Bandolier! Four bands released new singles at the same time! In-depth review of the songs that will open the year 2021! Seiyu Artists Bulletin January 2021

This monthly series recommends works by voice-over artists.

January 2021 was a frenzied month for fans of the media-mix content "BanG Dream! fans, or "bandleaders," may have had a frenzied month from the very beginning of the new year. This month, four single CDs from the four real bands that appear in the series were released in a relay format over a four-week period. The big wave of "Bandolier! I would like to review all the singles this month so as not to miss out on the big wave of "Bandolier!

Poppin'Party 16th single "Photograph

The most notable feature of "Photograph" is the power of the words written by novelist Nakamura Wataru, which grab the listener's attention and keep them with them. At the risk of starting off on a tangent about the writer in charge, the title track "Photograph" reminded me once again of the power of Nakamura's lyrics to describe a scene. I would like to quote from the beginning of the song as follows

A baby rabbit born next week

Too sweet canned coffee in the faculty building

Curry or pasta? Or pasta?

Your breath at the gate

Photograph" is a song that depicts the happiness that abounds in the daily lives of Poppin'Party (hereafter referred to as "Poppipa"), but from a slightly mean-spirited angle, the song's start is a bit unexpected. However, as you listen to the song, you will understand the aforementioned theme without being told, and you will naturally visualize the places where your casual school life takes place, such as the breeding shed, the vending machines and cafeteria where you enjoyed casual chats, and the cold winter school gate ....... (The euphemism "your breath" at the school gate is also a point that brings tears to the eyes.) ) The nostalgic warmth of the track and the individual singing of each member of the band, combined with the song assignments, make each word and sound more than just a scene, as if it were a movie.

The fast-paced guitar cutting in the chorus of the chorus evokes the members' steps as they run through their youth, and at the end of the song, they promise to leave the "most beautiful one" to the future. When the girls put down their cameras someday, how many albums will they have produced?

On the other hand, the coupling song, "Open it and Dream! There is no age limit to the "sparkling and exciting" heart. It is a song that shows Poppipa's playful spirit without forgetting "teenage vibe.

Roselia 11th single "ZEAL of proud

Roselia's two songs are introduced here. The point in common between both songs and what differentiates them from other bands is that they are message songs that push the audience forward with a clear awareness of their audience's presence.

The title track, "ZEAL of proud," will be released in the fall of 2020 in the smartphone rhythm game "Bandolier! Girls Band Party! (hereafter referred to as "Galpa") in the fall of 2020. The song is based on the event story "This warmth that fills my heart" released in the smartphone rhythm game "Bandoli-Girls' Band Party! The coupling song "Blessing Chord" proves that it is okay to be who you are, just as you are. It is no coincidence that the phrase "It's okay" appears in the lyrics of both songs.

In addition to "okay," the two songs also share the word "light," and the contrast between the two is clearly conveyed in the solemn, dark, gothic rock/metal sound of the girls as they overcome their hardships to find a brighter place. It would be a bit of a cop-out for fans to say that Roselia is a band that, despite the intensity of its sound, gently welcomes others with a warm heart. This single is a good representation of the band's mentality.

Of course, the completion of such a song was made possible by the singing voice of Aina Aiba (Vo/Yukina Minato), who thrusts her feelings straight into the audience, and the performance of the band, who live up to their title as a "talented band" and are even dependable. Unfortunately, the event was canceled, but the girls' ability is evident in the fact that they were also booked for "rockin'on presents COUNTDOWN JAPAN 20/21" at the end of 2020.

As a side note, the fact that the cast members are standing on the "COUNTDOWN JAPAN" stage, which is a "stage of their dreams," is similar to the aforementioned "GARUPA" storyline, can be said to be a result of the media mix that crosses over between 2-D and 3-D. This can be said to be a unique feature of the media mix that crosses over between two and three dimensions.

RAISE A SUILEN 6th single "mind of Prominence

The title track "mind of Prominence" is an intense metalcore-style track. The chorus work is typical of "Bandolier! The song is overwhelmingly arranged with a lot of hands, from the typical chorus work to the vocoder voice effects and dance music-like claps. The long tones at the end of the chorus from Raychell (Vo&Ba, as Layla) were a perfect example of the band's unrivaled musicality, as if to say, "Power is everything.

The coupling song "Just the Way I Am" has been a big hit with fans since the release of the sample soundtrack. The reason for this is that the majority of the song is sung by Boki Risa (DJ/Tutu), whose provocative rapping seems to be the main focus of the song. Her high tone voice is perfectly suited to the high-spirited Aori, and her ability to mock and humorously rap and kick the crap out of anyone who gets in the way of her is something that is only possible with her patented role, making this a superb character song.

In terms of the sound, the song's intro is full of movement, with a heavy beat surging through the filtered space, and a noisy interlude with distorted synthesizers, all of which show that the band has not lost its aggressive stance. Bandolier! The sound, which can be described as the most "rough and tumble" of all, seems to have been further refined through this single.

Morfonica 2nd single "Bloom Bloom

The title track "Bloom Bloom" is based on the event story "Symphony of Flower Light" that was released on "GARUPA" in the spring of 2020. In the story, the members of Morfonica are having a hanami (cherry blossom viewing) party with their senior bands, including Poppipa.

Morfonica was started by Kurata Mashiro (Vo/CV: Shindo Amane), who wanted to "change" from her ordinary self. However, her reserved nature has prevented her from having the courage to be open to the other band members even at this hanami. The song "Bloom Bloom" traces her growth from such worries to opening up to others. Compared to the first single "Daylight," where she took her first step with shaking shoulders, "Bloom Bloom" will give you a different impression of the same act of "mustering up courage.

In addition, since Morfonica was formed in the spring of 2020, every day seems to be filled with fresh excitement, including that of the real band members. Bloom Bloom" is based on their signature symphonic rock, but with a light and open sound and Shindo's pop lingering voice. This "sense of expanding one's world in everything one does" may also be behind the music. Based on Mashiro's aforementioned struggles and growth process, this song is a perfect song for the season of encounters, making us look forward to the coming warm spring.

The coupling song "flame of hope" is also inspired by the story in "GARUPA. This one is a floor banger with the appropriate color of a burning flame, and even though it comes from "GARUPA," it offers a different vector to enjoy. Although not included in this article, the backstory behind the song is also interesting, and we urge you to find out for yourself.

(Text by Kota Ichijo)