30-Day Song Challenge Day 14: Songs You Liked When You Were Younger

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Thank you all for the birthday praise :D, I haven’t read any of it yet (killer suspense, I know), but I will sometime tonight or tomorrow!! I had such an awesome day with family and even got to order some expensive anime, so I will be expecting some nice mail in due time. And yes, the cake was fantastic, sorry I couldn’t serve you all a piece 😉

But that celebrating aside, we’ve got day 14 of the song challenge. Something I liked when I was younger . . . hmm, ooh, I think I’ve got a few to fit the bill!

Hamtaro Opening (old English dub)

OMG I didn’t realize how cringe-worthy this was until now. Oh lawd, it’s been a looonng time hehe. I’ve got nothing else to say on this one other than I still have tapes of this in my room. “Little hamsters, big adventures” :>

Code Lyoko Opening (English)

I know this is technically a French production, but it’s got all of the vibes of anime, so I went ahead and threw it in because this was my jam way back when! My siblings and I would dress up and “login to Lyoko” where we would basically throw pillows at invisible targets. It was lame as all hell, but you can’t deny childhood! How I miss this show ~

The Sailor Moon Theme Song in English

Some things are actually better in English, and to me, this is one of those great things. This song needs no introduction, it’s freakin’ Sailor Moon! I LOVE THESE LYRICS. My sister still has a ton of random tapes from when we picked those up at the local store in our early childhood. In fact, she’s got them displayed in her little anime shelf of her own #raisedwell

But seriously, if childhood had an anthem for anime fans, it has got to be this. Has anyone seen the new dub by Viz Media yet? I’ve been dying to, but I heard they dropped all of the old English dub names, which is kind of a bummer. I actually thought that those were their real names until I learned what dubbing was lol, like ya do. I still plan to pick up Sailor Moon S, as I believe that is my favorite!

And that’ll do it for day 14! Other suitable songs would have been any of the Pokemon themes, the Beyblade Metal Fusion English opening, and, as much as I love/hate it, the Bakugan opening. If you know what that show is, you’re my new favorite 🙂 I’ll stop using emoticons now, till tomorrow ~

– Takuto, your host

It’s My BIRTHDAY!!

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birthday

It would seem that FUNimation has already tagged me. I don’t know how the picture came out, but I snipped it and threw it in just for kicks :>

But YESS, at about 1 o’clock or so where I live, I will be donning another year of experience points and growth. We’ve baked cakes and I’ve made frosting, so we’re all set! WOHOO I bought myself a Mami Tomoe Nendoroid and it came in the mail on Tuesday, so a bit early but she’s SO AWESOME XD Cake, Mami, Cake, Bebe. TIRO FINALE!!!

Anyway, this is just an update so you know what I’ll be doing today. I plan to have so much fun that I’ll blow up!

– Cheers! From Takuto

30-Day Song Challenge Day 13: A Song You Sing To In The Shower

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(There’s sadly no Railgun today, but it’s a shower. I had to play along with the theme. Sue me.)

I rarely sing in the shower because I know others can hear outside the door. So sadly, that is one benefit I do not indulge in for living with my family. But late at night after hours of homework, sometimes a steamy shower is in order. As the warm water flushes out my icky worries, however, a hum or two might escape. I’ve got a few incredible songs today, and you can bet your money that I’m humming to them as I write this 🙂

From Kill la Kill, “Ambiguous” by GARNiDELiA

First is Kill la Kill‘s superior second opening that has honestly become one of my favorite songs evehhh! It’s got that toe-tappin’ beat, a fresh, positive melody, and an addicting chorus. When I can, I’ll listen to this song from my phone as I drive around town running errands and whatnot. It’s a fantastic way to start a day, and an epic way to end one. If you haven’t watched Kill la Kill because you are turned off by the lack of clothing, I urge you to persevere, for after the all of the rough bloodshed and ripped panties, there’s a breathtaking sunset waiting just for you :> Is the content ambiguous? Yes, for sure. But the results are absolutely worth it.

From Fate/Zero, “Sora Wa Takaku Kaze Wa Utau” by Luna Haruna

Enter one of anime’s greatest ending themes to ever be heard. Fate/Zero was already a breathtaking show, but this song elevates things to perfection. Passionate as ever, Luna Haruna sings her heart out in this tragic love song (I don’t know the words, but it sounds that way and fits the characters represented). The somewhat “magical, Indian-sounding” instrumentals lay the foreign groundwork for these moving lyrics excellently, making it a song unlike any other (let alone for an anime). This song is responsible for my love of Irisviel, Kiritsugu’s trying wife. Fate/Zero‘s love story is out to break hearts, and this song guarantees that a void will be left once the crimson curtains close. So many feels, so fitting for the anime.

From Neon Genesis Evangelion, “Fly Me To The Moon” by Claire, other versions, too

The ultimate shower-singin’ song right here. Enjoy this Jazz favorite from an anime that’s oh so good!

And there are a few awesome tunes that I might hum to in the shower, assuming that nobody is around 😉 I hope you enjoyed the songs that I picked because they both also hold dear places in my heart. I have a special announcement for tomorrow, but until then it’s quite late. See you ~

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 12: A Song That Reminds You Of Your Best Friend

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Best friend. Hmm, I currently don’t have one of those, but rather a small group of individuals whom I talk to more than others. Does that count? Also, I know I’m a day late again, but better late than never . . . right?

From Soul Eater, “Resonance” by T.M.Revolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lO82jkWOmw

If someone mentioned this anime prior to this past spring, than I just hit them over the head and ignored them. I thought Soul Eater was the stupidest looking show ever – until I watched it. My friend, who shall remain nameless for now, was fairly new to anime. He was a childhood friend, so in elementary and middle school we were pretty close buds. But then we grew further apart as we had different interests, classes, etc. So now, finally “reunited” with him, I led our conversation on to anime, and he mentioned that he was saving up his money for, yep, you guessed it, Soul Eater. Ugh, I thought to myself. He’s new to anime and he’s already picking one of the dumbest shows to exist. Why not watch Steins;Gate? That’s the real good stuff!

But I simply nodded, happy that I had something else to spark up conversations with. A couple months pass, I let him do his thing, and I watch Evangelion among others. It wasn’t until I was scoping around the cruel world that is online shopping that I noticed the Halloween-esque show pop up.

It was only $30. So I bought it.

Each day after coming home I would watch an episode or two with my brother, who by the way had the same pre-thoughts as myself. 51 episodes later, it was over, and I was surprisingly sad. I still haven’t told my friend that I watched it, and I’m not sure if he even went out of his way to pick up a copy. But I think about it whenever I hear this song. Did he ever get to purchase the series? Is he even into anime anymore? 

Well, I suppose I could go ask.

Songs like this are powerful. The ability to not only bring back memories of you watching it, but also to remind you of your closest friends are unique and should be treasured forever. Does a song out there remind you of your best friend? I’m sure we all have one, so drop it down below in the comments. Because I was swamped with work yesterday, I have two entries to post tonight, so see you in a little bit ~

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 11: Songs That Remind You Of Summer

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Ahhh, summer, it’s a shame you have passed, as my S word has taken your throne (ongoing joke with MarvelouslyMismatched, hi btw). I think I’ll start sobbing if I continue, so I’ll just get to the songs. We’ve got a lot of them today, so I’ll keep my ramblings short!

“Sailor Star Song” by Kae Hanazawa

I’ve never actually seen all of this particular season, but I came across this song while searching for something Beyblade way back in the day. I think we were looking for songs to listen to while we played, and BAM, summer was complete! I reminisce about my childhood quite often, as I cherish all of the lovely memories, and this just happens to be a snippet from my life. 🙂

From Negima!?’s character soundtrack, “Kenkou Ichiban” sung by characters Fei Ku and Lingshen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOdfFDTe2Yc

More Beyblade background noise, but ooohh gawd, this song brings back all kinds of memories of playing with my sister. We made our own B-Pit, which was the shop in Beyblade Metal Fusion. We took turns playing shopkeeper and sold our own parts to each other :> Oh the silly things of youth! It’s been a while since I’ve heard this one.

From A Certain Scientific Railgun, “LEVEL 5 – judgelight” by fripSide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuM_qryESgE

As part of my “first summer anime expansion,” Railgun was the best anime from the selection. I clearly recall obsessing the hell out of it, even to the point where I took notes about the AIM concepts (I still OBSESS). Since I already used the first opening, I opted for the second, as it’s just as fantastic! It fits the atmosphere Therestina created in the second half perfectly! I spent many a hot, sunny, summer days watching this one on my bed, like ya do ~

From Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club, “Splash Free” by Style Five

C’mon, you can’t have summer without this girl-pleasing water-dripping muscle-flexing show! This sassy song is the ending for the swimming anime, and its desert visuals are such an outstanding contrast! I think that’s all I say for now. Yup. Who’s excited for the English dub??

From Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea, “lull ~Soshite Bokura wa~” by Ray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI4Yw7B6s4E

Nothing screams summer than an anime that takes place 50% in THE WATER! I just got done watching this anime a couple weeks ago, and it left quite the void. Those days I spent relaxing in my room while the sun hammered the city will never be forgotten with this cool song ~

From The Future Diary, “Kuusou Mesorogiwi” by Yousei Teikoku

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbZtrZGxR9o

Weren’t expecting this, were you. You thought it’d be something so cheery and summer-y, right? I watched this anime when I reunited with my California cousins who I rarely get to see. After a bit of catching up, and awkwardness, we both revealed that we love anime, and BAMMM instant buddies again 😀 We watched it through my sister’s Thunderbolt (a phone) and I remember one of the local kids trying to squeeze himself into our frame. He had a dripping dill pickle in his right hand, and I think some of the juices got on our pants. *facepalm* But it’s the memories that count, right?

Whew! That’s a lot of songs for one day. Tune in tomorrow where I’ll try not to upload my entire playlist, hehe. ‘Till then, this has been

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 10: A Song That Annoys You

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Ufufufu, I was wondering when this one was going to pop up ~

Hello all! Seeing as how I constantly complain about this challenge draining my time and energy, it came to me that, “Perhaps if I don’t pick a hundred songs per day, then this would be a lot more convenient.” Well, I suppose I could do that, but then I wouldn’t be saying everything that I want to say. So I won’t, but today I made an exception, as there’s really only one lowly song I can think of that fits this day to a T . . .

From Sword Art Online, “Crossing Field” by LiSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lpe_XA2F6c

GAHHH, NOT THIS SONG AGAIN!! Yep, I’m gonna torture your souls hehe. But why does this song annoy me? Is it the anime it’s from? Is it a bad song? No and no. This song annoys me because while this show was airing, it was literally the only song I found browsing the YouTube anime community. It was in all of the top tens, top OPs of all time, in anime reviews, unboxings, EVERYTHING. If you didn’t know, I actually enjoyed SAO a good deal, and I’m not ashamed to saying that I like it. As for LiSA, this singer is one of the Japanese pop goddesses, so I absolutely love her work and the song! It’s just that this song is overplayed. I’m a dog (or a cat, cause cats are cool) flicking my ears for ticks when this song comes on a playlist. JUST MAKE IT STOP. At least AoT‘s opening sounds like titans crushing through walls and humanity fighting till its last dying breath. Do you want to know what I immediately think of when I hear this song? Really wanna know?

“AAAAASSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” – wise quote by the Black Swordsman himself

I hope you got a good chuckle out of this post because I won’t lie, I kind of did :> See you all tomorrow for day eleven!

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 9: Songs That Make You Want To Dance

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Whoop whoop! All the people in the cafĂ©, get up and DANCE! Naw, just kidding’, I can’t dance even if my life depended on it. But what I can do is pick songs that I would dance to. Sound good? Great, let’s get our groove on ~

“Mr. Taxi” by Len Kagamine, original by Girl’s Generation (SNSD)

First up is the ultra sexy “Mr. Taxi.” Did I ever mention that my favorite Vocaloid was Len Kagamine? To me, his voice sounds the most natural, and is easiest on the ears. I don’t listen to a whole lot of Vocaloid music, but when I do, clear outta my way, cause I’ll be jiggin’ to Len’s sassy voice for days! This song’s hot beat and techno jam are incredibly addicting! Maybe I should start my Vocaloid season again . . .

“Electric Angel” by Rin and Len Kagamine, arranged by Giga-P

Enter my first and favorite Vocaloid song ever! This song is so uplifting that just one listen any day could make me happy out of my mind! Plus, it’s cute 😉 The contrast between the Kagamine twins (Rin’s sharp sweet high voice vs Len’s rich youthful tone) is the best by far. Rin and Len give all of the Vocaloids a run for their money in my opinion, and this song drives that point home. Like “Mr. Taxi,” this song is super addicting, so make sure you listen to this song only if you don’t mind it pounding your brain for a week after LOL

From Yona of the Dawn, “Akatsuki no Hana” by Cyntia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkdUI9F8AYs

I gotta give my girl Yona the spotlight sometime, so what better time than with her second opening? This guitar-slapping J-pop song is one that never gets old for me. Beginning the song is some beaming techno, but after the verse, the chorus explodes with this rebellious shoujo red-headed princess! You ought to check out Yona of the Dawn if you want a shoujo anime with a strong female lead who develops from a frail, spoiled princess to a proud women, and finally, a fierce warrior. My only problem with this recording is that it is a Nightcore arrangement 😩 sorry, I couldn’t find one without some sort of audio change.

From Log Horizon, “The Elder Tale Waltz” by Yasuharu Takanashi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22EjhDOD-o

Haha, gotcha! Did you think we were just gonna jam out to Vocaloid and techno music? There’s got to be some variety, and nothing compares to a good old fantasy waltz. Waltzes, in fact, are probably my favorite type of classic music! So naturally, when this popular game anthem cued in the show, and the Shiroe and Henrietta recognized it as the game’s main theme, I flipped sh*t! It was such a cool gimmick and a wonderful surprise for us fans. This song is also responsible for my loving the character Henrietta. When she started teaching the bumbling strategist how to dance the waltz, using her bard skills to their fullest, I fell in love 🙂

And now I’m all caught up . . . until tomorrow. Darn, this challenge is really keeping me occupied. I’ve been nominated for a few awards in my absence from my normal blogging (THANK YOU SO MUCH), so when this is over, I’ll have to thank everyone properly. But until tomorrow, this has been

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 8: Songs That Make/Made You Cry

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I know, shame on me for being a day late. But I’m not skipping any days in this challenge, so I’ll just post two today. Now to pick today’s songs . . .

Dammit, I’ve already used “Ichiban no Takaramono” from Angel Beats! *bites thumb*

Like I mentioned about sad songs, no song by itself has really made me “cry,” but in the context of a given anime, things are a little different. With that said, I’ll once again choose songs that, when played with their respective scenes from the show, make/made me cry. Grab your tissues, and here we go đŸ˜„

From No.6, “Kaze no Requiem” snug by either Nezumi or Safu

Spoilers for No.6 below. CAUTION

I know for a fact that No.6 is not a very “good” show from a reviewer’s standpoint. But because I think of myself as more of an anime fan than a critical reviewer, I’ll give this little show all the lovin’ I want! One of two male leads, Nezumi, sings this tune throughout the entirety of the series. Notably, however, it can be heard in the last episode when his boy Shion is shot. Mourning over the loss of his love, Nezumi croaks this song as the city around him is being torn to pieces. The scene ripped my heart out; everything from his choking gasps to the dry tears in his soulless eyes just hits me right in the gut. His normally rich, low voice becomes flaky and parched as he strains himself to protect what was once an upbeat, energetic youth, now a lifeless body. This song is both melancholy and uplifting at the same time, which to me is a rare quality to find in songs.

And here is the second version, which is the continuation and remix of Safu singing after Nezumi stops. Her voice is utterly enchanting, but I think the reason I like it almost more than Nezumi’s is the opera chorus that rings in the background. It helps recreate that heavenly feeling when Nezumi came in contact with Elyurias.

Also from No.6, “Rokutosei no Yoru” by Aimer

I don’t think I really need to explain myself, cause just listen to it, I mean, it’s not necessarily a happy song >.< I’ll spare you my banter, enjoy the song. This slow, depressing rock is great to listen to on long rides 🙂

From Shinsekai Yori, “Going Home” by Dvorak, 2nd Movement from the New World Symphony

I don’t even know what happened to me, but when that last episode cued and this song played in the last few minutes, I completely lost it. I don’t think I cried, but man, I was a complete emotional mess after that! Very seldom does classical music mash so well with anime, and From the New World incorporated the piece brilliantly.

From Puella Magi Madoka Magica, “Decretum” by Yuki Kajiura

Okay, let me just clarify that all of the Madoka songs brought many feels. But I think “Decretum” brought the tears home when I first watched this catastrophe. Though she’s not my favorite, Sayaka Miki was definitely the most depressing to watch. That fake yet triumphant smile, the way she flittered around with Madoka, her near selflessness to save another’s soul – isn’t that what being a magical girl is all about? She lived a tragic life, and the Law of Cycles claimed her being in the end.

From Code Geass R2, “Continued Story” by Hitomi Kuroishi

The greatest moment of Code Grass: The moment when you finally understand how Lelouch will put an end to the Britannian Empire . . .

Just listen to it. I won’t have to explain my feelings this way. Why does this guy have to toy with my emotions? God dammit, ALL HAIL LELOUCH, YOU RIGHTOUS BASTARD IN BLACK

So before I start thinking too much about all of these depressing moments, I’m going to go write the next challenge post. AGH, I gotta stop picking so many songs per day >.< See you in a little bit!

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 7: Songs That Hold A Lot Of Meaning To You

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Konbanwa! I’ll try to keep today’s post as short as possible so you have time to listen rather than read my rambling >.<

Like I’ve mentioned before, most of the songs I decide to listen to hold some sort of meaning. There are those songs whose meaning shines above the others’, however, so today, I’ve managed to single out a few that I would like to share with you all. Enjoy ~

Tales of Symphonia Japanese Game Opening: “Starry Heavens” by day after tomorrow

Yeah, I know it’s from a game, but this came second in terms of my anime discovery, first being that Negima!? OVA. I did a little research and found out it was a fantasy game, but it had an animation – and someone posted it on YouTube, too, so that’s like hittin’ two Desians with one swing, right? I watched up until the first episode of the United World Arc, after which I waited like a middle school boy expecting a love letter for those last two OVA episodes to be released about a year later. This song is not only catchy, but also holds memory as my first technical “anime song.” Kinda cool if ya ask me!

A Certain Scientific Railgun Opening: “only my railgun” by fripSide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUC-8SeLeYI

So, I’M OBSESSED WITH RAILGUN AND THE FRANCHISE I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING ITTTTT!!! It was also one of the first anime I had ever seen, and by golly has it remained high in my ratings. I think I love this show so much because it does a fantastic job at balancing the scary epic scientific side with nice character development, but the show never forgets to have some fun 😀 *sets quarter on thumb and flicks* “Only my RAILGUN can shoot it. imasugu . . . !”

Yep, I’m just that awesome.

Steins;Gate Opening: “Hacking to the Gate” by Kanako Itou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lkH-uMZVY4

Did I sound like I was belittling this song yesterday? Aww, Robotics;Notes, honey, go back and play with your wittle robot toys, because SHIT GETS TRULY SCIENTIFIC IN THIS SONG. Where would we be without this time-travelling masterpiece? I wouldn’t have my future with anime, that’s for sure. Looking back, Steins;Gate is probably the show that pushed me down the anime path. Without it, I would have run into Railgun at all! Being the first 10/10 I have ever given, it was the most incredible ride I’ve ever had with an anime, that’s for sure. Heck yes, I’ve been impressed with an assortment of fantastic shows, but very few hold a candle to Steins;Gate‘s wit, charm, and superior writing. How I wish I could experience the feels all over again . . .

So there we have it! Three songs that resonate from the beginnings of my anime journey, and of course they hold a ton of meaning to me. I’m actually curious: Do your first shows tend to have songs with the most meaning, or is that just me? Comment below; I’m interested, as another song that holds much meaning is my first anime’s opening, “1000% Sparking” from Negima!?, but I thought I’d avoid writing about the first, ya know? This get sad this next day, so until tomorrow, this has been

– Takuto, your host