The New Touhou Character Alternate Interpretation Compendium!

If that's the case, it's really easy to imagine Lunasa as some kind of emo poetess.

'My music is PAAAAAAAAAAIN!'

In universe, Merlin is actually the most popular Prismriver. Akyuu notes that she has 'many fans'.

edited 28th Aug '11 3:33:53 PM by asterism

Song of the Sirens

"Yes! Yes it is! Please stop!"

Their PMISS entries have some fun stuff in them. Apparently before each performance they each brag about their instruments. So I'm now imagining them as one of those bands that builds a kind of mythos around themselves.

"This trumpet is a ghost trumpet. A ghost trumpet that's drank the blood of many a jazz musician. AND ONLY I HAVE TAMED IT! Because I have no blood."

And apparently they (and by they I mean whoever hired them) sells tickets to their concerts. Which raises further questions about Gensokyo's economy. Do they get paid? What would they use the money for? Where are youkai getting the money to go to the concerts? Do they have band t-shirts? That would be neat.

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Merlin is far from being the least popular. She has that kind of moe appeal that makes people want to draw her with big breasts and stuff. No, Lyrica is the least popular. She's the only one I noticed getting the "nobody likes you" treatment.

By the way, first page, Byakuren and Prismrivers, all links updated, whee~

That just makes me realize that in spite of how much I like the Sisters, I never really looked deep into their official material. There seems to be a lot of potential there. Hmmmm.

Man, I'd pay for a Prismriver Sisters t-shirt. I'm so serious.

edited 28th Aug '11 3:43:26 PM by Fawriel

Maybe they don't need the money themselves... it's possible that the ticket agent's job is to make sure that the Prismrivers only do the kind of gigs they like, and their pay comes from the proceeds?

The person who arranges the concerts is Band Manager Youkai, the sister of Lawyer Youkai and Realtor Youkai.

'You want us to gig? You'll have to speak to our manager, Band Manager Youkai.'

'That's an oddly specific name.'

edited 28th Aug '11 3:47:13 PM by asterism

Song of the Sirens

There's just a lot of good stuff in their PMISS stuff. I haven't even done more than skimmed BAIJR yet.

Lyrica "thrashes" on stage. So I guess she's dancing? Or having a seizure?

Merlin takes center stage at performances despite Lunasa being the leader. Merlin is also the only one specified to have solo concerts although someone asks Akyuu if Lyrica is planning on holding any.

Both Lunasa and Merlin have a sort of Berserk Button perhaps because Akyuu says

in reference to either bringing up that Merlin isn't the bandleader or that Lunasa is gloomy. Lyrica doesn't seem to have an equivalent thing, or at least Akyuu doesn't mention it.

Despite Merlin seeming to be the most popular, Lunasa and Lyrica have fan club members cited in their eyewitness report section while Merlin doesn't.

Oh, and their mansion is apparently somewhere near the Misty Lake, just like the SDM except not as close to the lake. Misty Lake is just Western domicile central apparently.

HAH! Any relation to the Youkai Tailor?

edited 28th Aug '11 3:52:38 PM by Bocaj

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If I didn't know better I'd swear they were the kind of musicians to have garishly customized instruments, sorta like Bootsy Collins and his star-shaped bass.

Interesting. Merlin has the most solo concerts, but Lunasa has the most solos during group concerts.

I still think Lunasa is a concertmaster. Concertmasters tend to play violin solos, after all.

Lyrica's keyboard has big gold wings and 'LP'*

written on it, also in gold.

Tailor Youkai is their mother. She believes in pigeonholing her kids.

edited 28th Aug '11 3:57:03 PM by asterism

Song of the Sirens

They do tend to be very mysterious. For one thing, they only appear when they're doing a concert. If you try to find them at their Mansion, you'll just hear the sounds of them practicing.

With that, their ludicrous descriptions of their instruments and the strange nature of their sounds, it's like they're the realistic equivalent of the KISS-style mythos

Perhaps the Prismrivers represent the kayfabe that performers used to use ad nauseum in the 80s and 90s. Now that nobody really believes in such theatrics, they continue on in Gensokyo in the Prismrivers.

As long as we're comparing completely different types of instruments on an arbitrary scale of good and bad, woodwinds are totally the best instruments.

you'll then have a grave in the clouds where you won't lie too cramped

Me, I prefer strings.

Song of the Sirens

I do believe that neither woodwinds nor brass instruments include the cello, so both of you are indisputably wrong and asterism is indisputably right.

Castanets, guys.

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I agree with asterism and Faw, but I am biased when it comes to this.

Also, the idea of the Prismrivers as mysterious yet somehow also boastful jazz musicians delights me.

Although, in all likely hood, the Prismrivers are probably some form of pop/classical hybrid group. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

edited 28th Aug '11 4:32:29 PM by Otherarrow

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.

Their version of 'Layla' performed on a viola, a trombone and an accordion is to die for.

Featuring Youmu Konpaku on the spoons.

Seriously though, if the Prismrivers ever play modern music, it's going to have to be 'Layla'. You cannot argue this.

edited 28th Aug '11 4:36:05 PM by asterism

Song of the Sirens

Fridge Brilliance: When fighting Lyrica in Po FV Phantom Ensemble is her theme. People would've expected her to get her own solo theme, until you realize in her story that Merlin and Lunasa were following her all the time.

Thoughts on the Prismrivers: Awesome, Talented, the list goes on

Overview

The Prismriver's backstories is perhaps the most tragic in my opinion, because it can actually happen to one in real life (okay minus the summoning poltergeists part, but that would be awesome). Their theme Phantom Ensemble is perhaps one of my favorite themes. It starts out with simply the piano, then the tension builds when the drums, trumpet, and violin coming in and that feeling never gets old. I would assume since they were the daughters of a count they were all classically trained with their respective instruments.

In a typical Power Trio fashion, Merlin would be The Id, Lyrica is The Superego, and Lunasa would be The Ego.

edited 28th Aug '11 4:55:57 PM by raigakuren

That awkward moment where Kyoro is one of Satan's Generals.

That's Fridge Brilliance actually </nitpick>. But yeah, nice find.

edited 28th Aug '11 4:39:50 PM by Otherarrow

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That's Fridge Brilliance, not Fridge Logic. Although how Lyrica failed to spot them is beyond me. I think Yuuka managed to notice them which ruled out invisibility.

Song of the Sirens

Either they're very good at hiding, or Lyrica is really dense.

You would think that the fact that their shared theme was the BGM would have clued her in but I guess she's been listening to it so long that she's started to tune it out.

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She must've been too busy looking for other types of sounds.

That awkward moment where Kyoro is one of Satan's Generals.

"Oh. I thought that was just my tinnitus."

Y'know Lyrica's collection of sound things almost makes her sound like a tone freak when it comes to music. Sounds like me.

Edit: The Po FV version of Phantom Ensemble seems to be composed a half-step down from the original PCB version.

edited 28th Aug '11 5:03:15 PM by raigakuren

That awkward moment where Kyoro is one of Satan's Generals.

I'm just going to make a short catalogue of good Prismriver remixes.

Kind of a cross between adventure music and circus music
Obligatory 8-bit remix
Obligatory rock remix. Apparently, Merlin's doubling strings and percussion on this one
A nice orchestral by TAMusic
Light and jazzy! And in English!
This one isn't too good, but it's the first link on the Touhou Music page, and it features the guy from the EWI videos

EDIT: Fixed and thank you

edited 28th Aug '11 5:41:28 PM by yarrunmace

you'll then have a grave in the clouds where you won't lie too cramped

You linked the 8-bit one for the rock one.

I recommend this for any strings fans in the audience.

I have no horse, and I must ride. I accomplish unlockments.