butterflies in all kinds of colours, mostly of bright and warm colours alongside sapphire blues to simulate a colour palette like that of a festival, a celebration. The butterflies twinkle as they flap, leaving behind trails of sparkling particles much like the butterflies seen before. They also spread across the stage floor, as if emanating from Uemura, who stands near the back of the stage. They continually flutter throughout the whole of the bridge. As Uemura sings the first line, she tilts her body slightly to the left, raising her arm at a 60° angle upwards, as she turns her head to face the sky. Her voice is raised higher, as light as air as she sings the more hopeful lyrics of the song. The 2nd line is sung, the camera taking a wide panorama of the stage showcasing the true beauty of the scene. A few spotlights billow upwards and outwards, corresponding to the general directions of the butterflies, though move far slower due to the music requiring a more soft lighting effect. As she sings "it’s my life to live", she turns to her heart, placing a hand gently upon her chest, a sign of acceptance, her voice lightened by her slight grin. In a song with few breaks, the bridge seems to provide a moment of gentle uplifting, like a summer breeze or the wing of an angel. She continues the line, almost shaking her head in an insignificant defiance, turning her head up to the steadicam. The music then proceeds to build up, battle drum style percussion entering the composition, the music becoming more uplifting with every beat. The lights unused before now begin to pulse to the beat, flaring in the camera like distant fireworks. She sings "and though I’ve not yet spread my wings", spreading her free arm outwards, her voice a little stronger, parallel to the music, her eyes glinting with determination. She reaches forward for the next line, gobo lighting projecting her with dappled light, corresponding to the lyrics, before dilating from her position and outwards. The camera also zooms outwards, once again portraying the scale of the stage, as well as spotlighting the colourful yet graceful aesthetics. A steadicam however returns the focus with a shot featuring Uemura from the waist upwards, capturing her as she belts the final line, face creases as she puts her all into the note, eyes shut, her voice going downwards at the tail end of the note. In the end, surrounded by a volley of lights flashing to the ever-increasing beat, she lifts her head delicately, dragging the microphone up to her lips again, taking a deep breath as the bridge came to a close.
The light no longer shines
Not even the azure sky remains
But it’s my life to live, no matter the timeline
And though I’ve not yet spread my wings
A light flickers through my chrysalis
I know the future is mine alone to change
The penultimate chorus begins, Uemura singing the first line with a hopeful smile upon her face as the music cuts out, with only a mere piano remaining. The last wave of butterflies upon the LED screen and flooring flutter away, a few sparse butterflies trailing behind before they completely vanish, leaving a black screen, the arched window as before suddenly flashing upon the screen behind her. This time however, the window panes are lit up in white, Uemura a near silhouette upon the white panels before 3 dim golden spotlights rapidly pull in and shine upon her. Apart from the single arched window and the 3 spotlights however, the arena is almost completely pitch black, creating a more intimate atmosphere, the camera taking steady and closer shots of Uemura, her lyrics speaking of her dream of the future. Her voice is soft yet slightly rough, her voice strained with the overwhelming amount of emotions running through her head: hopefulness, joy, regret, determination and others unnamed. It was almost over, and yet she never wanted it to end. Immersed in the song, the time had gone too quickly, though perhaps it was for the better. A performance so enjoyed she had forgotten the days, the minutes passing by. She wished she could do it all over again, proud of the song she had sung, the life she'd lived. As she sang the second line, she loosely wrapped her arm around herself, her eyes gently closing. The camera takes a wider shot of the stage, the composition consisting of Uemura in front of the arched window creating a sense of peace and beauty, despite how simple it is. A smile upon her face, she opened her eyes once more, her irises met with the glimmer of the spotlight, causing her to wince a little before singing the line "I’ll love every colour". After, a beat is reintroduced, each line introducing another layer of percussion to the piano section. At first, only the colourful outlines of butterflies could be seen, only fading in with each beat before fading out once again. With each new rhythm however, another group of butterflies are revealed, until an eclectic swarm of butterfly outlines pulse to various rhythmic sequences all at once. The lighting also corresponds to the layers of rhythmic sequences, until a numerous amount of spotlights begin strobing as to build up the final chorus. Uemura's voice also grows stronger with every syllable, as if the present were looming back on her, her bright reality shining her awake. The camera pans the stage, bombarded by lights, obscuring the view until the camera begins to zoom out from Uemura, who begins to walk towards the front of the stage. Singing the final line, surrounded by a carnival of multi-coloured lights she sings the final note, clutching her microphone as the note leaves her lips.
A distant day, I’ll look back and smile
Embrace the night that I once ran far from
I’ll love every colour, all that I am
I'll become the light I once chased
As the lights rapidly increase in intensity corresponding with the musical build up, Uemura ends her note, breathless as she prepares for the final drop of the song, leading to the ultimate chorus. As the music cuts out, string instruments raise the tension for the final chorus, getting louder as she sings the first line of the chorus: "I’ll never give in", her last push of defiance blazing in her voice, her last statement, enunciating every word with every inch of her being. She reaches forward with her hand, the camera pulling outwards from a close up shot of her face. As this happens, the LED screen behind flashes white, the light emanating from behind Uemura, until it covers the whole stage, lighting billowing out also. However, as the bass slides, postponing the drop, the camera pushes back forwards towards her, shifting the camera's focal length so that the background grows closer to create a distorted effect on the shot. The arena turns near pitch black, including the LED screen, the stage floor and spotlights, giving the illusion that the camera had inverted black and white colours. However, behind Uemura upon the LED screen are a pair of
butterfly wings, consisting of white geometric lines, flickering on and off behind her silhouette, bordered by a thin outline of white from a light behind. The camera also tilts to the left, adding to the distorted and sudden effect of the short segment. A few triangles mimicking the cut of a diamond or jewel flashing brightly on-screen to the glitchy sound effects, a few containing refracted rays of light.
However, as the final drop of the chorus appears, the camera shakes a little, transitioning to a zoomed out shot of the stage, the LED screen and stage now covered in fast beams of multicoloured lights, referencing the lyrics. A thousand streaks of colourful light emanate from Uemura who walks to the front of the stage, singing with everything she has. Meanwhile, a ring of pyrotechnics begin to burst out from the edges of the stage. The lights flash in multiple colours, complementary to the stage colours, with the velocity and colour of a festival, painting the arena in a thousand colours. Overall, the stage is rather overwhelming, yet corresponds directly to the themes and rhythm of the song. The wind machine is turned on, Uemura's outfit flowing behind her like an aurora, her hair also fluttering. The camera zooms into Uemura, who stares into the approaching camera with a fire in her eyes, the gold upon her outfit and jewellery glittering in the camera. She is often obscured by the sheer mass of lights, flaring in the lens, temporarily blocking the view, though it only adds to the grandeur of the final chorus, as well as the heightened emotions showcased in the performance. And somehow, her voice pierces through the song, her softer tone washed in the hues of her resolution. As she sings the third line, she spreads her arms out, singing with even greater happiness as she spread her song with the world. As she sings the final line, she stretches her arm towards the camera, her hand curling into a fist, singing with the last slither of energy. Behind her on the LED screen, a bright white light begins to form, though only small at first, like a halo around her head, it grows and grows as the chorus draws to a close. She sings the final note, holding until she cannot sing any longer, her voice fading away as a breath of relief, joy, sadness, is exhaled as she pulls the microphone from her lips.
I’ll never give in, never give up
I know the brightest light comes from within
Let my light refract, into a million colours
Paint with every hue, the apex of the new world
As the last chorus ends, the horn section returning for the outro, Uemura walks towards the newly produced catwalk, towards the satellite stage. As she does, the streaks of coloured light pave the way to the satellite stage, Uemura following the light as she smiles, the crowd cheering as she passes by. Sparkling confetti begins to fall from the ceiling as the horn section plays the final melody, glittering around her as she looks around, glancing at all the faces of the audience. Spotting a Llaltese flag in the far corner of the arena, she smiles, laughing under her breath. Whilst the camera mostly follows her, it also reveals the story painted upon the LED screen, the white light lowering from the centre of the screen to the bottom, the streaks of light emanating from the light instead of Uemura. The lights begin to shift colour scheme returning to the colours of Llalta (of gold, navy and white), the white becoming a sunrise of sorts as the colour palette shifts. As the string section begins to finish the melody, Uemura makes it to the satellite stage where she turns to the main stage one final time, before looking forward. Upon the LED screen and stage, the white light begins to rise like a sun, filling the whole stage in white, except for the spotlights.
As the song nears it's conclusion, the final three notes are played, the camera blurring out as it zooms into the spotlight, flaring in the lens. It then transitions to the three separate shots, each sequenced in time with the music, before finally ending with a shot of Uemura upon the satellite stage, in front of the back LED screen, where a scene consisting of space (reminiscent of that of the single cover) appears, multicoloured planets shown in a sky full of multicoloured stars, each shining brightly, striking the black with spears of light. A dozen coloured planets in various distances from the scene appear, some of flames and some of water. Meanwhile, a ring of spotlights shine upon Uemura, who ends with her hand to the sky reaching for the distant future, breathing heavily as the last 5 minutes finally began to settle in. A spotlight directed near the camera casts a ring of refracted light into the ending shot, again, reminiscent of the single cover.
As she takes a deep breath, and another, she realises it's all over. What her life had been leading up to, what her future will remember. She stood there a moment, breathless, unable to process the prior events, smiling although she didn't know why. It was only when the crowd began to cheer did she snap back to reality. A beautiful reality. Turning to face the audience, she looked around, amazed at what she had just done. Proud. The last speckles on confetti landed upon her and the stage, her face glittering as she turned towards the camera.
"Thank you... thank you so much Monterra! Thank you world!" The only words she could produce, though she wished she could say so much more. But it didn't matter now. It was all over. Relief or sadness, she still could not decipher, but she felt an unexplainable joy nonetheless. She had done it at last. She had always wondered whether she could embrace the past, a question that had plagued her until recently. And yet, here she was, standing at the dawn of her new world.
~✧~