It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake sent a tsunami raging towards North Eastern Japan, leaving destruction in its wake and claiming thousands of lives.
US singer songwriter Simone White has paid homage to those affected by the tragedy with her song, In The Water Where The City Ends.
Her disjointed lyrics serve to echo the fragmented images of devastation that were shared with the world.
"In the song, the words are broken and mismatched in places. Parts seem missing, the grammar is not clear. The line, 'Hold me close we slip right through', is about slipping through to death, or sometimes, slipping through to life," White explains in an interview with NPR.
Combining her delicate voice and the beautiful animation created by her friend and animator Hideyuki Katsumata, the finished video is simple yet effective, and almost haunting.
Katsumata, who is known for his intense, hectic animations, said that after hearing the song he “felt the strength of the tsunami”, making him think of natural disasters throughout history, which in turn inspired the animation.
We love the piece and think it is a very fitting tribute. Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments below.