A Word from "Esperandote" composer Rika Muranaka
"When I was asked to write ending theme song for "Silent Hill" by sound director Mr. Yamaoka
few months ago, I was thrilled! When I first had an opportunity to see a portion of the "Silent Hill" game at the Konami's
development room, I was very much fascinated. The computer graphics and the movement of the characters were so real, and scarily.
The experience was almost like watching the real person acting and talking, just like a Hollywood movies. Hum..., after talking
and discussing about the concept about the game, I suddently said to him, "How about Argentina? You know...band neon, violin
and Spanish singer singing?" Then, he looked at me and after a short period of silence, he smiled at me said, "That's great!
Let's make a tango!" And after that, I contacted the coordinator and my exciting and crazy journey to Buenos Aires begun.
However, after I told the staff that I wanted to go to Buenos Aires in Argentina, I had no
idea where Argentina was. Also, I had no idea that I really needed to speak Spanish!! Well, I realized at the first time how
far Argentina was by flying 13 and half hours to New York and then, another good 10 to 11 hours to Argentina. Oh, boy! It
took me three days to get to the destination Argentina. Then, after I got to Argentina, I was totally shocked to find out
that nobody could speak English! I thought everybody in the world understood and spoke English to some extent. But, I was
wrong! I met the singer and the music director and strated to carry on a conversation in English and he looked at me and said,
smiling, "kon ban wa!" (good evening) in Japanese! He came to Japan 24 times and spoke more Japanese than English.
Anyway, we had a serious problems. I wrote music in English and had a translator translated
into Spanish words and melody time did not match. So, I had to play the song and he wanted me to change the song in five minutes.
So, I played his keyboard and I had to make different melody line while he was saying Spanish words to me. So, I did. Somehow,
I came up with the different idea and it fitted to the melody.
If you happened to be around in the Argentina, stop by at the Senour Tango and check out the
show! The Tango show and musicians are out of this world! (Silent Hill's were performed by a member of the S. Tango) Ola!
Buenos Aires....Thank you for great memory!"
-Rika Muranaka
Rika is also credited with her stirring music for Dracula X, Castlevania: Syphony of the Night
and "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday," the ending theme from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
