The best anime songs of 2023! Hiroyuki Deguchi and Ichirokuso Samejima (BANBANBAN) talk about the BEST anime songs of 2023! Talking! Anime Songs" Part 5 Part 1

This time, they will be discussing three anime songs each from TV anime that were broadcast or distributed in 2023, and one song from a movie that was released in theaters. In addition, one song will be chosen from each of the films released in theaters, and we will delve into them in depth over a total of six sessions!

If you read this, you will know what anime songs you should listen to now. ......

In addition, a podcast program where you can enjoy the talk and the songs together is also available on Spotify! Please enjoy it as well!

Enjoy the podcast! Anison Special Edition: The BEST Anison Talks in 2023" starts in the first episode!

Deguchi: In many ways, there was a lot to talk about in 2023. Maybe it was a major trend that influenced my song selections. Until then, I had the impression that anime was positioned as a subculture, or rather otaku culture, but in the past few years it has become the main culture.

Samejima You can see it when you watch Kohaku. It was full of ani-songs. It used to be that they would have a 10-minute ani-song slot and sing "Space Battleship Yamato" or "Mazinger Z." But when I looked at the lineup at the end of last year, I got the impression that things had changed a lot.

Deguchi: I think this is partly due to the Corona issue and partly due to the major changes in society over the past few years, but at any rate, I think it was a year in which the power of anime and anime songs was greatly proven. So, let's get started!

Idol" (OP of "[Mysterious Child]") / YOASOBI

Deguchi The first anime song that Deguchi will choose for 2023 is "Idol" from "[Mysterious Child]"! I feel like I would be offended if I didn't mention this song with the way things are going now (laughs).

Samejima That's right. I'm going to go ahead and say it, but I'm including it too (laughs). I have to include it now.

Deguchi This song is a symbol of the year 2023. It is a song that goes beyond the boundaries of anime songs, reaches out to the general public, and goes beyond the boundaries of anime songs to the world. The power of the animation may have been a factor, but I think it was the power of the song that really stuck with me. I'll leave the structure and musical analysis of the song to others, but as far as I was concerned, the foreign audience seemed to be happy with the song. I have heard that Southeast Asians in particular seem to be listening to it a lot.

Samejima One of my definitions of famous content is "whether or not my own mother, who is not on SNS, knows it," but that generation knows it, too. It has become a song that both adults and children know. Nowadays, it is difficult to create something that everyone knows. But in 2023, I had the opportunity to DJ not only at ani clubs but also at local festivals, and "idol" was a staple at every one of them. Kids were singing along and adults were clapping their hands.

I think the way it became a net meme was wonderful. Last year, "Idol" suddenly became "Getter" (OVA "Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo" OP "STORM", sung by JAM Project). Someone did it at an open-air Anikura, and YOASOBI and Ichiro Mizuki's official X responded to it. It was amazing that he was able to laugh it off, but I also felt that he was taking the initiative in becoming an Internet meme, and the grace with which he did so was very current. Some people don't like it when their songs are used as gags, don't they? I thought it was also very much in line with this year's style, that the performer's hand was no longer involved in the production.

Deguchi: That is interesting. Instead of turning inward with only those who know it, it has spread to the world outside of those who know it, so it feels like everything has been renewed.

Samejima I feel like everything has been turned upside down this year. I can't compete anymore.

Deguchi I think the conversation is more about the state of entertainment rather than anime songs. I would like to talk about how to make entertainment buzz, how to deliver it, and how to spread it in 2024 and beyond. What kind of people, in what kind of places, and with what kind of thoughts are watching the show. How will the music be conveyed there? So, in 2023, the first song for me and Samejima-san was "Idol!

Samejima: Anyone who doesn't say this is a liar!

Deguchi: You don't watch anime, do you? (laughs)

Blue Sumika" (OP of "Jujutsu Kaisen Kaidama/Tamaori") / Kitatatsuya

Samejima The next song is "Ao no Sumika" by Kitatatsuya from "Jujutsu Kaisen. The reason for the selection is that this song was used only five times. I think that this song has made a big impact in the anime song world even though it was not used for 12 episodes. The way "Ao no Sumika" left an impact was amazing. When I listened to the song in full, the song itself was very refreshing, and the sampled sounds used in the song gave me a high school emo feeling, and the fact that Mr. Kitatatsuya went to Kohaku with this song made me feel that it resonates so well with the public.

Deguchi Just in five episodes.

Samejima The story itself was shocking, so of course there was some synergy from that, but I think it was perfect for the work in the first place. It was cool. With the old ani-songs, the same song would be played in all 52 episodes over the course of a year, so the same song would be imprinted on the listener's mind. On the other hand, "Ao no Sumika" is noteworthy in the fact that it was able to reach many anime fans after only five episodes.

Deguchi: Is that because you didn't know how much of it would be used in the series?

Samejima I didn't have that much of an attachment to the series at the time of recording. I like anime songs that have been used for a long time. For example, "Venus Line" was used in "BIRDIE WING" for the first and second consecutive seasons, and I thought, "How dare they use that again! I think, "How dare they use that again! I think it was a sharp move.

Deguchi: So your evaluation has changed over the past year.

01" (OP of "Undead Unluck") / Queen Bee

Deguchi Next, I chose "01" Queen Bee from "Undead Unluck". When I see Queen Bee throughout the year, including this song, I am amazed every time. They are a band with a strong individuality, but I have the impression that this individuality is strangely connected to the works they are in charge of. The same is true of "Undead Unluck" and "[Mystery Child]" (the ED of "[Mystery Child]" is "Mephisto" by Queen Bee). The band's diversity is a perfect match with the essential aspects of the work and the essential aspects of the work.

Samejima: Queen Bee makes a lot of really good ani-songs. The same was true of "Dororo" ("Dororo" OP's "Flame"), wasn't it?

Deguchi That's right. After that, they also did "MYSTERIOUS", the OP of "Gokyu no Karasu". I wondered why that song fit so well, too. I felt the band's expression deepened with each work, and that was amazing. I've been saying nothing but wow and cool since a while ago.

Samejima I hope that Queen Bee will continue to make lots of anime songs. No matter what kind of anime, they will always make a song that is well incorporated into the anime.

Deguchi The band/artist's unique color and peculiarities, the way they tune in to the anime, and the compatibility with the work are the prerequisites for an artist to be in charge of an anime song.

Continue to Part2!

Hiroyuki Deguchi

Hiroyuki Deguchi made his major label debut in July 2007 as the bassist of the rock band Monobrite. In addition to participating in live performances and recordings by numerous artists as a bassist, he is also active in a wide range of other media, including songwriting, arranging, DJ, writing, and TV show MC.

Samejima Ichirokuso

Ichirokuso Samejima is the "non-frieza" of the comedy duo BAN BAN BAN, and in 2010 the duo launched the anime song DJ event "Anime Song Disco," playing anime songs at various venues both in Japan and abroad, large and small. He belongs to Yoshimoto Kogyo.