A pure 'anime' song and just a really great song to listen to over and over again. The second ending theme from Slam Dunk.
Lyrics:
大都会に 僕はもう一人で
投げ捨てられた 空き缶のようだ互いのすべてを 知りつくすまでが
愛ならば いっそ 永久に眠ろうか．．．
世界が終るまでは 離れる事もないそう願っていた 幾千の夜と
戻らない時だけが 何故輝いては
やつれきった 心までも壊す．．．
はかなき想い．．． このＴｒａｇｅｄｙ Ｎｉｇｈｔ
そして人は 形（こたえ）を求めて
かけがえのない 何かを失う欲望だらけの 街じゃ 夜空の
星屑も 僕らを灯せない
世界が終る前に 聞かせておくれよ満開の花が 似合いのＣａｔａｓｔｒｏｐｈｅ
誰もが望みながら 永遠を信じない
・・・なのに きっと 明日を夢見てる
はかなき日々と このＴｒａｇｅｄｙ Ｎｉｇｈｔ 世界が終るまでは 離れる事もない
そう願っていた 幾千の夜と
戻らない時だけが 何故輝いては
やつれきった 心までも壊す．．．
はかなき想い．．． このＴｒａｇｅｄｙ Ｎｉｇｈｔ
このＴｒａｇｅｄｙ Ｎｉｇｈｔ
Until the end of the world
In this big city I am all alone
Tossed away Like some empty can
If love is knowing everything about each other
Then let’s sleep for all eternity…
Until the end of the world
We won’t ever be apart
For countless nights I wished for this
Why does the past break
Even the worn out heart that shines?
These transient feelings… This Tragedy Night
And so people go on looking for an answer
Always losing something irreplaceable
Even the stars in the night sky
Can’t light us up when in a city of desire
Before the world ends
Let me hear it from you
That a flower in full bloom
Is just like a catastrophe
While continuing to hope, no one believes in eternity
…Yet surely people still dream for tomorrow
These transient days… This Tragedy Night
Until the end of the world
We won’t ever be apart
For countless nights I wished for this
Why does the past break
Even the worn out heart that shines?
These transient feelings… This Tragedy Night
This Tragedy Night
A lot of people on this site seem to hate Dragonball Z with a vengeance but to me this anime (and the Dragonball manga) is an undeniable classic. I think it is fairly safe to say that if it weren't for the Dragonball series you wouldn't have some of the most popular anime today, such as Bleach, One Piece and Naruto. Whether love it or hate it, the influence Dragonball has had on the world of anime cannot be denied.
The OP for Dragonball Z, CHA-LA HEAD CHA LA, is just like the anime itself - a true classic. A lot of great memories from this one (wipes tear from cheek:)
Lyrics:
光る 雲を突き抜け Fly Away! (Fly Away)
からだじゅうに 広がるパノラマ
顔を 蹴られた地球が怒って(怒って)
火山を爆発させる
溶けた北極(こおり)の中に
恐竜がいたら 玉乗り仕込みたいね
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
何が起きても気分は へのへのカッパ
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
胸がパチパチするほど
騒く元気玉...Sparking!
空を 急降下 Jet Coaster (Coaster)
落ちてゆくよ パニックの楽園(その)へ
景色 逆さになると愉快さ(愉快さ)
山さえ お尻に見える
悩む時間はないよ
何処かに潜む「ビックリ！」に逢いたいから
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
頭カラッポの方が 夢詰め込める
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
笑顔ウルトラZで
今日もアイヤイヤイヤイヤイ
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
何が起きても気分は へのへのカッパ
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
胸がパチパチするほど
騒く元気玉...Sparking!
Blasting through the clouds burning white Fly Away (Fly Away!)
An outstretching panorama right through my body
The earth gets angry from a kick to the face (kick to the face)
And explodes off a volcano
If a dinosaur would appear from melting ice
I’d wanna teach it to balance on a ball
CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA
No matter what happens I’m on top of the world
CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA
The more my chest crackles
The bigger the noise of the energy ball… Sparking!
A jet coaster diving through the sky (through the sky)
It falls down to a panic paradise
The joy of the scenery being turned upside down (upside down)
The rump of the mountains comes into view
I’ve got no time to worry
Because I wanna bump into the ‘Surprise!’ lurking out there
CHA-LA HEAD CHA LA
I jam all my dreams into the empty side of my head
CHA-LA HEAD CHA LA
With an Ultra-Z smile
Today it’s AI-YAI-YAI-YAI!
CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA
No matter what happens I’m on top of the world
CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA
The more my chest crackles
The bigger the noise of the energy ball… Sparking!
Okay, now I've got to say that I am not exactly the world's biggest Naruto fan, but Houndog's song, ROCKS, is a perfect opening for a shounen anime. Classic Japanese rock song.
Houndog - R★O★C★K★S
COME ON!
追われるように 急いでいる
乾いた胸が かりたてるのさ
ひときわ強く 輝く星はいまも遠くにある
失ってゆく 求めながら
奪われてゆく 与えながら
誰のためでなく 誰のものでなく
俺たちのいまが
思いかさね 夢をかさね 日々をかさね
汗にまみれ 涙こらえ 血をたぎらせ
闘うことも 愛しあうことも
遥か光の On the way
裏切ってきた 信じながら
傷つけてきた 祈りながら
誰のことでなく 誰のせいでなく
俺たちのいまを
痛みほどき 心ほどき 影をほどき
息をつめて 走りぬけろ 闇を裂いて
悲しむことも 夢をみることも
終わりはしない On the way
思いかさね 夢をかさね 日々をかさね
汗にまみれ 涙こらえ 血をたぎらせ
I WANNA ROCKS 胸にROCKS
I WANNA ROCKS 胸にROCKS
English:
COME ON!
I run along as if being chased
My burning chest spurs me on
But that dazzling star is still so far away
As I look for more, I go on losing
As I keep on giving, things keep getting taken away
Our moment together
Isn’t set up for anyone else, It doesn’t belong to anyone else
Thought after thought, dream after dream, day after day
I’m drenched in sweat, I push back the tears, My blood is burning
Fighting and getting along
Is a light far away
On the way
I’ve been betrayed, as I’ve gone on believing
I’ve inflicted wounds, as I’ve been praying
Our moment together
Isn’t about anyone else, No one else is to blame
Release your pain, Release your heart, Release your shadow
Hold your breath, Keep on running, Tear down the darkness
Suffering setbacks and following dreams
Will have no end
On the way
Thought after thought, dream after dream, day after day
I’m drenched in sweat, I push back the tears, My blood is burning
I WANNA ROCKS ROCKS TO THE CHEST
I WANNA ROCKS ROCKS TO THE CHEST
The next song on the list is the ending song for an anime that I'm really getting into at the moment, Kaiji.
While the opening theme for Kaiji isn't bad (although I do prefer the Blue Hearts original) the ending song sung by Hakuryuu, (who also does the voice for Tonegawa) really captures the feel and the themes presented in the anime. It also is an excellent example of Japanese enka (演歌), a genre of music that is rarely seen as an anime song. (Hakuryuu's voice even sounds kind of like Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi :)
You can find the full version of the song on the Kaiji O.S.T
Below are the Japanese lyrics and my (mis)translation:
止まない雨はないと 高をくくってた
甘ったるい夢に うつつを抜かしてた
気づいた時には もう戻れない地獄の底にいる
いつか見た甘い夢が 今は氷の世界へ
最後の地獄を 見せ付けられた時には
誰もが 哲学者にでも なれるもんだぜ
諦めるんじゃないぜ 変わるのは自分さ
誰も情けなんて かけちゃくれない
今 負け犬たちの 勝負の時が始まる
あがけば あがくほどに
深みに嵌ってゆき
奈落の底へと 悪魔が手招きしている
どっちに転ぶんだい？ 今がお前のラストチャンス
諦めるんじゃないぜ 変わるのは自分さ
誰も情けなんて かけちゃくれない
今 負け犬たちの 勝負の時が始まる
今 負け犬たちの 勝負の時が始まる
Always thinking that the rain will eventually stop
Always chasing your sweet dreams
And then you realize
That you’re in the depths of a hell you can’t pull out of
The sweet dreams you once saw
Have now turned to a world of ice
And everyone becomes somewhat of a philosopher
When they realize they are in the depths of hell
Don’t give up yet
You can change
No one’s ever going to show you sympathy
Now is the moment of truth for the underdogs
The more you struggle
The more you get stuck
The devil is beckoning you
To the pits of hell
Which way will you fall?
This is your last chance
Don’t give up yet
You can change
No one’s ever going to show you sympathy
Now is the moment of truth for the underdogs
Now is the moment of truth for the underdogs
Okay, technically speaking this isn't an anime song per se, but it is song that holds a lot of great memories for me that I just had to include it in.
It is an instrumental piece played by The Black Mages and written by the one and only, Nobuo Uematsu. The song made its first, and in my opinion, most memorable appearance during Final Fantasy V. The CD recorded version is simply an amazing example of instrumental rock done very, very well - I can still remember hearing it for the first time so very vividly.
You can find the song on The Black Mages' self-titled debut album.
I love watching films. Perhaps even more so than anime (Eechk! There I've said it..) So much so that I majored in Film Studies at Uni for 4 years along with Japanese. Here are a couple of my favorite directors (listed in no particular order), followed by the film(s) of theirs I would recommend the most. Feel free to add comment, recommend films etc. I'm always up for a discussion when in comes to my favorite artform
Wong Kar Wai (Chungking Express):
In short my favourite director to come out of Hong Kong. Developing a wildly original (while esoteric) style, he, and his Australian (yay!) cinematographer Chris Doyle and almost single-handedly recaptured the West's interest in Hong Kong film in the nineties with hits such as Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, Fallen Angels, Happy Together and In the Mood for Love.
Luc Besson (Le Dernier Combat ):
People only ever really seem to go on about Besson's American films, Leon and The Fifth Element, but it is the films he made before travelling to America that are the real masterpieces in my opinion - Le Dernier Combat, Subway, Nikita and of course The Big Blue - simply awesome.
Stanley Kubrick (Dr. Strangelove):
I could pretty much talk for days on end about how great Kubrick is... He basically tackled every subject matter - and managed to make some of the most horrifying (Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining), intriguing (2001: A Space Odyssey, Eyes Wide Shut), beautiful (Barry Lyndon), funny (Dr. Strangelove), epic (Spatacus) controversial (Lolita) and thrilling (The Killing, Killer's Kiss, Paths of Glory). A must see director.
Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window):
One of the greatest directors of all time, with over 50 films to his name. God, even his silent films kick ass! (Try seeing The Lodger if you don't know what I mean). Man so many films - I don't which one I'd recommend first - hire one out one for yourself, dim the lights and let this master director thrill your senses!!
Brian DePalma (Blowout):
Awesome film director, similar to Hitchcock in many ways. At least check out, Blowout, Sisters, Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface and of more recent times, Femme Fatale.
John Woo (Hard Boiled):
Gee what can I say? Pretty much invented the bullet ballet genre by himself!! Bullet in the Head, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled - without a doubt action classics!
John Hughes (Ferris Bueller's Day Off):
This guy's films made such an impression on me growing up, going through the high school warzone that I just had to include him. Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Uncle Buck and of course, The Breakfast Club. A little low-brow compared to some of the other directors on this list, but still I can highly recommend this director's works.
David Cronenberg (Videodrome)
What can I say about this guy – INSANE, SIMPLY INSANE. Master of the cult film – Videodrome, The Fly, Crash, Scanners etc. Rent one of his films out and prepare to watch one of the most fucked up things you’re ever likely to see. “Long live the New Flesh!!”
David Lynch (Eraserhead)
Fucked up in the same way that Cronenberg is. Personally I prefer Cronenberg, but Lynch at his best can still conjure up some of the most amazing things you’re ever likely to see – Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive – pure awesome.
Atom Egoyan (Exotica)
I have to admit I have still only seen Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter but I was totally blown away with the imagery used in these films! All I can say is a big WOW! Check these out!
Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon)
Here’s a man who needs no introduction to all you Japanophiles out there. Calling him Japan’s Hitchcock still doesn’t really give him the credit. If you have some kind of phobia of black and white films (god bless you, you poor thing) then it’s time to get over it and start watching some of his classics… NOW!
Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing):
Arguably the most influential African-American filmmaker of all time. Worth checking out because of that alone.
Ridley Scott (Alien):
Sure he knows how to make a shit film (Black Hawk Down) but damn does know how to make a good one as well (Alien, Blade Runner).
James Cameron (Aliens):
Again a bit of a hit and miss director for me: I loved The Terminator and Aliens, The Abyss was okay I guess, Titanic?... ahem, take my advice- don’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.
Zhang Yimou (Red Sorgham):
Leader of the so-called ‘fifth generation’ of Chinese cinema and an amazing director in his own right. His earlier films made with Gong Li (Shanghai Triads, Raise the Red Lantern, Ju Dou, To Live etc.) are so gut wrenchingly stark that I wouldn’t recommend it for the light hearted film watcher – try starting with his films featuring Zhang Ziyi, The Road Home, Not One Less or Hero before tackling these earlier works. Once your hooked however, there is no turning back…:)
Martin Scorcese (Taxi Driver):
Another director that needs no introduction. While I loved and can rave on and on about his earlier works (Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, After Hours etc.) I’m not much of a fan of his latter works – Gangs of New York and The Aviator. Bringing Out the Dead was his last great film in my opinion.
Cohen Brothers (Fargo):
Good damn awesome filmmakers (to use the parlance of our times :) If you like noir thrillers, or dark comedy, then this is the place to get it. While I do prefer their films that use imagery to tell the story (Barton Fink) rather than just relying on dialogue (The Ladykillers), there is plenty to be had from just about any Cohen Brothers film.
Takeshi Kitano (Hanabi)
For me, the Japanese director of the late 80’s, early nineties. Makes some shit films (Brother), but his great films are really great (Hanabi, Violent Cop, Sonatine).
John Carpenter (Halloween)
Another personal favorite director of mine, his early works in particular have got to seen to be believed: Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween, Starman, The Thing (remake of the Howard Hawks’ classic), Dark Star etc.
Sergio Leone (The Good, The Bad and the Ugly)
Arguably the GOD of the western film, the films that he made with Clint Eastwood are classics that you must see at least once in your lifetime. A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once upon a Time in the West – gold, pure gold…
Sam Raimi (Evil Dead)
Two words. Evil Dead. God yes.
OTHER DIRECTORS WORTH MENTIONING HERE:
Stephen Spielbelg (for early films – Jaws, Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List – his later films such as A.I and Minority Report, The Terminal suck so very, very badly…)
Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas), Jean Luc Goddard (Breathless, Alphaville ), Abbas Kiarostami (have only seen A Taste of Cherry – need to see more of this guy’s films!), Mario Bava (Black Sunday), Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven), Chen Kaige (Yellow Earth, Fareware, My Concubine), Stephen Chow (awesome director of comedy, everyone goes on about Shaolin Soccer, but his earlier works are much, much funnier), Francis Ford Coppola (The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather), Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2 ), John Ford (Stagecoach), Howard Hawks (The Thing), Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog), Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch), Roman Polanski (Chinatown), Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street), Shinya Tsukamoto (Tetsuo), François Truffaut (The 400 Blows), Dario Argento (Suspiria), George Romero (Night of the Living Dead), Fruit Chan (Made in Hong Kong), Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China) etc.