Anime Music: Does it really "Make or Break" a show?

[Sol-Blade]

~I didn't think this topic would correspond with the other anime music thread...but that's up for the mods to decide~

Onto my discussion...

Music. Simply put, we've all heard the themes, we've all sung along with some of them, we buy the OST's just like we would the DVD's. But...sadly...not every show's music is up to par. And this is not a bias opinion, this is coming from someone who literally has stacks and stacks of OST's (Around 60+ or so...), all having different genres of music. So I'd like to think I have a good idea of a good song if I heard one. [B]Naruto[/B]'s [U][I]Go[/I][/U] is a good example. Im not a big fan of the show, but I knew that song had to be in my collection. Some shows have extremely, extremely awesome soundtracks...like [B]D.N Angel[/B]. [B]D.N Angel[/B]'s [U][I]Byakuya (True Light)[/I][/U] is another great song.

But by far, hands down...[B]RahXephon[/B]'s song [U][I]Hemisphere[/I][/U] is my personal favorite ever. Maaya rules. :D

Okay, my point being that some shows are fantastic, but are ruined sometimes by an extremely horrible soundtrack. [B]Full Metal Panic[/B]'s OST was just plain wrong to listen to. And well [B]Hellsing[/B]...well...awesome show...horrible songs. On the other hand, there are some shows that are "Near Crap" in my mind, but I watched the series knowing I [i]had[/i] to get the soundtracks for it. [B]Intital D[/B], perfect example. I really don't like the show, I really don't. But the OST is probably one of the most catchy and upbeat ones I've ever heard. So obviously, I listen to it almost religiously...lol. I feel that some shows can save their merit by actually putting some thought into their selection of songs. It also has become apparent to me that some shows that are too ambitous seem to neglect their songs. Thus, ruining a would-be great show.

So in closing, how do you guys feel about the music in a series? Do you think that some shows are definitely made better by their songs? Or do they have no real impact at all.

[Dagger]

I chose the third option. I seriously wouldn't be able to watch Full Moon wo Sagashite or Gravitation if those two anime didn't have such spectacular music. In shows which revolve around aspiring musicians, it's really important that the viewer be able to enjoy or at least tolerate the main character's music (especially if he/she is known for his/her incredible voice, lyrics and/or songwriting ability). Gravitation is only thirteen episodes long, but over the course of those thirteen episodes, it seems as though Shuuichi's single plays at least several hundred times. Fortunately I like the song, so that didn't quite drive me batty.

Full Moon wo Sagashite is even more repetitive; Mitsuki's current single is always used as its ED, and due to the anime's slow pace, she rarely switches songs. Initially I had some trouble becoming accustomed to her seiyuu's unusual-sounding voice, but eventually I came to like and appreciate Full Moon's vocal music.

Even series that don't specifically deal with music may place some emphasis on sound (RahXephon is an excellent example of this). Most of the time, though, I don't pay special attention to background music unless it's really unique and fantastic or else completely ruins the show. I don't purchase many anime OSTs, so I don't normally notice if a series has a mildly flawed or mediocre soundtrack.

Bee Train anime tend to feature amazing--if peculiarly similar--music; after watching the last few episodes of Madlax, I had a hard time resisting the urge to walk around muttering "Yamani yamani" under my breath. Of course, all those vocal choruses were highly evocative of Yuki Kajiura's other work (including Aquarian Age, .hack//SIGN and Le Portrait de Petit Cossette).

Anyway, I wouldn't say that background music makes or breaks most series for me--barring shows in which music ends up being a major plot point. Plenty of anime have background music that sounds great when one is actually watching the show, but is hollow, overly eccentric or uninteresting on its own.

Nice thread, by the way. :)

~Dagger~

[Otaku Princess]

[left][font=Tahoma][size=2][color=Navy]Aboulutly. I have gotten into many anime (Dual, Vampire Princess Miyu, Please Teacher, Kaleido Star, Full Metal Panic...) if it weren't for the music. If its catchy, then I'll stop and watch it, and eventually get to lovin' it. But then again, I really don't like the music to Trigun, SOME Inuyasha, and Hellsing, and I still love the anime. I guess it just depends sometimes on which grows on me first. [/color][/size][/font]
[/left]

[Godelsensei]

[COLOR=Gray][FONT=Courier New]Er. What Skip said. [i]Plus...[/i]

With shows like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, a large degree of the mood of the entire show is reflected by the music genre.
It's because of the blues that Bebop manages to seem almost like it takes place during the early 1900's and because of the hip-hop that Champloo manages to seem modern, in a more samurai-tastic sort of way.

: 3

Also, if a show sports a particularly fabulous track (take Sadness and Sorrow, for example), it can add another thing to make the anime all the more memorable.
Would any one even [i]remember[/i] ol' Haku and Zabuza if we weren't treated to that tear-jerking death theme?

Being one of I don't know how many who have spent hours on end trying to transpose the Paranoia Agent ED for piano, I know how much of an effect good music can have on a series.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Hevn]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][SIZE=1][B]Most of the time, I remember an anime through its music. I love how some theme songs transform into a lively instrumental to a dramatic classical through the course of some zippy or emotional scenes. The background music kind of affects the mood I'm in. And when an anime has pretty great songs, I buy the OST.

But...though music play a cool or even astounding role not just in an anime but in every film made, I don't think it makes or breaks it simply because there are other greater factors that affect a show such as visuals and plot.[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[DevilishAngel]

i think the music is a very miportant part to the anime. it livens things up and makes you feel more connected with what is really going on. for instance, in x/1999, the fight scenes without the music would still be pretty cool, but add the music and it is even better. it adds a whole new dimension. almost sort of transporting and turning it into something that's alive.

the music also sets things on edge. creepy music could make your skin crawl and you would wait in anticipation for what is happing to the main character, etc. without music, it feels like something very big is missing.

[ghostlightning]

though essentially the same story, these two anime provide very different experiences.

first off, i'm really a fan of both. i've read almost all of jack mckinney's adaptation novels of the robotech saga and i thoroughly immersed myself in all this protoculture and "the shapings" goobledygook. however, watching the macross story arc of the series was a real letdown, precisely because of the music.

ulpio minucci did one or two good tracks, only that any kind of suspenseful moment in the anime warranted playing the singular suspense music, and the opening theme played throughout every episode. it got old real quick and eventually became very annoying.

the biggest ruination of this series is minmei. she's supposed to be this pop superstar, but that horrible 'stagefright' track was frightening for all the wrong reasons. this character did become one of the most reviled characters in all anime, precisely because harmony gold produced her this way.

consider the original series:

minmei had a plethora of hit songs, every single one quite catchy and at times truly lovely: my boyfriend is a pilot, zero-g love, little white dragon, do you remember love? among others whose titles escape me at present. all these tracks somehow was integral to moving the narrative forward, therefore making them good pop music was very important. despite kanno yoko's brilliance in macross plus, no track except 'voices' was as important to moving the story along as much as the music in the original macross.

these songs are great 80s bubble-pop, as dance tracks, as ballads, as reggae, you name it. experiencing massive mecha battles was such a tremendous thrill (see macross: do you remember love? oav to get what i mean). compare it to the harmony gold execution and you will see, in this case at least, that music can and did make or break a series.

notes:

of course robotech was universally loved anyway. also consider however, that it did not have a lot of anime competition. it came before the evangelions and gundam wings that made a lot of people anime fans. i'm 27 years old, and my memory goes back to voltes v, mazinger z, daimos, and the great super robot anime. macross and robotech showed before i was in middle-school, and as a viewer and fan, i was already quite discriminating.

[Guest Jin Asias]

Well by all means i dont believe the soundtrack effects the SHOW i DO believe however that in my opinion the theme songs to certain shows will draw me in to watching it more often just because of the song. Like Ruroni Kenshin for instance... I liked the show and i saw that it was coming on next and i thought "Oh cool that shows pretty neat." Then the song 'Freckles' came on and i thought "wow a introduction theme to match the ending" then the main melody came on and i'm jsut holy crap ever since i've started watching and REALLY liking that show

[2010DigitalBoy]

I pick number 3. I cant stand Gundam Seed, but Ill run at twice the speed of light to catch the opening song. As for some shows, I like the show but hate the music *cough* Escaflowne *cough*. And I wouldnt have even Wathced King of Bandit Jing, had it not been for the music when he uses Kir Royale. So while the music may rule or suckm it really depends on the anime.

[Sol-Blade]

Though I have to add, if there is one thing I absolutely hate about music...it's when they have 3 or 4 versions of the same song in the show. Like they are fooling anyone... :p

Example: [b]Gundam Seed[/b]

The opening theme (You really don't get to hear all of it on CN...) Invoke.

There are four, yes [I]four[/I] of the same song. They aren't bad, but it gets annoying. Like they lost their creativity along the way lol. There might be more, but so far the soundtracks I have list these songs:

[U]Invoke - by - T.M.Revolution[/U]: That might be the CD's name or the band's...I can't read Japanese...lol
[U]Invoke (Phase Shift)[/U]: A techno remix of the song. Twice as long, half the lyrics.
[U]Invoke (Karaoke)[/U]: Nothing karaoke about it. That's for sure. Just a different singer, female now.
[U]Invoke (TV Version)[/U]: Well this shouldn't really be on here, just the shortened version of the song edited for TV. Time that is...not explict lyrics. :D

[Guest Jin Asias]

Yeah that does get quite annoying but it all really depends on the song... thats why i like Trigun (even though the end theme song REALLY bites but its alright... anyway) Like Code: Lyoko I love the theme song and i'm glad they play it througout the show and they have like only 3 different versions but... ya know i'm just not sayin... pointful things at the moment but you get my point i guess... But what i REALLY hate is when they have a different song completely that isnt really noted by lots of people or people at all like... not noted so much as in not practically at all... Like one of the versions of "Change The World" (inuyasha song which i didnt even know inuyasha HAD a intro song because Adult Swim cuts out intros) my friend gave me a CD that has that song in english and its a remix version of it and i really wanted the lyrics and i typed that in google: Change The World lyrics: English and it came up in english and i'm like holy taff this isnt right at all and that was my 1st clue that it was a remix. My second clue was the fact that it has different music in it and well... I like that remix but... well if anyone has heard it and know the lyrics because i'm just borrowing that CD and i really wanna memorize that song because its an awesome song it reminds me of me and my gf alright well for getting off the main point that's i guess what i gotta say for now... anyway yeah

[Dagger]

[quote name='Sol-Blade']Though I have to add, if there is one thing I absolutely hate about music...it's when they have 3 or 4 versions of the same song in the show. Like they are fooling anyone... :p[/quote]

Do you mean three or four different versions rotating during the actual show, or re-mixes included on said show's OST? Personally I'm all for OST re-mixes; for example, it's nice to have the karaoke version of a vocal song I really like. Techno-fied OPs or EDs can be quite fun as well. So long as the soundtrack also has a diverse array of background music and basically contains more than just multiple copies of one song, I certainly don't mind hearing the same tune played with different instruments and so forth.

~Dagger~

[Sol-Blade]

No, It's pretty ordinary in my opinion to have remixes of the songs on the soundtracks. Those don't bother me.

Im talking about while during the shows, little things annoy me like having a fight scene where the music picks up...but it's just the main theme sped up or something. That's kinda weak to say the least. I have heard the 3 versions of the Gundam theme I mentioned all in one episode once. I almost laughed my arse off when I heard it over and over again.

Good thing though, I only know of one or two shows that have done this. ;)

[Otaku Princess]

[quote name='Sol-Blade][u]Invoke - by - T.M.Revolution[/u']: That might be the CD's name or the band's...I can't read Japanese...lol [/quote] I did not know that it had 4 versions. I can see how it could get annoying, especialy if you are looking for a certian version on the net and the others keep poping up. I like techno so I may check that one out.

My peeve is that when I hear the song to an anime and THEN watch the anime. I just doesn't do the song justice.
[b]Annani Issho datta noni[/b]. I had that one on my computer even before I knew if was from gundam seed. I was completly let down by the clip of it on the show. I know, time edited... but I swear its roughly 30 seconds long.

[color=DarkOrchid] The artist for INVOKE is T.M. Revolution. (old NTUSA) I think the CD is just [b]Kido Senshi Gundam SEED ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK 1 [/b]... Though, the artist for that is Toshihiko Sahashi. So I just don't know[/color].

Luckily, these weren't "break-its' " for SEED. I still like the anime despite the music.

[Sol-Blade]

Phew, this was quite-a-ways back. Anyways, I have to add more to this. I just saw FMA for the first time last night (Sue me, I don't keep up with [as] as much anymore). This morning, I bought the first soundtrack.

I really, really...love the music in this show. And dispite being "Turned-Off" by it's premise, I will probably continue to watch it and eventually like it, because it's soundtrack is that good. Can't seem to get enough of [U][i]Ready, Steady, GO!!![/i][/U] and [U][i]Riraito -by- Asian Kung-Fu Generation[/i][/U] . By the way, AKFG rules, I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of J-Rock to go check them out if you haven't already.

Lastly, because as you all know I [i]am[/i] Japanese deficent (lol), I can't tell who sings [U][i]Ready, Steady, GO!!![/i][/U] at all. Anyone want to clear that up for me? I really want to know and Google doesn't help in this situation. :D

EDIT: Also, if you can, tell me who sings the song [i][u]Returnable Memories[/i][/u]. I can't quite read who sings that song either. It's also from FMA.

[Xander Harris]

Well, good music certainly can't hurt. If something is really good than crappy music won't hurt it, but if it's mediocre than good music can elevate it. Music can convey a sense of drama and emotion that words and pictures sometimes fail at, and can therefore compensate for poorer quality in the other aspects of the Anime.

[Kanariya]

[size=1][color=darkslateblue]This thread really confused me somewhat, do not know how. O__o

Well let's just say for me, if a show has bad music, I don't watch the show. The music really depends, I think the type it is and how well it goes with the genre of the show really matters. Like, if you have a dramatic show, and even slightly happy music playing, it pisses me off. I am so picky with my choice of music throughout anime, it's so disgusting. But hey, most anime I've come across has great music, and so, I'm completely fine with that.

No matter if poppy, techno, rock, I think depending on what's going on, it really affects the show itself. This is going towards a little of video games too; same goes with that.[/size][/color]

[Sol-Blade]

[SIZE=-3]Well to clarify, im talking about mostly when a show's soundtrack is either 1. Not of very good quality, or 2. Doesn't really quite fit with the theme of the show.

Take [B]Gunslinger Girl[/B] as a pretty good example. The show is very dramatic, and at some points action packed. Well the OST has a little bit (A perfect combination, might I add) of both. More upbeat tunes like [U]The Light before we land -b-y- The Delgados[/U] are way more happy-go-lucky with its acoustic guitar and drums. While [u]Wake from Dreaming[/u] is way more dreary and depressing with it's slow strings and pianos.[/SIZE]

[Dagger]

[QUOTE=Sol-Blade][SIZE=-3]Well to clarify, im talking about mostly when a show's soundtrack is either 1. Not of very good quality, or 2. Doesn't really quite fit with the theme of the show.

Take [B]Gunslinger Girl[/B] as a pretty good example. The show is very dramatic, and at some points action packed. Well the OST has a little bit (A perfect combination, might I add) of both. More upbeat tunes like [U]The Light before we land -b-y- The Delgados[/U] are way more happy-go-lucky with its acoustic guitar and drums. While [u]Wake from Dreaming[/u] is way more dreary and depressing with it's slow strings and pianos.[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

Just a weekend or two ago, The Delgados played at a club very close to where I live. I was actually pretty interested in seeing them live (it's not everyday that one is introduced to a Scottish rock band via anime), but never got around to buying tickets. In any case, I thought I'd mention that I completely agree--Gunslinger Girl does in fact have great music. The OP and ED contrast with each other perfectly.

Assuming musical variety is important, what do you rather have: stylistic variety or a variety of different moods? For example, the former would refer to a series with a soundtrack that showcases everything from opera to jazz; the latter would refer to a series whose music is dominated by (for example) rock, but contains both somber slow-paced ballads and hyperkinetic faux-punk.

Personally I love it when a show's music is built around a single genre--i.e. jazz in Cowbop Bebop and hip-hop in Samurai Champloo.

~Dagger~

[Sol-Blade]

[SIZE=-3][quote name='Dagger IX1']Just a weekend or two ago, The Delgados played at a club very close to where I live. I was actually pretty interested in seeing them live (it's not everyday that one is introduced to a Scottish rock band via anime), but never got around to buying tickets.[/quote]

Aww, I would have given my left leg to go see [I]The Delgados[/I]. The rest of their music is pretty good. I would love to see them on a tour, but I doubt it.

[quote name='Dagger IX1']Assuming musical variety is important, what do you rather have: stylistic variety or a variety of different moods? For example, the former would refer to a series with a soundtrack that showcases everything from opera to jazz; the latter would refer to a series whose music is dominated by (for example) rock, but contains both somber slow-paced ballads and hyperkinetic faux-punk.[/quote]

Defintely a [I]stylistic variety[/I]. I love watching shows take their series even further by not only [i]showing[/i] us their art, but letting us [i]hear[/i] it too. Nothing is better when you see a very innovative, artistic series compliment itself with music to boot. [B]FLCL[/B] (Fooly Cooly, Furi Kuri, whatever you call it!) was an amazing show that sported some of the best and craziest animation for it's time and had an even crazier OST to follow up! [I]The Pillows[/I] fit that role perfectly! The Punk-Rock music was really in it's place. Think of [B]Texhnolyze[/B], a funky-modern techno-induced show. With digital visuals and effects, the OST is perfect with all techno, house, and jungle music.

Call me crazy, but I really believe art and music mix together. [U][I]Sound needs Visuals[/I][/U] to be fully apprecaited, just as [U][I]Visuals needs Sound[/I][/U].

What I am trying to say is think about your favorite scene from a show (Any show...), and think about if there was no music playing the first time you saw that scene...what kind of music would [B]you[/B] imagine playing? Or if you were listening to your favorite theme or hymn and closed your eyes, what would [B]you[/B] picture happening while that tune was playing?

This is where my orginal question came from!

[B]Music: Does it really "Make or Break" a show?[/B]

Some shows seriously ruin the experience by not placing the "right" music with the "right" scene. As Wasabi mentioned, if you are watching a very sad, and heart-breaking scene...you don't expect the happiest music in the world to play, do you? Or if it's supposed to be an exciting, breathtaking, moment of triumph...you don't expect some depressing strings and horns, do you?

You would be surprised, there are shows that really, really can't put two-and-two together. Thus, the show's credibility has to be questioned. Is it [I]honestly[/I] taking itself seriously?

Thanks Dagger, for sparking that connection in my head. :D[/SIZE]

[QuincyArcher]

i think that good music could really make a series, but i dont necessarily think bad music would break it. for instance series' like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Evangelion & Noir rely failry heavily on music and it really helps the show out a lot. but i dont think i can name a series where the music alone ruined it.

[Twilight_Kioku]

in my opinion, music really can make or break a show. take for instance serial experiments lain. there was very little music in it, except in cyberia, and that was just fine. the whole show was set to be kinda creepy, i think. then you take a show like Inuyasha, where theres over 100 episodes to it, and they just use the same clips over, and over, and over, AND OVER, AND OVER(contenues for a while). it just get so frekkin repetitive that i just want to turn the tv off. it reuses the same clips too much too. then you get a show like azumanga daioh with its quirky theme that is currently stuck in my head now that i thought of it, lol. one show i know of that used the music content really well is the .hack// series. if it wasnt there, there really wouldnt be any mood to it, dontcha think? yes, i consider the voice acting good, but that just wouldnt be enough to me.

a step away from the anime, some video games know how to strategicly use music in them too. when the action picks up, the music picks up. one game(i think it was SSX tricky) the better your doing, the better the music is. but if the music isnt right, it can ruin the game for you. i beleive the same can be said for movies and other genere's too.

good topic choice, by the way