Songs of Sakamoto Maaya

Songs of Sakamoto Maaya

Monday, January 26, 2015 / No Comments

Yo-ho! The inner jukebox returns with another serving of heart-warming music for the tired, sluggish and discouraged souls. This time, I would like to recommend some numbers by a lovely, talented lady whose repertoire stretches across voice acting, music, theatre, radio, television and writing. Incidentally, she is the voice behind Fujioka Haruhi of Ouran High School Host Club (one of my favourite anime). She is Sakamoto Maaya.

Has anybody watched the anime adaptation of Happy Cooking Graffiti? The opening theme song bears a pretty long title - Shiawase ni tsuite Watashi ga shitteiru Itsutsu no Houhou (The Five Methods of Obtaining Happiness That I'm Aware Of). This song also happens to be Sakamoto Maaya's latest single release. The concept of happiness varies with each individual, yet when it concerns food I'm certain that it resonates on a universal level. If I'm not mistaken, the anime pays a little tribute to Alice in Wonderland during the opening sequence. The paradise of mouth-watering happiness awaits Ryou and Kirin as they embark on an adventure peppered with motifs of corn, broccoli, green bell pepper, grapes, onion, apple...hmm I don't think that my eyes had missed out much. Anyway, that gigantic spoon goes really well with Kirin (?)!. Naturally, Ryou gets the frying pan. Oh wait, there are different kinds of seafood as well...okay, at this rate this would no longer be about Sakamoto Maaya's music. Pardon the digression.

I realised that over these years of appreciating anime and such, Sakamoto Maaya has played a major part in many of those theme songs which I love. She sang Purachina, the theme song for the third season of Cardcaptor Sakura. It was until recently (today to be precise) that I discovered to my horror (?) that she didn't voice any of the characters in that anime. For so many years, I had lived with the misconception that Sakamoto Maaya was Kinomoto Sakura! However, I was delighted to realise that she voiced Princess Tomoyo in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, apart from singing the ending theme songs. Not quite the same, yet there isn't much of a glaring difference.

As I have never completed the entirety of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, I'm only familiar with Loop, the first season's ending theme song. I used to wish that I could sing it in karaoke (and I never did). The lyrics reiterate the unwavering love between Sakura and Syaoran despite the odds ahead and beyond. Someday, both of them will meet again. There is a lot of warmth exuding in this number. The words also have a poetic, fairytale aura to them.

Even though Sakamoto Maaya's character Fujioka Haruhi was seriously tone-deaf in Ouran High School Host Club, she still managed to lend her voice in Mata Ashita!, the host club's character song. While Haruhi didn't exactly sing anything (hers were all spoken lines peppered during certain parts of the song), her presence was absolutely necessary since it completed the host club. It's a great pity that the anime lasted for just one season. I would so love to see everybody fighting over Haruhi again! By the way, Haruhi is married to one of the Hitachiin twins in reality. I might just write an article about him one of these days.

If anybody would like something to accompany their cardio workouts, I strongly recommend the opening theme song of Happy Cooking Graffiti. It would most likely make anybody take their workouts seriously since there is a constant impression of food lingering around. Did I mention that there is omu rice? In any case, Sakamoto Maaya continues to deliver heart-warming tunes in her career which spans over two decades.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Songs of Hata Motohiro - evergreen -

Songs of Hata Motohiro - evergreen -

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 / No Comments

The jukebox has returned with a little refreshment for the new year. Let the heart keep warm with the vocals of Hata Motohiro, whose music that I've featured in a few of my earlier articles. I was first introduced to the singer by my Japanese teacher. Coincidentally, the name had almost immediately struck a chord for I was somewhat certain that I had heard of him somewhere. Yeah, the ending theme of 'Sakamichi no Apollon' - Altair - was written and performed by Hata Motohiro. Right then, I realised that I also knew a little about his career...somewhat. Anyway, he has been performing for more than a decade, including the years as an independent singer-songwriter. Today, I shall select some of my favourite numbers of Hata Motohiro. Once again, let the heart keep warm.

Naturally, the best album (pun absolutely intended) to start would be the two-disc compilation titled 'evergreen' which was released in the last quarter of 2014 (October 29th). The best album reached #6 on the Oricon weekly chart, and was awarded the Kikaku Shou (some sort of project award I suppose) at the 56th Japan Record Awards. 'evergreen' is filled with new sounds and mixes from studio and live recordings. 21 songs have been included, making this compilation an ideal choice for those who have just gotten acquainted with Hata Motohiro's work.

Please hold the flour, eggs and tomatoes as I reiterate my appreciation for 'Himawari no Yakusoku', which is the main theme for 'Stand By Me Doraemon'. Apparently, the song is Hata Motohiro's longest and biggest hit to date. I just realised that there are different versions of the song. However, that doesn't quite matter since whichever melody that was played through the earpieces back then remains etched in my mind. The benevolent image of Doraemon always looking out for Nobita overlaps the hopes and promises that the song portrays through the eyes of possibly the future Nobita. "I want to stand by you (just like how you have stood by me)..." My heart simply melted. Oh, and I'm fond of sunflowers.

Has anybody watched the anime film 'The Garden of Words' by Shinkai Makoto? I (still) haven't, and it was supposedly a highly recommended and critically acclaimed piece from the same person who made '5 Centimeters Per Second' which I had caught only the first part. Anyway, pardon the digression. The image song for 'The Garden of Words' is 'Kotonoha', which is Hata Motohiro's 15th single. The cover art was done by Shinkai Makoto himself. The song depicts the struggles to stay rooted in one's life under cruel odds and such, and the unlikely yet blossoming connection between two lonesome souls. The pitter-patter of the rain adds a tinge of helplessness to the tune.

The two-disc compilation also includes Hata Motohiro's major debut single 'Synchro' which was released on November 8th 2006. The song marked his nationwide prominence as 43 radio stations around Japan selected it as one of their rotation songs. The simple design of Hata Motohiro strumming his prized guitar on the cover pretty much defines what his music roots are about. The breadth of emotions that is contained within a frame of words is just brilliant. It is no wonder that many of his songs have been used as television and movie themes. I'm glad to have gotten acquainted with Hata Motohiro's music.

Of course, there is also 'Altair' which isn't featured in the best album but easily remains one of my favourite songs. Ah, the good old days of jazz with Kaoru and the gang are still in my mind!

Let the heart keep warm.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Audio Only? - The Case For Drama CDs （´-`）.｡oO( ... )

Audio Only? - The Case For Drama CDs （´-`）.｡oO( ... )

Tuesday, January 6, 2015 / No Comments

Drama CDs.

Put it roughly and it’s an anime without the visuals. What’s so great about that right? We want to see the moe faces! The explosive action! The almost kisses (and the actual kisses)! The tense expressions! That’s right we want to see the character designs! From the lemons to the melons (*cough cough*), to the flick of that perfect bishounen’s hair. Not to mention the animations in the opening and ending songs, not just one liners of title reading in those drama CDs.

Well, I guess you do have a point, considering that if the Japanese language eludes you probably would be thinking if drama CDs are worth your time at all. But hopefully I can change your mind about drama CDs~^^

Here’s the best thing about drama CDs, they often contain scenes that are not in the anime. Yes, granted there are a few that seem like a repetition of the anime condensed into fifteen minute of episodic dialogue, most drama CDs are of the omake (outtakes or short sides) nature. They are (mostly) hilarious and also give insight to either the character’s backstories or just daily banter and interactions that don’t make the final cut for the anime. If the anime originated from a light novel, you can be sure to find the special chapters of the light novel fully voiced as well. Oh, not to mention the large amounts of fan service. Like colossal amounts of fan service… Fancy Kaname or Zero (from Vampire Knight) talking you to sleep? Yep… wish granted. (Not that I listened to them…or anything…>>) 

Rin and Gou~ Fan art from drama CDs

Without the visuals, drama CDs give you the space to visualise the scenes in your heads, from the scenery to what the characters are wearing to the expressions they have on their faces, having not to focus on a picture lets you fully think about the words and what’s going on in the story. Perhaps spawn some fan art or even some fanfictions. (Maybe you’d have to read the translations if you don’t know Japanese but it is still a more minimalistic way to enjoying a story. Creativity and imagination yes?) 

It’s even better if the seiyuus (voice actors) for the drama CD are good. Since you can only listen to the seiyuus to imagine the mood and expression of the characters, it really helps you pick out the better seiyuus from the good ones. The difference might be minimal, and after listening for some time, you’d realise that some voices just stand out above the rest. Or you’d just be distracted by the sexy voices constantly sounding in your ear…ah haha.

Last thing about drama CDs, since they are probably much cheaper than anime to produce, most likely that manga or light novel you’re reading already has a drama CD released, sometimes released together with the weekly/monthly magazine they are published in. Not only that, but independent studios also produce numerous drama CD, so that’s a whole other medium to discover the wonderful world of Japanese media culture. Though whether or not the drama CDs you are interested in are translated is another thing.

Nevertheless, drama CDs shouldn’t be overlooked and deserve a chance to be heard! (The ones that have translations can mostly be found here.)

~^^"

/slinks back to listening to drama CDs

Written by Neko

Hello December: Winter Ballad Selection Ayumi Hamasaki

Hello December: Winter Ballad Selection Ayumi Hamasaki

Monday, December 1, 2014 / No Comments

Hello December! We are nearly three weeks away from Christmas, but unfortunately the weather hasn't been too jolly about that. I haven't paid much attention to the lights and stuff though. The festive crowds had almost deprived me of air the other day as I was struggling to walk along the underpass. Even though over here we aren't blessed with the fun and joy of winter (I would so love to have snowball fights for instance), with a little bit of imagination and creativity it is possible to simulate the ideal winter in anybody's heart. Before I completely run out of juice which isn't going to reflect favourably especially at the beginning of the month, I shall attempt to keep warm by sampling compilation albums all set for the winter. Today's recommendation is a recent digital release from one of my idols: Ayumi Hamasaki.

I've been a long-time supporter of Ayu since her debut with Avex Trax back in 1998. Those lovely, big eyes staring at me from the cover of 'A Song for xx' were a timely prompt as I didn't think twice about picking up a copy. However, despite being so forward with my purchase I've got to admit that it wasn't quite love at first hearing. Ayu's high-pitched vocals required several months on my part to get accustomed to. Thankfully, the appreciation has paid off throughout all these years. I wouldn't want to miss even a hint of an opportunity to listen to her beautiful songs. It's been sixteen years that I'm following Ayu's music career. In Japan where change is on par with its express trains and such, Ayu is still standing firm with strong records.  

The digital-only compilation album by Ayu is titled 'Winter Ballad Selection'. It was released on 26th November through iTunes, recochoku and mu-mo. The compilation album consists of twelve songs. The album cover shows a beautiful, wintry backdrop of what I assume is the Tokyo Tower and its surroundings. Right away, I spotted a few of my favourites from Ayu's early days (A Song for XX, LOVEppears, Duty). The remaining numbers stretch across Ayu's career over the past decade or so. I've decided to narrow in to just a few songs from the list for my write-up.

♪ POWDER SNOW (A Song for XX, 1999)
Taken from Ayu's debut full-length album, POWDER SNOW is an escape to a faraway place where the falling snow would comfort in moments of deep hurt and solitude. The long instrumental makes up for the concise lyrics in which a good half of them is mere repetition of half-choruses. The bridge is where Ayu's signature high pitch plays out in its greenhorn rawness which has since become quite the rare stone. I've got to say that POWDER SNOW ages like a bottle of fine wine.

♪ momentum (Secret, 2006)
I love the aesthetics of this song. Ayu walks down the bitter cold while reminiscing and reiterating what seems like an unwavering love for someone who is no longer around. The melody quickly picks up momentum (pun may be intended) at the first chorus. An interesting element in many of Ayu's songs is the disjointedness which usually contradicts yet at the same time it complements the aesthetics of her music. Is anybody able to interpret 'the last forever'?  

♪ Missing (LOVE, 2012)
'Missing' is the 'newest' track in the compilation album, dating back just a couple of years ago. The lyrics are reflective of one's true nature without barriers, and the harsh reality of ending a relationship. The gradually upbeat escalation comes off as a pleasant surprise as I wasn't expecting an energetic number with those words. The emotions are largely confrontational. This song is easily another of my favourites.

The other songs include: Appears, teddy bear, Over, No way to say, CAROLS, Jewel, Together When..., Days and You Were.... ♪

Even though I'm not blessed with the fun and joy of winter, listening to this compilation album is enough to simulate the ideal winter in my heart.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Winter Ballads

Winter Ballads

Sunday, November 9, 2014 / No Comments

The Christmas spirit continues to haunt (?) my inner jukebox ever since I wrote about feeling a little Christmassy at the start of November which is in fact the time when the streets and malls get busy for the holiday preparations and such. The first stretch of Christmas lights should be ready anytime soon. I can't say that I'm looking forward though. The horrifying hordes seem to be equipped with Christmas radars notifying them of the nearest available Christmas tree or reindeer. I'm not exaggerating - more than half of my previous year's snapshots weren't really about Christmas lights or decorations. That sudden human head or two which had somehow managed to photobomb almost my entire photo album would probably roll off the streets if I were to tag along this year. Anyway, pardon the digression.

This article will continue where the Christmas jukebox left off previously. However, I would like to concentrate on a few winter ballad songs this time. I've mentioned before that I don't usually dig ballads, yet from time to time there would be that odd ballad or some which had caught my ears. One of those songs is 'Winter Love' by BoA which I've introduced previously. The jukebox has found some more winter ballads to usher in an early Christmas. As usual, please kindly refrain from using any of the songs for your cardio workouts. I'm certain that nobody fancies a broken bone for a Christmas present. Moving on.

♪ Issho ni... by MAX (24th November 1999)
Some years back, I bought a two-disc compilation album titled 'Precious Collection 1995 - 2002' featuring many of the group's hit songs in those eight years. One of my favourites from the compilation is 'Issho ni...' which I believe was their first attempt at a mid-tempo ballad song. The group is better known for its powerful dance numbers, therefore this song created a pleasant contrast to the girls' repertoire. 'Issho ni...' was performed during the group's appearance in the 50th NHK Kouhaku Utagassen. Even though the item was a shortened version, the girls still did a splendid job. The song reached #8 on the Oricon charts.

♪ Issho ni itai to hajimete omotta
(I had first thought I wanted us to be together)
Issho ni iretara kogarashi no sora mo...
(If we could be together, even the bitter cold sky...)
Kondo aeru toki wa motto sunao ni naritai
(The next time we meet, I want to be more honest)
"X'mas" soba ni ite omoi kiri dakishimetai
(I want to be by your side on Christmas, holding you tight) ♪

♪ Yuki no Hana by Nakashima Mika (1st October 2003)
'Yuki no Hana' is Nakashima Mika's signature song. It was awarded the Gold Award at the 45th Japan Record Awards alongside Best Lyrics. Mika had performed the song twice during the 54th and 56th NHK Kouhaku Utagassen respectively. 'Yuki no Hana' remains one of the most requested numbers particularly in various polls of popular winter songs. It reached #3 on the Oricon weekly chart. An interesting episode regarding this song is that Mika had actually requested for the music video to be filmed inside a studio with a zero degree room temperature!

♪ Kotoshi saisho no yuki no hana wo
Futari yorisotte
(When we cuddle up together gazing at the first snow of this year)
Nagameteiru kono toki ni
Shiawase ga afuredasu
(During this moment happiness begins to flow all over me)
Amae toka yowasa ja nai
(I'm neither being spoiled nor weak)
Tada kimi wo aishiteru
Kokoro kara sou omotta
(I simply love you, I really think so from the bottom of my heart) ♪

Both songs have resonated strongly with the images of lovers vowing their love for each other under the winter skies. The slight bittersweetness that comes with the harsh yet romantic climate accentuates the determination to protect the other half in the midst of snow and such. I kind of like the idea of watching the snowflakes fall though not in the romantic sense. That would make quite a wicked concept for an anti-dandruff shampoo.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Wedding Songs

Wedding Songs

Tuesday, November 4, 2014 / No Comments

Quite some time ago, I received an invitation from an acquaintance who will be walking down the aisle with her beloved at the end of the month. It was really nice of them to include me in their guest list, because I've not known them for long. Weddings are generally still blissful despite the chaos and such during the extensive preparations. The anticipation of seeing the newlyweds trying to remain calm in front of the congregation and declaring their vows never tires out in my opinion. Of course, a lot of couples choose to hold simple receptions as they are much easier to manage in many aspects. I would think that being hassle-free is more favourable among the younger generation. Some even do away with just a registration of marriage. In any case, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the couple's lives. This article will showcase a few of my favourite wedding songs. Shall we proceed?

♪ Can You Celebrate? by Amuro Namie (19th February 1997)
'Can You Celebrate?' is Namie's best-selling single, topping the charts with over two million copies sold since its release. I first knew of this song from 'Virgin Road', a 1997 television drama starring Wakui Emi and Sorimachi Takashi. Then, I had an opportunity to catch Namie's live rendition of the song in the 49th NHK Kouhaku Utagassen. It was especially memorable as Namie teared up midway during her performance. The original mix of 'Can You Celebrate' features Komuro Tetsuya on his signature piano as well as backup vocals by a gospel choir. A brand new recording featuring violinist Hakase Tarou was released as part of Namie's latest best album 'Ballada' (4th June 2014). I've got to say that Namie sounds a lot better in the new version of the song. The white gown that she wore in the music video is stunning.

♪ Say Yes by Chage & Aska (24th July 1991)
This timeless number spent 13 consecutive weeks at the #1 spot of the Oricon weekly charts. 'Say Yes' became an international sensation thanks to the eternal love story of Tatsurou and Kaoru in the cult drama series '101 kaime no Propose' (The 101st Proposal) starring Takeda Tetsuya and Asano Atsuko. The song conveys the affirmative love between the couple who is about to take their relationship to the next level. The little bridge that goes "Don't hesitate (to) Say Yes...don't hesitate." further reiterates the commitment to the beloved no matter what the circumstances are. It brings me back to the finale where a fully-donned Kaoru ran across the streets to where Tatsurou was taking a break from his manual job, and asked him to take her and his bride despite Tatsurou's condition. Kaoru had finally acknowledged that her love for Tatsurou was just as certain.

♪ Butterfly by Kimura Kaera (1st June 2009)
Unlike the previous two songs which are a lot more solemn in nature, Kimura Kaera's 'Butterfly' is extremely upbeat and fun with cute, dreamy lyrics that are reflective of a newlywed's happiness. Incidentally, Kimura Kaera wrote this song as a present for her dear friend who was getting married and had wanted the former to perform at the wedding. The lyrics also reflect on the friendship between the girls. Kaera had playfully described her friend as a butterfly with white wings bound by a red string. The white wings probably represent the bride's wedding gown. 'Butterfly' was only released as a digital single, and downloads peaked at more than two million.

Now, I wonder what song the couple will use for their wedding at the end of the month. Quite unfortunately, I've yet to attend a wedding where a Japanese song is played. Not that I've got anything against songs of other languages, but it would be nice to listen to a Japanese number for a change.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

My Early Christmas Jukebox

My Early Christmas Jukebox

Sunday, November 2, 2014 / No Comments

Whoa, what happened to October anyways? It just came and went almost effortlessly! Hello November. We are inching closer to the year-end holiday season. That is when the city lights turn fancy and the streets become claustrophobic. November will see many of those festivities under preparation. I suppose that it is perfectly sane (?) to start feeling a little Christmassy. In fact, many Japanese artistes would release Christmas-themed singles ahead to wish their fans and loved ones a very special Christmas. Naturally, the jukebox has wasted no time in picking up several unique Christmassy numbers for the occasion. I'm not sure if anybody ever had their ears plugged to a Christmas tune while running on a treadmill, but I would say please refrain from trying anything like that.

♪ Chicken Rice by Hamada Masatoshi & Makihara Noriyuki (17th November 2004)
I'm sure that a lot of readers are familiar with Hamada Masatoshi, who is one-half of the popular comedy duo Downtown. He and his partner Matsumoto Hitoshi have entertained audiences for many, many years. 'Chicken Rice' originated from Matsumoto's personal experience as a kid growing up in a poor family. Matsumoto would always order chicken rice whenever the entire family dined out, because it was the cheapest item on the menu. He was worried that if he had ordered otherwise, he would no longer be taken along for dinner. The lyrics not only reflected on his childhood struggles, but also the situations he faced as times got better. Matsumoto used Christmas as a backdrop to accentuate the differences between now and then. Hamada then asked singer-songwriter Makihara Noriyuki who was a guest on one of their shows to act as the composer and producer for 'Chicken Rice'. Makihara Noriyuki also provided the backup vocals during the chorus. The song peaked at #2 on the Oricon weekly chart. Incidentally, this year is the 10th anniversary of 'Chicken Rice'!

♪ Winter Love by BoA (1st November 2006)
I don't usually dig ballads, however this song by Korean singer BoA has a piece of my heart. Maybe it is because of the opening melody which reminds me of Christmas instantly, or the white theme that represents snowflakes, fairies and the catalyst for unwavering love. I've always wondered about winter since we don't have that over here, and I believe that it would be a lot of fun stacking snowballs and throwing them at random people. Okay, I mean friends and such. Combine winter with Christmas and romance is in the air...well, not totally. But I would so love to walk in the snow all bundled up like a Christmas tree. In the case of 'Winter Love', it is the wish to keep loving somebody despite changing circumstances. The song is nearly six minutes, yet I've truly enjoyed every bit of it. It peaked at #1 on the fourth day of its release, and went on to become one of BoA's better known songs.

♪ Tooi machi no dokokade... by Nakayama Miho (1st November 1991)
I first came to know of this song through a Taiwanese singer who had covered it in Mandarin some time in 1995. Back then, I didn't know who Nakayama Miho was. It was until I stumbled upon another hit of hers titled 'Sekaijuu no dare yori kitto' that I finally got more acquainted with her work. 'Tooi machi no dokokade' served both as a drama theme song and a Christmas song. Incidentally, Nakayama Miho was the leading lady in the drama series. The lyrics formed a seamless connection with the plot of the drama. The melody is extremely soothing yet the feelings are that of a couple in a long-distance relationship. Overall, it exudes a positive note. 'Tooi machi no dokokade...' peaked at #3 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Yeah, so it is perfectly sane to start feeling a little Christmassy in November. I'm glad that there are a lot of people out there who feel the same! What are some of your favourite Japanese Christmas songs?

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Loop-Worthy Character Songs

Loop-Worthy Character Songs

Sunday, October 19, 2014 / No Comments

This month has been galloping like a wild horse; the third week is nearly finished. I'm not complaining though, for of late there are so much to read, watch and listen to. The jukebox has been playing some really awesome stuff. Speaking of which, I would like to introduce and recommend several character songs for anybody's listening pleasure. No worries about incorporating your daily cardio routine into any of these numbers, however the wandering disclaimer still applies. Shall we proceed?

The pleasant surprises which I would often get from realising that quite a handful of my favourite anime characters could actually hold their tunes beautifully has resulted in frantic googling and tracking down of several amazingly talented voice actors and the various songs that they have performed as those characters. The (mild) obsession with character songs has contributed significantly beyond the average playlist in my music player. I can't imagine the world without character songs. I think that I would make an interesting protagonist of some light novel series or something (in my fat dreams).

♪ MOMO'S BEAT / MIRACLE MAKER by Mikoshiba Momotarou (CV: Suzumura Kenichi)
Mikoshiba Momotarou is more popular than his elder brother Seijuurou, at least in terms of having anything done musically. Momotarou was first introduced to us in the second episode of Free! Eternal Summer, and quickly gained a considerable following among fans. Honestly, I would prefer hanging out with Momotarou over Seijuurou even though both brothers could be equally annoying. There is something rather charming about Momotarou which is severely lacking in Seijuurou. Nope, it is definitely not due to Pyunsuke (as much as I would love to acknowledge that). Incidentally, Seijuurou is the guest vocalist in MOMO'S BEAT (much to Momotarou's irritation of course). I actually prefer the coupling song more - MIRACLE MAKER. There is something ticklish about MIRACLE MAKER which I shall not spoil here for the interest of some readers.

♪ EVERYDAY MAGIC / Miracle Lala Lulu by Sena Izumi (CV: Yonaga Tsubasa)
I wonder how many readers out there are familiar with Yonaga Tsubasa. He has an awesome, unbelievably versatile voice range. If I were a voice actor, I would so quote Yonaga-san as my inspiration. Anyway, he is the voice behind Hazuki Nagisa (Free!), Manami Sangaku (Yowamushi Pedal) and of course, Sena Izumi (Love Stage!!). Sena Izumi comes from a family of entertainers, yet he has no inclination of becoming a celebrity himself. However, as a young child he had a cameo role as a little girl (yeah, girl) in a television commercial. That was how he first met Ichijou Ryouma. After a series of twists and turns, Izumi finally makes his debut across various media. Lala Lulu is an anime character that Izumi is obsessed with, hence it isn't surprising to have his own cover of Lala Lulu's theme song. The versatility of Yonaga-san truly complements the different character songs that he does.

♪ Mou sukoshi, ato sukoshi by Onoda Sakamichi (CV: Yamashita Daiki) and Makishima Yuusuke (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou)
Yowamushi Pedal is the only other sports-themed anime that I follow, and I suppose that my cycling hobby from childhood has indeed triggered quite an interest in the series even though competitive cycling is way out of my league. Anyway, the climbers of Team Sohoku have forged a rather eccentric bond throughout the course, and it is always fun(ny) to watch both of them interact with each other. In this character single, besides their individual numbers there is also a duet which provides a refreshingly light-hearted perspective on their cycling adventures. Just a little bit more towards the goal...I can easily imagine that scenario.

The jukebox continues to play my favourite tunes. Stay tuned for more recommendations!

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Loop-Worthy Anime Songs: Hello October

Loop-Worthy Anime Songs: Hello October

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 / 1 Comment

Let's begin October with some loop-worthy recommendations from the jukebox! It's been quite a while since I last wrote a songlist, so here I am with a few energetic songs which I hope could lift up anybody's spirit in times of fatigue, unhappiness, sluggishness, uncertainty, et cetera. Contrary to what I would usually add as a disclaimer somewhere in my other posts, all the songs that are mentioned in this article will make excellent company to anybody's cardio workout! Yes, all of them. Then again, if for some peculiar reason there is an impending injury, please don't look for me. So, here comes my songlist!

♪ Fukagyaku Replace by MY FIRST STORY (Ending theme of Nobunaga Concerto)
While I'm not too fond of rock songs, oddly enough I find myself considerably drawn to Fukagyaku Replace. I've never watched the anime series in its entirety since I'm not really interested in history and such. The only reason I got acquainted with Nobunaga Concerto is the time-slip element, yet that is just a speck compared to the rest of the story. Anyway, the sequence during the closing credits of the anime is the catalyst for my gradual love towards this song. The transition from modern Japan to Sengoku, and Saburo's image overlapping with that of Oda Nobunaga seem fitting of the accelerated intensity of the song. It makes a grand journey of time.

♪ Rashisa by SUPER BEAVER (Opening theme of Barakamon)
Every thing about Barakamon is a must-watch, must-read, must-listen, must-loop...yeah, you get the drift. Never mind the incomprehensible dialect which most of the characters are conversing in, because the gist of Barakamon is still able to create ripples in anybody's heart. There is a lot of warmth (pun absolutely intended) in the series. The calligraphy theme reminds me of my disastrous attempts at the art many years ago. Unlike Handa-sensei who has (primarily) Naru as a distraction (mostly in a good way), all I had at that time was...hmm, waste paper? Anyway, after the initial sound quake which had nearly blown my ears off, Rashisa has easily become a favourite of mine. I can imagine Naru smiling brightly through the entire song.

♪ Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko by Tamura Yukari (Insert song of Yowamushi Pedal)
I've got to say that this song could sneakily stick inside anybody's mind even if they didn't want anything to do with it. Nonetheless, listening to Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko is still a joy as the positive vibes remind me of Onoda Sakamichi's infectious, ever genki personality which not only motivates himself to push forward during difficult times but others as well, in particular Tadakoro-senpai. Honestly, over time the sugar level will reduce on its own. There is really no need to feel icky towards this song. An interesting fact is that the mangaka of Yowamushi Pedal, Watanabe Wataru wrote the lyrics to Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko.

♪ FUTURE FISH by STYLE FIVE (Special Omake; Ending theme of Free! Eternal Summer Episodes 1 - 12)
Yeah, I know that I've introduced this song before. However, recently I've stumbled upon five different versions of FUTURE FISH - each voice actor has his own solo version! In addition, the line that was originally spoken during the interval in the group act is varied in each version. The special omake is only available to customers who have pre-ordered the Free! Eternal Summer Blu-Ray or DVD from five different stores (each store has a different solo version). Gosh, what a great tactic to drain people's wallets! :P Anyway, my favourite is Nagisa's version!

Those are my loop-worthy recommendations to kick-start the new month! Happy looping! :)

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪