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'''A Cruel Angel's Thesis''' is the opening theme song for the series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', composed by [[Hidetoshi Sato]] and sung by [[Yoko Takahashi]]. The lyrics are by Neko Oikawa while the arrangement is by Toshiyuki O'mori. The song also has the distinction of taking first place in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Society_for_Rights_of_Authors,_Composers_and_Publishers JASRAC] Awards. <ref>http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards</ref>
'''A Cruel Angel's Thesis''' is the opening theme song for the series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', composed by [[Hidetoshi Sato]] and sung by [[Yoko Takahashi]]. The lyrics are by Neko Oikawa while the arrangement is by Toshiyuki Omori. The song also has the distinction of taking first place in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Society_for_Rights_of_Authors,_Composers_and_Publishers JASRAC] Awards.<ref>http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards</ref>


This song was written with relatively limited involvement from Hideaki Anno and the production staff, being handled by producer Toshimichi Otsuki .<ref> From the animania blog report on the March 28, 2005 NHK Anime Yawa talk show (translation by animania) - Otsuki said he allowed Anno to do whatever he wanted in the anime except for the theme music. Otsuki was particular about the theme and handled the music staff by himself, going as far as to claim that no anime staff, even Anno, met the music staff (apparently contradicted by Oikawa's statements). - [https://web.archive.org/web/20070114085749/animaniajapan.livedoor.biz/archives/17687653.html Yuko Miyamura, BS AnimeYAWA] </ref> Anno originally wanted to use an excerpt from Borodin's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polovtsian_Dances Polovtsian Dances] in the opening, but the producers did not approve of this and instead decided to use a J-Pop song, which eventually resulted in the creation of this song by Neko Oikawa.  
This song was written with relatively limited involvement from Hideaki Anno and the production staff, being handled by producer Toshimichi Otsuki .<ref> From the animania blog report on the March 28, 2005 NHK Anime Yawa talk show (translation by animania) - Otsuki said he allowed Anno to do whatever he wanted in the anime except for the theme music. Otsuki was particular about the theme and handled the music staff by himself, going as far as to claim that no anime staff, even Anno, met the music staff (apparently contradicted by Oikawa's statements). - [https://web.archive.org/web/20070114085749/animaniajapan.livedoor.biz/archives/17687653.html Yuko Miyamura, BS AnimeYAWA]</ref> Anno originally wanted to use an excerpt from Borodin's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polovtsian_Dances Polovtsian Dances] in the opening, but the producers did not approve of this and instead decided to use a J-Pop song, which eventually resulted in the creation of this song by Neko Oikawa.  


Oikawa apparently had very little knowledge of the show, which was under production at the time with the episodes not having been colored. According to tweets and interviews, Oikawa went through a proposal of the show (possibly [[Neon Genesis Evangelion Proposal]]) and watched two unfinished episodes on fast-forward, only serving to broadly "fit" the anime after the fact <ref>“My manager got the job, we had a quick meeting lasting about 30 minutes, skim-read the proposal and watched two episodes on fast-forward. And with that I was told ‘so, yeah, just write whatever you want!’, and finished the song [lyrics] in about two hours. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys!” http://soranews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa</ref><ref>"I hadn't watched Eva and wrote it in 2 hours. I don't even know what the story is or who is fighting who." https://twitter.com/otakucalendarjp/status/1356542049751687171</ref><ref>. "It wasn't even colored. I wrote the song, and my job was done. I wrote it in about two hours."  [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-02-03/lyricist-neko-oikawa-shares-how-she-was-scammed-out-of-her-evangelion-royalty-money/.169084 Anime News Network interview with Neko Oikawa]</ref>  
Oikawa apparently had very little knowledge of the show, which was under production at the time with the episodes not having been colored. According to tweets and interviews, Oikawa went through a proposal of the show (possibly [[Neon Genesis Evangelion Proposal]]) and watched two unfinished episodes on fast-forward, only serving to broadly "fit" the anime after the fact <ref>“My manager got the job, we had a quick meeting lasting about 30 minutes, skim-read the proposal and watched two episodes on fast-forward. And with that I was told ‘so, yeah, just write whatever you want!’, and finished the song [lyrics] in about two hours. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys!” http://soranews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa</ref><ref>"It wasn't even colored. I wrote the song, and my job was done. I wrote it in about two hours."  [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-02-03/lyricist-neko-oikawa-shares-how-she-was-scammed-out-of-her-evangelion-royalty-money/.169084 Anime News Network interview with Neko Oikawa]</ref> The writing process for [[Episode 01]] took as long as six months,<ref>[https://forum.evageeks.org/post/425333/NGE-Ep24-Script-First-and-Second-Drafts/#425333 2nd JUNE interview]</ref> and the opening sequence was not yet finished.<ref>[https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2002-takeda-notenkimemoirs Notenki Memoirs]</ref><ref>According to Hidenori Matsubara during the Animazement 2015 convention, "the song was created before they even got done with animation for the opening theme. Strangely enough, the song manage to go along with the opening animation."</ref> The original song included a male chorus, which was cut at director Hideaki Anno's request in order to "emphasize maternal affection".<ref>''Refrain of Evangelion OST Booklet, 2003.''</ref>  


Oikawa states that she took inspiration for the title from the manga [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cruel_God_Reigns A Cruel God Reigns].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160830224921/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11939169</ref> Among other statements, Oikawa said the lyrics "become a legend" were originally "become a weapon" and that she decided to make the song about the perspective of a mother when her child "leaves the nest."<ref>https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n1.html</ref> The original song included a male chorus, which was cut at director Hideaki Anno's request in order to "emphasize maternal affection".<ref>''Refrain of Evangelion OST Booklet, 2003.''</ref>  
 
{{translation}}
Oikawa states that she took inspiration for the title from the manga [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cruel_God_Reigns A Cruel God Reigns].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160830224921/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11939169</ref> Among other statements, Oikawa said the lyrics "become a legend" were originally "become a weapon" and that she decided to make the song about the perspective of a mother when her child "leaves the nest."<ref>https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n1.html</ref> Singer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Takahashi Yoko Takahashi] was also brought in relatively haphazardly and had no knowledge of the series, and would only see the opening featuring her voice when it aired on TV.<ref>[https://otakumode.com/news/559c1489386946ac1c803142/Yoko-Takahashi-Performs-Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Theme-%E2%80%9CA-Cruel-Angel%E2%80%99s-Thesis-%E2%80%9D-to-Excited-Crowd-at-Anime-Expo-2015-in-LA Yoko Takahashi Performs Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” to Excited Crowd at Anime Expo 2015 in LA]</ref> She had also first met Anno on the day of recording.<ref>'''—When was your first meeting with Mr. Anno?'''<br>"It was on the day of recording. As I said earlier, when I entered the studio before anyone else to get ready, even while I couldn't afford, a man dressed in black and wearing sandals suddenly appeared. I didn't know who it was, but I just said hi, and he was actually Mr. Anno (Hideaki). It was a shocking encounter (laughs)." -[https://wiki.evageeks.org/Statements_by_Evangelion_Staff#Yoko_Takahashi:_EVANGELION_FINALLY_(2020) Yoko Takahashi: EVANGELION FINALLY (2020)]</ref>


==Lyrics==
==Lyrics==
{| class="wikitable" width="99%"
 
Original Japanese Lyrics: Neko Oikawa
 
 
 
{| border="0"  
|-
|-
! width="33%"| '''Japanese''' !! width="33%"| '''Romaji''' !! width="33%"| '''Translated'''
|width="350"|<big>'''『残酷な天使のテーゼ』'''</big>
|-
|width="350"|<big>'''Zankoku na tenshi no teeze'''</big>
|残酷な天使のように
|width="350"|<big>'''English Translation'''</big><sup>1</sup>
少年よ 神話になれ
|width="350"|<big>'''Sing-Along English Translation'''</big><sup>2</sup>
|-valign="top"
|
残酷な天使のように<br />
少年よ 神話になれ<br />
 
青い風がいま<br />
胸のドアを叩いても<br />
私だけをただ見つめて<br />
微笑んでるあなた<br />
そっとふれるもの<br />
もとめることに夢中で<br />
運命さえまだ知らない<br />
いたいけな瞳<br />
 
だけどいつか気付くでしょう その背中には<br />
遥か未来 めざすための 羽根があること<br />
 
残酷な天使のテーゼ<br />
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ<br />
ほとばしる熱いパトスで<br />
思い出を裏切るなら<br />
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く<br />
少年よ 神話になれ<br />
 
''Instrumental section''<br /><sup>3</sup>
 
ずっと眠ってる<br />
私の愛の揺りかご<br />
あなただけが 夢の使者に<br />
呼ばれる朝がくる<br />
細い首筋を<br />
月あかりが映してる<br />
世界中の時を止めて<br />
閉じこめたいけど<br />
 
もしもふたり逢えたことに 意味があるなら<br />
私はそう 自由を知る ためのバイブル<br />
 
残酷な天使のテーゼ<br />
悲しみがそしてはじまる<br />
抱きしめた命のかたち<br />
その夢に目覚めたとき<br />
誰よりも光を放つ<br />
少年よ 神話になれ<br />
 
人は愛をつむぎながら 歴史をつくる<br />
女神なんてなれないまま 私は生きる <br />
 
残酷な天使のテーゼ<br />
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ<br />
ほとばしる熱いパトスで<br />
思い出を裏切るなら<br />
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く<br />
少年よ 神話になれ<br />
|
Zankoku na tenshi no yō ni<br />
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare...<br />


青い風がいま
Aoi kaze ga ima mune no doa wo tataitemo<br />
胸のドアを叩いても
Watashi dake wo tada mitsumete<br />
私だけをただ見つめて
Hohoenderu anata<br />
微笑んでるあなた
Sotto fureru mono<br />
そっとふれるもの
Motomeru koto ni muchū de<br />
もとめることに夢中で
Unmei sae mada shiranai itaikena hitomi<br />
運命さえまだ知らない
いたいけな瞳


だけどいつか気付くでしょう その背中には
Dakedo itsuka kizuku deshō<br />
遥か未来 めざすための 羽根があること
Sono senaka ni wa<br />
Haruka mirai mezasu tame no<br />
Hane ga aru koto...<br />


残酷な天使のテーゼ
Zankoku na tenshi no teeze<br />
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu<br />
ほとばしる熱いパトスで
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de<br />
思い出を裏切るなら
Omoide wo uragiru nara<br />
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku<br />
少年よ 神話になれ
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare<br />


ずっと眠ってる
''Instrumental section''<br /><sup>3</sup>
私の愛の揺りかご
あなただけが 夢の使者に
呼ばれる朝がくる
細い首筋を
月あかりが映してる
世界中の時を止めて
閉じこめたいけど


もしもふたり逢えたことに 意味があるなら
Zutto nemutteru watashi no ai no yurikago<br />
私はそう 自由を知る ためのバイブル
Anata dake ga yume no shisha ni<br />
Yobareru asa ga kuru<br />
Hosoi kubisuji wo tsukiakari ga utsushiteru<br />
Sekai'jū no toki wo tomete<br />
Tojikometai kedo...<br />


残酷な天使のテーゼ
Moshi mo futari aeta koto ni imi ga aru nara<br />
悲しみがそしてはじまる
Watashi wa, sō, jiyū wo shiru<br />
抱きしめた命のかたち
Tame no baiburu<br />
その夢に目覚めたとき
誰よりも光を放つ
少年よ 神話になれ


人は愛をつむぎながら 歴史をつくる
Zankoku na tenshi no teeze<br />
女神なんてなれないまま 私は生きる
Kanashimi ga soshite hajimaru<br />
Dakishimeta inochi no katachi<br />
Sono yume ni mezameta toki<br />
Dare yori mo hikari wo hanatsu<br />
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare<br />


残酷な天使のテーゼ
Hito wa ai wo tsumugi nagara rekishi wo tsukuru<br />
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ
Megami nante narenai mama<br />
ほとばしる熱いパトスで
Watashi wa ikiru...<br />
思い出を裏切るなら
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く
少年よ 神話になれ
|Zankoku na tenshi no yō ni
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare...


Aoi kaze ga ima mune no doa wo tataitemo
Zankoku na tenshi no teeze<br />
Watashi dake wo tada mitsumete
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu<br />
Hohoenderu anata
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de<br />
Sotto fureru mono
Omoide wo uragiru nara<br />
Motomeru koto ni muchū de
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku<br />
Unmei sae mada shiranai itaikena hitomi
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare<br />
|
Like a cruel angel,<br>
young boy, become the legend!<br>
A blue wind is now<br>
knocking at the door to your heart, and yet<br>
you are merely gazing at me<br>
and smiling.<br>


Dakedo itsuka kizuku deshō
Something gently touching--<br>
Sono senaka ni wa
you're so intent on seeking it out,<br>
Haruka mirai mezasu tame no
that you can't even see your fate yet,<br>
Hane ga aru koto...
with such innocent eyes.<br>


Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
But someday I think you'll find out<br>
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
that what's on your back<br>
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de
are wings that are for<br>
Omoide wo uragiru nara
heading for the far-off future.<br>
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare


Zutto nemutteru watashi no ai no yurikago
The cruel angel's thesis<br>
Anata dake ga yume no shisha ni
will soon take flight through the window,<br>
Yobareru asa ga kuru
with surging, hot pathos,<br>
Hosoi kubisuji wo tsukiakari ga utsushiteru
if you betray your memories.<br>
Sekai'jū no toki wo tomete
Embracing this sky [universe] and shining,<br>
Tojikometai kedo...
young boy, become the legend!<br>


Moshi mo futari aeta koto ni imi ga aru nara
''Instrumental section''<br /><sup>3</sup>
Watashi wa, sō, jiyū wo shiru
Tame no baiburu


Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
Sleeping for a long time<br>
Kanashimi ga soshite hajimaru
in the cradle of my love<br>
Dakishimeta inochi no katachi
The morning is coming when you alone will be called<br>
Sono yume ni mezameta toki
by a messenger of dreams.<br>
Dare yori mo hikari wo hanatsu
                       
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare
Moonlight reflects off<br>
the nape of your slender neck.<br>
Stopping time all throughout the world<br>
I want to confine them, but...<br>


Hito wa ai wo tsumugi nagara rekishi wo tsukuru
So if two people being brought together by fate<br>
Megami nante narenai mama
has any meaning,<br>
Watashi wa ikiru...
I think that it is a "bible"<br>
for learning freedom.<br>
                       
The cruel angel's thesis.<br>
The sorrow then begins.<br>
You held tight to the form of life<br>
when you woke up from that dream.<br>
You shine brighter than anyone else.<br>
Young boy, become the legend!<br>


Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
People create history<br>
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
while weaving love.<br>
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de
Even knowing I'll never be a goddess or anything like that,<br>
Omoide wo uragiru nara
I live on.<br>
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku
         
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare
The cruel angel's thesis<br>
|Young boy, like a cruel angel's thesis,
will soon take flight through the window,<br>
Live up to be a legend...
with surging, hot pathos,<br>
if you betray your memories.<br>
Embracing this sky and shining,<br>
young boy, become the legend!<br>
|
Young boy, like a cruel angel's thesis,<br />
Live up to be a legend...<br />


Even though clear blue winds
Even though clear blue winds<br />
Beat on the door of my heart,
Beat on the door of my heart,<br />
You just smile, looking straight at me
You just smile, looking straight at me<br />
Too involved in yearning for
Too involved in yearning for<br />
Something to hold on
Something to hold on<br />
The innocent eyes still know nothing of fate yet.
The innocent eyes still know nothing of fate yet.<br />


But someday you will notice
But someday you will notice<br />
On those shoulders of yours
On those shoulders of yours<br />
There are strong wings
There are strong wings<br />
To guide you to the far future.
To guide you to the far future.<br />


A cruel angel's thesis
A cruel angel's thesis<br />
Will someday fly high from the window
Will someday fly high from the window<br />
If memories are betrayed by
If memories are betrayed by<br />
The overflowing, burning pathos.
The overflowing, burning pathos.<br />
Young boy, shine like a legend,
Young boy, shine like a legend,<br />
Holding the sky in your arms.
Holding the sky in your arms.<br />


The cradle of love that sleeps within me
''Instrumental section''<br /><sup>3</sup>
There will be a morning that
A servant of dreams will come for you.
The moonlight shines on your thin neckline.
I'd stop time in this world
And lock it away for myself, but...


If there is any meaning
The cradle of love that sleeps within me<br />
In the fate that pulled us together,
There will be a morning that<br />
Then I am, yes, the Bible
A servant of dreams will come for you.<br />
That teaches you of freedom.
The moonlight shines on your thin neckline.<br />
I'd stop time in this world<br />
And lock it away for myself, but...<br />


A cruel angel's thesis
If there is any meaning<br />
And then sorrow comes forth
In the fate that pulled us together,<br />
When the shapes of the dreams you hold in your arms
Then I am, yes, the Bible<br />
Come to life within you.
That teaches you of freedom.<br />
Young boy, who shines brighter than anyone else,
Rise to become a legend.


''Instrumental section''
A cruel angel's thesis<br />
And then sorrow comes forth<br />
When the shapes of the dreams you hold in your arms<br />
Come to life within you.<br />
Young boy, who shines brighter than anyone else,<br />
Rise to become a legend.<br />


People weave together love to create history
People weave together love to create history<br />
And so I live on,
And so I live on,<br />
Unable to become a goddess...
Unable to become a goddess...<br />


A cruel angel's thesis
A cruel angel's thesis<br />
Will someday fly high from the window
Will someday fly high from the window<br />
If memories are betrayed by
If memories are betrayed by<br />
The overflowing, burning pathos.
The overflowing, burning pathos.<br />
Young boy, shine like a legend,
Young boy, shine like a legend,<br />
Holding the sky in your arms.
Holding the sky in your arms.<br />
|-
|}
|}


==Notes==
====Translation Notes====
The instrumental section contains chanted non-Japanese lyrics in [[Yoko Takahashi]]'s version and a few others, while other versions of the song have a purely instrumental section. The January 1996 issue of Newtype magazine transcribed Takahashi's lyrics in this section as "Fariya. Seta(or sepa) messo. Fariya. Tuse." which they speculate is from the fictional language of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Alternatively, [https://forum.evageeks.org/thread/19847/Cruel-Angels-Thesis-lyrics-in-instrumental-section-solved/ an EvaGeeks forum discussion suggests] that the lyrics may be "Faria? Será mesmo? Faria? Eu sei!" which is in the Portuguese language. Since the word "Faria" is usually used in a similar way as the English word "would", those lines could be interpreted as someone doubting something or someone else. There has never been any official information on the actual lyrics or their meaning, if any.
 
<sup>1</sup>This was translated by [mailto:[email protected] Takayama Miyuki] and these are the translator's notes:
*''young boy, become the legend!'': The word "shinwa" actually means "myth" ("legend" would be "densetsu"), but I think it sounds better as "legend."
*''with surging, hot pathos'': "Atsui" (hot) can also mean "intense, passionate." "Pathos" is "the quality or power in life or art of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion; pity; suffering; sorrow."
*''Embracing this sky [universe] and shining'': "Sora" (sky) is the reading given for the kanji for "uchuu" (universe).
*''has any meaning'': The kanji used for the "a" in "aeta" is not the normal kanji used in "au" (to meet). It's the first kanji in "ouse" (encounter, tryst) and has more of a connotation of meeting by fate or being brought together by fate, not just meeting. (Interestingly, a dictionary I have gives the meaning of "au," when written with this kanji, as "to meet (with drama or pathos)")
*''for learning freedom'': The "watashi wa sou" is probably "watashi wa sou omou." And "bible" in this case isn't referring to *the* Bible. "Bible" can also mean "guide book, how-to book, a book valued for its use as a reference," like in "a handyman's bible," or "a bird-watcher's bible."
 
<sup>2</sup>This is the translation found on the U.S. release of Evangelion by ADV.


<sup>3</sup>The instrumental section contains chanted non-Japanese lyrics in [[Yoko Takahashi]]'s version and a few others, while other versions of the song have a purely instrumental section. The January 1996 issue of Newtype magazine transcribed Takahashi's lyrics in this section as "Fariya. Seta(or sepa) messo. Fariya. Tuse." which they speculate is from the fictional language of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Alternatively, [https://forum.evageeks.org/thread/19847/Cruel-Angels-Thesis-lyrics-in-instrumental-section-solved/ an EvaGeeks forum discussion suggests] that the lyrics may be "Faria? Será mesmo? Faria? Eu sei!" which is in the Portuguese language. Since the word "Faria" is usually used in a similar way as the English word "would", those lines could be interpreted as someone doubting something or someone else. There has never been any official information on the actual lyrics or their meaning, if any.


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 12:11, 3 May 2024

A Cruel Angel's Thesis is the opening theme song for the series Neon Genesis Evangelion, composed by Hidetoshi Sato and sung by Yoko Takahashi. The lyrics are by Neko Oikawa while the arrangement is by Toshiyuki Omori. The song also has the distinction of taking first place in the JASRAC Awards.[1]

This song was written with relatively limited involvement from Hideaki Anno and the production staff, being handled by producer Toshimichi Otsuki .[2] Anno originally wanted to use an excerpt from Borodin's Polovtsian Dances in the opening, but the producers did not approve of this and instead decided to use a J-Pop song, which eventually resulted in the creation of this song by Neko Oikawa.

Oikawa apparently had very little knowledge of the show, which was under production at the time with the episodes not having been colored. According to tweets and interviews, Oikawa went through a proposal of the show (possibly Neon Genesis Evangelion Proposal) and watched two unfinished episodes on fast-forward, only serving to broadly "fit" the anime after the fact [3][4] The writing process for Episode 01 took as long as six months,[5] and the opening sequence was not yet finished.[6][7] The original song included a male chorus, which was cut at director Hideaki Anno's request in order to "emphasize maternal affection".[8]


"You mean you couldn't read the questions in Japanese?" "Right, I haven't learned all the Chinese characters yet. We didn't study it in college over there."
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Oikawa states that she took inspiration for the title from the manga A Cruel God Reigns.[9] Among other statements, Oikawa said the lyrics "become a legend" were originally "become a weapon" and that she decided to make the song about the perspective of a mother when her child "leaves the nest."[10] Singer Yoko Takahashi was also brought in relatively haphazardly and had no knowledge of the series, and would only see the opening featuring her voice when it aired on TV.[11] She had also first met Anno on the day of recording.[12]

Lyrics

Original Japanese Lyrics: Neko Oikawa


『残酷な天使のテーゼ』 Zankoku na tenshi no teeze English Translation1 Sing-Along English Translation2

残酷な天使のように
少年よ 神話になれ

青い風がいま
胸のドアを叩いても
私だけをただ見つめて
微笑んでるあなた
そっとふれるもの
もとめることに夢中で
運命さえまだ知らない
いたいけな瞳

だけどいつか気付くでしょう その背中には
遥か未来 めざすための 羽根があること

残酷な天使のテーゼ
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ
ほとばしる熱いパトスで
思い出を裏切るなら
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く
少年よ 神話になれ

Instrumental section
3

ずっと眠ってる
私の愛の揺りかご
あなただけが 夢の使者に
呼ばれる朝がくる
細い首筋を
月あかりが映してる
世界中の時を止めて
閉じこめたいけど

もしもふたり逢えたことに 意味があるなら
私はそう 自由を知る ためのバイブル

残酷な天使のテーゼ
悲しみがそしてはじまる
抱きしめた命のかたち
その夢に目覚めたとき
誰よりも光を放つ
少年よ 神話になれ

人は愛をつむぎながら 歴史をつくる
女神なんてなれないまま 私は生きる

残酷な天使のテーゼ
窓辺からやがて飛び立つ
ほとばしる熱いパトスで
思い出を裏切るなら
この宇宙(そら)を抱いて輝く
少年よ 神話になれ

Zankoku na tenshi no yō ni
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare...

Aoi kaze ga ima mune no doa wo tataitemo
Watashi dake wo tada mitsumete
Hohoenderu anata
Sotto fureru mono
Motomeru koto ni muchū de
Unmei sae mada shiranai itaikena hitomi

Dakedo itsuka kizuku deshō
Sono senaka ni wa
Haruka mirai mezasu tame no
Hane ga aru koto...

Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de
Omoide wo uragiru nara
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare

Instrumental section
3

Zutto nemutteru watashi no ai no yurikago
Anata dake ga yume no shisha ni
Yobareru asa ga kuru
Hosoi kubisuji wo tsukiakari ga utsushiteru
Sekai'jū no toki wo tomete
Tojikometai kedo...

Moshi mo futari aeta koto ni imi ga aru nara
Watashi wa, sō, jiyū wo shiru
Tame no baiburu

Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
Kanashimi ga soshite hajimaru
Dakishimeta inochi no katachi
Sono yume ni mezameta toki
Dare yori mo hikari wo hanatsu
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare

Hito wa ai wo tsumugi nagara rekishi wo tsukuru
Megami nante narenai mama
Watashi wa ikiru...

Zankoku na tenshi no teeze
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de
Omoide wo uragiru nara
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku
Shōnen yo, shinwa ni nare

Like a cruel angel,
young boy, become the legend!

A blue wind is now
knocking at the door to your heart, and yet
you are merely gazing at me
and smiling.

Something gently touching--
you're so intent on seeking it out,
that you can't even see your fate yet,
with such innocent eyes.

But someday I think you'll find out
that what's on your back
are wings that are for
heading for the far-off future.

The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
Embracing this sky [universe] and shining,
young boy, become the legend!

Instrumental section
3

Sleeping for a long time
in the cradle of my love
The morning is coming when you alone will be called
by a messenger of dreams.

Moonlight reflects off
the nape of your slender neck.
Stopping time all throughout the world
I want to confine them, but...

So if two people being brought together by fate
has any meaning,
I think that it is a "bible"
for learning freedom.

The cruel angel's thesis.
The sorrow then begins.
You held tight to the form of life
when you woke up from that dream.
You shine brighter than anyone else.
Young boy, become the legend!

People create history
while weaving love.
Even knowing I'll never be a goddess or anything like that,
I live on.

The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
Embracing this sky and shining,
young boy, become the legend!

Young boy, like a cruel angel's thesis,
Live up to be a legend...

Even though clear blue winds
Beat on the door of my heart,
You just smile, looking straight at me
Too involved in yearning for
Something to hold on
The innocent eyes still know nothing of fate yet.

But someday you will notice
On those shoulders of yours
There are strong wings
To guide you to the far future.

A cruel angel's thesis
Will someday fly high from the window
If memories are betrayed by
The overflowing, burning pathos.
Young boy, shine like a legend,
Holding the sky in your arms.

Instrumental section
3

The cradle of love that sleeps within me
There will be a morning that
A servant of dreams will come for you.
The moonlight shines on your thin neckline.
I'd stop time in this world
And lock it away for myself, but...

If there is any meaning
In the fate that pulled us together,
Then I am, yes, the Bible
That teaches you of freedom.

A cruel angel's thesis
And then sorrow comes forth
When the shapes of the dreams you hold in your arms
Come to life within you.
Young boy, who shines brighter than anyone else,
Rise to become a legend.

People weave together love to create history
And so I live on,
Unable to become a goddess...

A cruel angel's thesis
Will someday fly high from the window
If memories are betrayed by
The overflowing, burning pathos.
Young boy, shine like a legend,
Holding the sky in your arms.

Translation Notes

1This was translated by Takayama Miyuki and these are the translator's notes:

  • young boy, become the legend!: The word "shinwa" actually means "myth" ("legend" would be "densetsu"), but I think it sounds better as "legend."
  • with surging, hot pathos: "Atsui" (hot) can also mean "intense, passionate." "Pathos" is "the quality or power in life or art of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion; pity; suffering; sorrow."
  • Embracing this sky [universe] and shining: "Sora" (sky) is the reading given for the kanji for "uchuu" (universe).
  • has any meaning: The kanji used for the "a" in "aeta" is not the normal kanji used in "au" (to meet). It's the first kanji in "ouse" (encounter, tryst) and has more of a connotation of meeting by fate or being brought together by fate, not just meeting. (Interestingly, a dictionary I have gives the meaning of "au," when written with this kanji, as "to meet (with drama or pathos)")
  • for learning freedom: The "watashi wa sou" is probably "watashi wa sou omou." And "bible" in this case isn't referring to *the* Bible. "Bible" can also mean "guide book, how-to book, a book valued for its use as a reference," like in "a handyman's bible," or "a bird-watcher's bible."

2This is the translation found on the U.S. release of Evangelion by ADV.

3The instrumental section contains chanted non-Japanese lyrics in Yoko Takahashi's version and a few others, while other versions of the song have a purely instrumental section. The January 1996 issue of Newtype magazine transcribed Takahashi's lyrics in this section as "Fariya. Seta(or sepa) messo. Fariya. Tuse." which they speculate is from the fictional language of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Alternatively, an EvaGeeks forum discussion suggests that the lyrics may be "Faria? Será mesmo? Faria? Eu sei!" which is in the Portuguese language. Since the word "Faria" is usually used in a similar way as the English word "would", those lines could be interpreted as someone doubting something or someone else. There has never been any official information on the actual lyrics or their meaning, if any.

References

  1. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards
  2. From the animania blog report on the March 28, 2005 NHK Anime Yawa talk show (translation by animania) - Otsuki said he allowed Anno to do whatever he wanted in the anime except for the theme music. Otsuki was particular about the theme and handled the music staff by himself, going as far as to claim that no anime staff, even Anno, met the music staff (apparently contradicted by Oikawa's statements). - Yuko Miyamura, BS AnimeYAWA
  3. “My manager got the job, we had a quick meeting lasting about 30 minutes, skim-read the proposal and watched two episodes on fast-forward. And with that I was told ‘so, yeah, just write whatever you want!’, and finished the song [lyrics] in about two hours. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys!” http://soranews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa
  4. "It wasn't even colored. I wrote the song, and my job was done. I wrote it in about two hours." Anime News Network interview with Neko Oikawa
  5. 2nd JUNE interview
  6. Notenki Memoirs
  7. According to Hidenori Matsubara during the Animazement 2015 convention, "the song was created before they even got done with animation for the opening theme. Strangely enough, the song manage to go along with the opening animation."
  8. Refrain of Evangelion OST Booklet, 2003.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20160830224921/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11939169
  10. https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n1.html
  11. Yoko Takahashi Performs Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” to Excited Crowd at Anime Expo 2015 in LA
  12. —When was your first meeting with Mr. Anno?
    "It was on the day of recording. As I said earlier, when I entered the studio before anyone else to get ready, even while I couldn't afford, a man dressed in black and wearing sandals suddenly appeared. I didn't know who it was, but I just said hi, and he was actually Mr. Anno (Hideaki). It was a shocking encounter (laughs)." -Yoko Takahashi: EVANGELION FINALLY (2020)


Audio Releases
Arranged Albums: Evangelion Symphony | Evangelion Vox | Evangelion Wind Symphony No.1 | Evangelion Wind Symphony No.2 | Evangelion PianoForte #1 | The world! Evangelion Jazz night =The Tokyo III Jazz club= | ShiroSAGISU OUTTAKES FROM EVANGELION (VOl.1) | Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion Symphony
Compilation Albums: The Day of Second Impact | Evangelion: The Birthday of Rei Ayanami | Refrain of Evangelion | Evangelion: Decade | Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack 25th Anniversary Box | Evangelion Finally
Soundtrack Albums: Neon Genesis Evangelion OST I | Neon Genesis Evangelion OST II | Neon Genesis Evangelion OST III | Evangelion Death | End of Evangelion (Soundtrack) | S² Works | Music from Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone Original Soundtrack | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Original Soundtrack | Music from Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo | Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Original Soundtrack | Music from "Shin Evangelion" Evangelion: 3.0+1.0
Studio Albums: Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition | Neon Genesis Evangelion Classical Volume | Refrain, The Songs Were Inspired by Evangelion | Evangelion Extreme
Theme Songs: A Cruel Angel's Thesis | Fly Me to the Moon | Soul's Refrain | Thanatos -If I can't be yours- | Komm, süsser Tod | Beautiful World | Sakura Nagashi | One Last Kiss
Other: After the End | Animate Voice Cassette