親愛なるDEATHMASK

親愛なるDEATHMASK
Rōmaji	Shin'ai naru DEATHMASK
Translation	Dear DEATHMASK
Release	亡骸を… (1993)
Length	3:40
Lyrics by	清春
Composed by	清春
Live Debut	1997.01.24
Last Played	1997.09.15
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親愛なるDEATHMASK is one of the few songs that are mistakenly attributed to Dir En Grey, despite being from another band.

In this case, the song was created by 黒夢 (Kuroyume), a Japanese rock band that existed even earlier than Dir En Grey. 黒夢 was, along with X Japan, one of the bands that had great influence on Kyo and at one concert during Dir En Grey's early days, they covered this song along with the band Vasalla. More specifically, this happened on September 15, 1997, on the last date of the Dir en grey presents MAZOHYST OF DECADENCE SHOW tour at Meguro Rockmaykan. At the same concert, they also covered INSANITY by Vasalla and X by X Japan, again with Vasalla. You can listen to the original song here.

After disbanding La:Sadie's on January 15, 1997, and before the formation of Dir En Grey on February 2, the band played a show at 長野Live House J on January 24. At this show, they performed under the name DEATHMASK and played around four cover songs of Kuroyume. Among tereko traders, a recording of a cover of this song exists. Allegedly, it was performed by 廃人黒薔薇族, but since the audience appears to call Toshiya's name, it was actually recorded at the aforementioned live.

Lyrics
Japanese	Rōmaji	Fan-Translation
GOT INTO ”4”　死顔 YOU DON'T KNOW DOUBT,　独裁 BY‥‥　病的 CUT RELATION,　キチガイ 締め上げ過ぎて疲れてしまった 目が合う度笑えてしまう 唾液まみれに息をしていた 首生づかみ殺してしまう PAST,親愛なる　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥ PAST,正夢とは　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥	GOT INTO "4"　Shinigao YOU DON'T KNOW DOUBT,　Dokusei BY‥‥　Byōteki CUT RELATION,　Kichigai Shimeage sugite tsukarete shimatta Me ga au tabi waraete shimau Daeki mamire ni iki o shiteita Kubi namazukami koroshite shimau PAST, shin'ai naru　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥ PAST, masayume towa　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥	GOT INTO "4"　Deathface YOU DON'T KNOW DOUBT,　Dictatorship BY‥‥　Abnormality CUT RELATION,　Madness It tightened too much so I got tired I laugh when our eyes meet Drenched in saliva I breathe Killing the severed head PAST, dear　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥ PAST, the fulfilled dream is　DEATHMASK NOSTALGY‥‥
These lyrics don't have an official translation. The fan-translation was taken from here.

Trivia

Title

• The first version's title is written as 親愛なる DEATHMASK, whereas the second version's title is written as 親愛なるDEATH MASK.

Lyrics

• When this song was released in 1992 on 生きていた中絶児‥‥, the entire second verse was omitted in the lyrics. When it was re-recorded on the first album, the entire lyrics were omitted from the booklet. The latter omission likely happened due to Kiyoharu singing キチガイ (kichigai) ("madness"), メクラ (mekura) ("blindness"), カタワ (katawa) ("crippled"), ハクチ (hakuchi) ("retard") at the end of the song. Why the omission in the first version's lyrics happened is unclear.