Comments on: Ghibli’s “Country Road” vs. the original “Country Road”

By: hernan

hernan — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:57:15 +0000

I’ve been a long time fan of this movie, but only recently I start looking inside the particular arrangements of Country Road (both the violin scene and the ending credits). I also consider them superior to the original, and I’ve found some interesting (for me) things:

1. Besides altered and inverted chords, there are some (non-trivial, non diatonic) chords replacements. In particular, the first sequence, in the plain original

F Dm C Bb

is played instead, if I’m not mistaken, as

F Dm Eb Bb/C

This replacement of C (when not acting as dominant) by Eb (flat-VII chord) gives a much more interesting flavour. And also in the chorus:

Instead of

F C Dm Bb …

I hear

F Gm/Bb Dm7 Eb7+ …

I wonder if these (and other) substitutions had been done before (I hardly knew the original song)

2. The ending credits version has a instrumental part, a variation of the main verse, but in the subdominant (Bb).
This corresponds approximately to the instrumental part of the ensemble, in the violin scene.

3. But the violin scene has a solo introduction that, also, does not sound straightforward to me. For one thing, it’s in F but employ some note from subdominant scale (Eb note). Further, it is not very clear to me that this introduction (is it original for this arrangement?) identifies the song. I question: if you had heard those notes (before knowing this movie) would you have identified the song “country roads” from them? It is logical that Shizuku identifies it? I wonder.

4. Another little interesting twist in the ending credits is that the bass plays the weak beats (2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3)

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:57:28 +0000

I totally agree. This version is absolutely beautiful, much better than the original. However, my copy of the film (my favourite film ever!) is broken and I have been without it for the past year. I can’t find another copy anywhere, and my da doesn’t like me ordering stuff from the internet, so, basically, I’m screwed.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:45:11 +0000

Wow I was just looking up the lyrics for the song and I was brought here… I watched the film yesterday…twice! It’s one of my favourite movies and that scene which you described is truly wonderful. I loved it so much I put the album on my iPod and I listen to the song often. I love Shizuku’s voice… so clear and simple which I find more enjoyable compared to all those ones with the professional singers
Thanks for this comparison!

By: Mush

Mush — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:55:12 +0000

Yes, I deeply agree with you.The show started off normally, like any other teenagers’ life. But then, the scene when Shizuku sings, I was mesmerized! I loved the part so much that I watch it over again and again. I loved all the Ghibi’s production, but this scene struck me the most.6/5 for it!

By: admin

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:30:47 +0000

Good eye, Richard! As a pianist, I have to content myself playing the piano arrangement, but it’s really nothing like quite the ensemble version.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:30:03 +0000

The arrangement is absolute beautiful. I was just looking for sheet music to play with friends when Google brought me to your blog. I also found a piano arrangement which is a bit bland compared to the ensemble, but the individual instrument parts might be extractable…

By the way, I also play cello, but the instrument in the movie isn’t one! It’s fretted, with more strings, and the bow is held underneath. Probably a bass viol – or arpeggione

By: admin

admin — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:05:00 +0000

I play the piano myself, I’ve always loved the cello, though.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:34:21 +0000

I thought I was the only one who felt that when watching that part of the movie. I found myself clicking back on that part over and over again trying to absorb every bit of it. I totally agree, the simplicity of it is its appeal and after viewing it like 15 times…well I set off for my day with an pleasant and idealistic view of the world. It definitely reminded me that there is a whole lot of junk in this world and that finding moments like this is very refreshing and cleansing. and if you must know, I’m a cellist.