Best vocal performance in an OP/ED

[otakudes]

Which singer(s) in an OP or ED gives an excellent performance?

I chose Matsuko Mawatari's Hohoemi no Bakudan from Yu Yu Hakusho. Of course, Matsuko has a great voice but she sings with passion and expression. I can't imagine Matsuko singing this song without a big up lifting smile on her face. Listen to the english version. It's good too except the singer's affect seems flat or depressing--not good considering the song's entitled "Smile Bomb." The english singer's vocals also lack the punch of Matsuko's version.

thx both of you for mentioning MIO. I'm not familiar with her yet. She has such a deep silky voice.

[Tomoe]

Matsuko Mawatari was good indeed, but I'd rather say MIO and all the OPs/EDs she's made.

[tenshi_a]

It's difficult to choose one, as there are so many astounding performances.

Horie Mitsuko has recorded loads of amazing songs, and it was especially astounding when she was singing with a powerful adult voice even though she was about the age of 14 or so. She'd sing incredibly accurately, dead on every note like a pinpoint laser, but warm and versatile. She still does. She also used to favour songs that were difficult to sing, and some of her old themes almost sound like tongue-twisters to me, things like Kerokko Demetan, Majokko Tickle, etc. Incredible technical performances. She learned more of the emotions she needed to get across with time, as well.

Masaaki Endoh for Yuusha-ou tanjou!, the opening theme(s) for Gaogaigar. There are lots of different versions, I think I like the "mythology" version for the first episodes of the "Final" OAV the best. So much energy, I don't think he's matched this in his other solo work or with JAM Project.

MIO (now known as MIQ), for the opening theme for L-Gaim. She won awards for it, it's a great performance. She also recorded an English version of the song, and still performed that with as much tender emotion as the original. "L-Gai~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~m!"

Crystal King, the two guys singing Ai Wo Torimodose!!, the first Hokuto no Ken opening. (rare live performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xoEmG6IG3U)). You have the very masculine voice of Moush combined with the super-humanly high-but-powerful voice of Tanaka Masayuki. A perfect blend, and fits the show well, and breathtaking at the same time.

Iwao Junko for Scarlet, the opening theme to Ayashi no Ceres, which she also starred in, as Ceres. The song is mostly carried by her vocal, and... I'm not sure how to even begin to describe what she puts into this song. Her voice hits me at the core, tender yet a little sad, makes me melt.

Sasaki Isao for "Ginga no Hikari", the ending theme for Galaxy Railways. I was thinking of opting for the ending to Uchuu Senkan Yamato - "Makka na Scarf", but he's improved so much with age, he's warmer and suits the song so well. And he sings so low, he probably attracts whales or something, hehehe. ^_^

[Tomoe]

Generally, all the Anison singers easily fit this category, because of the reasons tenshi_a gave for Mitsuko Horie - they're just highly professional! Unlike modern pop-stars, half of which can't sing, the other half can but don't know how.
I'd also add Yoshikazu Mera's "Mononoke Hime" song - the guy is a rare tenor-altino, and no, Masaaki Endou's cover of that song wasn't any good!
And let's not forget about Isao Bitou and his "Ashita no Joe" - it's the highlight of NHK's "Anime Shudaika Daizenshuu" every year. And he's much better now than some 30 years ago when he recorded it.

[Tidusauron12]

Um... I can't choose.

WAY too many to choose from for me.

[tenshi_a]

thx both of you for mentioning MIO. I'm not familiar with her yet. She has such a deep silky voice.

Ah, MIO has such a lovely voice :wub: it's a pleasure to introduce more people to her singing.

Equal to the opening theme to L-Gaim is the ending theme Starlight Shower (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPl9pGyxM5c), I possibly like it even more than the opening - I bought an LP (http://tenshi-a.blogspot.com/2007/12/mio-l-gaim-starlight-shower.html) of hers of the same name. It's pretty good! :)

Also check out:

Dunbine OP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iakHx_vy-Pw) / ED (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Y6DnONc6I) more recent live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BsFKMfMK6c)

Bismarck OP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPNSZBTPcg) / ED (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjyoLxDK9L8)

Gundam 0083 2nd OP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1WfKSFfdcU) Live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXLW5YTzLEU)

There are also some cool Xabungle songs like "HEY YOU" and "GET IT", but that show's not popular enough to have a video for the songs on youtube, I guess... (I saw "GET IT" there before... seemed to be the end of the series.)

Her version of the Super Robot Wars song "Neppu! Shippu! Cybuster" is also my favourite version of that song as well.

...I forget what else of hers to recommend at the moment. :)

[Tomoe]

MIO's version of Macross 7's "Seventh Moon" is much better than the original.
Also "Shishi no Joou" from Gaogaigar, "Kanashimi no Destiny" from Area 88, her cover of Gundam Z's "Toki o Koete".... endless. She did a song for Gekiranger last year too.

[mohamedtiger]

thanks alot

[Tomoe]

Speaking of Mitsuko Horie and her notes, check her live performance of "Shine On" from Saint Seiya:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfQYexpjN80
Now that's a perfect vocal performance.

[Dr. Ezra]

I always enjoyed Nana Kitade's Kesenai Tsumi for FMA. Something about it...

[Leader Desslock]

Ah, MIO has such a lovely voice :wub: it's a pleasure to introduce more people to her singing.
<listens to all the links in tenshi_a's post>

:| :blink: :O :w00t:

Wow. Now there's a woman who has control of her voice.

All those folks who thought I was overly critical of the Ouran dub opening should listen to those links. I don't even like a couple of the songs, but there's no denying the quality of the voice singing them. Wow.

Her effective range dips a lot lower than most Japanese singers. That quality in her voice almost reminded me of Yumi Touma for a moment. I think MIO's the better singer in that range, though.

[superplough]

Anything by Kageyama Hironobu

[masakiuma]

i generally love anything by kotoko or mikuni shimokawa

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...KOTOKO. hmm. put her together with Mami Kawada, and you wouldn't know the difference.

Lia, on the other hand, now that's a woman with a great voice, both in studio AND live.

speaking of I'VE, i think they're doing another concert next year to celebrate their 10th year anniversary, at the Nippon Budokan. that's gotta be some concert.