Northern Cross Leak
Heads-up: The Northern Cross leak is already going around.
The intro to the song is completely sold on me. It starts off with 3/4 meter and moves smoothly to 4/4. Don’t you just love counting the meter on shifting rhythm songs? The delivery of May’n here is unparalleled by any previous Macross F song. While it’s not as soulful as Diamond Crevasse, she does pull off a very emotional bridge, I actually hit rewind at that part o__O. I think however that the impact on this song is largely dependent on the lyrics, so my appreciation of the song might not be as good as someone who understands the lyrics while they’re being sang.
My favorite part of the song is the bridge, but since I don’t want to spoil the readers, I’ll just put the second verse and refrain as a sample:
Related Articles:
- Northern Cross, Lion Kanno Demo Versions + Northern Cross Full Version
- Superdimensional Super Live Concert by Ranka Lee and Sheryl Nome Report (update)
- Northern Cross Official and Fan-Translated Lyrics
- Macross Frontier Episode 16 ED: Northern Cross (updated with Aimo O.C.)
- May'n+Megumi Nakajima Macross Frontier Single: Lion (update 5)
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’m trying to resist listening to it XD I want to wait until cd is out etc. etc. all that jazz but…it’s so tempting!! The lyrics are really sad though. Even at tv size I prefer it to DC. It really, really reminds me of another singers songs (as in the way the chorus is structured, not that it’s a Kanno-copy) but I can’t think who 0_0
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I think Ayumi Hamasaki’s delivery in Evolution (the rap part) is a bit similar to the rapping part in this song. Is that the one you’re thinking of?
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
>Pippa
The whole song (the TV version) actually reminds me of Ayumi Hamasaki’s songs. May’n's voice doesn’t help, she sounds a lot like Ayumi in this song, at least IMO. It’s a nice song, though, but I prefer Diamond Crevasse.
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Oops, I was late.
;; Should’ve refreshed the page before I posted.
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
@kuromitsu – Isn’t this the normal voice of May’n? I thought it’s the combination of that similar voice and the rapping that made her sound like Ayumi, or perhaps the music staff just wanted her to sound like “a very popular star”, and that turned out to be… one of Japan’s most popular stars
In What ’bout my Star I think she sounded like Britney, but of course that might just be her voice plus a good amount of Engrish 
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
……..THAT’S EXACTLY what this song reminds me of! It’s like a whole bunch of Ayumi Hamasaki songs sliced together (Naturally, Decision, Evolution) with May’n's voice. But I was also thinking it sounded like HAL’s ‘decide’ as well for the chorus melody but that’s probably because HAL arranged a large proporiton of Ayu’s discography too. But then it has the beat of that song from Macross Plus (with Mai Yamane) and the Yoko Kanno beat to it which is why it reminds me of a bajillion things at the same time.
I was seriously sat at iTunes just now trying to rack my brains to what it sounds like.
@Mai: I don’t think they are trying to make her sound like anything, it’s just the quality of her voice and the music tied together which makes. it just feels familiar
if anything I’d say her voice reminds me of Keiko from globe (which is also what this song reminds me of in a way) but I love globe so I don’t mind! XD
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
@Pippa – the beat also reminded me a lot of Kanno’s songs… Sounds like she’s recycling her old drum tracks and altering them a bit, and voila
I don’t mind really 
August 4th, 2008 at 12:28 am
finally! With the whole version leaked, I’m not the only one who thinks that it sounds like “Evolution”. When I first heard May’n I thought her singing style was like Ayumi, but this song makes my theory true for sure. She’s still good though, I like her more than Ayumi Hamasaki. (whom I’m not a fan of)
August 4th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I don’t care if a song sounds like another song really, I’m pretty sure I’d like each and every song ever if they all sounded like this
August 4th, 2008 at 2:32 am
>mai
But I do think they are deliberately trying to emulate the style of certain pop songs/singers in many of Sheryl’s songs – well, “emulate” is a too strong a word, I suppose, but they’re deliberately trying to make Sheryl an authentic pop queen by today’s standards. I mean, as much as I love Sharon Apple’s songs, they weren’t what most people would normally consider as “chart-topping material.”
Well, they probably choose her because she has this “pop queen” voice – after all Sheryl is one.
(…I hope it’s clear what I’m getting at. My English fails me today.)
August 4th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I noted the use of that rhytmic pulse Kanno used in Inner Universe. In fact I seem to recall hearing it in other songs but can’t recall any names right now. I like this song a lot. However I’m still totally blown away by What ’bout my star (Bother versions). It’s one of my favorite songs for a long long time. I hope there is a nice version of the Ranka + Sheryl duet to be released at some stage. Also I love Aimo. The Ranka debut song now being used for the OP I find a little tedious now. A bit too generic for my tastes.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Is there anyone who can uhhh “help” me get this leak? You can email me in private to avoid any legal issues.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:42 am
@ kuromitsu – don’t worry about your English, it’s perfect
@ DeadMan – The Ranka+Sheryl What ’bout my Star duet is exactly the same as the What ’bout My Star @ Formo version, except for one line. Because of this, I think I’d like to reserve that space for another song/bgm instead of the Ranka+Sheryl song battle version since the change is so small. If they’d like to put it in a ‘For Fans Only’-esque release, then that’d be fine in my opinion
August 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
http://pds6.egloos.com/pds/200808/04/50/lion.swf
Lion by May’n & Megumi Nakajima
it was record from Superdimensional Super Live Concert
August 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Thanks paper2k1 – I think I also saw that video in nico video but I ignored it since the lion stuffed toy looked tacky
Thanks again!
August 4th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I extracted the audio from the Nico Video and then increased the volume:
That sounds like May’n, then Megumi, then together. I don’t think it’s my kind of song, but since I said the same about Seikan Hikou, I’ll probably reserve judgment on this one until I hear a high quality version. For now, Northern Cross sounds like the better song in the Lion CD single.
August 4th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
http://pds9.egloos.com/pds/200808/04/50/lion.mp3
mp3 version…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irYLg7CwMgk
now on youtube
August 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Thanks a lot!
August 4th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
you the man paper2k1!
Sounds fairly decent but not up to the quality of Northern Cross… but I guess I should wait to here it in good quality before saying that. 4 days to go
August 5th, 2008 at 8:51 am
The leak had me salivating lol. It does remind me of Ayu’s songs, but May’n's voice is stronger than Ayu’s IMHO which I’m grateful for because this song needs that punch of power. Great song altogether. I can’t really hear the live version of Lion that much, but it sounds decent, loving the chorus
I know I’ve said this countless times, but really I can’t wait for the single.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
i’m a big fan of sheryl and i just love this song.
Sheryl’s songs indeed is getting more and more inspiring.
i found the japanese lyric.and i translated it myself.
well,i’m no good at japanese and if there’s any mistakes please feel free to correct it.
Northern Cross
Sheryl Nome Starring May’n
旅の始まりは もう思い出せない
Don’t remember when I started this trip
気付いたら ここにいた
When I realized I’m already here
季節が破けて 未発見赤外線
The unsuspected infrared rays scratched the season
感じる目が 迷子になる
My sight has lost the direction
加速失うのが 命懸けの想い
With no more acceleration now, I still gamble my life on the running thought
戦うように戀した ひたすらに夢を追った
I’m loving like fighting, chasing my dream desperately
その星に降りたかった 君の空飛びたかった
How I wish to land on that planet, how I wish to fly in your sky
誰か空虛の輪郭を そっと撫でてくれないか
Will someone ever touch my empty shape
胸の鼓動に蹴飛ばされて 転がり出た愛の言葉
Kick out my beating in heart, let out my words of love
だけど困ったな 答えがない
But I get confused, for receiving no answer
宿命に磔られた 北極星が燃えてる
Binded by the destiny, burning is the North Star
君を掻き毟しって濁らせた
Dying to catch your eyes that i get myself blemished
なのに 可憐に笑うとこ好きだったよ
Eventhough, I just like your cute smile
君がいないなら 意味無くなるから
Without you there’s no meaning for life
人は全部消えればいい
Then let the human race die
愛がなくなれば 心だっていらないから
Without love there’s no need of a heart
この世界も消えてしまえ
Then let the whole world be gone
ずっと苦しかった 命懸けの出會い
I gather my whole strength, just to make a bitter meet
屆くように夢見た 暗雲に手を伸ばした
My hands up to the grey clouds, scarcely touched it in my dream
その胸に聞きたかった 君と虹架けたかった
How I wish to be hold to your chest, how I wish to build a rainbow between us
誰か夜明けの鑒賞で ぎゅっと抱いてくれないか
Will someone ever hold me when enjoying the sunrise
夢の駆動に弾かれて 飛び散るだけの愛の涙
Melody of dream is played, but tears of love fly
それが引出しの痛みでもいい
It’s fine if I deserve that
宿命に呼び戻された 北極星が泣いてる
Held by the destiny, crying is the North Star
どうせ迷路生き抜くなら
Have to find a way to get out of this maze
君を盡きるまで愛して 知りたいよ
I burn to death for loving you and longing to know all about you
そして始まるのだ 命懸けの終わり
And then comes the end of all efforts
戦うように愛した ぐしゃぐしゃに夢を蹴った
I was loving like fighting, I was steping on my dream
その星に果てたかった 君の空裂きたかった
How I wish to end all on this planet, How I wish to break your sky
誰か空虛の輪郭を そっと撫でてくれないか
Will someone ever touch my empty shape
時の波動にかき消されて 救えなかった愛の言葉
The fake words of love which failed saving me faded in the waves of time
だからもう一度答えが欲しい
So I beg to hear you answer once more
宿命に磔られた 北極星が燃えてる
Binded by the destiny, burning is the North Star
君を掻き毟しって濁らせた
Dying to catch your eyes that I got myself blemished
なのに 可憐に笑うとこ好きだったよ
Eventhough, I just like your cute smile.
君を掻き毟しって濁らせた
Dying to catch your eyes that I got myself blemished
なのに 可憐に笑うとこ好きだったよ
Eventhough, I just like your cute smile.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:46 am
leaked as Diamond Crevasse. What a suprise!