I swear, I'm capable of talking about subjects other than Madoka and Kalafina...I'll prove it at some point. I'm aware that right now this blog does little more than betray the depth of my obsessions with Madoka and Kalafina.

*coughhere!cough*

I've always thought that Kajiura (and whoever else was responsible for their image) took some cues from Visual Kei when creating the Kalafina project, consciously or otherwise. The dramatic nature of their songs was no more than what I had expected from Kajiura, but the elaborate costumes...I doubt this would be a popular theory (so many VK haters these days) and it doesn't really matter anyway. But it's just what I feel.

Anyway, when the 40-second preview for Magia PV came out, one of the first things I thought was "Visual Rock Kalafina!!!!111!!"

But after the full PV hit YouTube, and the focus on Hikaru became more apparent, another image began to take form in my mind. A commanding Hikaru with her smoldering gaze, in the forefront, flanked by the other two --




Dominatrix queen Hikaru and her handmaidens.

I know, I know, me and my crazy ideas.



I really liked Hikaru in this vid. She usually comes across more as 'cute', but here, between the costume and that attitude, she's definitely more of 'hawt'. My, Hikaru, how you've grown...


Now this is potential fetish fuel. Wakana X Hikaru anyone? From one of the bonus postcards that come with the single

Everyone's looking good in that new look...



I like the bling in the wig

Like a lot people I loved the lifeless shots of Hikaru, although I'm not sure if they fit the PV



Not so crazy about the overlaying with the chandelier room, though, but they were something different



Those scenes in the mirror room were great. Even if Keiko did get shafted to the back (well, she usually gets too much attention anyway). Maybe it was the realization that what's on camera is not the ladies themselves, but their mirror images. It just seemed really well done


Look, it's just us standing around as usual...


But no! We're really just reflections!


I need to angst about this!


Oh look Keiko gets one too


Although I giggled at Hikaru's "I'm-dramatically-walking-towards-the-mirror!" moment.


DRAMATIC WALKING

Wakana has the least to sing between the three of them, and seems to have taken some lessons from Hikaru's School of Brooding Stares into the Distance and Epic Hand Gestures When You Don't Have Any Lines To Sing. I don't think she usually moves this much in PVs, right? But check her out:




That's just kind of LOL. Good try though, Wakana

The PV was a bit of a letdown at the instrumental -- I thought it should have been more dynamic, with the drum and guitar and the violins going crazy. But overall I enjoyed it.

The song itself...somehow, between Madoka and the crazy number of repeats of the live performance, I'm still not sick of the song. It's every bit as good as I expected -- wonderfully epic and dark throughout, while still managing to be emotional and stirring. This is one of those songs that makes me want to jump to my feet and go and achieve some great feat while angsting about it throughout and -- what, you've never had that feeling before? Anyways, Magia started out a powerful, kicked up a notch after the first chorus, with a rocking instrumental after the second chorus, and then slows down for Keiko's lovely turn at the drum-heavy bridge before a strong finish. And great use of bells -- Kajiura's always pretty good with that.

And Hikaru deserves credit for a great performance here. The lady's on fire.