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The opening theme to Neon Genesis Evangelion. Lyrics by Oikawa Neko, sung by Takahashi Youko. Recorded in-house by GAINAX.
Spoiler Warnings for Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Like the cruel Angel,
Kid! Become a legend!
The kid here is obviously Shinji Ikari, the fourteen-year old punk who pilots the mighty Eva-01. I've always imagined the singer as one of two people:
- Misato Katsuragi - She's one of the only people in the series that actually believes in Shinji's abilities as a pilot, and actually cares about his well-being. But if that were the case, wouldn't Misato's voice actress be singing the theme? More likely, the singer is...
- Yui Ikari - It's made rather obvious at the End of Evangelion that Shinji's mom is not dead, and that her soul lives on inside a certain giant robot.
Despite a pale wind blowing through the door to your heart:
You gaze only at me, and you smile.
Sometimes a pale or off-color wind (the japanese here is 'aoi' - blue, green, or pale) is used to describe a miasma, an ill wind. So perhaps this is referring to the emotional stress that comes with being an Eva pilot. This makes slightly more sense if the singer is Misato, though.
You've been searching for it, intent on finding it
But you can't see your fate with innocent eyes.
Damn Japanese and its ability to obscure important things like direct objects! So what is Shinji searching for, then? Every time Shinji goes on one of his whiny rants, he's usually looking for a reason to continue piloting. A reason to live.
However, let's figure it out someday:
The wings on your back are meant to fly into tomorrow.
Remember what Yui wanted to build the Evangelion for? "As proof that humanity had ever existed." Jacked up with a S2 engine and an AT Field, the Evas will continue to exist until the universe itself collapses.
The Cruel Angel Thesis will soon soar out the window,
Surging with pathos, boiling with passion if you betray your dreams.
Take it all and shine through the dark!
Kid! Become a legend!
The reason the 'cruel angels' are attacking Tokyo is because Gendo Ikari has captured the first Angel, ADAM, and the second angel, Lilith. We really don't know why the Angels want to bring about another Second Impact, but perhaps what Yui is saying here is that the reason for everything will become clear if Shinji just holds on. How ironic.
For the longest time you slept wrapped in love;
The time comes when your dreams will call you, and you alone.
Clearly a reference to the AT Field that Yui and Shinji create together -- but in the Sea of Dirac, Shinji's dreams came back to haunt him, and his AT Field didn't protect him from being swallowed by the darkness.
Moonlight shines off the dimples of your back,
Time stops. This moment should last forever.
So if there's any meaning in being dragged together by fate,
It's that you learn freedom from having a destiny.
At the end of the world, everyone has a choice between accepting The Human Instrumentality Project, or living on the outside. That's the freedom Shinji and Asuka have, and he chooses his own path.
The Cruel Angel Thesis: the suffering begins.
You held that pain when you woke up.
So shine brighter than everyone!
Kid! Become a legend!
History's what happens when people try to fall in love.
I'm no goddess, but dammit, I'm alive.
The Cruel Angel Thesis will soon soar out the window,
Surging with pathos, boiling with passion if you betray your dreams.
Take it all and shine through the dark!
Kid! Become a legend!
Translated from the japanese source found at www.animelyrics.com, but their translation isn't poetic enough.
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