This excitement is what "ONE PIECE" is all about! Interview with Hiroshi Kitadani on the new TV anime theme song "OVER THE TOP", in which the golden members have gathered again!

The strongest lineup for the theme song of the TV anime "ONE PIECE," which celebrated the 20th anniversary of its broadcast this year, has gathered again!

The opening theme song for the "Waronokuni Arc," which started in July, is "OVER THE TOP" sung by Hiroshi Kitadani. The opening theme song for "Wano Country Arc," which started in July, is "OVER THE TOP" by Hiroshi Kitadani. (1999) and "We Go! (2011), Seiko Fujibayashi (lyrics), Kohei Tanaka (music), Takayuki Negishi (arranger), and Hiroshi Kitadani (singer), the very same "We Are! s gang" reunited to produce this gem of a song. It has an outstanding sense of speed and is a royal anime song that depicts the emotions of Luffy and his friends as they break through everything.

The CD containing this song, which is used to open the work every week, will finally be released on September 25, 2019. Akiba Research Institute therefore directly interviewed Mr. Kitadani, who sang passionately again this time. We asked him about what to listen to in the song, what he is particular about, his thoughts on ani-songs, and the relationship between his life as an artist and "ONE PIECE.

ONE PIECE" helped me reach a turning point

--Kitadani-san has reached a triple milestone: 25 years since his debut as an artist, 20 years of singing ani-songs, and 50 years of age (*At the time of the interview, he will turn 51 on August 24). Please tell us again how you feel looking back on your life as an artist.

Kitadani: I made my debut in 1994 with a bang, but the band didn't make a splash and broke up, with only the vocalist working under a different name, which was a common pattern. When I was on the road to nowhere because I was laid off due to lack of sales, I came across "We Are! I met an animated song singer named "We Are! That's how the anime song singer "Hiroshi Kitadani" was born. So, "ONE PIECE" has occupied most of my musical life, or rather, it is like my musical life started by "We Are! It's like my musical life was started by "We Are!

--I was originally in charge of the tentative song for "We Are! It's a well-known story that you were originally in charge of the temporary song for "We Are!

KITADANI: No way. There are so many people in the world who are good singers, but to be given the chance to be one of them and end up like this ...... I consider myself to be a Cinderella story indeed. So, as a way of repaying the favor that was done for me, I would like to continue to improve myself as a challenger without being complacent, and become one of the people who make the anime song scene more exciting.

--I have the impression that the "ONE PIECE" song comes at a turning point in your various activities, including your solo career and JAM Project.

KITADANI That's right. We Are! was going to be played all the time like "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA" from "Dragon Ball Z," but it was changed to a different song within a year. But for 20 years, various artists and voice actors have sung the song, and whenever there is a scene from "ONE PIECE" on TV, "We Are! is played whenever there is a scene of "ONE PIECE" on TV. I am very happy that people all over the world still love "We Are! Then, at the important scene of the New World Arc, the phone rang, and this time I was called with "We Go! I was under a lot of pressure at that time. I was under a lot of pressure at that time.

--I was under a lot of pressure at that time. and "We Go! What was it like recording "We Are!

KITADANI: "We Are! was the most nerve-wracking recording in my life. It was the first time for me to be involved in ani-songs, and the first time for me to be in a place with so many important people, so I was very nervous. We Go! was the first time for me to work on an ani-song, and it was the first time for me to work in a place full of great people. The production team from "We Are! It was an important point for them to leave for the new world, but I felt so much pressure, thinking, "What if they say it was not good enough when they came back? But when it was shown on TV, there were posts like "I knew it, Hiroshi Kitadani is the best" and "I'm so glad (that you came back)," and Kohei (Tanaka) immediately sent me a message saying, "Everyone is happy.

--I really thought so at the time of "We Go! I really felt that way at the time of

KITADANI: Just before we went to the new world version, we played "We Are! for the new world" on the air right before we went to the New World Arc, and then "We Go! was played the following week, which was very moving for me. It is a great honor for me as an artist to be able to give back to the fans and the production team and staff by exceeding their expectations. And this time, I was given the opportunity to sing again at the point where we enter the "Waronokuni Arc. I had jokingly said at an event that I would love to sing again, and I was surprised when the request really came.

--The production team is once again made up of golden members. The moment I heard the song, I was like, "This is it! I was like, "This is it!

KITADANI: I am really happy. I'm really happy to be able to sing, and I'm a fan of "One Piece" myself, so I'm most happy to be able to be involved in it again.

--I think you went through a difficult time as an artist, as you developed a sudden hearing loss in August 2017.

Kitadani: It was really tough, about 10 years ago I had a sudden hearing loss in my left ear, and even now I don't have much hearing. Usually, sudden hearing loss ends in one ear, but I had it in both ears. I thought, "This can't be true. Moreover, it was right around the time of recording for JAM Project, and I was about to go on tour. ...... I was hospitalized immediately because my left ear was not healed quickly enough, but all I could do was worry. Thanks to that, I still have tinnitus but my hearing has recovered to some extent and I was able to tour. At the end of the tour, I cried with joy and relief (laughs). (Laughs.) It was at that time that I received the song "Over the Top," and all I can say is that I am very happy.

--I have the impression that the "ONE PIECE" songs come to you at special times.

KITADANI That's right. They help me at turning points.

The exciting intro and lyrics are just like "ONE PIECE

--Now, let me ask you about the music. What was your first impression of "Over the Top"?

KITADANI: I thought it wasn't a "wee" (laugh). (Laughs.) But the answer song to "We Are! (laugh). But the answer song to "We Are! I felt that this time it was a song of support for a new adventure. Unlike the previous songs, this one starts with a song and is very fast, and I thought he wrote an amazing song that went beyond my imagination.

--The song starts with a song, but the exciting melody right after the song is just like "ONE PIECE".

KITADANI: I knew that this excitement would be the same as in the song "We Are! We go! I think this excitement is in the same taste as "We Are! The trumpet's "parappapparappa~♪" gives a nice sense of excitement, and it is very much like the world of "ONE PIECE". It makes me excited myself.

--What did you put into the recording of the song?

KITADANI: There is something I always think about when I sing anime songs. That is, "(an anime song) is an instruction manual that expands the view of the world. So I sang the song with the intention of making the world view of "ONE PIECE" more exciting, as if it were a cheering song. I have a lot of love for the series as a fan, and I know the worldview of the series.

--The title of the song, "Over the Top," has an idiomatic meaning, like "You're going a little overboard. I thought it fit "One Piece" very well.

KITADANI: I think Mr. Fujibayashi (who wrote the lyrics) probably meant it that way, too, instead of the usual "up, up, up.

--I was wondering if he was going to go that far.

KITADANI: There are lyrics that can be written only for ani-songs. For example, "What do you mean, '100 years early'? Who can wait that long? If it's a bad enemy, shut him up from all the other annoying ones.

--That part of the second verse is really good.

KITADANI: The way the song folds in on itself, it really brings a picture to mind. The "Shut them up" part is a bit crude, but it really feels like they are saying, "Shut them up! It's a little bit bad-looking, but it really sounds like "Shut him up! However, it was difficult to say "Shut him up! It sounds like "uze" or "stinky" (laughs).

--(Laughs.) - It is true that it sounded that way in the tentative singing stage.

KITADANI: "Usoo" with a small "ts" is cool, and "Shut them up" is just like the world of "One Piece". I thought it would be cool to beat them up with "Dang! You can even see the cracks in the ground when you hit them with a "DANG!

--That kind of exhilaration and sense of accomplishment is one of the charms of "One Piece.

KITADANI: There is such a sense of overkill that it would be impossible to do in J-POP. Especially from the chorus to the last chorus, "OVER THE TOP! I think that kind of overkill is part of the "ONE PIECE" sound, and I think it's important for an anime song singer to have that kind of overkill.

--Did it feel good to sing?

KITADANI: It felt good. There was a lot of pressure this time as well, but it has been almost 10 years since "We Go! I have improved my skills and have come to enjoy it. I used to just sing as I was told, but now I am in a position to say to myself, "How about this? I think I have been able to have good discussions with both artists and writers. I have known Kohei-san for a long time.

He is particular about the way he says "poi" (poi).

--What were some of the more concrete points that impressed you in the discussions?

KITADANI: For example, in the part of "Old Lexi Marumete Poi," the "poi" seemed strange no matter how many times I heard it in the tentative score. So I recorded it at home and suggested, "How about this? I suggested, "How about this? I thought it would have a better "poi" feel to it. I went to record it, but when I actually recorded it, I found that "the way the music was laid out was good, but it lacked the 'poi' feeling. I said on the spot, "Round up the old Lexi and pop! and I made the poi part sound pitchless. I was very particular about that kind of feeling.

--I was very particular about the pitch of the "poi" part, and I think it gives the song more of a "poi" feel than if you say it flat.

KITADANI: It's always been like that, but Kohei-san is a composer who places great importance on intonation and lyrics. So, we went through various exchanges like this regarding lyrics and intonation.

--Personally, I am the type of person who wants to listen to the lyrics in anime songs, so I am glad that you are particular about how the lyrics sound.

KITADANI: Isn't that what anime songs have always been about? They are self-introductions. Nowadays, anime itself is becoming more and more speedy and the images and stories are amazing, so the songs must evolve as well, but I still want to preserve the important parts of anime songs. For example, Ichiro Mizuki's "Baville II" is a song that reveals where he lives (laughs).

--(laughs) - the type of person who publicly announces his personal information.

Kitadani first says his name and where he lives, "Babil II, the psychic boy who lives in the tower of Babil, hidden by the sand storm," and then he goes on to say the names of his three servants (laughs). (Laughs.) It was an instructional song that told you what to do.

--In "Devil Man" you also give details of special moves (abilities), right?

KITADANI Yes, that's right (laughs). (Laughs.) I think that's important in ani-songs. To be honest, there were songs that didn't match the anime at all. As an ani-song fan, I thought, "That's not what ani-song is about! I thought, as an anime song fan, "That's not what anime songs are about! But as anime itself has expanded and the range of anime songs has grown, the artists have become more and more amazing. I was surprised that artists could go to such lengths. I think this industry is the only one that can do something like that.

--I think that is the wonderful thing about anime songs. Finally, how would you like to sing this song?

KITADANI: "Weir! and "We Go! and "We Go!", I think "Over the Top" will become one of our signature songs. We Are! is a song that was written 20 years ago, but it still hasn't faded away, and even though we've sung it thousands of times, we never get tired of it. This song was the same, and "OVER THE TOP" = "ONE PIECE", so the moment the song started playing, I thought, "Oh my God! Here it comes! I want to make it so that the moment the song starts playing, people will say, "Wow! And I would like to sing the song without making too many changes. I think what fans want to hear is the original version. If you add strange quirks to it, they will say, "That's not right.

--I understand. I want to listen to original music myself.

KITADANI: Of course, I think there are things that I can do to thicken my voice and my age. But I hope to cultivate it well in live performances instead of changing anything, and sing with better and better expression.

--I'm looking forward to that as well. Thank you very much!

(Interview, text, and photos by Kenichi Chiba)

CD Information

OVER THE TOP / Hiroshi Kitadani

Release date: September 25, 2019

Price: 1,620 yen (tax included)

<Contents> 1.

1. "over the top

BRAND NEW WAVE

3．OVER THE TOP（instrumental)

BRAND NEW WAVE (instrumental)

Product specifications, recorded contents, and bonus contents are subject to change without notice. Please be forewarned that the product specifications, contents, and special offers are subject to change without prior notice.

Event Information

OVER THE TOP" Limit Breakthrough Tour

To commemorate the release of "OVER THE TOP", "OVER THE TOP" Limit Breakthrough Tour" will be held! Hiroshi Kitadani will hold mini-lives (free admission) at various locations throughout Japan! Performer: Hiroshi Kitadani

How to participate: Free admission

Tickets for the handshake event and rubber bands will be given to those who purchase CDs at the venues.

Official website: ##

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019

Venue: Cha Cha Town Kokura (Fukuoka)

Show time: 13:00～

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019

Venue：Seamall Shimonoseki Seamall Hall(Yamaguchi)

Performance time: 16:00～