Zankyou Sanka - Demon Slayer S2 OP [Piano] / Aimer

Zankyou Sanka is definitely one of the most FLAMBOYANT opening songs of this year with its fast tempo and with a length of only 3 minutes, the song truly feels like the embodiment of a musical firework: Spectacular from start until finish and over in an instant.

①　The “Japanese-style” ornaments
One of the main musical ideas for this arrangement would be the “Japanese-style” ornaments, noticeable in 0:04, in 2:13 and in 2:25. I used the so-called “In-scale (陰音階)”, a pentatonic scale consisting of the notes Eb-E-Ab-Bb-B-Eb.

When I watched the opening animation of Demon Slayer S2, I realized how “Japanese” everything was: The busy Taisho Era night life, the colorful fireworks and the lavish costumes of the courtesans. This inspired me to look up for traditional Japanese music and studying its typical musical language.

②　Focus on Rhythms
The drum set has a very prominent role in the original song and I took extra care to faithfully replicate all the rhythms for this piano arrangement. This results in a few unusual left-hand patterns, such as the offbeat-rhythm in 0:39 or the busy drum roll in 0:50. I initially also included a few jazz scales in the middle voice as well, but I felt they were distracting the rhythm too much, so I omitted it at the end.

③　The mystery behind Aimer’s “Zankyou!”
I have been pondering for a while how to interpret the powerful “ZAN KYOU” from Aimer in 1:20 and 3:00 on the piano. Aimer is singing a grace note here, so I had a hard time to decide whether it is a F#-G# or G-G#. In the end, I also played some grace notes in the left hand to imitate Aimer’s voice and I added an additional lower octave to maximize the impact of “ZAN KYOU”.

④　The “trumpet” or “why pianists should have three hands after all”
My initial goal was to replicate the awesome trumpet melody from the original song, which is playing most of the background melodies during the chorus. But almost all my three-hand technique proved to be next to impossible to play due to the huge intervals between the main melody and the trumpet melody. Never have I wished so hard to physically own a third hand before…

But in the end, I managed to quote the trumpet voice in 0:55 (pay attention to the middle voice) and after modifying the trumpet voice a little bit, I was able to come up with a three-hand technique in 2:35.

Alright, that’s it for today! Thank you for reading this week’s “Animenz explains” and thank you so much for listening to my piano music in 2021! This is the last upload of this year and I think, I have made fairly good progress this year as an arranger! I explored many new techniques and music forms this year (especially variations), but I still feel like I am at the beginning of my musical journey.

There is still so much to learn, but I will continue doing my best!
See you next time again
– in year 2022!

Animenz
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🎹Piano arrangement by Animenz

Original Song: Zankyou Sanka / 残響散歌
Anime: Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc (Season 2) / 鬼滅の刃 遊郭編
Published by: Sony Music Labels Inc. (2021)
Composed by: Masahiro Tobinai
Performed by: Aimer
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#demonslayer #S2 #aimer #zankyousanka #kimetsunoyaiba

[Animenzzz]

Thank you for your support in 2021! I hope you enjoyed my anime piano arrangements this year and had a lot of fun listening to my YouTube Channel!
Zankyou Sanka is really a perfect piece to serve as a grand finale for my musical journey this year: it's flashy, a little bit jazzy and it's basically a forte fortissimo firework from start until finish.

Once again, thank you for listening!
And see you next year again!
(I will post a more detailed end-of-the-year summary on my YouTube Community page soon!)

- Animenz

[gleesinnpiano]

You never really know a song’s full potential on piano until Animenz covers it

[richmondang]

Animenz absolutely killed this arrangement -- FLAMBOYANTLY, of course!

[intobricks]

This is definitely my favourite OP of the year, Aimer has outdone herself! Her voice feels very powerful in this OP and the rythm en timbre is very fitting for kimetsu no yaiba. Amazing how you always deliver these incredible covers! Keep up the good work!

[schlemmes]

I knew it. There was no way Animenz was not doing this Aimer song! Glad to be here for the premiere!

[GCrowned]

I have to say it. . . I started getting into the Piano this summer, learning how to play and listening to many beautiful pieces from classical to anime, and I have to say that you Animenz were the first Pianist I really got into and you will forever be my favorite, thanks for the inspirational pieces, they reached me and motivated me to start playing and I hope to do the same to others in the future. Thank You Animenz 🙏

[Natsuuuu_]

Animenz is the Piano Hashira cuz of how he attacks and arranges these pieces perfectly!

[moodylabyrinth]

Aimer「残響散歌」羅馬拼音歌詞]

[Intro]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)

[Verse 1]
Dare ga sode ni saku genka
Tada soko ni ai wo otoshita
Hade ni iro wo tokasu yoru ni
Ginshu no tsuki wo soete

[Pre-Chorus]
Korogaru you ni kaze wo kitte
Tsumazuku koto ni tsuyoku natta
Hikari mo itami mo ikari mo zenbu dakishimete
Eraba renakereba erabeba ii

[Chorus]
Koe yo todoroke yoru no sono mukou e
Namida de nijin deta
Anna ni tooku no keshiki made
Hibiki watare
Nani wo kanadete? Dare ni todoketakute?
Futashika na mama de ii
Donna ni kurai kanjou mo
Donna ni nagai kattou mo
Uta to chire, zankyou


[Post-Chorus]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)

[Verse 2]
Tada hitori mau senya
Tagaenai tai wo musubeba
Hade na iro wo makasu you ni
Shinku no ka koso aware

[Pre-Chorus]
Kono saki donna tsurai toki mo
Kuchisaki yori mo mune wo hatte
Daita yume no akari mo zenbu tadoru dake
Nigedasu tamе koko made kitan janai daro?

[Bridge]
Eraba renakerеba
Erabeba ii

[Chorus]
Koe wo karashite moeru hana no you ni
Yamima wo terashitara
Aimai sugiru sekai mo yorube ni shite
Yoru wo kazoete asa wo egaku you na
Azayaka na ne wo narasu
Donna ni fukai koukai mo
Donna ni takai genkai mo
Kakike shite, zankyou
[Post-Chorus]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara da da daea

[Cyclically]

What a great masterpiece to end this year, I'm looking forward to Animenz's journey to 2022 and beyond. Hoping to see another legendary arrangement that rivals the likes of My Dearest 10th Ann. & Everlasting Guilty Crown that once again raises the bar for anime piano arrangements in the near future.

[zXovos]

I was literally thinking about how this would sound if Animenz played it yesterday. I was watching Fonzi’s arrangement, but I can’t wait to hear yours!

[quakers]

That short part at exactly 0:58 and 1:09, B, G sharp, 2x A sharp is really a beautiful touch

[roclcly]

Animenz using Piano Breathing Style
Jokes aside, this arrangement was legendary🔥🔥

[jisooya]

No matter how many times you hear this masterpiece, you can't get bored!

[YehPianoCovers]

I was definitely expecting this one! And as ALWAYS, ANIMENZ DELIVERS.
Hopefully this will land Animenz some much more deserved views since this is ongoing/seasonal.

[billyduong]

2:03 this part proves how skillful you are, Animenz. I totally fall in love with the whole performance, especially this part.

[itsraine]

I was gonna look for piano covers of Zankyosanka and I’m glad I stumbled upon this masterpiece, have a great 2022

[FlexIt]

This is a MASTERPIECE, completely captured the essence of the song so beautifully in the arrangement!

[pixienyxayy]

[Intro]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)

[Verse 1]
Taga sode ni saku genka
Tada soko ni ai wo otoshita
Hade ni iro wo tokasu yoru ni
Ginshu no tsuki wo soete

Korogaru you ni kaze wo kitte
Tsumazuku koto ni tsuyoku natta
Hikari mo itami mo ikari mo zenbu dakishimete
Eraba renakereba erabeba ii

[Chorus]
Koe yo todoroke yoru no sono mukou e
Namida de nijin deta
Anna ni tooku no keshiki made
Hibiki watare
Nani wo kanadete? Dare ni todoketakute?
Futashika na mama de ii
Donna ni kurai kanjou mo
Donna ni nagai kattou mo
Uta to chire, zankyou

[Post-Chorus]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)

[Verse 2]
Tada hitori mau senya
Tagaenai tai wo musubeba
Hade na iro wo makasu you ni
Shinku no ka koso aware
[Pre-Chorus]
Kono saki donna tsurai toki mo
Kuchisaki yori mo mune wo hatte
Daita yume no akari mo zenbu tadoru dake
Nigedasu tame koko madе kitan janai daro?

[Bridge]
Eraba renakereba
Erabеba ii

[Chorus]
Koe wo karashite moeru hana no you ni
Yamima wo terashitara
Aimai sugiru sekai mo fumen ni shite
Yoru wo kazoete asa wo egaku you na
Azayaka na ne wo narasu
Donna ni fukai koukai mo
Donna ni takai genkai mo
Kakike shite, zankyou

[Post-Chorus]
(Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da
Da-dara-dara-da-da
Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)

[mjasshertz]

2:28 I actually thought it was time for some crispy high notes, and I was juked! Well done. 来年の旅をお楽しみにしています。

[VicJang]

I’ve had this on repeat and have listened to it more than 60 times already. Absolute masterpiece. Amazing arrangement and flawless execution!