Browsing "Older Posts"
Browsing Category
"Music"
If anybody hadn't been smothered already, rest assured that there are plenty of opportunities (at least from my side) to immerse in the deep waters of musical sin without the danger of drowning unless you have this quirky habit of plugging in your earphones while frolicking in the bathtub. Today, I shall continue with more K-ON! goodness. I hope nobody's eyes are bleeding right now. The first part touched on the nostalgic cassette as a prominence in the colourful music of Houkago Tea Time. Much of the girls' repertoire had been given the cassette treatment. Now, I would like to take a step back and revisit the various opening and ending theme songs throughout the seasons. Shall we proceed?
The First Season:
♪ Cagayake! GIRLS
The first chapter of the K-ON! manual begins with this number. I actually prefer the version with Azusa which has slight variations at the second half where the girls have their brief solos in turn while calling out the next person's name. The 5nin version first appeared as part of a two-disc album titled 'K-ON! Official Band Yarouyo!!'. Cagayake! GIRLS exudes plenty of girlish yet pleasantly rebellious streaks. It also feels like as if the girls would really touch the skies (not because they contemplated hemming their skirts). Anyway, the last couple of stanzas somehow reminds me of a shampoo commercial. Go figure.
♪ Don't say "lazy"
I was initially drawn to the rather odd stylisation of the word 'lazy' in the title. The closing credits feature the individual profiles of the girls donned in cute, gothic fashion. Well, at least I think that the clothes look gothic from certain angles. The main vocals were provided by Mio, or to be more specific her voice actress Hikasa Youko. Oh, a 5nin version with Azusa also exists though my ears can't quite figure out the variation in that one. Supposedly, Azusa is in charge of the rhythm guitar for their songs.
The Second Season:
♪ GO! GO! MANIAC
Ah...the beautiful, mesmerising 360-degree turn around the music room as the song plays in the opening credits is still easily my most favourite moment in K-ON!! (there is an extra exclamation to indicate the second season). Even though many of their songs are bursting with adrenaline rushes, I've got to say that GO! GO! MANIAC is several notches above its counterparts. The ending lyrics in English will bring quite a smile in anybody. "No No music, no smile. No No friends, no life."
♪ Listen!!
I'm beginning to think that Mio, despite her blunt unwillingness and such to be the lead vocalist, truly enjoys singing (probably even more so than Yui). The opening melody somehow reminds me of a coin jukebox just beside the counter of a bar or something, waiting to play its first record of the evening to the first patron who feeds it with coins. That moment of solitude surprisingly fits into the emotions of the song. "No matter how quiet it is, it's our single song in the world." "We'll shout, we'll shout even if we're on an away stage."
♪ Utauyo! MIRACLE
This is a playful yet sincere song which conveys the girls' love for the people who love them unconditionally. In the opening credits, the girls do a lot of fun(ny) stuff, like worshipping a strawberry cake and smothering their teacher and friends. The girls also showcase their individual profiles in a video camera style. I still prefer GO! GO! MANIAC over this though, in terms of adrenaline rushes.
♪ NO, Thank You!
According to K-ON! trivia, part of the song title was derived from the first letter of each girl's surname in romaji. Thank - Tainaka, Hirasawa, Akiyama, Nakano, Kotobuki. How cute and creative! The song feels a little angsty (?) and rebellious though, not that I dislike it or anything. In fact, I would say that it is rather refreshing to see the girls in a more moody light.
Well, I'm not sure how many readers are aware of news regarding a rumoured third season that has been floating around since...forever (?). While there was a full-length movie released after the second season, the story acted as a sandwich in between events before all but Azusa graduated from high school. It would be really awesome if a third season could be greenlit. I mean, there is a whole lot of other stuff that can be adapted. What do you guys think?
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there is at least somebody out there who (still) appreciates K-ON! and certainly wouldn't mind reading yet another article or two about it. I'm rather amazed by the extent of my obsession...erm, appreciation which seems to have nutured an underground life of its own over time. Anyway, I would like to focus on the musical aspect of K-ON! and hopefully compile to the best of my abilities a mini-series on the many different songs that are some of the reasons for my unwavering tower (?) of love. If anybody thinks they would like to puke up their breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner, late-night snack or anything other than what usually goes into their stomachs, please take a moment. Okay, shall we proceed?
The girls of Houkago (After School) Tea Time had been inseparable, although Azusa was a year younger and eventually became one-fifth of Wakaba Girls and president of the Light Music Club after her beloved seniors graduated. Their times together had produced some of the cutest songs possible. I mean, who could resist a bite of 'Curry Nochi Rice'? Oh, what about 'Gohan wa Okazu'? While I don't think that it would be remotely possible to salivate at song titles, unfortunately I think that I'm craving for some curry rice right now. Anyway, the cute element aside, I discovered that there had been cassette versions of the songs which the girls wrote and used for their various performances. Yeah, the cassette tape. In fact, it acted as the indicator for an interval throughout the anime series. The girls had also recorded their own practice sessions and such using the long forgotten method. Oh, did I mention that an actual cassette tape existed as part of a special edition bundle for one of the albums? I thought that it looked really cool and wicked!
With that said, however, the cassette versions (otherwise known as Cassette Mix) of the songs were not actually recorded on a cassette deck but mixed to project the image that they were playing from a cassette recording. The vocals and instruments were also recorded live in the cassette versions, thus providing some refreshing variations to the listening pleasure. Ritsu's "1 2 1 2 3 4!" cue at the beginning was one fine example. 12 songs had been given the cassette treatment, and together with an introduction track they were released in the two-disc album 'Houkago Tea Time II' under 'Cassette Mix'. I would like to focus on five of the songs that were used as inserts in the anime.
♪ Fuwa Fuwa Time (Fluffy Time)
The first set of lyrics which Mio wrote and was too embarrassed to show or sing the words out. Ritsu and Sawako-sensei also had the shivers after going through the lyrics. Naturally, the sugary and cute image of the lyrics didn't quite fit in Mio's mostly cool and composed personality. However, the song was still given the nod because Yui and Tsumugi didn't have a problem with it. The general premise of Fuwa Fuwa Time was about a girl's major crush on a boy yet she had severe difficulties in expressing her love towards him. She would very much love to rid her shyness and talk to him someday.
♪ Curry Nochi Rice (Curry, Then Rice)
This delicious song pays tribute to one of my favourite Japanese food - Curry Rice! Gosh, did I mention my craving for curry rice earlier? Oh yeah, I did. Hmm...the unique flavours that can only belong to Japanese curry, and savouring them is an experience which can't be replicated by any other dish. While the song doesn't quite convey just how delicious the curry is, it differentiates one type of curry from the others in a cute, playful fashion. If you ask me, the mild is nothing. The medium is mild, and the hot is medium. Anybody else feels the same?
.jpg)
♪ Gohan wa Okazu (Rice as a Side Dish)
Yet another delicious song on the menu...I mean, song list! Written by Yui, Gohan wa Okazu really cracks me up with the use of words that are uncommon in songs. Carbohydrates, fermented cabbage, soy beans, raw egg, octopus balls, bread, ramen...for a while, I thought that this was a commercial song for a restaurant or something.
♪ U&I
This song is a creative pun on Ui, Yui's younger sister and Azusa's friend. Yui wrote it as a loving gift to her. Despite being younger, Ui often acts as the more mature sister and takes care of the household and Yui in any way (un)imaginable. The song conveys the appreciation towards Ui and Yui's regret for not being a more responsible sister when she is supposedly older. Well, Ui seems to enjoy taking care of Yui anyway. Her friends tease her about having a sister complex.
♪ Pure Pure Heart
The girls played this song as the finale of the tea party for the members of Mio's Fan Club. It yet again conveyed a girl's crush on a boy, except that the girl didn't seem to mind if she never had the opportunity to properly confess her feelings for him. "But when these feelings passed through the atmosphere, you had disappeared from the other side of the street. Oh well, I don't mind."
Houkago Tea Time truly rocks! ♪ K-ON! fans, do stay tuned for the next part in the series.
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
Okay, I completely understand that July has already passed us by, but it just so happens that the stuff which I'm writing about has something to do with July. If I could change it to August, believe me I definitely would. I mean, August is a rather nice month, with all the red and white flags swaying around everywhere. Besides, it is nearly four months away from Christmas. My favourite dessert for Christmas is log cake. Oops, I shouldn't be blabbering any further. As I was mentioning, the theme of July spreads across the gist of today's article. Welcome to my somewhat special edition of Loop-Worthy Anime Songs - All That July! Yeah, the various theme songs that are about to follow come from the anime shows that premiered last month. Naturally (?), some are suitable for cardio workouts while the rest should be played peacefully.
♪ Future Fish - Style Five (Free! Eternal Summer, premiered 02 July 2014)
This reminds me of the post that I did on singing voice actors. In fact, it ties in beautifully with the fact that the voice actors of Nagisa (Yonaga Tsubasa) and Rei (Hirakawa Daisuke) make up two-fifths of Style Five, which also consists of the voice actors of Haruka (Shimazaki Nobunaga), Makoto (Suzuki Tatsuhisa) and Rin (Miyano Mamoru). Prior to 'Future Fish', Style Five had also performed two ending theme songs for the first season of Free! - 'Splash Free' for the first 11 episodes and 'Ever Blue' for the finale. These guys can really whip up quite the storm. I've already lost count of the number of times that I've looped both songs. Now, with 'Future Fish' I don't think that it is necessary to count anymore. The closing sequence for Free! Eternal Summer is just too awesome. Full of colours. Full of creativity. We see Haruka as a merman, Rin as a policeman, Makoto as a firefighter, Nagisa as an astronaut and Rei as a scientist. Haruka also doubles as a chef along the way. There is much fun and joy watching their new identities interact with one another. The ending scene simply screams kawaii.
♪ Moon Pride - Momoiro Clover Z (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, premiered 05 July 2014)
Okay, I've got to admit that I didn't think much about this song at the beginning. My mind was pretty much still tuned to the first-generation opening theme song otherwise known as Moonlight Densetsu. Yeah, I suppose Moonlight Densetsu had already done much damage (?) to my ears and brains. But I told myself to give the brand new stuff another shot, and I did. Momoiro Clover Z has done a wonderful job with Moon Pride. The song is bursting with every inch of confidence, accelerating forward to the imageries of the moon and stars. The silhouettes of all five sailors join in, as if to assure the uncertain soul that every thing is going to be all right. It is an extremely catchy and energetic song. Perhaps somebody would like to loop this for their cardio workouts? However, I won't be held responsible for any injury caused by some out-of-the-blue funky dance move.
♪ Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai - Oishi Masayoshi (Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, premiered 06 July 2014)
I feel really sorry for the tanuki that has inevitably become some sort of a sacrifice for the opening sequence of this amazing song. The chorus has to be my most favourite part of the song! It really helps to build the cheery, fun and sometimes morbid atmosphere of the anime. The bits where the various characters are introduced are also a pleasure to watch. The backgrounds and other details more or less reveal their associations with the characters. I find that the final shot makes a lovely representation of the characters. If anybody is confused, just google for the TV size of the song.
Well, come to think of it...the above-mentioned songs should be safe (?) enough to accompany anybody's cardio workouts. I don't think that they are likely to cause any health hazard or something. However, I won't be held responsible if anything weird were to arise from listening to those songs.
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
I don't think that it's any surprising when I write about anime songs and just how much I love my personalised jukebox. In those early days, trying to build up a decent compilation was difficult since there weren't as many resources and technology didn't allow much to happen anyway. My collection of anime songs had been pretty stagnated with merely a handful of classics and nothing else to possibly stimulate the mind and soul.
Thankfully, over these few years or so there have been newer additions to the list for wider variety and selection. Well, I suppose in the worst-case scenario I might still be contented with the same old stuff since the songs that I love are usually loop-worthy. Most of the newer songs were discovered randomly, especially of late when I would simply browse around for any anime that I could possibly kill time and boredom with. Those discoveries have also altered some of my old perceptions of life, through varying degrees and certainly not in a bad sense.
Oh, I might just add that my proficiency in Japanese language is still not quite up there yet, so most of the time I rely on the melodies and a little translation of the lyrics to help myself get into the mood. Of course, the singer's voice is just as important although for certain types of anime songs it doesn't really matter. Anyway, there are far too many awesome songs around and if I were to attempt compiling I suppose I would have to work past afterlife or something. For now, I would like to recommend a couple of anime songs that I feel could heal anybody's heart in times of need. These songs were stumbled upon randomly, and fortunately I fell in love with them immediately. While I consider them loop-worthy, I won't recommend them for cardio workouts. I suppose meditation is fine though.
Has anybody watched 'Isshuukan Friends' (One Week Friends)? I consider 'Isshuukan Friends' to be a rather important anime that addresses some of the most delicate parts of humanity and in the process heals the burdened soul. In my opinion, watching the first few episodes is already enough to open that thinking valve and expose any slightest hint of vulnerability. I wonder about my friends. I wonder if my friends wonder about me. I wish that we could re-live some of our happiest moments. I wish that I had been a much better friend. Some people might feel that it's overly distracting and uncalled for to be so immersed in such thoughts. Yet the experience is actually pretty therapeutic. Then, the ending theme song greets me with a closure (pun absolutely intended). Titled 'Kanade', it was covered by the voice actress of Fujimiya Kaori - Amamiya Sora.
Yes, you saw that right. The original performers of the song are a jazz fusion duo known as Sukima Switch. At first, the song seemed somewhat bittersweet but after repeated loops I realised that it's actually filled with hope and faith. I believe that those feelings are also evident in Kaori and Yuki as they look at each other across the album cover. There is something about the album cover that touches me rather deeply. I can't quite explain what it is though. My most favourite part of the song has to be this line:
Saigo ni nani ka kimi ni tsutaetakute
Sayonara ni kawaru kotoba wo boku wa sagashiteta
(I wanted to tell you something)
(I searched for the words to replace 'goodbye')
Seemingly simple words, yet they trigger off a person's deepest feelings. 'Kanade' has already made its way into my collection. Oh, the CD single also comes with a bonus track - the voice actor of Hase Yuki - Yamaya Yoshitaka has his own rendition of 'Kanade' as well. This little surprise has added a pleasant twist to the series. I suppose it's only natural for Yuki to sing his side of the story. Even though it's the same song, his feelings are different. Both renditions complement each other beautifully. I alternate between them during long bus rides and such.
Hopefully, I would be able to introduce more songs that are therapeutic for the soul. Do you have any favourites?
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
I wish voice actors could achieve nearly the same level of impact as their singing counterparts (idols, bands, groups, solo vocalists blah blah blah) whenever they produce character songs or perform theme songs for various anime series. While many voice actors do give back to their fans through live events, radio shows, concerts and such, in my opinion the effect that comes out of those wonderfully presented performances still somewhat pales considerably. Could it be that the industry merely sees voice actors as sole providers for character voices and not competent singers? Frankly, a lot of voice actors are just as brilliant when it comes to musical talent. This article will attempt to dig out a portion of those voice actors who have continuously added so much fun and joy in our lives with their songs.
Recently, I've been listening to quite many songs that are performed by voice actors. Before that, it was just a small handful. I suppose there are things that will sneakily grow on people over time. It also helps tremendously that I've been watching anime rather regularly. When love escalates, there is no way to stop. Unless you fancy the idea of sleeping on a hospital bed with bandages all over your body. Ouch. Anyway, let's move on to the first voice actor in my list for today.
Question: Is there anybody out there who doesn't watch Free! and its sequel Eternal Summer? It's perfectly fine if you don't, because it's never too late to get acquainted with awesomeness. My most favourite character has to be Hazuki Nagisa. Some people might find Nagisa quite overwhelming (and irritating), but I certainly wouldn't mind hanging out with him and becoming his friend. Nagisa is extremely loyal to his friends and unafraid to move forward with gut feelings and such. Given his short and cute stature, I suppose it really helps to engage an extremely boyish and timeless voice for Nagisa. That voice belongs to Yonaga Tsubasa. Oh, and his voice for Nagisa is totally infectious. It also complements Rei's voice perfectly. Incidentally, both characters are classmates and supposedly (?) close friends, thanks to Nagisa's general persistence towards Rei. By the way, Rei's voice is provided by Hirakawa Daisuke who also has a good singing voice.
'Character Song Duet Series 002' features two duets and a mini drama by Nagisa and Rei's voice actors. The first track titled 'Summer High Tension' is already bursting with high energy and mutual chemistry between both characters. The song opens with Nagisa calling out "Rei-chan! Kocchi, kocchi!" (Rei-chan! Over here!) and inviting Rei to play in the water. There is some light-hearted banter between them before Nagisa sings the first line. Besides the theme of summer, the lyrics depict the indulgence in the water and the excitement of swimming with best friends. Nagisa and Rei are truly appreciative of each other. It's definitely an ideal song to loop during bus rides and such.
The second track makes a nice contrast to the first. 'Natsu no Owari no Yuumagure' (Evening Twilight of Summer's End) reminisces the beginning of Nagisa and Rei's friendship and their fond memories on their way home after swimming. There is also a brief banter between them towards the end. Really cute!
Now that Eternal Summer has officially premiered, I can't wait to find out what character songs are in line for this season! Anybody here is just as excited? Hopefully there will be duets again between Nagisa and Rei. Their voices really complement each other beautifully.
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
Nostalgia greets me like an old friend. The waves continue to rise as my retrolicious theme takes on a slightly different route this time. You might want to fasten your seatbelts or something, because the ride ahead will be filled with nothing but adrenaline rushes. Some of the songs might be suitable for cardio workouts. Please use them with caution. Now, shall we proceed?
1. Choushinsei Flashman (Choushinsei Flashman, 1986 - 1987)
I remember this Sentai series quite fondly, as it was one of the very few superhero shows from my childhood. Like the rest of my earliest memories of watching Japanese, Choushinsei Flashman was horribly dubbed and made the superheroes look like a bunch of half-baked rookies on the wrong side of Earth. But the opening theme song had left a fine impression; the melody was typical of many 80s songs: the synthesizer. If memory served me well, the synthesizer sounds had been a major influence and were frequently tapped on in a lot of hits (and misses). The sounds had undoubtedly added a lot of points, especially when Choushinsei Flashman was itself an array of colours and fancy innovations. As the show was targeted at a younger audience, the themes were considerably milder and more vibrant. I like the opening credits where each Sentai member was introduced. It would probably look somewhat out of place (cheesy) today though.
2. Hikari Sentai Maskman (Hikari Sentai Maskman, 1987 - 1988)
I suppose the opening theme songs for a lot of Sentai series were similarly titled for easy memory. This one was just as awesome in terms of sounds; the show had a rather interesting concept: it had fused martial arts together with inner energy also known as Aura Power. As compared to Choushinsei Flashman, I felt that Hikari Sentai Maskman had presented itself as darker and more dramatic. I didn't realise until much later that it had also dealt with cross-dressing; one of the prominent antagonists was portrayed as a man until an incident revealed that the character had been indeed a woman and was brought up to live life otherwise by the original empire. While the series didn't quite end on a happy note, it wasn't exactly tragic either. The opening credits had a somewhat exhibitionistic streak at the beginning; it featured a topless muscular man who proceeded to flex his assets and such before the title card came about. I still can't quite get its meaning.
3. Ultraman Ace (Ultraman Ace, 1972 - 1973)
If anyone had been wondering, nope I didn't watch Ultraman Ace in the 70s. In other words, I'm not that old. I had managed to catch it off the Malaysian channel when there was still access to it in those growing up years. Naturally, the show was dubbed in Malay which I neither speak nor understand. However, watching Ultraman Ace battle against those terrifying kaiju was more than sufficient to leave a long-lasting impression. Perhaps I would dedicate a separate entry on Ultraman Ace and his fights in time to come. Anyway, the opening theme song sounded like a battle cry; it was sung by Honey Knights and the Misuzu Children's Choral Group. The opening credits also featured the silhouettes of various kaiju at the background. The song felt catchy and triumphant.
Listening to the various theme songs from the superheroes naturally feels a lot more different than those from anime and such. I suppose the songs enable the listeners to visualise beyond the usual fluff and stuff. For example, the Ultraman Ace theme song might make some people feel as if they themselves had been on the battle line. Well, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that there might be people who would feel like Ultraman Ace. Me? I would rather loop my favourite songs.
Please feel free to click on the links strewn around the article; the titles will lead to the YouTube clips where you can have a retrolicious taste of what's popular in the good old days.
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
The bout of nostalgia continues with more anime songs; this post complements my other post on something similar. Do check it out as well! I've got such fond memories of watching the good old anime of the 80s and 90s. Their theme songs are often catchy and upbeat, rendering them easy to sing along to. I have many favourites, so it's gonna be a daunting task attempting to come up with a selection. Note that the songs are in no particular order of preference. I highly recommend that you pick a song that you think you might like and loop it for the entire bus or train journey. Some songs might not be ideal for cardio workouts.
1. Sonomama no kimi de ite (Patlabor: The TV Series, 1989 - 1990)
My earliest impression of Patlabor is of course the red-headed protagonist, Izumi Noa. In the badly dubbed version aired in those days, Noa sounded like she was constantly on crack. Whether that served as an ideal representation of a high-powered, competent madwoman on the loose or not didn't seem to matter. The opening theme song for the first 34 episodes runs like an entire police force on a long-distance escort. Imagine the patrol vehicle riding along the expressways on a breezy morning to this mid-tempo tune.
2. Midnight Blue (Patlabor: The TV Series, 1989 - 1990)
I love how this song was used against the backdrop of Noa running towards and eventually reaching her patlabor affectionately named Alphonse. Midway through the song, Noa realised that her co-workers had joined her on the elevator. Hmm...how on earth were they able to do that? Pardon me, but the elevator had been moving all along. Anyway, for an ending theme song, Midnight Blue is a lot more upbeat than Sonomama no kimi de ite (the opening theme song). I wish it was longer though (the song is approximately 2 minutes and 59 seconds; 3 minutes and 1 second if you include the two-second delay).
3. Kimi iro omoi (Akazukin Chacha, 1994 - 1995)
Before I (finally) knew that the opening theme song was performed by SMAP (yes, the one and only), I had watched the anime sparingly with no particular like or dislike towards it. I also didn't realise until way later that SMAP's very own Katori Shingo (yes, the one and only) voiced the character of Riiya. That's probably the greatest (?) thing about watching anime as a young kid; I had no idea about a lot of stuff until many years later.
4. Moonlight Densetsu (Sailor Moon, 1992 - 1997)
Does anyone here have a fetish for sailor uniforms? I don't. But with a lot of anime featuring some of the skimpiest clothing imaginable to mankind, it's extremely difficult to keep the eyes elsewhere most of the time. Moonlight Densetsu has enjoyed tremendous success over many years. The melody is very catchy, and has a somewhat distant feel to it. It's also a very short song (pun absolutely intended).
5. Orange Mystery (Kimagure Orange Road, 1987 - 1988)
Sounds of the 80s have many identifiable traits, usually evident among unrivalled idols and such. Apart from catchy tunes and infectious lyrics, the visual presentation would also pave a long way for the next generation of idols. Yet it wasn't just the idols who had the best light of day. Many singers who didn't quite have the success of their peers would have had at some point a smashing song or two which rather ironically would actually see them through the rest of their lives. Not much has been written about the singer behind Orange Mystery, despite it being one of the opening themes of Kimagure Orange Road. According to the Japanese Wikipedia, the singer (Nagashima Hideyuki) was active in the music scene in the 80s. What happened after that remains a mystery (pun intended).
I find myself looping more and more of such music recently. I suppose these songs are destined to last for eternity. What are some of your favourites?
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
I'm not sure if an act like this would label me as an oddball, but whenever there's a song that I just can't get out of my head, I put it on repeat and...repeat (?). I mean, I don't even shuffle other tracks in! Just one song throughout my journey. Just one song for that hour's worth of travelling. May I publicly apologise to the remaining 1,000+ songs in the media library that I've neglected? I'm so sorry...well, not really. Some songs just aren't supposed to be played once. You've got to loop them until steam emits from the earphones / headphones / speakers. Then you buy a new set and repeat.
♪ Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa (Maison Ikkoku, 1986)
This song may be nearing 30 years old, but it ages like a bottle of fine wine. The title means Hello Sadness, which feels really depressing but in fact it's an uplifting song. Sung beautifully by Saitou Yuki, there's a recurring line in the song that I like very much. "Fui ni kanashimi wa yatte kuru kedo... nakayoku natte miseru wa... datte yakusoku yo...". The struggle to break free from lingering sadness can be extremely frustrating at times, yet this song attempts to help find closure through the idea that perhaps we could treat our negative emotions as friends whenever they just come.
♪ sign (Ano natsu de matteru, 2012)
I feel as though I'm travelling to some distant space each time I listen to this song. I suppose on a subconscious level, it does help knowing that the female lead of the anime is an alien. Or maybe it's all that tweaking of sound effects. Or both. Or (insert your own reason here). The melody is extremely catchy and has a 'fuwa fuwa' feel to it. I wonder where in people's hearts does the song resonate until? The spaceship in my heart continues to escalate with every sign.
♪ Go! Go! Maniac (K-ON!!, 2010)
I've mentioned before in my write-up on K-ON! that I love the 360-degree turn around the music room as the first line of the song plays in the anime. It's such a high-powered song that I used to be in awe of the seamlessness that flows throughout its entirety without the need for oxygen and acupuncture. Then, I had a chance to watch a YouTube clip of the voice actresses performing the song, complete with live instruments and such. Come to think of that, the amazement is still there.
♪ Misoji Misaki (Lucky Star, 2007)
There's something ticklish (?) about listening to this song that I can't quite explain. The image of a supposed idol going cute and sugary at first, turning abusive and violent the next, and finally switching to enka mode albeit very lopsidedly, is just unfathomable yet its absurdity is so hilarious that it stays rooted inside the head. I mean, unless the talent agency is operating on a shoestring budget, why would its poor idol have a concert inside a karaoke room?
♪ Cordless Telephone (Nourin, 2014)
The Japanese title of the song is actually a partial wordplay on Telephone: 'tere' (shy) + PHONE (stylised in caps). I prefer the studio version because I find the background chanting of Ringo's fans in the 'concert' version gradually annoying (no offence though to those who like the latter). Initially I thought that this song might be a tad too sugary for my taste, but it turned out to be a pot of good quality yuzu tea (I know that's random but truth is, I had some yesterday) that had to sit over time to allow the best flavours to permeate.
What are some of your loop-worthy anime songs? :)
Eccentrically Yours.
Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪
