I was thinking of two songs I’ve met through anime that are really special to me, namely, “…To You” by Ayako Kawasumi, the opening from the small anime “Piano: The Melody of a Young Girl’s Heart”; and “Never Looking Back” by Shizukunome, the second ending to You-Gi-Oh!! SEVENS.
So, what are some small pieces you’d like to highlight?
“Kanashimi no mukou he” (悲しみの向こうへ) from School Days. This and the intro are the only redeeming qualities of this anime imo.
Speaking of “only redeeming qualities of the entire anime”, Rosario + Vampire’s Season II op “Discotheque” is also fantastic and is an honorable mention.
I would want people to be aware of “Gospel of the Throttle” from Drifters, and… Probably not overlooked but one of the most perfect anime songs ever, “Good Morning, World” the original Dr. Stone intro.
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The entirety of Kyousougiga OST is quite underrated and underlistened.
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Bokura no Message from Uninhabited Planet Survive and Ikite Koso from Mushiking, both by Kiroro.
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Both of Asura endings: Kibou and [Trash](Kominami Yasuha) by Kominami Yasuha.
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Michi from Running with the Wind.
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Strike it Out by Miyavi from Tribe Nine.
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Kokkoku opening is also done by Miyavi, and it’s so good and popular that it kind of took away the attention from the ending.
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The ending to Harmonie is pretty unknown.
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Gekkou Symphonia from Aquarion EVOL OST.
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Tsukisenichiya and Traumerei by Rurutia from PopoloCrois
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Stuff by Yu Takahashi such as Hikari no Hahen from Orange and Genjitsu to Iu Na no Kaibutsu to Tatakau Mono-tachi from Bakuman.
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Hitsuji bungaku from Heike Monogatari is too as well (note that the translation in the video is rather shoddy). Also, the visual for the opening is fantastic if you haven’t seen it. This one was released rather late and well after the show ended so it doesn’t get much traction.
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Something a little different. This is a character song from Vanitas no Carte sung by voice actor/actress as their respective character in the show.
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Doraemon i generally more popular in Asia and almost unknown in the west. It has some pretty neat stuff that are a mixture of old and new like Boku no Kokoro wo Tsukutteyo, Shounen Ki, Kisetsu ga iku Toki.
Whoa, you had really thought about this before. I’ll be working through these as the day goes by.
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Listening to both recommendations! I’ve gotten to know many musical songs and pieces I like through anime, even though I don’t watch very much anime anymore.
Crystal Kay - ONE
Apparently this was the Pokemon Movie 11 theme back in 2008.
Still sounds great.ZAQ’s Soranone comes to mind. It was used as opening for Kouya no Kotobuki Hikoutai from 2020, which is not well known and underrated itself. I think ZAQ is underrated in general among western community, so basically any of her anisongs could fit.
