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What? Inuyasha original soundtrack (TV)
Who? Kaoru Wada
Purchase online? Yes: TV OST 1, TV OST 2, Movie OST
Where? (fave Inuyasha show sites) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Why? Kaoru Wada's score for the Inuyasha TV series cannot be labeled anything less than epic. With two CDs - so far, at least - just to cover the music, you've got to be saying to yourself, "Okay, Quality vs. Quantity here. It's got to stink sometime." and you would be justified in thinking so. After a while, the music on most anime shows all starts to sound the same. Fortunately, Kaoru's score has managed to escape this fate. So original that you'll remember it days, even weeks, since you've heard it last, it's an integral part of the show's story.
It's hard to not get excited by this music. I'm partial because I have this thing for panpipes and Kaoru Wada seems to have quite the panpipe fetish. (More than half the songs I've listened to off the soundtrack feature the instrument. ::drool:: ) Overall the music is traditional in mood as well as instruments. I'm not familiar with the traditional Japanese instruments but trust me on this one; you'll find no modern music during an ep of Inuyasha.
Like all good anime series, once you've watched the show for a while you begin to recognize when certain tracks will be played. Anyone listening to the soundtrack for the first time will immediately recognize the track "Hanyou Inuyasha" (Half-Demon Inuyasha) as the music playing during the preview for the next week's ep. It's also one of the most memorable tunes from the show itself. Brazen and upbeat, even if you were distracted by Pocky munching it'll get your attention every time. The other track most listeners will find familiar first off is "Kagome to Inuyasha" (Kagome and Inuyasha). It's the mushy-gushy tune that starts up whenever something dramatic and/or romantic is going on. Trust me, if you watch the show, you know it. My favorite track so far is "Fate of Awakening Love". Can you say panpipes? Though I don't recognize it from the show, it's got the "feel" of the main theme so it fits in my head. And, uh, there's panpipes.
Much as I love the music during the show, I can't disguise the fact that the end themes are my fave by far! The eps they're showing on Cartoon Network are still fairly early in the series so I've only seen the sequences for "My Will" and "Fukai Mori" but I've heard all the songs. "Shinjitsu no Uta" is my fave song, partly because it's by one of my favorite J-pop bands, Do As Infinity, and partly because it's a great song! My favorite sequence so far is the first one. I think I just like the flowers at the beginning and the Ferris wheel thing (I like spinning things with bright lights O_O) or maybe it's the fact that we get to see Kagome doing stuff in her own time like riding the train. Eh. . . .
Can't say much about the opening themes since CN doesn't freakin play them! Gah! Like the end themes, I've heard all the songs (except for the last one) and all I can say is I'm not very impressed. I can't help but do a little dance to "I Am" though. Hitomi has such a fun nasal singing voice. I just wanna hug her she sounds so cute ^_^ No matter how catchy they are, the fact remains that they all bother me. Somehow they just don't fit with the show. I can't help but wish Kaoru had composed a specific opening theme and kept it throughout the whole series. Then I wouldn't have to suffer listening to "Change the World" and giggling at the way he sings "world". So I'm evil. Watch me polish my horns. Grrrrr.
Opening Themes
in order of appearance in series, from http://www.amoeboid.net/inuyasha/main.html
V6, Change the World
Hitomi, I Am
Nanase Aikawa, Owarinai Yume
Every Little Thing, Grip!
End Themes
in order of appearance in series, from http://www.amoeboid.net/inuyasha/main.html
Dream, My Will
Do As Infinity, Fukai Mori
Hamasaki Ayumi, Dearest
BoA, Every Heart
Do As Infinity, Shinjitsu no Uta
Day After Tomorrow, Itazurana Kiss
Buddy Icons!
made by me so feel free to steal. hover over an icon to see the character's name. more forthcoming.
I have a weakness for guys with long, white hair and purple stripes on their cheeks.
