Count me among those fans who find “What ’bout My Star” from Macross Frontier to be one of the catchiest pop songs Yoko Kanno has ever produced. You could have Kelly Clarkson shout the hook in the chorus and sell a truckload of CDs. That’s how slick it sounds.
One reason I enjoy the song so much, I think, is because it’s essentially an extended version of Kanno’s “Going to the Sea” from the Honey and Clover movie soundtrack. I’ve always loved that particular track, but it’s more an incipient song than anything else, only consisting of a quick introduction, a “B” section, and a single chorus. It doesn’t develop any further.
“What ’bout My Star,” on the other hand, takes the same basic musical idea and transforms it into a full song. It’s especially easy to hear in the @Formo duet version, which was featured in part in Episode 5 of the series. That’s my preferred version of the song, by the way.
Of course, it’s just one of many great songs that have graced the series thus far. “Diamond Crevasse” is spectacular, and “Infinity” worked out surprisingly well in show. And then there’s that damn carrot song…
You know, as much as I love both Nino and Makino Yui’s work on Aria, I’m glad they tapped Arai Akino for the ED this time around, because she sounds absolutely incredible. What a great song.
By the way, has anyone else noticed that Ai sounds a bit older in her replies to Akari at the end of each episode? I wonder if that’s intentional…
I really adore Maaya Sakamoto, but I haven’t been terribly impressed with her work ever since she stopped collaborating with Yoko Kanno. Her previous studio album, Yunagi Loop, is decent enough, but… well, it’s just kind of pedestrian. Unfortunately, the best thing about her new studio album, 30 Minutes Night Flight, is the title track. That one song alone is amazing. The rest of it? Meh.
Anyway, with Kanon over and done with and the Spring anime season still a couple of weeks away, I’m not watching much for the time being. Manabi Straight (which has turned out to be a great show), Hidamari Sketch, and Nodame Cantabile are pretty much it. I’ve been trying to supplement my anime diet by rewatching old favorites, but I’ve been having trouble finishing what I start. I think I’m rewatching three different shows at the moment, and I’m not entirely certain I’ll finish any of them.
Spring Fever, I guess.
Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, there was some good news for Aria fans this morning. Time to break out the provisions!
The Hidamari Sketch ED has a spectacular hook. I’m in love.
You know what? The opening synth line in the You’re Under Arrest Second Season OP is TOTALLY a rip-off of the horn line in Phil Collin’s “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven.”
Just thought I’d mention that.
(I tried to work a Sting joke into this, but alas…)
What? You actually wanted to hear me sing? Again?
Be careful what you ask for…
My live karaoke experience is mostly limited to one night in Tokyo with a pack of drunken coworkers and the company president - which is a shame, because it’s really a lot of fun. And while I’m not so much an otaku to have gone straight for the anime tunes (although, a couple of guys from marketing took a stab at the Attack No. 1 OP theme… with hilarious results), I at least found time for “Alone Again, Naturally”. I’m a Maison Ikkoku fanboy, yup.
And, yes, there are pictures, and, no, not in a million years.
Still, it’s funny that Omo brings up this particular topic, as just a few days ago, I was doing some housecleaning and stumbled upon this.
