Suna no Wakusei / Sand Planet / DUNE occupies an odd space within the VOCALOID community. It's undeniably a strange song, simultaneously immensely comforting and incredibly disturbing. It is written by one of the greatest VOCALOID producers of all time, a man whose influence on the community cannot be understated. Sand Planet is written by Kenshi Yonezu, formerly better known by his P-name Hachi, who is now recognized nationally and internationally as one of Japan's musical superstars. I could laud Yonezu's accomplishments and incredible influence, but such recognition is easily found across a wide variety of other media, particularly on the internet. Instead, I want to focus briefly and uniquely on this one song and summarize - if I can - what it means to me.

Describing Sand Planet is a difficult task, and an even more insurmountable job is to try to explain its meaning. "Meaning" is such a difficult word, isn't it? Most songs don't have the benefit of being accompanied by an interview with the artist (and perhaps the the most important supporting character, Ryo himself), but this one does. Please read the interview, PLEASE do - if you like this song or just want to understand the VOCALOID scene better, it's easily found online, and translated into English (I don't believe I can link it here). In this interview, Yonezu speaks of his motivation - the NicoNico VOCALOID landscape - to create the song when asked to compose the theme for. He notes:

"An image formed of NicoNico Douga itself slowly turning into a desert. Once I had that thought, I realized it might be interesting to make a song that depicted the hometown of sorts I once dwelled in becoming a desert. It felt I should depict the current state of NicoNico Douga... or at least, it'd be fine if someone did that. I thought there would be meaning to me doing the song in that case, so I accepted the request."

What an incredible origin story, and a bold one at that. Yonezu writes this song not because he thinks it will be well-received or popular, but because of the meaning he sees in it. Now don't get me wrong. It might be the Hachi-effect, but DUNE is far and beyond the most popular VOCALOID music video of all time. At the time of writing it has over 65 million views on YouTube, blowing away second place by a huge margin. It's an incredible song based on a genuinely important footing. And it's one that is fairly easy to understand, at first glance even - Hatsune sings of the desertification of the VOCALOID landscape, the parting of so many producers, and references back to some of the influential songs and characters that created it in the first place. It's a story as old as time and one that doesn't take a superfan or a historian to understand.

Before I dive too deep into the lyrics, let's talk first about the visuals. This MV is STUNNING. The popular PV could have worked here, but Hachi put together something genuinely beautiful and unique. VOCALOID is pretty much synonymous with bright colors and flashy visuals, and DUNE doesn't fit this mold. The primary color palette used is earthy and muted, with greys and browns forming most of the background. The characters are almost entirely quiet and subdued, hiding their expressions behind masks. But it's such a departure from so many other videos from the genre that it's such an interesting joy to watch, and it's not hard to pick up new things even after dozens of times through the video. Without the song, the titular character, the backstory, or the superstar artist, this MV would be a piece of beautiful work on its own. The scenes under the tree of life are on their own level of dangerous nostalgic beauty.

The song caught me off guard the first time I heard it, but in a way that very few producers can manage. When Giga and KIRA released GETCHA earlier last year, I listened it to it four times on repeat at 2 in the morning my time, and immediately knew that it was a standout 2020 VOCALOID song. When I listened to DUNE for the first time, I wasn't sure if it was a great song - I wasn't even sure if it was a good song. I don't like rap or hip-hop generally, and the line caught me entirely off guard. Hachi's Miku tuning, while reminiscent of earlier successes, struck me as raw and jarring. I absolutely adored the MV, but the song was difficult for me to wrap my head around. But I just haven't been able to stop listening. Every time I return, I find more that I love about this song. Only the very best can pull off VOCALOID hip-hop, but I can confidently say that Hachi makes me a fan. The vocals, rattling at first, are just so incredibly well-done. Hatsune lyrics in my ear with a confidence and conviction that just brings you back. In the most important VOCALOID song (Melt), Ryo's Hatsune sings with an emotion that brings you right into her deepest desires. In this second most important VOCALOID song (DUNE), Hachi's Hatsune channels the emotion into a factual spoken word that shakes you deeply, pushing through your feelings the same way that her hand cuts through the dust cloud in the opening scene. It's...gorgeous.

And the lyrics - oh, the lyrics. I'm pulling from the most popular fan-video on YouTube but feel free to use your interpretation of choice. Hatsune sings of a barren wasteland - and not one that shows any promise either. It's a true desert, nothing can grow, and nothing will within anyone's lifetime. It's a curtained-off-space, not supposed to be accessed by outsiders, harsh and unrelenting. It's not a place to grow a farm or start a family, and the tone isn't a lament. It's simply facts. Only a fool would try to rebuild a desert so far gone. And it's not hard to see the "departing" as "death," perhaps a reference to those producers who have passed on (R.I.P.). It's raw and barren.

But somehow, in this desert, life goes on. No cars or monorails, no roads or thoroughfares, just your own two feet taking you to the next place. How do you not go mad? Keep walking, keep striving for your goals that are better described as broken dreams. Keep composing songs and putting up posters for the fans who are long gone. Man, what a shock for the theme song of a packed Magical Mirai concert! It's so contrary to what you'd expect, especially when looking at other themes like Greenlights Serenade (another song I love) which is about encouragement and pursuing through the difficulty. DUNE is nothing but the facts of a wasteland. And these facts are delivered to you without a single flinch.

And now the most famous part of the song - the references. I won't get into them - the internet has done so exhaustively - but I'd like to focus more on the savior that DUNE Hatsune sings of. Who is this hero? Surely it couldn't be anyone other than herself? After all - she's the leader, right? The only one with any color in most of the MV? The one holding the apple under the tree? The answer is unclear. Surely we can reminisce about the past, the green trees and sparking brooks that filled the pre-apocalyptic landscape, but I don't think Hachi wants us to remain in the past. The rainbow-colored piano and traditional Hatsune are more of an ephemeral reminiscence than a realizable fact.

So how do you respond? Well, if you have dreams to pursue, keep walking. If you want to remain wandering through the pathless desert, Hatsune isn't going to smile at you and tell you it'll be over soon. Boys-don't-cry, right? Hatsune's 10th anniversary - the very event this song was built to commemorate, is a joke. Planting a new tree in the desert will just result in more death, to be surely encapsulated by the encroaching sand. She tells you to set your heart if you're determined, but in the same breath ensures you know the reality of growing where there's no water.

And this is just too much for some people. Sure, they might blend into the group now, but when a decision comes, they choose to go elsewhere. A fork in the road makes little sense when there's no road to be seen, right? Well, Hatsune won't cling to you and try to keep you with the rest. No, it's your life. You can relive your memories in a brief spin of nostalgia, but ultimately, you chose your own direction. Her emotions, and yours, are laid bare. Only the facts of the matter remain. Is there hope? Maybe. Some will argue that when others fall away, others will wave and join for the first time at the top of the next hill. But the desert is as barren as before, and Hachi makes sure you know that in the final scene.

Do I watch DUNE for comfort? No. I've never found it a comforting song. Do I watch it for its beautiful MV, outstanding music, and high dose of reality? Yes. It's such a wonderful song. PLEASE, if you are a VOCALOID fan, watch this MV and listen to this track. It's an experience to behold.