Babel Nisei (original) (raw)

This is the first part of a collection of articles where I aim to explore the evolution of anime related music. This part of the list attempts to collect a list of most iconic "Anime Songs".

The term "Anime Songs" used in this list refers to the theme songs that have a strong connection to the series demonstrated by their lyrics and the emotion invoked by the song related to the series. Essentially the song and the lyrics talk about the series or the characters in a direct manner forming a direct link between the performance and the series in question.

These types of theme songs were more common and popular before 1980s. The defining moment that can be said had influence on changing the theme songs away from this model is the popularity of the series "Urusei Yatsura" and how it used to promote a several "tie-up" songs that in contrast to "Anime Songs" by their nature don't necessarily have anything to do with the series, story or the characters.

I will write my thoughts on each of the entries on this list to further explain why I think the series and the theme songs included as a combined package have attained "iconic" status when it comes to the scene of "Anime Songs" in contrast to the "tie-up songs". I will also give a score related on how deeply intertwined I see the series and the performance related to the theme songs as a part of the experience as a whole. The series are ordered based on that score.

The term "iconic" in this list is defined by the popularity and how deeply established the meaning and the lyrical elements of the performance are in addition of them being intertwined with the series as a whole experience.

This list does not include iconic "tie-up songs" or other songs that by their lyrics or meaning do not establish a significant connection to the series, characters or the story.

More info about "Anime Songs" and "tie-up songs" and how they affect the performance from the perspective of the singer in this interview: https://www.cinra.net/article/interview-201509-horiemitsuko

The Four Kings:

Mitsuko Horie - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/9754
Ichiro Mizuki - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/15851
Kumiko Oosugi - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24461
Isao Sasaki - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/24460