JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Song That Inspired Part 3

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Song That Inspired Part 3

Key Takeaways

  • DIO Brando’s character in Stardust Crusaders was heavily inspired by Ronnie James Dio’s song “Holy Diver.”
  • The lyrics of “Holy Diver” influenced DIO’s storyline and powers in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
  • Araki’s deep connection to Western music and cinema shines through in his manga, incorporating music references into characters and plots.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that few experiences have left as lasting an impression as the journey through JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. The intricate storyline, captivating characters, and unique battle system have made it a staple in the anime and manga communities alike.


As a die-hard fan of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to the brilliant mind behind this masterpiece – Hirohiko Araki. His love for Western music and cinema is woven into every fiber of his manga, and it’s clear that he draws inspiration from his favorite tunes.

The song “Holy Diver” is an iconic Rock track from the renowned musician Ronnie James Dio. It revolves around a captivating narrative of a Christ-like figure, the “holy diver”, who makes a selfless sacrifice by dying on another world to save his people. Remarkably, the song’s plot resonates strongly with the storyline of Stardust Crusaders.

Holy Diver and Dio Brando, Art Inspires Art

A Legendary Villain Born from a Legendary Song

“Holy Diver” is a heavy metal song by Ronnie James Dio, often recognized as one of the genre’s founding fathers. As per Dio, this song revolves around a Christ-like figure who voluntarily offers himself on an alien planet to save his people. He is referred to as the “Holy Diver” because he is preparing to dive into another world to repeat this selfless act for them. Interestingly, the album’s artwork portrays a demonic figure holding a chain that captures a priest in the ocean. This artwork and the song’s title served as inspiration for The World, one of Dio’s Stand designs.

In popular culture, The World character is often depicted wearing scuba equipment. Fans speculate this stems from DIO’s century-long underwater existence, which may have instilled in him a water phobia. However, it’s also influenced by the Holy Diver demon. DIO embodies a God complex, as his name translates to ‘God’ in Italian. You might have recognized DIO Brando’s name. Indeed, DIO Brando was named after Ronnie James Dio. This suggests that Araki modeled DIO based on the musician for both his initial and subsequent appearances.

Holy Diver’s Lyrics, The Inspiration Behind Stardust Crusaders

Hide In The Sun Until You See The Light

By examining the song’s lyrics closely, it becomes evident that Araki drew inspiration for DIO’s progression in Stardust Crusaders from certain aspects.

Holy Diver

You’ve been down too long in the midnight sea

Oh, what’s becoming of me?

Ride the tiger

You can see his stripes but you know he’s clean

Oh, don’t you see what I mean?

The second line echoes the tale of DIO, who endured a century imprisoned at the ocean floor within a coffin. The third line might symbolize his metamorphosis into the man he ultimately became – a sage yet cruel individual commanding an extraordinarily potent Stand. “Ride the tiger…” signifies his control over Jonathan Joestar’s body, with the stripes representing Jonathan’s indomitable will and determination; however, DIO understands that Jonathan is pure of heart.

Got shiny diamonds

Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue

Something is coming for you, look out!

Race for the morning

You can hide in the sun ’til you see the light

Oh, we will pray it’s all right

Instead of “The shiny diamonds,” one could say “Noriaki Kakyion’s Hierophant Green and his Emmerald Splash ability.

Holy Diver

You’re the star of the masquerade

No need to look so afraid

Jump, jump; jump on the tiger

You can feel his heart but you know he’s mean

Some light can never be seen, yeah!

In the narrative, I find myself captivated by DIO, who steals the limelight at the finale of Stardust Crusaders – he’s the radiant figure under the mask, the one everyone is drawn to like moths to a flame. Speaking of masks, it seems our storytellers have a penchant for this trope in tales of the undead.

Holy Diver, sole survivor

You’re the one who’s clean

Holy Diver, Holy Diver

Yeah, the cats in the blue coming after you, Holy Diver

Oh, Holy Diver

In this scenario, “Sole Survivor” refers to Jotaro, who was the lone Crusader engaged in combat against DIO. Given his role as the story’s protagonist and his pursuit of justice, he is also the hero of the tale. The returning blue cat symbolizes Jotaro again, as he persistently pursues DIO until ultimately defeating him.

It’s evident that the melody of Holy Diver significantly influenced Hirohiko Araki during the creation of Stardust Crusaders. This segment has become the most renowned chapter in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure ever since its debut in the late 80s, maintaining this status up until today. Furthermore, released in 1983, Holy Diver adds substance to Araki’s claim, making it a crucial element in his writing journey for Stardust Crusaders.

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2024-10-08 22:03