Pony Canyon’s Gumi event project, “Space Dive!! 2020” celebrating over 10 years of Gumi!
I can’t believe that it’s already been ten whole years since Gumi’s first voicebank was released all the way back in June 2009! Pony Canyon is a company which specialises in the production and distribution of various audio-visual software types, and now they’re here to bring us a brand new CD in celebration of of our green-haired, supposedly carrot-loving Vocaloid!
Caption: DIVE to an unknown world!!
VOCALOID Gumi celebrated her tenth anniversary last year,
and this year the project “SPACE DIVE!! 2020” is being launched for the next generation.
The first compilation album of the decade will therefore be released!
Compilation album
The main part of the celebration will be that of a 2-disc compilation album, to be released on July 15th! As stated on the project’s official website, the album is entitled “SPACE DIVE!!”, featuring GUMI from MEGPOID, and contains a variety of pre-existing songs, as well as a selection of new ones, including the project’s theme song, “GALAXY (Under my identity)“, from 164.
DISC 1 contents: a variety of pre-existing songs from different producers:
This is a particularly well-known song which is featured in a significant amount of rhythm games in Japan, including Jubeat and Groove Coaster! As is the same with quite a few of the songs I’ll cover here, Setsuna Trip actually got a Japanese novel adaptation!
- Music, lyrics: Last Note
- Original illustration: のん (Non)
- Animation: こみね (komine)
2. ECHO
One of Gumi’s most iconic songs, ECHO was the first song during NicoNico Cho Party 2015. In this performance, ECHO was beautifully merged with the song Hibikase, feat. Hatsune Miku, a momentous occasion in Vocaloid history. This would make it arguably the most famous Vocaloid song in English, considering that ECHO is so highly regarded in Japan that it also got a novelised adaptation in Japanese!
- Music, lyrics, VSQ, illustration: Crusher
- Tuning, mastering, mixing: CircusP
- Animation: MystSaphyr
3. 心做し (Kokoro Nashi / Without a heart)
A powerful ballad, seemingly voicing feelings surrounding pain of love and how it hurts the speaker of the song. I hadn’t actually heard this song before writing this, but despite seeming gentle, Kokoro Nashi carries a strong message which makes it rather endearing.
- Producer: 蝶々P (ChouchouP)
- Illustrator: 24
4. 告白予行練習 (“Kokuhaku Youhou Renshuu” / Confession rehearsal)
Another brilliant example of Honeyworks conveying a sweet, tender representation of young love, and attempting to confess to someone you like.
- Produced by members of Honeyworks
- Music, lyrics, bass: チョリスP (ChorisuP)
- Guitar: 海賊王 (Kaizoku Ou)
- Illustration, video: ヤマコ (Yamako)
I hadn’t actually heard this song either, but I really liked the little reference to anime and manga series “Kuroko no Basuke” hidden in there. If you didn’t notice already, there’s one scene showing Midorima from the series alongside a billboard saying:
“Today’s fortune.
No.1. is the star sign Cancer*
Today’s lucky item is… Honeyworks’ Kyunkyun strap!”
*implying that anyone of the star sign “Cancer” will have good luck today.
5. 会いたい (Aitai / I want to meet you)
A very soft song, filled to the brim with the speakers feelings toward the one they love, and their worry that the love is becoming one sided. This song was actually featured in a Gumi-themed rhythm game for the PSP, called “Megpoid the Music Sharp”.
- Music: シグナルP (SignalP)
- Lyrics: Deadman
- Instrumentals: Kensuke
- Illustration/animation: たま (Tama)
6. 星の唄 [reprise] (Hoshi no Uta / Star Song)
A remastered version of the original, Gumi’s vocals stand strong against the backing music, creating a piece of music which remains perfectly balanced. There’s already been a remastered version with Miku, but I’m curious to hear the one with Gumi too.
- Music, lyrics: buzzG
- Illustration: ヨリ (Yori)
- Video: ke-sanβ
- Mastering: 友達募集P (Tomodachi Boshuu P)
Another song which you’ll see in most rhythm games, Ama no Jaku also has its own novel adaptation!
- Music, lyrics: 164
- Illustration: 鳥越タクミ (Torigoe Takumi)
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8. きょうもハレバレ (Kyou mo Harebare / Today is cheerful too)
Said to be FunwariP’s most successful upload, this song actually features all of Gumi’s V3 Japanese voicebanks! In the official video, each of the five voicebanks represent one version of “Gumi”, and each version has their own design. You can see who is singing by the colour-coded lyrics at the bottom of the video!
- Music, lyrics: ふわりP (FuwariP)
- Illustration: ゆんこ (Yunko)
- Video: Not-116
One of my personal favourite songs using Gumi, Bareriiko is a song which appears to merely tell the story of a young ballerina, but the lyrics also have connotations of young love and jealously, as well as the difficulties of growing up. I’d definitely recommend that you take a listen!
- Music, lyrics: みきとP (Mikito-P)
- Illustration: 愛島工房 (Aijima Koubou) and 田中寬崇 (Tanaka Hirotaka)
- Animation: りゅうせー (ryuusee)
- Mastering: 友達募集P (Tomodachi Boshuu P)
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10. だれかの心臓になれたなら (Dareka no Shinzou ni Nareta nara / if I became someone’s heart)
I’ll admit that I knew this song, but never actually knew the title, oddly enough. As with most of the songs on this album so far, this is a song which makes use of Gumi’s voice amazingly, allowing her to hit such strong notes throughout.
- Music, lyrics, video; ユリイ・カノン (YurryCanon)
- Illustration: 片井雨司 (Katai Uji)
DISC 2 contents: a variety of pre-existing songs as well as brand new ones produced exclusively for this project.
- GALAXY（Under my identity）– the theme song for this SPACE DIVE!! 2020 project
(Newly commissioned) – A newly commissioned song from producer 164, who also produced the song “Ama no Jaku”, featured on DISC 1!
2. カンケイナイトファンキー (Kankei Naito Funkii)
This song is as funky as the title claims! Although as with most Vocaloid songs, just because the songs sounds cheerful, doesn’t mean that the lyrics are. Beneath that “funky” tone is said to be a story of a struggling girl.
- Music, lyrics: ナナホシ管弦楽団 (Nanahoshi Kangengakudan)
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3. アンベシル滑落奇譚 (Anbeshiru Katsuraku Kitan / The mysterious story of an imbecile’s fall)
If you’re interested in this song, I’d definitely recommend checking out the original video for it too, especially since the typography work throughout is really interesting! There are mentions of the class system, coming from that of a foolish speaker who questions their own self-love and superiority.
- Music, lyrics: TaKU.K
- Illustration: みゆかじ (Miyukaji)
4. センティメント (Sentiment)
(Newly commissioned) Another newly commissioned song here, but this time it’s from ポリスピカデリー (Porisu Pikaderii / Police Piccadilly) ! This Vocaloid producer has created songs which have been featured in albums for the hit mobile game “#C.O.M.P.A.S.S.”, as well as for Magical Mirai 2019, so I’m sure that this one will be amazing too!
Concerning the speaker’s feelings of a sad relationship while gazing, lonely, at the rain falling onto them, you really do get a rather significant feeling of reserved retrospectiveness here. It’s not necessarily a sad song, but one which is reflective, which makes for a rather interesting and unique piece.
- Music, lyrics: あめのむらくもP (Ame no MurakumoP)
6. あしゅらしゅら (Ashurashura)
(Newly commissioned) This song is one also from ユリイ・カノン (YurryCanon) who produced “Dareka no Shinzou ni Nareta nara” which is mentioned on DISC 1! I love their work, so I’m certainly excited for this new piece too!
7. アノニマスファンフアレ (Anonimasu Fanfuare / Anonymous Fanfare)
Compared to quite a few songs on this album, Anonymous Fanfare has a pretty fast pace and is a good all-rounder song to me. Tsumiki has managed to manipulate Gumi’s voice perfectly, another example showing off her reasonably deep voice as well as her ability to hit such gorgeous high notes.
- Music, lyrics, arrangement, mixing, movie: ツミキ (Tsumiki)
- Illustration: ゆりぼう (Yuribou)
8. 死について (Shi ni Tsuite / About Death)
Out of all of the new songs that I’ve heard on this compilation album, this one is potentially the one that’s the most memorable. As the name says, the song is one where the speaker sings about death, and how we don’t really consider it much until we come face to face with it ourselves. Some of the lyrics show the speaker considering ideas of immortality, and what life would be like if it were real.
- Music, lyrics, illustration, video: シャノン (Shanon / Shannon)
- Mastering: バロン (Baron)
Upon listening to this song for the first time, I was truly amazed at the how Gumi’s voice had been used here. She sings so naturally that no one would blame you for assuming that a human sung this. As well as this, it’s a truly beautiful ballad which promotes the idea of togetherness, something which we all need in these difficult times.
- Music, lyrics: 傘村トータ (Kasamura Tota)
10. ハローワールド (Hello World)
(Newly commissioned) A new song from monaca:factory, who’ve created songs such as “Mermaid“, which is commonly seen featured on rhythm games like “Groove Coaster” in Japan. Furthermore, they’ve worked on pieces which have been part of albums like “galaco SUPER BEST” and “Latimeria wa Yume o Miru“, one of my personal favourites.
Let’s look forward to the CD, especially because of these exciting new songs!
※ The order of the songs on the CD may change prior to release.
Free gifts
Depending on where you pre-order your album from before the 15th June 2020, you could even get these awesome extra gifts as a bonus too! Bonus gifts will only be available while stocks last, so make sure to place your reservation as soon as possible!
- An acrylic stand, using the illustration from the CD jacket of Gumi by たま (Tama)!
- A “mega jacket” for your CD, using the illustration by たま (Tama)
- An A3 size poster, featuring the illustration by たま (Tama)
Official advertising video:
This album was created as a way to celebrate Gumi’s anniversary last year, and to look forward to another ten years with her in the future! Let’s make sure to keep supporting Gumi and the creators featured on this album
If you’re interested in other Gumi-themed albums from EXIT TUNES, make sure to check out the albums at the bottom of the official SPACE DIVE!! website for more info.
I feel like this new album is a really good example of a mix of classic, iconic Gumi songs, as well as a few lesser known ones that I’m sure fans will love, all from the past ten years that we’ve known her! I’m still excited to hear the new featured songs too, and I hope that you’ll consider purchasing a copy of this collection too.
There’s still time to pre-order the CD, so make sure to get it if you can!
~Tanudama
**UPDATE ON JULY 26, 2020**
I was actually able to preorder the CD from Animate, and it just arrived with me! Here’s how it looks:
And here’s the acrylic stand that came with it:
Granted, the stand was slightly smaller than anticipated, but it’s still super cute! It was definitely worthwhile preordering it.
