Holding onto you with these arms dyed so red

Gackt Camui, usually called Gackt, is a ridiculously popular and slightly crazy Japanese musician. His songs are primarily of the jrock variety. Although he has quite a deep voice, Gackt often appears dressed as a woman, a trend that started in his days with MALICE MIZER.

Gackt has released many albums and singles, but my personal favorite is, of course, his single REDEMPTION, which was released on 25 January 2006 as part of the promotion for Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-. The single's A-Side, REDEMPTION, was featured as the game's theme song, while the B-Side, LONGING, was used in the final "chapter" of the game as background music. The single was released in multiple forms — as a CD by itself (cover to the left) and as a CD/DVD combination. The DVD has two music videos for REDEMPTION, one featuring Gackt in all his cracktastic Genesis garb (plus, oddly, dreadlocks...) and the other featuring Dirge of Cerberus footage. You can see his Genesis outfit on the CD cover there, though there aren't any dreadlocks on that pic (or in the secret ending in DoC where he appears as Genesis).

The CD tracklisting is as follows:

1. REDEMPTION
2. LONGING
3. REDEMPTION (Inst.)
4. LONGING (Inst.)

And yes, the capitalization is intentional; the song titles are clearly in uppercase letters while the "Inst." part isn't.

If you're interested in listening to the song, you can download it (and tons of other video game music) at Blue Laguna. (You could probably find it at radio.blog, too.)

If you'd like to buy the CD (which you so totally should, dammit), you can do so at Amazon, Play-Asia, or YesAsia. (You can also find the CD/DVD version at Amazon and Play-Asia.)

I recommend Play-Asia on this one because it's cheapest there. XD Though if it's cheaper somewhere else (due to shipping costs), go there instead. ^^; Worthy of note is that it is, well, a DVD; however, there does not seem to be region protection on there, since mine works fine on my computer. ^_^ By the way, I do in fact own a copy of the single (I have the CD/DVD version), but I bought it at an anime convention at the music booth from a man in a dress, so I can't give you any personal advice for buying it online.

The romanji (Japanese) lyrics are from this site, while the English is from this one. No credit goes to me on any of this XD

Akaku somaru ude de kimi wo dakishime nagara Aoku terasareta namida wo tsuki ni sasageru Mune ni kizamareta kizuato wo mitsume nagara "Mou modore nai..." to yoru ga sasayaku Saa me wo tojite inori wo sasagereba ii Mou omae ni nokosu kotoba wa nanimo nai kara Kami wo furuitataseru yami wo kiri saku koe ni Naki sakebu ga ii, subete owarase you Watashi no mune ni tada damatte dakarereba ii Owaru koto no nai yasuragi ga koko ni aru kara Subete no tsumi wo tsugunai umarekawareba ii Omae ni nokosareta sube wa nanimo nai.... Saa me wo tojite inori wo sasagereba ii Mou omae ni nokosu kotoba wa nanimo nai kara

Holding onto you with these arms dyed so red I offer the moon these tears shone blue Staring at this scar carved deep into flesh As the night whispers, "No turning back anymore..." Now, close your eyes and say your prayers 'cos I've nothing left to say to you With your voice, cut this sacred darkness into pieces Scream, and put an end to it all Quietly now, hold on to me For it is here you shall find everlasting peace Wash away all your sins, and be reborn And leave nothing behind... Now, close your eyes and say your prayers 'cos I've nothing left to say to you

Eventually there'll be an analysis of the lyrics in reference to Vincent on Sinner of Memory, but for now, that's all.