New anime music is one of the things I look most forward to each season. And as we have 44 new anime for the summer season, we also have 44 new openings and endingsānot to mention the new second-half themes from last season’s anime that are still on the air.
https://kotaku.com/your-complete-summer-2014-anime-guide-1601568087
So below are some of my favorite opening and ending songs from the anime that are currently airing during the summer 2014 season in Japan.
Anime: Barakamon
Song: āRashisaā
Artist: Super Beaver
Why Do I Love It? This is a great upbeat, yet easy going, rock song that will just stick in your head. Moreover, the opening is practically an episode in and of itself as it tells a short, self-contained adventure between the lead characters.
Anime: Monthly Girls Nozaki-Kun
Song: āKimijanakya Dame Mitaiā
Artist: Masayoshi Oishi
Why Do I Love It? This song is just pure fun. It starts out as disco and ends up as something between big band and 90’s rock. It’s amazing.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24g1c7
Anime: Aldnoah.Zero
Song: āHeavenly Blueā
Artist: Kalafina
Why Do I Love It? Angelic, dark, tension-building, hauntingly beautiful, hopefulāthese are all adjectives I would use to describe this song. It’s rare for one song to cover so much emotional ground.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24g1ex
Anime: Sword Art Online II
Song: āIgniteā
Artist: Eir Aoi
Why Do I Love It? I just love j-pop songs with a soprano capable of just belting out those powerful high notes. The awesome sword versus gun fighting animation doesn’t hurt either.
Anime: Sailor Moon Crystal
Song: āMoon Prideā
Artist: Momoiro Clover Z
Why Do I Love It? Simply put, it is a song that just āfitsā Sailor Moonāas it was likely designed to. Moreover, the opening animation is just gorgeous to boot.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24g1e0
Anime: Terror in Resonance
Song: Dareka Umiwo
Artist: Aimer
Why Do I Love It? Written by Yoko Kanno, this haunting melody uses its minor key to great effect. It also excellently uses violins as a discordant counterpoint to the vocals.
Anime: Akame Ga Kill
Song: Konna Sekai, Shiritakunakatta
Artist: Miku Sawai
Why Do I Love It? Overall, it is a great ballad: slow, beautiful, and powerful. It also has a well-done build to the chorusāwhich is quite catchy in its own right.
Anime: Tokyo Ghoul
Song: āUnravelā
Artist: TK From Ling Tosite Sigure
Why Do I Love It? While at first I didn’t like this often falsetto-sung song, it has grown on me, especially the chorus. Moreover, this opening has some truly beautiful visuals that keep me watching it even in the time between episodes.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24fyhg
Anime: Nobunaga Concerto
Song: Fukagyaku Replace
Artist: My First Story
Why Do I Love It? I love the opening guitar solo and rocking chorus. It also does a nice job of showing off the merits of the series’ 3D animated visuals.
Anime: Tokyo ESP
Song: Kyuusei Argyros
Artist: Yousei Teikoku
Why Do I Love It? While I’m not usually one for metal, I have to say I enjoyed this song. What makes it great is the operatic Italian background choir and how it works with the vocals and guitars. [Video contains nudity and is NSFW.]
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