These 10 anime songs are the best of this summer! DJ Hiroyuki Deguchi's "Just Shut Up and Listen to Anime Songs! in Summer 2018"!

Hello to the 10 million anime fans in Japan. I am Hiroyuki Deguchi, a wandering bassist and DJ who mainly plays anime and special effects songs. Around the time the new season of anime releases, my irregular column "Just Shut Up and Listen to Anime Songs! . This time it will be the installment for the summer of 2018.

It's hot as summer should be, but how is everyone doing this summer, which is experiencing record-breaking heat waves in many parts of the country?　As called for every day, it is still essential to take measures against heat such as hydration, so let's not let our guard down and spend this summer!

It is not only reality that is more "summery" than usual. This year's summer anime also seems to have a lot of summery works and summery songs. Last year's summer-inspired songs included "Zenryoku☆Summer!" from the OP of "Aho Girl" and "Clione's Light" from the OP of "Clione's Light," which had a wide range of music genres and gave the impression of a "festival-like lively summer. I had the impression that the music this year was more like songs that reinforce the world view of the animation rather than vigorous. This is not to say that the music was quieter than usual or less prominent than in previous years, but rather that there was a strong lineup of songs that reminded us of summer scenes.

Now, from all the summery works and songs of this season, we have selected the "This is it! I will select the anime songs from all the summery works and songs of this season!

Here are the 10 songs of this season!

Guranburu

OP "Grand Blue/Shonan Nofu

Zoids Wild

OP "Starting Over/DISH//

Chio-chan's way to school

OP "Danger in my School Road/Chio Mitani Sousho(CV.Naomi Ozora) Manana Nonomura(CV.Chiaki Omigawa) Yuki Hosokawa(CV.Kaede Motowatari)

High Score Girl

OP "New Stranger/sora tob sakana

Hanebad!

OP "Futari no Hane/YURiKA

Back Street Girls-Gokudolls!

OP "Gokudol Music/Gokudols Niji-gumi

Muhyo to Rosie no Maho Houhou Shouken Jimusho

ED "Hotohashiru/ORESAMA

Yamano Susume: The Third Season

OP "Horizon Stride/Aoi (CV. Yuka Iguchi), Hinata (CV. Kana Asumi), Kaede (CV. Yoko Hikasa), Kokona (CV. Yui Ogura)

Yami Shiba (6th season)

ED "Mayakashi Yokocho / Aiko Okumura

Yuna-san of Yuragisou

OP "Peach-colored Typhoon / Luna Haruna

Every time I select a song, I am extremely worried and agonized over it, but this time, I was able to select it without that much trouble. It is not that the songs were good or bad, but that many of them easily matched my personal tastes and preferences. I felt that my cells instantly judged "Oh, I like this! I had a feeling that my cells instantly judged "Oh, I like this! After all, I am a big fan of songs with cool bass and cool rhythm.

In the previous Spring Anime Song Selection, I wrote, "Since there were many calm songs in Spring, we may be able to hear more open (too open) songs in Summer," but it is very interesting that there are fewer songs in that direction and more songs with a sense of temperature following the Spring Cool season. Perhaps the trend in the future will be songs that are not too flashy.

The most summery work and song of this season is "Grand Blue," the OP of "Guranburu.

It is truly summer, and of course, it is so summer that it can never be broadcast anywhere but in summer!　The song is also by Shonan Nofu, and it couldn't be more summer. At first glance, the combination of an anime song and Shonan Nofu seemed unimaginable, but I was surprised to see such a strong connection between the work and the song. It's so cool.

The music is based on reggae, which is classified as a maniacal genre, but by putting melodies and lyrics on the beat that have been made as popular as possible, a unique world view is created. The secret of Shonan Nofu's strength is its ability to strike a perfect balance between mania and popularity, two contradictory elements.

It will continue to be remembered as one of the most popular anime songs of the summer.

Speaking of summer-inspired works and songs, let's not forget this one. Hanebado! OP "Futari no Hane" of "Hanebado!

Songs tend to have a strong sense of drive, but this song is refreshing in that it portrays the passion for club activities in a cheerful, fresh, and healthy way, rather than the intensity of the competitions and the intensity of the games. Especially in the chorus, the melody is developed one beat earlier than the instruments, which creates a forward rhythm that propels the song forward. This exhilarating sense of youthfulness, as if one's footsteps are getting faster and faster, is truly wonderful. The sound is also transparent and three-dimensional, and the breaks and kimes are small and well-defined, which is also worth listening to. Even though it is not a song that will make you cry, every time I see them do their best in an exhilarating way, my lacrimal gland is stimulated every time I see them.

Starting Over," the OP of "Zoids Wild," is another refreshing summer song.

This is a true anime song! I want to say out loud, "This is the right anime song! The message of the lyrics and the sound of the gorgeous strings echoing in the song give a sense of "boyishness," or in a good way, a sense of youthfulness, which is linked to the worldview of the anime work.

There are many hobbies for boys, such as video games and plastic models, but Zoids are in a very hardcore category among boys' hobbies. It would be an overstatement to say that every boy must build at least one Zoids in his lifetime, but Zoids are a product that only boys will enjoy. The thrill of assembling a Zoids and the sense of accomplishment when it is completed are irreplaceable. This song reminds us of that kind of excitement from deep in our hearts.

Momoshiki Typhoon," the OP of "Yuragisou no Yuna-san," is another song that reminds me of summer.

It has a very Japanese flavor, not in the sense of freshness or transparency of sound, but in the sense that the melody is completely on a festival musical scale, or what is called a "pentatonic scale. The melody is completely in the form of festival music, or what is called a "pentatonic scale," which gives the song a very Japanese flavor. In addition to "Momoiro Typhoon," the ED of "Tsukumogami wo Yoroshiku" (Let Me Dream Tonight) and the OP of "Kyoto Teramachi Sanjo no Homes" ( Love Blooming Mystery, Haraharato), many other songs using Japanese pentatonic scale are also a feature of this season.

This season's "song of extraordinary quality despite being a story song" is "Gokudoru Music," the OP of "Back Street Girls-Gokudoruzu.

Since it can be called a "story song," another way of putting it would be "a song with a playful spirit.

The story of the work itself is a crazy story about a gangster who undergoes a sex change operation and becomes an idol, so I think the song has to be as outlandish as this to match the story. From the familiar "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" style introduction at the beginning of the song, the song is filled with many detailed homages, so it is an interesting way to listen to the song to find them. Although the story part tends to catch the ear, the music is composed by Masayoshi Oishi, who is now at the top of the scene as both a writer and an artist. The playful yet detailed chromatic progression and melodic omissions show the skill of Masayoshi Oishi in every part of the song. Funny yet a little sad, enjoyable yet a little lonely, these songs have a mysterious listening appeal.

The OP "New Stranger" of "HIGH SCORE GIRL" reminds us that anime songs have advanced to the next stage.

It's just so cool!　It is avant-garde progressive rock and mass rock, but it is also catchy and pop-oriented. It's a balance of avant-garde prog rock and mass rock, yet catchy and poppy to the point of collapse. The combination of a sound like a mass of edges and vocals that remain juvenile (in a good way, not too good) may be called an invention. It is ultimately unlike an anime song, but it is very interesting that the parts that stick out too much are conversely convincing as an anime song. Since it has a high affinity with anime works, progressive rock and mass rock may become the standard genre for anime songs in the future.

As a bassist, I thought this season's "This! I thought "Danger in my school road", the OP of "Chio-chan no Tsugakkoji".

Bassists and bass-lovers everywhere should definitely listen to it. The instruments other than the bass also stand out with their strong sounds, but the presence of the bass is outstanding among them. The bassist's technique is superb, with fast runs from low to high positions, fast running phrases, and other basic skills taken to the extreme. I am planning to practice this song as an assignment to improve my skills.

As a bassist, one more song that I thought was "good! I thought "Horizon Stride," the OP of "Yamanosume: The Third Season.

The groove of the 16-minute song is controlled by the groove of the song, and the high position phrases are inserted at the best parts of the song. The 16-minute groove controls the groove of the song, while high-position phrases are inserted at the right places, and the expressiveness is so rich that it is pleasant to listen to again and again.

When you hear a phrase that says, "I don't know the details of how it works, but it makes my body move," in most cases it is the bass that is creating the groove. I think you will be able to experience such "black music mechanics" in an easy-to-understand way, so try listening to it while moving your body.

The ED "Hoto Hashiru" of "Muhyo to Rosie no Maho Houhou Shouken Jimusho " is a song that incorporates the danceable elements of black music, but also has its own unique personality.

It is interesting that the groove of the song is not horizontal but vertical, even though it is based on funk. The groove is very linear because the rhythm is constructed by hammering, so things like analog fluctuations are organized. Therefore, there are no subtle tames or twists, but in other words, the same groove is repeated without any deviation. This lack of deviation enhances the raw groove of the vocals, and the groove is linear and vertical, but with a complex swaying groove.

Lastly, I would like to select the best song of the season. It is "Mayakashi Yokocho," the ED of "Yami Shibai."

Every time "Yami Shiba" has an outstandingly cool song chosen for the ending, and this time it was outstanding as well!　Well, it is cool!　While it has a retro atmosphere of modern jazz and Taisho-roman, the soundscape, timing, and texture are properly updated to the present day, giving it a kind of unique daydreaming feeling that is addictive. The guitar is the star of the show, along with the vocals, and the other instruments are quiet. The other instruments are not quiet at all, and the groove of the band is very pleasant, even though all the parts are strong and have strong characters and sound like a mass of self-assertion. I would like to recommend this song as the best of the season!

What do you think?

We have selected 10 songs for this year's contest. Did you find any of your favorite works or songs?

Compared to last year's summer season, I had the impression that the genres of the songs were more diversified. There is a tremendous range, from royal anime songs to progressive rock. I can't wait to see what kind of songs and works will appear in the next cool season.

See you next time in the fall!

(Text by Hiroyuki Deguchi)