Is this the start of a new weekly feature? I’m not sure. But this has been on my mind for a while and I wanted to get it out of my system, I guess.
I started working for the first time in my life around late July, so it’s been almost two months. One of the privileges that’s exclusive to my department is being allowed to listen to music as we do our thing, so I’ve been trying to expand my musical taste outside of video game and anime soundtracks while I shuffle papers and click on things.
Last month, however, I remember that I stumbled across a post about Vocaloids on Kiwi’s anime. Since the post encourages us to share our favorite Vocaloid songs, I had the chance to think back to when I was following the Vocaloid scene several years ago.
One particular song that I remember really sticking with me was “Alice ni Sayonara” or “Goodbye to Alice.” As I thought more about the song, I realized it was because it really captured the essence of what it means to grow up and change. I found this to be something I could relate to with working and all. Maybe I’m being overly dramatic.
At any rate, I became curious if all Vocaloid songs with Alice in Wonderland themes were about growth and change so I started sifting through the large amounts of compositions that’s been submitted throughout the years in order to find the cream of the crop!
…Well, more like I remembered two more old songs about Alice in Wonderland off the top of my head. These two aren’t actually coming-of-age songs, but that’s totally fine since they celebrate other aspects of Alice in Wonderland.
Goodbye to Alice / Alice ni Sayonara / アリスにさよなら
Composed by Nem, this song is one of my favorite Vocaloid songs in which Gumi sings about what it means to grow up and become too old to remain in childish fantasies. I really love listening to covers of this song where the singer uses two different voices to portray young-girl-Gumi and young-lady-Gumi.
Alice Human Sacrifice / Hitobashira Alice / 人柱アリス
This is the first Vocaloid song I ever heard and it’s quite a doozy. It’s supposedly based off the Alice Killings that happened between 1999 and 2005, but the songwriter, Yugami-P, neither confirmed or denied this rumor.
Alice in Musicland
A musical about Alice in Wonderland by Oster Project! Unlike the previous two songs, “Alice in Musicland” goes beyond just mentioning Alice and the White Rabbit as it also references the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts.
Well, there you have it – some old Alice in Wonderland Vocaloid songs. One’s about growing up, one’s possibly about real life murders, and the last one is about how singing and music is for everyone to enjoy.
…Not much in common there, but at least they all share the theme of Alice in Wonderland, right?
Ahhh, it’s almost 1 and I have to work tomorrow. There’s no Wonderland here for me, unfortunately. I hope everyone gets through Monday!
The Lily Garden 