A Cardio-friendly Songlist

A Cardio-friendly Songlist

Saturday, May 14, 2016 / No Comments

If anybody has barely begun their cardio routine in an effort to perhaps make life a little more productive, may I suggest a little songlist to complement the somewhat highly unmotivating task. Yeah, the jukebox is up and running a little steadier, after a turbulent situation which I still have no complete idea what it was triggered by. However, let me remind all that this songlist hasn't been widely tested by runners and people who think that they are running but are in fact wobbling along the tracks on a particularly uneventful day. They are anime songs, catered to different stages of your cardio session.

For dashers, I recommend the opening theme song from the anime Bakuon!, titled Feel x Alive, by Sasaki Sayaka. While keeping up with a blaring motorcycle is technically not quite possible (if it is please ignore this little statement), the rhythm entices speed enthusiasts to charge forward under the freaking hot sun (while trying not to collapse under the freaking hot sun). I would so loop this while riding a bicycle (sorry I don't have a biker's licence) in the middle of the park. Well, the first thing that I would have to do is to actually invest in a decent bicycle. My last bicycle died ages ago, and since then I would only cycle very rarely at East Coast Park. In the first place, getting to East Coast Park is already a chore. Anyway, it is an awesome track!

Another great song to run alongside comes from the duo petit milady, Seishun wa Tabemono desu. It is the opening theme song of Pan de Peace!, which is all about bread, bread and more bread. No worries though, as this song doesn't quite lead you to the nearby bakery. If it does however, simply think of it as replenishing nourishment or getting next morning's breakfast for yourself and the rest of the family. Or you could pretend to run and secretly make a detour where a bakery beckons. Bread is largely delicious, and should be warmly embraced. Okay, this isn't really about bread, is it?  

A third suggestion to add to your cardio playlist is COOLEST by CustomiZ. It is the opening theme song of Sakamoto desu ga?, and a fun tune to tap your feet to. The image of Sakamoto has long become necessary to quietly acknowledge as a part of anybody's mind. I just find the coordination oddly hilarious, yet the repetition of such isn't too bad. Sakamoto certainly knows that he is the centre of attention, and we also know that it is just too hard to ignore that centre of attention. But there is still a line somewhere which anybody could step behind if they knew just how to find it. By the way, I'm still tickled by his antics in the first episode.

Well, working out to music isn't so bad. Just remember to be cautious though. The last thing anybody wants is to fall into a drain while keeping up with the sprinting momentum.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪   

Winter Playlist '1516

Winter Playlist '1516

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 / No Comments

The month of March is coming to an end and so is the winter season anime with an exception of a few leftovers joining the season of spring.  There were a number of anime that I really enjoy watching this season like KonoSuba and Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (though some might say otherwise), even if it’s different than the manga. 

Once again, I select the top ten songs that I enjoy throughout the season, which I have to admit was hard to narrow down to the final 10. A few were confirmed right off the bat but the others took a while and a lie down in order to pass the screening process. So, here it is, my top ten songs this winter…

Going in alphabetical order, first is from Ajin with its opening, “Yoru wa Nemureru kai?” by flumpool. This song I really enjoy very much. It is one of the few that I immediately know was one of my top ten the moment I heard it from the first part of its movie. The emotions being put in the song and the alarms blaring in the background makes me so pumped up. I can only imagine how it would be like in a concert. And the chorus really fits the anime well. Run away, run away uso mitai da…

Next is, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi with its ending song, “Sore wa Chiisana Hikari no Youna” by Sayuri. The song starts off slow, captivating you with its vocals and swaying rhythm and when the chorus hits, it picks up pace and gets louder. 

When accompanied with its colourful visuals, it helps to enhance the mood of struggle in the song. I kept replaying it the first time I heard it and it quickly rose to the top. Oh, and what do you guys think of the ending? It felt kind of rushed though. Similar to the Charlotte in a sense.

The next two songs are the opening and ending theme for Bubuki Buranki,  

“Beat you Heart” by Konomi Suzuki and “ANGER/ANGER” by MYTH & ROID. I really look forward to them more than the actual episode itself (I do enjoy the episodes though). The opening with its catchy and upbeat rhythm, the chorus that can get stuck in your head. It makes you feel restless, like you just want to move around to the song. 

The ending is definitely one of my favourite this season, especially with the ending visuals. I don’t know why but it just makes me like Banryu Reoko more every time I listen to it. 

Her craziness is just addicting...

She just exudes style and dominance. And I like the vocals as well, ever since they were introduced in Overlord’s ending.

Durarara!!X2 Ketsu follows after with its ending, “Joker ni Yoroshiku” by PENGUIN RESEARCH. I simply adore the instrumental for this song. I can’t help but tap my fingers with the vocals especially during the chorus. This song is just awesome.

Following that is Dimension W’s opening, “Genesis” by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION. 

This song is very fun to listen to, more especially with its visuals. The music is just so addicting to move to. Tapping your fingers or moving your body just seems like the natural thing to do, just like what I usually do away from the public eye when I’m outside. I really wanted to put its ending in the top ten but I had to choose others that stand out to me more.

Next is from the Fairy Tail ZERO arc, “Ashita wo Orase” by Kavka Shishido. 

The song came out of nowhere for me as I was interested in the Mavis’s backstory so I started watching Fairy Tail back (Though I’ve caught up with the manga). This song, accompanied with its visuals was quite emotional. The music also reminds me of past western music with its beat and rhythm so it kind of stuck out for me as I really like western music back then. So it was a reminder of how I was like in primary and halfway to secondary school before engrossing myself in just Japanese music and a few other languages as well.

Hai to Sensou no Grimgal follows after with its opening, “Knew day” by (K)NoW_NAME. 

I really like the vocals for this song. It reminds me a bit of nano with its boyish tone (I think the singer’s a woman. Not quite sure). This song serves as a breather of sorts to the other songs. It’s not slow or fast but just right with a rhythm that’s easy to get into. The instrumental for it is actually really good. I really love the violins in the song playing in collaboration with the electric guitar and drums. It puts me in a calming mood despite it being slightly upbeat.

After that is Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru with its ending, “Kuusou Triangle” by ChouCho. I absolutely love her voice. Ever since I heard it from Mashiro-Iro Symphony’s opening, I fell in love with her voice. It’s just so sweet and mesmerizing. I actually place Haruchika on hold as I couldn’t really get into it at that time but I couldn’t help myself from playing this song on repeat. It’s just so calming with its light tone. Sidetracking a bit, the opening that she sang for Glasslip was the only good thing about the anime. Well, other than the quality of the animations that is…

And finally, from Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! Or KonoSuba!, the ending that immediately had me swaying my head with its rhythm, “Chiisana Boukensha” by Aqua, Megumin and Darkness. 

This slow song is very calming to listen to. It tells about an adventurer not really doing well having being injured and being treated like a fool. The song is very hopeful in a way as the adventurers have dreams of exploring the world but it’s brought back to reality, as they have to bring in the laundry. It took me quite a while to actually understand the song a bit as I could grasp some words from the vocals like “today again I’ve been treated like a fool” which was sung by Megumin, words like “fune”, “umi” and “nanatsu no umi” tells me about sailing the seven seas on a ship and finally the last verse of the song sung by Aqua tells about bringing in the laundry. The song is really nice to listen to and fun to decipher what it meant. It really is true to its title of A little Adventurer. And there’s also a second season for it so something to look forward to.

So that was my top ten songs of the season. And now, onto the recommendations…

Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm ED “a-gain” by Ray

Osomatsu-san OP 2 “Zenryoku Batankyuu!” by AOP

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi OP “Re:Re:” by Asian Kung-Fu Generation

Dagashi Kashi OP “Checkmate!?” by MICHI

Dimension W ED “Contrast” by Fo’xTails

Fairy Tail ZERO ED “Landscape” by SOLIDEMO

GATE: Jietai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2 OP “ GATE II: Sekai wo Koete” by Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets

Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai ED "Yume no Tsubomi” by THREE

Hai to Gensou no Grimgal ED “Harvest” by (K)NoW_NAME and ver.2 by Shihoru (Haruka Terui)

Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru OP “ Niji wo Ametara” by fhána

Kidou Senshi: Gundam Tekketsu no Orphans OP 2 “Survivor” by BLUE ENCOUNT

Koukaku no Pandora OP “hopeness” by ZAQ

Koukaku no Pandora ED “LoSe±CoNtRoL” by Nene Nanakorobi & Clarion

Luck & Logic OP “STORY” by Kensho Ono

Musaigen no Phantom OP “Naked Drive” by SCREEN mode

Norn9 Norn + Nornette OP “Kazakiri” by Nagi Yanagi

Ooya-san wa Shishunki! OP “Ooyasan wa Shishunki!” by every♥ing!

Prince of Stride: Alternative OP “Strider’s High” by OxT

Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage OP “Fast End” by Soraru and Mafumafu

Saijaku no Bahamut ED “Lime Tree” by nano.RIPE

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen OP 2 “Ame Kakeru Hoshi” by Suara

And something extra, the opening theme of NekoPara Vol. 2, “Doki Doki kokoro Flavor” by Yui Sakakibara, whom I assume voices Azuki. 

Can’t get enough of them nekos…

It was incredibly hard to pick out my top ten songs of the winter, so you could say most of my recommendations above are top ten worthy to me. Silence once again dawns on me as I have reached the end of my Winter 2015/2016 playlist. Most of the anime are ending in the following week so Spring is right around the corner. Let it begin once again…

Mata ne~

Written by Zwei

Autumn Playlist '15

Autumn Playlist '15

Thursday, December 31, 2015 / No Comments

This post took quite a while. Even though it began mid-November, the Christmas one arrives first. Ehem…

The Fall season has ended and Winter has just begun. But before I’ll greet the Winter lineup, it’s time to end off and say my final farewell to Fall with my playlist of its season. With that, here’s my Autumn Playlist 2015.

First up is…

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk with its ending theme, “Waiting for the rain” by Maaya Sakamoto. 

This song is really nice to listen to, especially when the clouds are grey. Yes, it really stands by its name. I can’t tell you guys how many times I have listen to this song. It’s a somewhat slow song that calms my heart and at times blows away all the stress that has been accumulating from my final year project. I actually mistake the actual singer to be fully English spoken so it surprise me when I found out who it was. This song is a wonderful song for a train or bus ride back home.

Next is Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? with its ending theme, ときめきポポロン♪ by Chimame-tai. 

This song or more specifically this ending animation and song turn my blood to sugar. It’s just so kawaii~ Bobbing my head along with its rhythm probably made me diabetic. Hnggh~ God damn it! Why? Why are you killing me with this overabundance of cuteness? Why are you just so adorable!? Not a pedophile… Just being human

Following that is Hackadoll The Animation with its opening theme, “Touch Tap Baby” by Hacka Doll. 

This song rose up to one of top ten quite fast. It’s so catchy and the beat is very easy to get into. It’s one of those songs where my fingers and hands just like go along with the rhythm. Some people will find it weird to see some guy in the train or bus tapping his fingers on the handrail or moving his hands around but hey… the song is really enjoyable.

Up next is Hidan no Aria AA with its opening theme, “Bull’s Eye” by the one and only nano. I believe I have said this in my AFA 15 post. This song is overwhelmingly enjoyable and since I am a big fan of nano, it makes it even more enjoyable. Mouthing the lyrics out in public is something I do often and I am sure a lot of us do as well. Even right now as I type this down I am singing along with nano as the song plays in the background. My fingers are going crazy with the rhythm and my body is swaying to the beat. Ah… It ended…

Noragami Aragoto is next with its brilliant opening theme, “狂乱Hey Kids!! by THE ORAL CIGARETTES. 

As mention in my review of the Autumn anime lineup, here it is in my top ten. The chorus is extremely catchy and you just can’t help to sing the first verse of the chorus. It has a very fun rhythm and good vocals. Tapping your fingers or clapping just seems like a natural thing to do. I swear, I respect the hero~

Next is One Punch Man with it’s opening theme, “THE HERO !! ～怒れる拳に火をつけろ～” by JAM Project. 

I enjoyed this song more than I should have. Or should I have enjoyed it more? The famous JAM Project who sang various opening theme for the Cardfight Vanguard series, which I really like those songs by the way. To hear their voices again really makes me happy and especially with this anime. Yes, it makes it even more epic. This song just screams power (well to me that is…), which really suits the anime. The screaming at the end really enhances the mood of the anime. I too wanna be a hero…

Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen brings with it the ending theme, “オラリオン” by the popular Nagi Yanagi. The different parts of the song flows well creating different moods to experience when it slows down and then speeds up in the chorus. I kept swaying my head and tapping my fingers to the rhythm. There’s also this swell of emotion that I experience whenever I listen to this song. Makes me feel very solemn with a tinge of solitude. And sadness as well… Also fuzziness as well. And that ending for the anime though… What’s going to happen next?

Next is Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai with its really catchy ending, “Calling my Twilight” by Kanako Itou. 

Her voice greatly reminds me of the band Zwei, which I both really like. Maybe because they sang the themes for the Robotic;Notes. Possible. Anyway, this song has a very easy rhythm that you can get into very fast and her voice really enhances that experience. You will soon find your body swaying to it just like I did mine. It’s really hard to type when your body is swaying around. Just to add, I really like Topology.

The last two songs comes from the same anime. I present to you the opening and ending theme of Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid, “Overdrive’ by Hitomi Warada and “ウルトラスーパーハイパーミラクルロマンチック” by Mirie Shikishima and Mamori Tokonome. First, the opening theme. It is just amazing. You can’t help screaming OVERDRIVE along with the singer. The emotion put into singing it… You can really feel it in the song. The fast beat and changes in the rhythm when it gets to the chorus helps in the song experience. The guitar solo is also fun to play air guitar along. The ending theme is just plain fun. Come on… I know I am not the only one who enjoys it… A fast pace, nice rhythm and a catchy tune. I just want to have fun when listening to it. Hey, I got my family into it. Not the anime, but the song. Super Ultra Hyper Miracle Romantic~

That was my top ten for my Autumn Playlist. And now the recommendations…

Digimon -tri- - Butter-Fly -tri.version by Koji Wada

Comet Lucifer OP - コメットルシファー ～The Seed and the Sower～ by fhána

Comet Lucifer ED - おしえてブルースカイ by Ayaka Ohashi

Gundam Tekketsu no Orphans OP - Raise your flag by MAN WITH A MISSION

Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru OP - Dear answer by TRUE

Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan OP - アイデンティティ by Mikio Sakai

Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan ED - 波羅蜜恋華 by ALI PROJECT

Lance N’ Masques OP - Light for Knight by Suzuko Mimori

Young Black Jack OP - I am Just Feeling Alive by UMI☆KUUN

Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou OP - カタラレズトモ Tomo by ZAQ

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk OP - Brand-new World by Shiena Nishizawa

Utawarerumono: Ituswari no Kamen OP - 不安定な神様 by Suara

K: Return of Kings OP - アシンメトリー by Yui Horie

K: Return of Kings ED - 解 by CustomiZ

Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider OP - talking by KANA-BOON

Anitore! EX ED - Vital☆Exercise by Asami Hoshi, Eri Higuchi, Shizuno Saotome, Shion Tachibana, Yuu Hiraoka

Aquarion no Logos OP2 - 夜明けのロゴス by May’n

There is a bit more than usual for the recommendations as it was quite hard to just find ten that I enjoyed more as some were quite close in comparison. And now as I am greeted in silence as my top ten playlist playing in the background has ended, I will finally bid farewell to Autumn 2015 and welcome Winter 2015/2016.

Goodbye the year of 2015 and Hello to the brand new year of 2016.

Akemashite Omedetou Minna!

Mata ne~

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad…

Written by Zwei

Summer Playlist '15

Summer Playlist '15

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / No Comments

Summer is almost over, the same with some of our holidays. How I envy those who still have them… 

I want to have holidays as well!

Kuyashii! My sister has a two-month semester break and she’s lazing around at home. She looks so deplorable. 

...

Much like Umaru. Just not a chibi or as annoyingly cute. Anyways, here is my playlist for this year’s summer season and some weren’t really expected to be up there. Begin the playlist.

First is Charlotte, with its ending song “Yake Ochinai Tsubasa” by Aoi Tada. There seem to be two ending songs for it. So as to not be confused, it’s the first ending that appeared. To me the song helps to soothe my battered soul. A peaceful song that is best played during journeys in the bus, taxi or just relaxing by the beach on a windy day. Maybe even sitting at the bus stop on a rainy day. Oh, and have you seen the latest episode? Come on, it was kind of expected to happen. But I secretly hope that the power doesn’t exist. Why can’t it just stay sad?

Up next is Gangsta. with it’s opening, “Renegade” by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION 

Just love the opening...

This opening song is amazing. I can’t help but have the urge to move my body to the song. The song feels “active”. Especially the chorus. It’s like I’m at a night club (not that I have been to one before) and the DJ plays this song. I just want to jump to it. The next one is its ending song, “Yoru no Kuni” by Annabel, which has the opposite tone to the opening. It gives off more of a lax attitude and a hint of gloominess to it. It is very easy to listen to with its slightly slow pace. Another song meant for a rainy day.

Folllowing after is from Himouto Umaru-chan’s opening, “Kakushin-teki★Metamarufoze!” by Aimi Tanaka. 

PARTY!

I guess you could say this song is more on the fun aspect that I’ve chosen it for. The 8-bit theme to its music really brings back fun and stressful time I spent on playing Pokemon on the GameBoy Color and also various games on the SEGA MEGA DRIVE. Now I don’t know where the console is anymore. Miss playing Sonic on it.

Next is Non Non Biyori Repeat, with its opening, “Kodama Kotodama’’ by nano.RIPE. 

Get ready to Wotagei...

I just love her voice so much. The song is so lively. Mixing the acoustic instruments together  really brings out the atmosphere of the song. In the rural area, expose to the various seasons that passes by. I’ve been listening to a lot of nano.RIPE’s songs recently due to me finishing Hanasaku Iroha a few weeks ago. Ahh… Just brilliant

Overlord is next with its opening theme, “Clattanoia” by O×T. 

KOTAE WA DOKO E~ SAGASHITE~ WHERE'S MY SOUL~

This song got stuck in my head the very first time it was played. It became something for me to look forward to whenever I watch the next episode. It’s just very engaging and fun to listen to. I just want to shout along with them at the chorus. A song to rock out to this season. Yay!

After that is Rokka no Yuusha with its first opening, “Cry for Truth” by MICHI. When I first heard this song, I just know that it will the top for my list this season. To me, it just fell atmospheric I guess. It makes me feel fuzzy inside and I enjoyed the adventure it brought me thoroughly. This series is something that stands out for me this season. With the release of its latest episode that ended with a cliffhanger, it feels so frustrating and yet at the same time so riveting.

Following that is the opening for Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX, “Exterminate” by Nana Mizuki. This song is really entertaining. It’s loud and energetic. Boisterous is the word. This song is also one of my favourite following closely behind “Cry for Truth”. It could also be considered atmospheric. It’s kind of hard to describe how I categorize these songs. I just feel it. I JUST FEEL IT! Though I won’t listen to it too much. I get bad headaches later on.

Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai is next with its ending, “Inner Urge”. 

Pero! Pero! Pero!

This song is a guilty pleasure. (Bad pun not intended) I just can’t help myself but enjoy it more than I should. Maybe because it reminds me of Punchline’s opening, “PUNCH LINE!”. I can’t really explain much about why I like it. Like I said, it’s a guilty pleasure.

And finally, another guilty pleasure. From the leftovers of Spring, Shokugeki no Soma’s second ending, “Sacchan no Sexy Curry” by Seiko Oomori. I can’t really describe why I like it. I just do. Ugh… It pains me to not know why I like it so much. I just can’t resist to hear it again and again and again. It’s exactly like Nao Sadatsuka’s laksa dish. It’s so pungent but it taste so good. (That could be taken in a whole other way) Sometimes I do question my interest and taste.

And now, onto the recommendations. Another ten for you guys

Akagami no Shirayukihime OP - Yasashii Kibou by Saori Hayami

Charlotte OP - Bravely You by Lia

Gate OP - GATE: Sore wa Akatsuki no you ni by Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets

Kuusen Madoushi Kouhousei no Kyoukan OP - D.O.B. by Iori Nomizu
Miss Monochrome OP - Black or White? by Miss Monochrome

Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou OP - Saikousoku Fall in Love by Sora Amamiya, Ari Ozawa, Natsuki AIkawa, Mayuka Nomura, Sakura Nakamura

Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou ED - Hey! Smith!! by Yuu Kobayashi, Rei Mochizuki, Momo Asakura, Yurika Kubo, Saori Oonishi

Overlord ED - L.L.L. by MYTH&ROID

TO LOVE-Ru Darkness 2nd  OP - secret arms by Ray

Wakaba Girl OP - Hajimete Girls! by Ray

There it is. My top ten songs this season. Are there any songs from this season’s batch that I should try out? Till the next season arrives I’ll just keep replaying all of them in a loop.

Oh, have you guys seen the first episode of One Punch Man? I watched it through a certain site. It felt a bit rush though. But it was still epic. Well, until he punch them that is...

Mate ne~

Written by Zwei