top of page

How does Zenzenzense (Your name OST) sound on the Piano?

  • Writer: Yeoul Choi
    Yeoul Choi
  • 2 days ago
  • 5 min read

Torby Brand’s piano arrangement of Zenzenzense by RADWIMPS


Your name, Two characters, Taki and Mitsuha
<Your name (2016)>

Japanese animated film, "Your Name" (2016) is a story about a boy, Taki, and a girl, Mitsuha, who begin swapping bodies through their dreams despite living in different times and places. As they gradually get to know each other, they work together to prevent a looming disaster tied to their fate. With its stunning animation and emotional soundtrack, the film received worldwide acclaim and love.

 

RADWIMPS’s "Zenzenzense (前前前世)" is used in Your Name during scenes where the two main characters (Taki and Mitsuha) begin to recognize each other’s existence and become entangled in fate. This song features fast tempo (190 BPM) and powerful J-Rock sound—driven by electric guitar, drums, and bass. The ensemble between emotional melody and the energetic band sound was nicely done. The lyrics, which speak of searching for someone since a previous life, perfectly reflect the film’s themes of time and destiny. This song plays a key role in enhancing the mood and emotion of one of the film’s most important moments.

 

Today, we will focus on the piano arrangement version by Torby Brand of Zenzenzense. Before you practice on the piano with a sheet music, I recommend reading the structure of the song first. You will gain a clearer understanding of your favorite song if you examine its overall structure.  

 

 

 

The Structure of Zenzenzense

 

 

<Radwimps- Zenzenzense (前前前世) official music video of original version >

 


 

RADWIMPS’s “Zenzenzense” follows a classic Verse–Chorus–Verse–Chorus–Bridge–Chorus song structure, with energy and emotion building gradually as the song progresses.The bridge section offers a brief drop in tempo or texture, which makes the final chorus feel even more powerful and climactic.

 

Section

Description

Intro

Opens with a strong guitar riff and drum groove

Verse 1

Lyrics begin with a straightforward and calm tone

Pre-Chorus

Builds tension and sets up the chorus

Chorus

Emotion bursts out; the melody becomes more expansive

Verse 2

Slight rhythmic changes; the story continues

Pre-Chorus

Repeats with some arrangement variation

Chorus 2

Full band sound kicks in, adding more intensity

Bridge

Tempo or texture softens; emotional reflection

Final Chorus

All elements come together in a climactic finish

Outro

Ends with guitar or chord fade-out, leaving a lingering mood

 

The first verse is relatively calm, with straightforward lyrics. However, as the song continues, especially when it goes through another verse and chorus, each time with more energy. Then comes the pre-chorus, where the tension starts to rise, leading into the chorus where the emotions explode. The melody becomes broader, the sound gets fuller, and the lyrics. About two-thirds of the way through the song, there's a bridge section where the music briefly quiets down. This short pause makes the final chorus feel even more intense and emotional. The song ends neatly, leaving a lingering feeling.

 

 

Torby’s Piano Version: Tempo and Emotion

 

 

<Torby brand’s piano arrangement of Zenzenzense>

 

 

Torby Brand’s piano arrangement keeps the original key of B Major, just like the original. In the intro, the sounds originally filled by guitar riffs and drums are replaced by syncopated rhythms in the left hand and a smooth melody in the higher register of the piano. The tempo begins at 180 BPM, which is 10 BPM slower than the original, creating a slightly calmer mood. This is because fast passages are generally more difficult to play on piano than on electric guitar—especially when the melody jumps across two octaves, making it quite challenging to perform rapidly with just the right hand. However, lowering the tempo has the added benefit of allowing for more delicate and expressive phrasing. Torby even mentions in the description of the video that performers can feel free to play it more slowly while practicing.

 

Structure and Musical Terms

 

 Looking closely at the structure, the piano version closely follows that of the original song. While maintaining the sense of growing intensity, Torby also uses appropriate musical terms—one being con moto, and the other con brio. Con moto means “to play with movement or liveliness,” while con brio means “to play boldly or with spirit.” He uses these terms either separately or together, offering clear performance direction to those reading the sheet music

 

Layers with Dynamics

 

The music gradually builds toward the end, and the piano arrangement reflects this by adding musical layers step by step. The intro begins with a relatively thin texture, and the first verse—led by a single melodic line in the right hand—starts with an mp (mezzo piano) dynamic. By measure 37, in the pre-chorus, the dynamic shifts to mf (mezzo forte), and at this point, the left-hand accompaniment grows thicker. Torby enhances the layering here by adding more chord tones. In measure 103 (the second verse), the right hand uses octave unison (refers to playing the same musical note in two different octaves at the same time) playing, adding more power, and the dynamic rises to f (forte). The part with the most extreme layering is Chorus 2, starting at measure 121. Here, the dynamic is fortissimo (ff)—the strongest part in this version—and Torby stacks another harmonic tone on top of the octave unison to create a more intense and powerful sound.

 

 

Band Instruments vs. Piano

 

One notable part of Torby’s piano arrangement is how he mimics the original instruments.

For example, in measure 83, corresponding to Verse 2, the left hand captures the bass solo melody from the original. In other places—like measures 74 and 161–162—he recreates the urgent and grand rhythm of the drums using very low, thick chord blocks in the left hand.

These moments reflect a clear effort to bring out the distinct characteristics of the band instruments on the piano.

 

Bridge to Outro

 

Just like the softer arrangement in the intro, the bridge part also takes on a different form in the piano arrangement. In the original ver., the bridge is a calm and emotional section that gives the listener a brief pause before moving into the next climax. This part features hand claps and group vocals, while other instruments drop out, making the sense of musical space. However, In the piano version, harmonic textures are emphasized more clearly, and with the use of pedal and high-register tones, the dynamic remains gentle yet defined - adding a distinct color to this section.  Another notable difference is that for the first half of chorus 3, he use a "cooldown", which is not present in the original, to further the dynamics and impact of the final chorus.


 The outro part, which starts from measure 186, originally features powerful electric guitar sounds. But in the piano arrangement, it is reinterpreted with arpeggiated accompaniment and a moderately soft dynamic (mf), making it easier to perform.

 

If you want to experience the emotional charm of Zenzenzense in this new piano version, it’s time to try playing it yourself. This is the link for the Piano Sheet Music of Zenzenzense!

Do you think this sheet music is too difficult to play? Don't worry! Here is the easier version of Torby’s arrangement. 

 

 
 
 

Subscribe to our channel

Join our email list and get access to specials deals exclusive to our subscribers.

Thanks for submitting!

Drop Me a Line, Let Me Know What You Think

Thanks for submitting!

© 2023 Mapiacompany. All Rights Reserved.
www.mymusicsheet.com

bottom of page