Godzilla -1.0 Music Thoughts

『ゴジラ-1.0』音楽考

“Godzilla -1.0” Music Thoughts

ゴジラを巡る二人の作曲家。

Two composers working on Godzilla.

ゴジラ映画といえば音楽もまた欠かせない要素だ。本作では佐藤直紀の音楽に加え、伊福部昭の音楽も使用。双方の音楽は果たして映画の中で、どのように機能しているのか。ここではその使用例に注目してみた!!!

Music is also an essential element when it comes to Godzilla movies. In addition to Naoki Sato’s music, this work also uses music by Akira Ifukube. How do both types of music really function in the film? Here, we focused on an example of its use!!!

ゴジラ対モノ•マガジン
Godzilla vs. Mono Magazine

公開まで秘匿の一方で「匂わせ」もあった?

While it was kept secret until it was released, there were also “hints”?

音楽を手掛けたのは佐藤直紀。山崎貴とは「ALWAYS三丁目の夕日」シリーズのコンビで知られる他、映画「るろうに剣心」シリーズ、アニメ「プリキュア」シリーズ(※初期5作)、NHK大河ドラマ「龍馬伝」など、数々の代表作を持ち、ロックからオーケストラまで多彩な手腕を駆使し、今や劇伴作曲の第一人者として人気を集めている。さらに本作で大きな役割を持つのが、伊福部昭の音楽である。「シン・ゴジラ」では、公開まで秘匿事項とされていた(※しかしながら公開直前に某CD誌の曲目紹介でネタバレされた)伊福部音楽だが、本作ではオリジナル・サウンドトラック(以下OST)の配信視聴で封切り前に使用が明かされた他、茨城県筑西市(※本作のロケ地)で10月に開催された「2023ちくせい花火大会」においてタイアップによる「ゴジラ花火」が打ち上げられ、そのBGMには既出の録音には該当しない「SF交響ファンタジー第1番」と思わしき音源が使われていた(後にOSTの「Godzilla Suite II」と判明)。大会HPにも「あのテーマ曲とゴジラ花火がシンクロするプログラム」とアピールされるなど、今振り返ると、むしろ積極的に「旬わせ」ていた節がある。また、山崎&佐藤の布陣では、「ALWAYS続・三丁目の夕日」のゴジラ登場シーンで、佐藤がアレンジした伊福部音楽が使われていたことを思い出すファンも少なくないだろう。

The music was composed by Naoki Sato. Takashi Yamazaki is known for his work in the “ALWAYS: Sunset on Third Street” series, as well as his many representative works, including the movie “Rurouni Kenshin” series, the anime “Pretty Cure” series (*initial 5 works), and the NHK taiga drama “Ryomaden.”å He has a wide variety of skills, from rock to orchestra, and is now gaining popularity as a leading composer of musical accompaniment. Furthermore, Akira Ifukube’s music plays a major role in this work. For “Shin Godzilla,” Ifukube’s music was kept secret until its release (*however, it was spoiled in a certain CD magazine’s track introduction just before its release), but for this work, the original soundtrack (hereinafter referred to as OST) will be available for viewing. In addition, the use of “Godzilla fireworks” was revealed before the release, and “Godzilla fireworks” were launched in collaboration at the “2023 Chikusei Fireworks Festival” held in October in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture (*the filming location of this film). The BGM used a sound source that appears to be “SF Symphonic Fantasy No. 1,” which does not correspond to the previously released recordings (later revealed to be the OST’s “Godzilla Suite II”). Looking back now, we can see that they were actively trying to make the event more seasonal, with the event website promoting the program as “a program that synchronizes that theme song with Godzilla fireworks.” In addition, many fans may recall that Yamazaki & Sato’s lineup used Ifukube’s music arranged by Sato in the Godzilla appearance scene in “ALWAYS: Sunset on Third Street.”

「ゴジラのテーマ」は本来の使い方に高揚する

“Godzilla Theme” is exhilarating in its original usage.

もちろん、大半の楽曲は佐藤によるものだが、いずれもメロディや派手なオーケストレーションで聴かせるのではなく、アンビエント系の抑制された楽曲で作品全体が彩られている。映画前半は特にこうした楽曲が付けられており、ゴジラの銀座上陸と共に、いよいよ伊福部音楽がここぞとばかりに鳴り響き、全てはこのお膳立てだったことが分かる。但し、ちょっと驚くのがその使われ方。曲の構成をA~Cで分けると、ゴジラ登場でお馴染みの金管低音が奏でるAから弦楽が主体で奏でる日となり、続くCではなんと『モスラ対ゴジラ』の『マハラ・モスラ』の旋律が流れるのである。これはモスラを召喚する際の祈祷歌(小美人役のザ・ピーナッツが歌う)であり、恐らく、このA~Cの構成は『モスゴジ』のメインタイトル(M1)を踏襲したものと思われるが、そこにいかなる解釈を導き出すべきなのか、少々頭を悩ませる。劇中では電車内の浜辺美波が襲われるくだりで流れるので、なんらか女性をイメージしたのであろうか。銀座パートでは、以上のA~Cの構成が2回使われており、CDではTRみの「Godzilla Suite I」となる。

Of course, most of the songs are by Sato, but instead of using melodies or flashy orchestrations, the entire work is colored with restrained ambient music. The first half of the movie is especially filled with songs like this, and as Godzilla lands in Ginza, Ifukube’s music finally hits the scene, making it clear that everything was set up for this. However, the way it is used is a little surprising. Dividing the song structure from A to C, from A where Godzilla appears and the familiar brass bass is played, strings play mainly, and in C, the melody of “Mahara Mothra” from “Mothra vs. Godzilla” is played. This is a prayer song (sung by The Peanuts who plays Shobijin) when summoning Mothra, and the structure of A to C probably follows the main title (M1) of “MosuGoji.” I’m a little confused as to what kind of interpretation should be drawn from this. In the movie, the song is played during the scene where Minami Hamabe is attacked on the train, so I guess it was inspired by a woman. In the Ginza part, the above composition of A to C is used twice, and on the CD it becomes “Godzilla Suite I” which is only TR.

続いて使われるのが、「海神作戦」の場面(OSTではTR13「Godzilla Suite II」)。ここでは伊福部が映画音楽を管弦楽曲としてまとめた「SF交響ファンタジー第1番」から抜粋&リアレンジしており、ゴジラの主題のAを登場シーンに合わせ、接続部からドシラドシラの「ゴジラのテーマ」を「海神作戦」開始に合わせてある。第一作『ゴジラ』では人類側のテーマであった「ゴジラのテーマ」を本来の使い方に戻した形だ。また構成も「SF～」を踏襲しており、『キングコング対ゴジラ』のM1(いわゆる「ファロ島の祈りの歌」)までが引用されている。その他、ラスト、海中に沈んだゴジラの復活を匂わせる場面が、OSTのTR17「Godzilla Suite III」(「Ⅱ」から『キンゴジ』をカット)となる。

The next scene to be used is “Operation Sea God” (TR13 “Godzilla Suite II” in the OST). Here, Ifukube has excerpted and rearranged from “SF Symphonic Fantasy No. 1,” which is a collection of film music as an orchestral piece, and the A of Godzilla’s theme is matched to the appearance scene, and doh dohs of the “Godzilla’s Theme” is used from the connection part. It is timed to coincide with the start of Operation Sea God. In the first film, “Godzilla,” the “Godzilla theme,” which was the theme for humanity, is returned to its original usage. The structure also follows “SF ~,” and even M1 (the so-called “Prayer Song of Faro Island”) from “King Kong vs. Godzilla” is quoted. In addition, the last scene that hints at Godzilla’s resurrection after sinking into the ocean is OST TR17 “Godzilla Suite III” (“KinGoji” was cut from “II”).

既に多くの聴衆が耳馴染んでい伊ることも含めて、伊福部音楽の圧倒的な迫力に心奪われた人も少なくないと思うが、重低音の金管と高音の女声コーラスが荘厳な雰囲気を醸し出す、佐藤版「コジラのテーマ」とも言えるTRS「Divine」(TR14「Unscathed」にも含まれる)や、震電のテーマ的に使われているストリングスの繊細な響きを盛り込んだTR12「Resolution」など、印象に残る曲も多い。映画の鑑賞後にOSTを聴けば、各名場面を追体験できるだろう。なお、敷島と典子の日常が活写される際のエレキギターとストリングスによる明朗な楽曲が○OSTには未収録。(文中敬称略)

I think many people were captivated by the overwhelming power of Ifukube’s music, which many listeners are already familiar with, but the deep bass brass and high-pitched female chorus create a solemn atmosphere. TRS “Divine” (also included in TR14 “Unscathed”), which can be said to be Sato’s version of “Kozira’s theme,” and TR12 “Resolution,” which incorporates the delicate sound of strings used in Shinden’s theme, etc., there are many memorable songs. If you listen to the OST after watching the movie, you will be able to relive each famous scene. In addition, the bright music with electric guitar and strings that is used when Shikishima and Noriko’s daily life is vividly captured is not included in the OST. (Titles omitted in text)

佐藤直紀と伊福部昭が音楽で共闘

Naoki Sato and Akira Ifukube collaborate on music

文/トヨタトモヒサ

Composition/Toyota Tomohisa

フリーライター。WEBや雑誌、Blu-ray、CD、映画パンフなど、主に特撮界隈で活動中。解説書の取材・執筆・構成を担当した「ウルトラマンレグロスBlu-ray&DVD)」、取材を担当した『後藤正行 TSUBURAYA ART WORKS-GENERATOR-』が発売中。また『ウルトラマンブレーザーBlu-ray BOXI 』 が12月22日発売。趣味は日本人が手掛けたクラシック作品鑑賞と北海道旅行 (魅力を伝える仕事がしたい)。

Freelance writer. He is mainly active in the special effects field, including the web, magazines, Blu-rays, CDs, and movie pamphlets. “Ultraman Regulos Blu-ray & DVD),” which was responsible for the research, writing, and composition of the manual, and “Masayuki Goto TSUBURAYA ART WORKS-GENERATOR-,” which was responsible for the reporting, are now on sale. Additionally, “Ultraman Blazer Blu-ray BOXI” will be released on December 22nd. His hobbies are watching classical works created by Japanese people and traveling to Hokkaido (he wants to do a job that conveys its charm).

Caption

「ゴジラー1.0」[CD盤]
オリジナル・サウンドトラック
価格2750円 発売: Rambling RECORDS
ストリーミング、LP盤(7700円)もあり。

“Godzilla 1.0” [CD version]
original sound track
Price: 2750 yen Release: Rambling RECORDS
Streaming and LP versions (7,700 yen) are also available.

© 2023 TOHO CO., LTD

Source: Mono magazine, p 28