砂上ノ楼閣 (sajou no roukaku)

The song '砂上ノ楼閣 (sajou no roukaku)' by Valkyrie from Ensemble Stars! is a poignant exploration of the transient nature of beauty and memory. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a dollhouse adorned with the threads of time, situated atop the sands of an hourglass, symbolizing the fragility and impermanence of existence. This 'beautiful museum' is a metaphor for a world where time has seemingly stopped, yet the passage of time is inevitable and relentless.

The imagery of a showcase with a rusty, broken lock suggests a sense of neglect and the passage of time unnoticed. The song speaks to the crumbling of time, with memories encapsulated in grains of sand slowly dissolving into twilight. This evokes a sense of nostalgia and the bittersweet realization that the perfection once envisioned is fleeting and ultimately fades away. The melody, once contained within glass, overflows, symbolizing the release of emotions and memories that were once held back.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of longing and the haunting presence of a familiar yet distant song. The 'glass eyes' illuminated by the setting sun reflect a glimmer of hope, yet the song bids farewell to the dream of eternity. The shattering of this dream is not seen as a wound but as a release of all the emotions carried within. The song concludes with the image of a doll without strings, its layered voice resonating quietly in the 'beautiful museum' of illusory sand, emphasizing the delicate and ephemeral nature of life and memory.