Anime OP songs that are image songs

[tenshi_a]

I'm thinking of anime opening songs where the song is like the protagonist of the story singing about themselves, or their lives.

This started because I was thinking of the 1978 Captain Harlock (http://www.ludd.luth.se/~silver_p/Muzik/Japan/spch.html) opening song; "Uchuu no umi wa ore no umi" etc... it's a fantastic song and sums up Captain Harlock and his being so well. (a bit of a translation here (http://www.mit.edu/~rei/MANGA/Harlock.html))

Then I was thinking of "Candy Candy (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/candy/opening.htm)"... "watashi wa, watashi wa, watashi wa Candy!"

And then the first Dragon Ball Z opening song; Cha La Head Cha La (http://www.daizex.com/multimedia/lyrics/jap-cha_la_head_cha_la.html)... (or the English version lyrics (http://www.animezen.net/anime/dbz/song) Kageyama Hironobu also recorded)

Can anyone think of any more? Anything a bit newer? (I just love old anime songs...)

These are just 3 off the top of my head...

[Soluzar]

I'm a bit surprised that you've missed out "Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru" from Rose of Versailles, since it's one of your favourites. It definitely seems to be sung from the point of view of Oscar. I'd say it counts.

[tenshi_a]

I thought about it, but wasn't sure if it was definitively Oscar enough...

There'd be Great Mazinger (http://virtual-rotation.com/chirlind/others/sentai/mazingg.html#ore) to add to the list... which is the ultimate, really, since Great Mazinger can't actually sing, being a big piece of metal... "Ore wa namida wo nagasanai (da da da) Robot dakara; machine dakara (da da da)" (I can't cry because I'm a robot; I'm a machine)

And Attack No.1 (http://www.animelyrics.com/Anime/attackno1/attackno1.htm)... "dakedo namida ga dechau onna no ko damon"
(but I can't cry because I'm a girl...)

Or Puni Puni Poemi (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/punipunipoemi/punipunidensetsu.htm) "A~~ketsu no ana kaii, onna no ko damon"
(my arse itches because I'm a girl...)

EDIT: there's Pokemon (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/pocketm/pmmezase.htm); how could I forget? POKEMON GETTO DA ZE!

[Gibb]

Kaerimichi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tgpjftgA68) - Ayako Kawasumi (Mahoromatic Season 1 OP)

Let me be with you (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pSEr6itMpk) - Rie Tanaka (Chobits OP)

Onna no ko otoko no ko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NRI8UIVoG4) - Yuko Ogura (School Rumble)

[Yukito Kunisaki]

There were many in Sailor moon. I don't know the song names though, but i believe a good amount was by the cast....But I might just be thinking of non-openings.

[tenshi_a]

I agree if you mean the opening to the Stars (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/smoon/smsera.htm) series of Sailor Moon. It's a very beautiful song, and I think I like it even more than Moonlight Densetsu. There were so many great image songs recorded for Sailor Moon!

I also thought of Sakura Taisen (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/sakurat/stgeki.htm) (Sakura Wars), though it's an image song for the whole of the main cast, rather than one character...

And possibly "We Are! (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/onepiece/opweare.htm)" - the 1st opening theme for One Piece. (there's a great acoustic live version here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUzQ8WJtSfk)!)

[GreatNekoKoneko]

Kaerimichi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tgpjftgA68) - Ayako Kawasumi (Mahoromatic Season 1 OP)

Let me be with you (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pSEr6itMpk) - Rie Tanaka (Chobits OP)

Onna no ko otoko no ko (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NRI8UIVoG4) - Yuko Ogura (School Rumble)

...damn, Gibb. seriously. you beat me to it again.

i was gonna say anything by yui horie, but meh.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

I agree if you mean the opening to the Stars (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/smoon/smsera.htm) series of Sailor Moon. It's a very beautiful song, and I think I like it even more than Moonlight Densetsu. There were so many great image songs recorded for Sailor Moon!

I also thought of Sakura Taisen (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/sakurat/stgeki.htm) (Sakura Wars), though it's an image song for the whole of the main cast, rather than one character...

And possibly "We Are! (http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/onepiece/opweare.htm)" - the 1st opening theme for One Piece. (there's a great acoustic live version here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUzQ8WJtSfk)!)

Stars was one of the best openings/opening songs ever. I love it and always will. Possibly my favorite Opening Image song ever.

[masakiuma]

Well, The opener to Excel Saga would have to go on this list...

[Tomoe]

Hello again, tenshi_a! Let's call it with its proper name: Anison music! :D
There are a few of the new anime songs that are actually Anison: Gaiking (new series), Shin Koutetsu Jeeg, Kaze no Shoujo Emily... basically everything that's been sung by the bunch of Anison singers. From Mizuki to PsychicLover.
I keep going to Anison concerts while I'm in Tokyo this year. Two days ago I was at Super Robot Spirits: 10th Anniversary, before that I went to NHK Anime Shudaika Daizenshu among the rest. All events are great, singers are gorgeous, songs are brilliant! Happyyy!~~~

[Soluzar]

Hello again, tenshi_a! Let's call it with its proper name: Anison music! :D
I thought that anison was just a contraction of "ani(me) son(g)", and as such, every song featured in anime was an anison. If that's the case, then how can there be a specific group of artists who are referred to as anison singers? Every singer who does an anime song must surely be an anison singer.

[tenshi_a]

Hello again, tenshi_a!
Hi! I haven't seen you around in ages! I'm glad you're still around!

Let's call it with its proper name: Anison music! :D
There are a few of the new anime songs that are actually Anison: Gaiking (new series), Shin Koutetsu Jeeg, Kaze no Shoujo Emily... basically everything that's been sung by the bunch of Anison singers. From Mizuki to PsychicLover.
I keep going to Anison concerts while I'm in Tokyo this year. Two days ago I was at Super Robot Spirits: 10th Anniversary, before that I went to NHK Anime Shudaika Daizenshu among the rest. All events are great, singers are gorgeous, songs are brilliant! Happyyy!~~~
Oh... I'm so jealous... :'(

Have you ever been to the Anison Central (http://www.anisoncentral.com/) website? It's full of event stuff... I thought at one point you might be the owner, but you're far too young...

I bet you can watch Anipara Ongakuken on TV rather than just on youtube, too...

I thought that anison was just a contraction of "ani(me) son(g)", and as such, every song featured in anime was an anison. If that's the case, then how can there be a specific group of artists who are referred to as anison singers? Every singer who does an anime song must surely be an anison singer.

Anison is... I think it's a song that belongs to an anime show (or a video game!) that's directly tied into the show (or game!). So it'll be specially commissioned for the show (not just random j-pop reused), and it'll probably be about the main character or what happens in the show.

I wanted this thread to *only* be opening songs that are the singer singing as the main character in 1st person, though...

EDIT: I think Fukuyama Yoshiki's opening theme for Busou Renkin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWaHgtUwP0) probably counts as a recent one, as he's singing about himself, though the song's maybe a bit too generic to say whether the lyrics are directly referring to the main character... I only wanted to watch that series for the music, you know... -_-; It's got a Tanaka Kouhei soundtrack... ^_^

[Hisoka]

One of my favorites is when they play the 2nd City Hunter OP (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3-3z3H351To) in the show all the time. Usually it was played on the radio if they were in a coffee shop etc.

[Nialo931]

Hidamari Sketch has all the main characters singing it about their days as high school students in an art school.

[Tomoe]

Soluzar: Well, not really. "Anison" does come from "anime songs" but first of all it doesn't only include anime songs. It also includes songs from games, manga, drama CDs, tokusatsu shows. Even Shocker Ohno during the Super Anison Spirits concert said that they can sing non-anime songs too, since "Anison" is a broad term.
However, J-pop artists and their songs ARE NOT Anison. Even if used in anime. There's another term in Japanese music world for that, and it's "tie-up songs". Generally, the majority of anime songs nowadays are tie-up songs, or the typical "moe" stuff, where seiyuu girls sing with awfully childish voices. Although some Japanese do call that "Anison", the term's definition fits only the songs of particular singers and composers, done in a quite structured and pre-defined manner　(which requires singing about the story or characters, the song should have the mood of the product, etc). I'm doing a research now on Anison music, and I'm surprised to see that even in Japan there is little data about that specific genre. The correct image of Anison can be made mostly from what singers say directly about it.

Tenshi_a: Yeah, I know that site, I know Ardith, the lady who manages the site. We meet at every Anison concert. :)
No, I don't watch Anipara Ongakukan, I don't have TV here, besides it's some pay-channel, I think. I'm not a big fan of Anipara recently, because Kage-chan keeps inviting some young moe girls instead of the real guys. But he can't help, because he's so popular among women - at his birthday live, the audience (mostly women) were throwing pink bra at him. :D :D
Busou Renkin is surely true Anison, everything by Fukuyama is. :)

[tenshi_a]

Regarding what anison is... I made a new thread (http://animenation.net/forums/showthread.php?p=6118270) about it.

But he can't help, because he's so popular among women - at his birthday live, the audience (mostly women) were throwing pink bra at him. :D :D
:lol: That sounds about right...

oh, when you say "mostly" women, does that mean a few men were throwing pink bras at him too? :lol:

Busou Renkin is surely true Anison, everything by Fukuyama is. :)

Yeah, that Busou Renkin OP is, and all of his other anime songs are too.

On Topic: his opening song for Macross 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0pHx2_SN8) was supposed to be Nekki Basara singing...

But Yoshiki Fukuyama releases a lot of non-anisong albums too. They're very good, but sounds very derivative of the old UK bands like Queen or The Beatles. There's something about that Busou Renkin song that reminds me of the Queen song I was born to love you (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiot1P3-Hng). I think it's his fault that JAM Project have sounded like a Queen tribute band from about the 2nd Mazinkaiser OAV onwards...

[Tomoe]

In fact, as much as I love Macross 7's "Seventh Moon", I have to admit that Fukuyama sings it horribly. MIQ (former MIO) has such a tremendously powerful and better cover of the same song, I wish she was the original singer.
I never liked Fukuyama's original albums, to be honest...

[tenshi_a]

Ah, my brother doesn't like Fukuyama's solo albums either; he finds them really boring. But I really like them! -_-;

I wish he hadn't influenced JAM Project's sound so much; they sounded better in the old days...

I think with "Seventh Moon", MIO's version is best, yes. I also think her version of Neppu Shippu Cybuster is the best version, and her version of the GGG Final ED theme is the best version and the duet with Micchi of the "God Mars" OP is the best version of that. I think I just like her cover versions in general. ^_^

Thinking about it... her "Time For L-Gaim" - L-Gaim OP is another song that is sung in 1st person and so that fits this thread....

[Tomoe]

The only one that's significantly influencing JAM is Kageyama. He's the boss, the leader, the composer of all songs, the producer, and everything else. The way they sound and look is entirely his idea. Kageyama has done a lot to make that group listened to by young fans mostly, and has completely succeeded - the crowd that goes to JAM's concerts is very different from the crowd that goes to the Spirits concerts. He is so into the proper image, that he even wanted to decline NHK's request to sing together with Micchi her kiddy song "Midori no Himawari" at the annual concert, because he was afraid that might have a reflection on his image as JAM leader. I cannot blame him; because of him and JAM, lots of young guys know and respect Anison, which is rather impossible thing to do in today's moe Japan.
MIQ began giving vocal lessons recently, and her voice and way of singing improved a lot too. Technically, she's much better know. Her performance of "Evergreen" at last week's SRS was breath-taking.
Add also Dunbine to the list: "Ore wa senshi!"

[tenshi_a]

Hmm, Kage-chan is the boss, but he doesn't exist in a bubble; if he hears Fukuyama's music and decides that's how he wants JAM Project to sound, then Fukuyama's influence will be heard, even though it's Kage-chan's overall decision. Same as JAM Project might have sounded strongly like, say, Sudoh Kenichi's work in the past, it's where Kageyama has approved of his work, and let him put in the maximum he could, letting him compose and arrange various songs. It's a good way of working, generally; it lets everyone put in as much as they can, and keeps all the creative forces happy.

Just as long as they don't stray too far from the group's distinctive sound.

I think it must be hard to hold together a group containing so many people; so many creative forces, all wanting to shine brightly... he seems to be keeping all the members happy (as well as the fans!)

Did he end up going ahead and singing that song with Micchi? I hope so; holding back on a good song just to preserve his image to one audience... that's a different kind of uncool...

I'd like to hear what MIQ sounds like these days; sounds like she must be amazing. ^_^

Did you ever find out whether it really is MIQ singing all the backing vocals for the "Rock Version" of "Midori no Hidamari"? It says it's her in the booklet, but you said you didn't think it can be, and that the Japanese fans were also debating it...

Oh and... what else did you get to see at Super Robot Spirits? I hope they bring out a DVD of that, too! :w00t:

(tries to think of another OP theme image song... um... Love Love Minky Momo (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mk9Ygvxv9H0)?)

(maybe we should just make a generic "Anison discussion" thread...)

[Tomoe]

Yes, Kage-chan did the backup to "Midori no Himawari" together with Kitadani. But he didn't wanted to, it turned out that the people from NHK were very persistent and went even straight to his home to persuade him.
I don't know for sure if MIQ did the backing vocals to Micchi's rock CD, but it doesn't seem so. I read a site saying that last year's Super Robot Spirits Original Generation CD (where the 4 veterans finally did recordings of "Toki o Koete" and "Cybuster" together) was the first collaboration between the ladies.
The full list of songs performed at SRS 10th Anniversary is here (Japanese):
http://srhs.hp.infoseek.co.jp/kyoku/index.html
Highlight this time was Mari Iijima, although plenty of Japanese weren't satisfied, because her voice changed a lot since her Minmay days. I should also mention Gao the Beast (Yukio Yamagata) - he is one-man show; his style, clothes, acting, singing... fabulous!! And Mami Ayukawa, of course, so sexy... ^^"" Well, I liked all of them. ^o^

[AkanegasakiSora]

Anison Generation classes MIO on the album 'Debut' as the same MIO/MIQ you are referring to:
http://anison.info/db/song/42279/
http://anison.info/db/person/276/


There are probably hundreds of anime OP themes that are sung from the main characters' perspectives, old and new songs.
A very effective example off the top of my head:

Reckless Fire and Drastic my soul from s.CRY.ed are sung from Kazuma and Ryuhou's perspecitives and reflects the series in general (Reckless Fire - 1st verse Kazuma, 2nd verse Ryuhou, 3rd verse both, and Drastic my soul - both, and both songs used accurately and appropriately in the episodes to portray the thoughts and feelings of the characters). It also extends to the other songs in the series e.g. Tabidachi no Kane ga Naru which deeply shows the thoughts of the characters at the end of the series (in particular, Kanami who leaves on a journey to meet them again and the characters' struggles for survival against the odds and desires to surpass their current selves and hopes and dependance on the hearts of each other) and how it opens things up in the end, which conveys the purpose of the fight in the last episode. Very effective and very beautiful in my view...

Some examples of openings sung from several characters' perspectives interacting that come straight to mind include:
the opening of Kariage-kun, sung by Mizuki Ichirou and Hashimoto Ushio which is a love-song/argument between the main characters
the openings (and endings) of Shinkon Gattai Godannar, sung by Kushida Akira and Horie Mitsuko with Mizuki Ichirou, which are sung from the main characters' perspectives.

[tenshi_a]

Hello & welcome to AN, AkanegasakiSora! Thanks for joining in our anison threads ^_^


The full list of songs performed at SRS 10th Anniversary is here (Japanese):
http://srhs.hp.infoseek.co.jp/kyoku/index.html

(tries to read it)

um...

1. Mazinger z - Mizuki Ichirou
2. Dunbine Tobu - MIQ
3. HEATS - Kageyama Hironobu
4. Voltes V - Horie Mitsuko
5. Neppu Shippu Cybuster - Mizuki Ichirou, Kageyama Hironobu, Horie Mitsuko、MIQ
6. Gaiking - Psychic Lover
7. Senshi yo Tachiagare! - Endoh Masaaki
8. Yume no Kariyudo - Yamagata Yukio
9. Fukkatsu no Ideon - Taira Isao
10. You Get To Burning - Matsuzawa Yumi?
11. Dearest - Matsuzawa Yumi?
12. Z. Toki o Koete - Ayukawa Mami?
13. Kaze no No Reply - Ayukawa Mami?
14. L-Gaim - time For L-Gaim - MIQ
15. Ai Oboeteimasuka - Iijima Mari
16. Tenshi no Enogu - Iijima Mari
17. Tamashii no Rufuran - Takahashi Yuko
18. Zankoku na tenshi no te-ze - Takahashi Yuko
19. Uchuu Majin Daikengo - Horie Mitsuko
20. Uchuu no Otoko Raiger - MoJo
21. Albegas - MoJo
22. Video Senshi Laserion - Miyauchi Takayuki
23. Koutetsu Jeeg no uta - Mizuki Ichirou
24. Evergreen - MIQ
25. Yuusha Oh Tanjou (mythology version?) - Endoh Masaaki
26. Getter Robo - Kageyama Hironobu
27. Gingareppu Baxinger - Yamagata Yukio
28. Trider G7 no Theme - Taira Isao
29. Mazinger Angel no uta - Mitsuko Horie
30. CROSS FIGHT! - Mizuki Ichirou, Mitsuko Horie
31. Combattler V no theme - Mizuki Ichirou
32. Hagane no Tamashii - Mizuki Ichirou, Kageyama Hironobu, Horie Mitsuko、MIQ

Encore:

33. Toki o Koete - Mizuki Ichirou, Kageyama Hironobu, Horie Mitsuko、MIQ
34. Mazinger Z - Mizuki Ichirou & everyone

Is that about right?

What's "Dearest" from? I don't think I recognise that song title... I don't think I've ever heard "Uchuu no Otoko Raiger" either, unless I transliterated it wrong... I've never heard the Mazinger Angel theme either.

And Hagane no Tamashii... could be a whole lot of different songs, I don't know... -_-;

Poor Iijima Mari, for people not enjoying her current voice.. has it changed so much?

It can't have changed as much as Yamagata Yukio's..? I mean, when he roars "BE SILENT!" (Yume no Kariyudo) in SRS 2003, I become completely silent, too scared to make a sound! The original version wasn't like that at all....! :lol:

Maybe everyone's too intimidated by his "GAOOOOO" to say anything! :lol:

(I wonder how his voice changed so much...)

This looks like it must have been a great show with that line-up; I hope they bring it out on DVD, and soon!

Is there another SRS 2007 event on 2007/05/05 as well? I'm not sure what that site is saying (and I don't normally keep up with the live events; it's sometimes too painful to know what I'm missing...)

--

Another in-character OP theme; "Futari wa Precure" - Pretty Cure. ^_^

[Danju]

What's "Dearest" from?
I know four different "Dearest" songs, but looking at the artist I believe it's from the Martian Successor Nadesico movie Prince of Darkness.

[tenshi_a]

Ah, thank you! I thought it would probably be from Nadesico, but I didn't recognise the title... ah, I should get round to watching the movie... the series was great fun! (I heard the movie isn't as good, so I've been putting it off...)

[Danju]

Ah, thank you! I thought it would probably be from Nadesico, but I didn't recognise the title... ah, I should get round to watching the movie... the series was great fun! (I heard the movie isn't as good, so I've been putting it off...)
It's terrible, don't even bother. Seriously. ^_^

[Talon]

Ooooh, I got one that no one posted yet!

Aoki Flamme - Pumkin Scissors, sung by Yoko Takahashi of Evangelion fame. :D

Yes, she has the same commanding tone that she does from Zankoku na tenshi no thesis.

[Tomoe]

"Dearest" is from Nadesico, here's the videoclip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xIKA510T3Y
"Uchuu no Otoko Liger" is the ED of Uchuu Majin Daikengor. It's been years during which fans wanted MoJo to appear at SRS and perform that song, and he finally did it! Right after Micchi's Daikengor OP, she called him on stage, they exchanged a friendly "give-me-five" type of handshake and he did the ED. Later MoJo said it's like a dream to sing exactly this song, after Micchi.
"Hagane no Tamashii" is from Super Robot Wars. It's one of the 3 regular songs that the 4 veterans sing together at every SRS. It ends with a fantastic explosion.
Mazinger Angel is a brand new song.
Yeah, Mari Iijima's voice is not the same anymore. More "moe", less professional, serious difficulties with high tones. Hey, what do you mean with that thing about Gao-chan?? *Nobody* likes his old voice, it's his present voice that makes him spectacular. That guy has a tremendous impact over the audience every time he's on stage. We're not afraid of him, we worship him.
I don't think the show was recorded for DVD, sorry... They'll be doing the same concert in Osaka this week (as usual), and for the first time in Nagoya. Also, the 4 veterans and Endou are invited to make a big SRS in Hong Kong next month.
Yep, "Yoru no Gingitsune to Tanuki" (Kariage-kun OP) is a nice example. "Pretty Cure" too, Mayumi Gojo was even part of the NHK concert this year.
Let's not forget also about the Top 1 Japanese song ever, which has the most sold copies in the music history of Japan - Masato Shimon's "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun". It can hardly be considered from anime, but it's Anison for sure.

[Dr. Ezra]

Okay, this isn't an opening song, but "Travel in Mind" from .hack//Dusk. Listen to it. It's great.