ELISA – Millenario (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ミレナリオ
2. Sign -約束の鐘-
3. Cage
4. ミレナリオ (Instrumental)

ELISA has been creating quite a bit of buzz amongst Anison (anime songs) fans.

You can listen to her music and wonderful voice and instantly feel that the music takes you to another world.

ELISA’s music has been featured as the opening or ending theme songs for many anime series such as “Nabari no Ou”, “Ef – A Tale of Melodies”, “Hayate the Combat Butler Second Season”, “A Certain Scientific Railgun”, “Valvrave the Liberator” and more.

And now she is back with her 11th single “Millenario” which is used as a theme song for the anime series “Mahoka Koko no Rettosei” (The Irregular at Magic High School).

There were two versions of “Millenario” released, a normal CD version and another version that comes with both CD and DVD.  The version I am reviewing is the normal version which comes with an 8-page booklet, photos of ELISA, lyrics and production credits.  Also, a small business card size photo card with a message from ELISA on the back.  Plus a small flier promoting her latest album “AS LIFE”.

The single kicks of with “Millenario”, a beautiful ballad that flows gently with it’s piano arrangement.    The song written by zopp and composed by Shihori is a love song about wanting to sing a song without fear, and if it is the end, this will be the eternal song and wanting the song to comfort people, 10 years, 100 years, 1000 years from now.

The second track “Sign -約束の鐘-” (which translates to “Sign – Promise of the Bell”) is a song that is written by ELISA and is a mid-tempo upbeat track that is consistent with a lot of the music that ELISA is known for.  From her back vocals and strings playing in the background, it’s a beautiful track.

The lyrics for the song is actually quite deep but positive.  Why is there no sound?  Why is the door blocked?  Beyond the bells is a sign of the past.   Will the dream come true?  Not wanting to regret, you want to face the challenges with your own state of mind, as a sign of “Keep on Fighting” displays within yourself.

The third track is “Rain Cage” co-written by ELISA and Watanabe Sho, who also composed the song.  An upbeat ballad and like ELISA’s lyrics, are quite deep as it revolves around wanting to return to a time when two people were happy, all that is left are memories during a time when all there is only endless rain.

The fourth track is the instrumental for “Millenario”.

Overall, “Millenario” is a much different single compared to the previous singles from ELISA.  In some ways, there was a style of music that she is known for and a style that was often compared to the group Kalafina.  But with “Millenario”, there is a feeling that she is breaking out of that mold, showcasing her beautiful voice, deep lyrics but maintaining that wonderful musical arrangement but trying something a bit different and it works.  But it remains to be seen if this musical direction is the ELISA we can expect now, or just a fitting style for a ballad release and she will return to the music that she is best known for.

Nevertheless, “Millenario” is a beautiful single and wonderfully performed by ELISA!  Recommended!