hontou ni
7Jun/0626

Random rant ~ Anime background music – 15 favs

I was watching Figure 17 ep 2 where Hikaru and Tsubasa went visiting lakes and flowery meadows when "Innocent Fields" kicked in and I instantly fell in love with Hokkaido. So lovely was the tune that it amplified the beauty of Hokkaido in every scene as trees, flowers and flowing streams joined in a visual chorus that melded immpeccably with the melody. I was so convinced then that my TRUE destiny would be farm-life in Hokkaido. Fortunately the spell was broken when the music ended and I heaved a sigh of relief knowing I may continue in my wanton excesses of anime indulgence where I am. Such is the power of anime music.

Anime music, specifically background music, is one of those defining factors that elevates a good but forgettable scene to the timeless hall of venerated anime moments. Many touching anime scenes I've cried over have the most poignant accompanying music. The anime battles I remember getting pumped up about have the most potent adrenaline-inducing music too.

However, today, we'll bypass the high tempo musical world of Kagutsuchis, rasengans and Jubei-chans to bask in the the gentler side of anime music. Here's some rather easy listening bgms on my playlist. In order not to have 50 bgms, I have picked a favourite from 15 different series.

(Note: BGMs hosted on free server. Loading may take a while.)

Hane (AIR): I picked this because it reminds me of Kano, my fav char in AIR.

Arata na kizuna (Ai yori aoshi ~enishi): Am thinking of using this for wedding march.

Sukuwareru Kotori (D.C. Da Capo): I'm weak to anything named Kotori....

Innocent fields! (Figure17 Tsubasa and Hikaru): Hokkaido, here I come!

Memory ~at home (Fruits Basket): One of the many variants of the music that make the series memorable.

? (Full Metal Panic TSR OVA ED): Ok, I cheated. This is strictly an ED. Just wanted it on the list anyway.

Yokoku (Kannazuki no miko): Makes me think yurimechamiko land.... shiawase da.

Promise II (Kanon): Ah Hocchan's lovely preamble in Kanon.

Saigo no negai (Mahoromatic Automatic maiden): Nope, she's not going to be here next summer festival... sob.

Ensei (Mai HiME): Kazu... kun?

Otome no komoriuta (Mai Otome): Ok, I actually preferred the song.

Sadness and sorrow (Naruto): Sigh... Haku...

Popotan no omoi (Popotan): Made Mai's tale really poignant.

Shukumei (Rozen Maiden Traumend): One of the many excellent pieces in the OST

Kimi wo omou melody (SHUFFLE!): Think Primula.

Many of these pieces are my handphone ringtones. I wonder if that makes me otaku. Will have another post on anime battle music soon.

Related posts:

  1. Random rant ~Anime music~ Part 1
  2. Random rant ~Anime Music~ Part 2
  3. Random Rant ~ Journal of Applied Anime

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Filed under: Anime Music Leave a comment
Comments (26) Trackbacks (0)
  1. wontaek
    June 7th, 2006 - 14:26

    Few comments:
    1. Air BGM: It really is just a simple transpostion of the opening song.
    2. Memory ~at home: This music is likely to be a variation from the opening song’s Theme.
    3. Ensei & Otome : Reminds me of Taize. It is composed similar to traditional European Christian Chorals of 17th century.

    If you are going to do Battle Music, please check out the first Fist of North Star Movie, the Legend of Galactic heroes OVA, and v-Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. I also liked the Giant Robo’s music for Nostalgia; it reminded me of music for Gojira series. The first Macross the Movie also had great battle music as well as Gall Force series.

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  2. lolikitsune
    June 7th, 2006 - 16:39

    The AIR track’s title is “Hane”.

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  3. tj_han86
    June 7th, 2006 - 16:56

    BGM? The best BGM in anime is Rescue Wing’s Clown. I don’t know if it is truly a BGM or is it an insert song but it’s damn good.

    Giant Robo has amazingly epic battle music like wontaek says. But Gunbuster and the sequel diebuster have great great BGMs as well.

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  4. Asuka
    June 7th, 2006 - 17:07

    Yay, most of my favorite BGMs made onto this list. Some of them are really brilliant.

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  5. wontaek
    June 7th, 2006 - 19:19

    Clown… Wasn’t that song also in Ghibli’s Only Yesterday ( Bubbling of Memories )? That was a opening song to some series in 60s or 70s in Japan, and even I am not old enough to know about that series. If it qualifies as opening song on its own, I have to say that it should be classified as a insert song.

    The series, Solty Rei also had some good BGM as well as surprisingly decent opening and ending song. Of more recent series, ARIA gets my vote for the best overall music. I can’t argue with insertion of Monteverdi style festival music.

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  6. hashihime
    June 7th, 2006 - 19:32

    Check out the new anime Simoun. Best BGM I know of — for its contribution to the show. Tangos, classical music, all kinds of weird, wonderful, and effective things. By the same guy (Sahashi Toshihiko) who did FMP, various Gundams, Rizelmine, Gunslinger Girl, etc., etc., but sounds like no show I can remember. As the show itself looks like no other.

    One of my favorite easy-listening BGMs is Kurau Phantom Memory. I also like Uta-Kata. And of course AIR.

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  7. wontaek
    June 7th, 2006 - 19:53

    My mistake about Rescue Wings. I was talking about the song “Hyokkori Hyohtan [Popped-up Gourd] Island Theme song “.

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  8. Stripey
    June 8th, 2006 - 09:14

    wontaek: Thanks for the recommendations. :) Will try to get my paws on the series you mentioned. I’m particularly interested in Aria.

    tj_han86: Ah I need to get to rescue wing soon too. Will take look out for “Clown”. Thanks! :)

    Asuka: Woot! looks like we both have excellent tastes in music :P P

    hashihime: I saw an ep of Simoun but didn’t notice the bgm. Thanks for the highlight. Will take a second look. :)

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  9. kei-clone
    June 8th, 2006 - 18:04

    hmm, I woulda chosen Natsukage out of the BGMs for Air over a simplified music box version of the theme

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  10. Ender
    June 8th, 2006 - 18:41

    Hotcakes! The music sampling feature is quite nifty, even if it does load up a bit slow. What better way to share a taste of your favorite tunes?

    Ah, hearing some of those pieces brings back some good memories. I haven’t watched Fruits Basket in forever, but the melody was instantly recognizable. By all means, put up more of your favorite BGMs!

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  11. Stripey
    June 8th, 2006 - 22:42

    lolikitsune: oops, sorry missed your comment. Thanks for the info. :) Hane ka? Very apt indeed, I can almost envision a rain of feather gently falling as the melody goes.

    kei-clone: Somehow Hane captures the mood so well with its scenes in the anime. :) AIR OST has so many excellent pieces it was painful just to pick one. Will probably feature my other favs in the soundtrack some time. :)

    Ender: deshou deshou? :) Thanks! Will most certainly put up more. There’s the likes of Sadame (X TV) that I need to break out to the unreached masses. :P

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  12. Dervish ibn Candela
    June 9th, 2006 - 00:09

    woah…
    (cannot differentiate for backgrounds or openings. methinks this hampers integral perception)
    I made a huge list of some all-time favourities of mine (no particular order) with my comments on every entree, after then threw out every non-BGM (too bright, monumenthal, energetic). However what’s left is mainly everything BUT easy listening :D That’s waht came out:

    Kanon – Trace of Dream //the most magickal and musickal depiction of Spring i’ve ever heard
    Kannazuki no miko – Ankoku no Yami no Naka de //evil. dark. scary. bloody awesome.
    XTV – Chi-no-Ryuu no Kumikyoku //cryptic, cold, shamanic, thrlling, out-of-ethical-boundaries, infinte abstraction
    Hellsing – I.B.C.J. Houiami //Evil can be so much fun!
    Puni Puni Poemi – aban ~ mahou joou no thema //pwnz star wars at dramatic openings
    Silent Mobius – golden Unicorn //okay, I’m a weirdo. I must live with it.
    TEXHNOLYZE – Muku no Yaiba to Kanshou //come forth, technological singularity! we await thee.
    Gankutsuou – Kaishou // revenge is the god of this universe…
    GitS TV SAC – Beauty is within us // beauty IS within us
    Planetes – planetes affettuoso //the world from above.
    Gunparade March – The Singing Voice of Ruins //death can never be adapted to. existentialism moderate.
    Gunslinger girl – desperazione //neither life.
    Haibane Renmei – Refrain of Memory //not until you know what true life is.
    Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran – Kazemakase //life is a fun journey
    Azumanga Daioh – Yasumi Jikan Desu ka //…is a rave fucking fun
    GitS Innocence – Kugutsu Uta Triptych //…is a zen-buddhist meditation about death
    Vampire Princess Miyu OVA – Now comes the conclusion //…is a neverending melancholy
    Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho – Hope and Aspiration //…is a promise
    Saishuuheiki Kanojo – Hoshi no Hate Vocal Version //…is a love song. a metal requiem mass. existentialism ultimate.
    Mushishi – Kotowari //…is mono no aware
    Kurau Phantom Memory – Moonlight Essence, Lonely Feedom//…is a lonely freedom. Absolute Freedom.
    Vampire Princess Miyu TV – 01, 26, 33, 34 //beauty, not transience, was the emphasis of mono no aware, forgotten.
    Witch Huner Robin – Flame //ethical boundaries are created by individuals with force and faith… aren’t they…
    Wolf’s Rain – Tell me what the rain knows //somebody, tell me!
    Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou OVA 2 – Cafe Alpha //mono no aware can be fun! for an immortal one, that is.
    Tsukuyomi Moon Phase – The Theme of Moon Phase //creeping schizophrenia can be so fucking romantic!

    +ALL of Kajiura Yuki (noir/mai hime/madlax/hack/tsubasa rc/etc)

    well, as for openings (I want to add one!) it’s my current favourite yuri anime ‘Simoun’ opening – Utsukushi Kereba Sore de Ii by ishikawa chiaki-chan

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  13. Stripey
    June 11th, 2006 - 11:09

    Wow, what a list! Great to hear from you again Dervish. Looks like I would have to take that 2nd look at Simoun soon. :)

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  14. greyscalefuzz
    June 11th, 2006 - 16:40

    Yes you are otaku. :)

    Hey will be back in Aug. Will catch up with u and the guys then if ur around. Been watching anime here and there, but guess ur not seeing the same stuff.

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  15. greyscalefuzz
    June 11th, 2006 - 16:42

    Oh on another note, do you have some of these stuff on mp3? :)

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  16. Stripey
    June 11th, 2006 - 21:57

    LOL! Maybe I have the spirit but not the form of an otaku yet. Ganbarimasu! :)

    Looking forward to catch you again in Aug and keep writing meanwhile. I don’t blog a lot that I catch so you be surprised how our view list may intersect.

    mp3 format? Of course. Will drop you a mail soon :)

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  17. crimson
    June 12th, 2006 - 20:45

    General type (a bit like ‘ballroom’ music, lol):
    Kyou Kara Maou – Kangei the music for royal fireworks

    For war:
    i forgot the track name from hotoku no ken movie but that track was used when ken was fending off the monk i think.. or was it when he fought against the horse dude…

    Contemplating type:
    Kyou Kara Maou – Kaisou
    Kyou Kara Maou – Tsuioku
    Vampire Hunter D-New – The promise
    That track that gives the sound in Seikai no Senki II epilogue

    Techno type of feel running in the background:
    Mai-Hime – Mezame
    Melody of Oblivion – Plastics kill a wood

    Violin expressive type:
    Melody of Oblivion – Innocence

    Cutey type:
    Kyou Kara Maou – Youki

    Mystical type:
    Kyou Kara Maou – Kourin

    I guess for BGMs these are the few preferred ones. The rest of my preferences came from game ost. Too bad, as some of you might have guess, the above are more or less what my com has now…in terms of BGMs.

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  18. Stripey
    June 13th, 2006 - 11:00

    I see a lot of Kyou Kara Maou tracks on your list. Is KKM any good? If I’m not wrong it’s about BL? :P And thanks for highlighting the other bgms! :)

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  19. crimson
    June 13th, 2006 - 12:58

    what….is BL? boys love? :P

    well, maybe u can say it seems like escaflowne but with 1 male lead surrounded by 3, 4, wait, now its 5 or 6 guys, hot mamas, cute kids, and some other neat chicks that comes in once in a while. No robots though.

    For me, the indirect humour is entertaining most of the time.
    Right now its around episode 66. I think the final war is coming soon.
    What i dont like is the claims to kill but no killing was made 99.9% of the time.

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  20. crimson
    June 13th, 2006 - 14:19

    oops, was thinking about soccer so didnt finished what i wanted to write.

    In a simple manner, i guess i could say its about racial clashes (btw the humans and demons of an alternate world).

    So, a boy was born to be the (mazoku? – demon aka beings who can use sorcery when in their teritory) king of the other world. And his guardians (those 4 to 6 guys around him where 90% of them dispeised him at first) believes (after a number of incidents) that he is capable of uniting the 2 races (demons and humans) due to the type of (reckless) actions he undertakes.

    Of course, there’s that the bigger badder previously-sealed-by-first-demon-king evil entity(?) (which is the cause of those frictions btw humans and demons) waiting near the end when the good outcome (peace) is almost achieved.

    Seems like Earth is going to get dragged into this mess of the alternate world too.

    If u want i can burn for you ;)

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  21. crimson
    June 13th, 2006 - 14:26

    oh yeah! Black Cat! It seems to have a few nice pieces of BGMs in the series but I dunno if there’s a OST for it yet :(

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  22. Stripey
    June 15th, 2006 - 10:08

    Thanks Crimson for the brief on KKM. May pick it up in the near future :)

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  23. crimson
    June 19th, 2006 - 11:20

    OMG, i cant believe i forgot this piece!!!!!

    Comtemplating type:
    Saishuu-Heiki Kanojo – Hoshi no Hate ~instrumental

    my mexican guitar buddy got me to listen it. It was a pretty soulful electric guitar piece for me. Want me to send it to you ;)

    Yeah, i forgot to trans this to my harddisk from my external disk although my mp3 player has it. No wonder i feel something was missing in my folder all this time.

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  24. Boulayman
    August 29th, 2006 - 20:22

    You mentioned in the post that you use these tunes as your ringtone. I have bought today a new phone and this one has the possibility to have mp3 ringtones. May I ask if your ringtones are midi files or are actually mp3 excerpts from an mp3 file. If they are mp3 files, Did you select the part you were interested in yourself or were you able to find them already done?

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  25. Stripey
    September 11th, 2006 - 02:41

    Hi Boulayman. I use mp3s for my ringtone. I edit the full songs myself using wavepad to extract the parts I want. Wavepad is amazing in that you can even have fade-in and fade outs. :)

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  26. Fel Katsukide
    September 22nd, 2006 - 05:10

    Hey! Have you heard the fate-stay night ost… It’s really cool. Promise!!!!!

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