song

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 café, 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 😥

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

30-Day Song Challenge Day 6: Songs You Can Always Relate To

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Evening, all! Today’s a special day for this challenge, as both of the songs selected are from the same anime – must tell a lot about me, right? The theme for today is “relation,” which is kinda difficult to write about considering that, one way or another, I’ll find a way for me to relate to a song. It’s just how I am 🙂 But I’ve managed to wheedle out some of the competition, so here we go!

Robotics;Notes – “Main Theme” by Yuuki Hayashi

Heroism and courage, MAX OUT! GUNVARREL ANKH STRIKER!! Known for its valiant and bold melody, this song marched right through my all-time favorite main themes and barreled its way to the top. This triumphant track always plays when Aki and Kai ready their giant robot of justice, Gunvarrel. I feel related to this song because of its overwhelming message of perseverance, and that no matter how imposing the odds might be, there’s always a ‘passionate hope’ blazing the trail to victory ahead! For Robotics;Notes, that was Akiho Senomiya. If I do say so myself, determination has always been a strong quality of mine. So naturally when I first heard this song, I felt reinforced, physically and mentally. Truly an epic, brilliant song (love the cellos and basses at the beginning – that’s right, lay out that groundwork, guys)!

Robotics;Notes – “Topology” sung by Kanako Itou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCSIQjES6Z8

Ahh, this song is so sweet and relaxing~ This is R;N‘s greatest pleasure in terms of music, and it’s definitely a worthwhile listen if you haven’t watched the anime. “Topology” speaks to me every time; even though I don’t understand Japanese, it’s one of those songs you can just feel. Have you ever felt this way? It’s as if we’re two peas in a cliché pod that bounce emotions off of each other during each listen. I flash back to freshman year of highschool when I was in swim practice. Our local team was very small, so we only had two people per lane. As I swam through the dark waters (cause it was during winter and not much sun was coming through the glass windows), I was humming this song in my head. Oh the memories! Kanako’s “Hacking to the Gate” is spectacular, but her “Topology” is absolutely sensational.

Gosh, it’s getting harder and harder by the day trying to find just the right songs for each challenge! I just hope I don’t hit a wall before the end, hehe! Real quick, I wouldn’t be expecting any reviews, “Cafe Talks,” or other such posts to be released during this challenge, as it’s becoming quite a hassle to keep up with 😛 sorry. I do hope you take a moment to listen to the music, though, and until tomorrow, this has been

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 5: A Song That Has A New Meaning To You Every Time You Hear It

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I honestly could not think of a single song that meant something new upon every listen, so ended up selecting one that has undergone countless revisions in terms of my opinion. What do I mean by that? When this song first debuted in the film, I did not care for it one bit. The vocals were annoying, the scene was way too epic for what was being heard, and gosh, it was just a wannabee. After doing a side-by-side comparison with its classic counterpart, however, I began to notice how masterful of a song it was. This didn’t change after just one happy listening – heavens no! It took trial after trial of connecting the dots before I considered this revamp a fine supplement. But enough talk, what song could it have been?

“Tsubasa Wo Kudasai (Please Give Me Wings)” – music by Kunihiko Murai, lyrics by Michio Yamagami

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fMBbM4aqv0

“From the groundbreaking robot anime” Evangelion 2.22 comes the second film’s dazzling insert song, “Please Give Me Wings.” Designed to stimulate the aura of the Third Impact/Instrumentality from the classic 1997 movie-to-end-all-movies, The End of Evangelion, this song triggers when Eva Unit 01 go berserk and Shinji desperately tries to salvage Rei from a terrifying Angel. Everything about that scene from the on-par acting to the flashy visuals absolutely blew me away, but the song was the only thing ripping me out of the mood. In fact, at first I thought it was stupid! All this build up for some dumb kids’ choir singing – c’mon Anno, quit being lazy! That night, I couldn’t sleep knowing that one of my favorite franchises was let down by some dopy high-pitched track, so I threw the disc back in and rewatched the scene, paying extreme attention to only the song this time around.

. . . it was . . . brilliant. Not necessarily my first pick, but after listening even more and finding the song on YouTube, I began to realize how similar it was to “Come, Sweet Death” from the old movie. Spiraling violins, a rejuvenating and happy, yet all-is-lost melody, and a musical theatre-like drumbeat – BUT above all, it was so strange and unfitting for the scene that it was a perfect match at the same time! Now whenever I give it a listen, I draw closer and closer to the heart and messages of Eva. Yet in the end, “It all returns to nothing, it all keeps tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down . . . ” Wait, wrong song, but you get my drift.

Do you guys have songs that mean something new to you every time you hear them? This was the closest I got, so I hope that’ll do for today’s challenge. Have a pleasant rest of the day and until tomorrow, this has been

– Takuto, your host