Conor and Simon are such an original couple in BL world. Seke couples or the few stories that have the uke as power bottom who is not a submissive sissy are the best for me.
'The Songbird doesn't Fly' ? 'The Bird that sings can't fly' ? What is exactly the English translation of the title and what does it mean? Is it about Doumeki? Yashiro? Both?
This story is probably my top favorite. A good, interesting plot and sexy badasses as pairing. Doumeki and Yashiro dynamic is so intriguing. However, I just can't figure out the link between the story and the title.
ps:- Update - I know now that the correct translation to English is 'Twittering Birds Never Fly'. It seems the author never clarified the meaning of the title but I have been seing a lot of interesting theories/interpretations about it here and other forums. (Thank you all for the input).
This manga is already amazing but finding out that there is a unsolved mystery about its title and all the fan theories that come with it, it just made it more interesting.
I don't know what the English title would mean or have to do with the story either. You would have to have some one who knows Jpn. to transl. it (I think) Maybe it;s what they do or don't do while singing???
Thanks. I'm reading again, I like so much this story but unfortunately I can only read the translations so I bet a lot is lost on it. Yashiro is a mystery and I think now the title is about him somehow. Hopefully I find the explanation for the title someday. Thanks for replying anyway!
Good luck, the first Eng, Trans. was Twittertering Birds Can't (Don't) Fly if that helps you.
Hey there. I'm someone who's been vigorously reading theories on and interpretations of Saezuru for a couple of years now, and I remembered this great post I read once that answers your question, so I looked it up again.
http://anonimjeden.tumblr.com/post/157365097895/the-storys-name-the-birds
Of course, this is just speculation because we've never been given a direct answer from Yoneda Kou (as far as I know), but I really like this theory.
Oh, and the English version is Twittering Birds Never Fly; it's the one the scanlation group uses and the one that is used in the official translation. There was also a post once on why they opted for this translation, but I can't seem to find it right now. Anyway, I think the main difference is the plural, essentially, but that's because Japanese nouns don't have plural forms, and in English you can use a noun in the singular and in the plural and it means the exact same thing in some cases (e.g. The tiger is an endangered animal. vs. Tigers are endangered animals.). Either way, I don't think it was meant in the sense that it refers to two individuals, i.e. Yashiro and Doumeki, but in the sense that it's a general fact, like with the tigers. Personally, I get why they chose Twittering Birds Never Fly, to me it just sounds much better than "the songbird" or "the bird that sings". :)
Thank you! Yes, I'm finding now that the best/closest translation to English is 'Twittering Birds Never Fly' and although still doesn't clarify much, it does give the idea of a more general relation as opposed to referring to one character ( like Yashiro for instance). In any case, it's kind of nice to hear everybody theories about it.
Hello! Thank you for replying. This is indeed a very interesting article!
I confess that I am enjoying finding out that the title is something that readers are still discussing about. I thought it was something obvious that I had somehow missed. It's nice to see how everybody has different theories. Someone in another forum believes the title refers to being in the Yakuza structure and how is that birds/members that are more pure/noble/beautiful/open in feelings can never survive or fly high in the ranks ( eg Kurobane demise) .
I like the theory in this article. Also the logic that Yashiro has never truly experienced love in full force . I know Yashiro pinned for the doctor for years but I myself believe that for someone so lonely, damaged and lacking any affection like Yashiro, a crush/infatuation in school can easily become most important thing/feeling you recognize as love. It just makes more sense to me that Yashiro clings to this feeling he once felt as the one good thing he ever felt but he has no idea how much bigger real full blown love can be ... and he's about to find out.
I am hooked on this story. Too bad I got to it just now and I feel I'm late for the party and the discussions because so many things in past chapters still confuses me, maybe because of translation.
Thanks again for the article. Cheers!
Hey, no need to thank me, I love discussing Saezuru.
"...that for someone so lonely, damaged and lacking any affection like Yashiro, a crush/infatuation in school can easily become most important thing/feeling you recognize as love. It just makes more sense to me that Yashiro clings to this feeling he once felt as the one good thing he ever felt but he has no idea how much bigger real full blown love can be"
I really like the way you put this and the way you think. You're not late to the party, we're maybe only halfway through Saezuru, so there's still plenty to come. Besides, because Yoneda Kou never really states things explicitly, just takes the minimalist approach and hints at them, there is always going to be a lot to interpret and discuss. This also allows us to go back to older chapters, especially when new ones come out that help us make some connections or add a new and different perspective to our old interpretations. So yeah, I still find people that have been fans for years talking about old chapters, and people who have just discovered Saezuru like you coming up with cool new theories.
It's definitely a manga you come back to a thousand times over and in which you find so many hidden treasures. So don't hold back and theorize and discuss things as much as you want!
http://psychoromance.tumblr.com/post/72090161775/the-storys-name-the-birds
A possible explanation mâine..
Maybe *
Thank you for your reply! Indeed this is a great article and I actually came to know it through a previous answer to this post. I've noticed that although the link/page is different, this is the article that A. P. ( above) sent it before but I'm bookmarking this one too. I'm glad you've sent it to me.
I've been curious, too. Even though I don't know Japanese , I've learned Chinese...
The expression refers to the relation owner-pet, meaning the bird will never fly too far from the owner, tied together from the bond of love.
That's a nice interpretation as well, quite romantic... :)
I read somewhere Yashiro and Doumeki referred to as two men with songs in their heart but with wings too damaged to fly ...
I hope the author some day decides to reveal the true meaning of the title.
and She ended the last chapter with that image of a baby bird. It sounds like a reasonable explain.
This story is so sexy. How come there is no more to it?
I love that this author always creates equally strong men. No submissive/effeminate/delicate bottoms. I prefer seke stories but they're so rare so if the top/bottom thing is fixed, at least it's a sexy power bottom.
Why such a gem had to be so short?
Get out of my head!! I was just thinking of writing the exact same thing! LOL Wait, that means I'm in YOUR head! Wah! Sorry for the intrusion! LMAO
Yes, a perfect comment!!! NightS is such a short trilogy, but Masaki especially is such an intriguing, mature character, if only there was more development to the plot, I guess we will never know if they meet each other in the daylight under more normal circumstances/professions.
I really like this one as well.. I feel lucky I bumped into it among all the same looking yaoi, this one has a really special feel.. Thanks for putting together a few ideas why this stands out, couldn´t put my finger on it.
Amen girlllll
WTF ... this was so good. Why is only one chapter?? Damn it.