The song originally belongs to the 1995 Japanese anime film "Anne no Nikki" ("Anne's Diary") which follows the diary of Anne Frank. Its soundtrack was written by the British composer Michael Nyman (*1944) and contains two vocal pieces with lyrics by Roger Pulvers (*1944), one of which is "If", sung by Hilary Sumers. "If" was no entirely new song. In fact, Nyman included his earlier piece "Time Lapse" he wrote for the film "A Zed & Two Noughts" (1985), which results in an interesting combination.
There's one full version of "Anne no Nikki" available on Youtube, in Russian language and, sadly, lacking subtitles, but still, here we have the opportunity to hear the original music in correlation with the scenes it's assigned to.
A first instrumental allusion to the song occurs at 36:20. The full song can be heard at 1:08:57. It accompanies a sequence of short flashes on the families' everyday life in their two year hiding place, and it is very touching how these scenes form a subtle contrast to the cruel reality lying under the allegedly harmless surface. Here, the word "If" gets palpably meaningful.
A shortened English film version can be found on Youtube. Strangely, Nyman's soundtrack was replaced with compositions by Carine Gutlerner. I have no explanation for that.
If by Libera
Well ...
I'd have loved to add a link to Libera's video, but as we are still waiting for its release, let's add it (or ed-it
) later.Now to the lyrics. They are absolutely in the foreground in this song, key to the emotion it causes. The music complements them to an immensely poignant unity.
If at the sound of a wish
The summer sun would shine
And if just a smile would do
To brush all the clouds from the sky
If at the blink of an eye
The autumn leaves would whirl
And if you could sigh a deep sigh
To scatter them over the earth
I'd blink my eyes
And wave my arms
I'd wish a wish
To stop all harm
If at the wave of a hand
The winter snows would start
And if you could just light a candle
To change people's feelings and hearts
I'd whisper love
In every land
To every child
Woman and man
That's what I'd do
If my wishes come true
That's what I'd do
If my wishes come true
The summer sun would shine
And if just a smile would do
To brush all the clouds from the sky
If at the blink of an eye
The autumn leaves would whirl
And if you could sigh a deep sigh
To scatter them over the earth
I'd blink my eyes
And wave my arms
I'd wish a wish
To stop all harm
If at the wave of a hand
The winter snows would start
And if you could just light a candle
To change people's feelings and hearts
I'd whisper love
In every land
To every child
Woman and man
That's what I'd do
If my wishes come true
That's what I'd do
If my wishes come true
Pulvers newly created them and there's no original quotation from Anne's diary. The words are not explicitly related to her specific situation so that they are universally applicable over space and time. However, there are parts which can be associated with the real diary. The song uses a number of metaphors from nature and reveals Anne's humanistic attitude towards life throughout. Both strongly come to light in her diary: her love for nature and for mankind.
Here are a few of her thoughts which Pulvers may arguably have drawn on. It goes without saying that he may not have referred to a concrete part at all.
"I see the eight of us in the rear building as if we were a piece of blue sky, surrounded by black, black rain clouds. The round spot we are standing on is still safe, but the clouds are getting closer and closer and the ring that separates us from the approaching danger is getting narrower." (08.11.1943)
"I have a happy nature, I love people, I am not suspicious and I want everyone to be happy with me." (25.03.1944)
"We still love life, we have not yet forgotten the voice of nature, we still hope, hope for everything." (26.05.1944)
"It's a wonder that I haven't given up all expectations, because they seem absurd and unfeasible. Nevertheless, I hold on to them, despite everything, because I still believe in the inner good in people.
It is simply impossible for me to base everything on death, misery and confusion. I see how the world is slowly turning more and more into a desert, I hear the rolling thunder louder and louder, which will also kill us, I feel the suffering of millions of people. And yet, when I look at the sky, I think that everything will turn out fine again, that this hardship will also cease, that quiet and peace will come back into the world order. In the meantime I have to hold up my ideas, in the times that come they can maybe still carried out!" (15.07.1944)
"I have a happy nature, I love people, I am not suspicious and I want everyone to be happy with me." (25.03.1944)
"We still love life, we have not yet forgotten the voice of nature, we still hope, hope for everything." (26.05.1944)
"It's a wonder that I haven't given up all expectations, because they seem absurd and unfeasible. Nevertheless, I hold on to them, despite everything, because I still believe in the inner good in people.
It is simply impossible for me to base everything on death, misery and confusion. I see how the world is slowly turning more and more into a desert, I hear the rolling thunder louder and louder, which will also kill us, I feel the suffering of millions of people. And yet, when I look at the sky, I think that everything will turn out fine again, that this hardship will also cease, that quiet and peace will come back into the world order. In the meantime I have to hold up my ideas, in the times that come they can maybe still carried out!" (15.07.1944)
[Edited for lyrics correction 10.07.2021]
I really enjoyed your posting.
It comes with an interesting background and I feel quite connected to it in various regards,
