The Lizzard's review: This little
soundtrack (and sadly, I do mean little, it's only 40 minutes long) is
a real joy. Most of the tracks are perky and uplifting, with a few
exciting dramatic tracks sprinkled among them for contrast. The inclusion
of music from the special "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi" is a particular delight.
This is one of those CDs that you can simply sit quietly and listen to
without a moment's boredom.
-
Moonlight Densetsu -
If you haven't heard this song, then you must be deaf. It's the standard
opening theme from the first four seasons of Sailor Moon. Catchy, fast-paced,
and entirely infectious. The cut included on this CD is the Moon
Lips version, which was introduced during the SuperS season as a remake
of the original song by DALI. The differences aren't obvious to any
but the most careful and picky of listeners. The guitars are heavier,
the percussion less emphasized, but it's still the same kind of addictive
fun.
-
Ami-chan's Morning
(from "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi") - This short track embodies contentment.
It's a cheerful, gentle guitar piece with flutes, bells, and soft nonsense
vocals. The melody for this piece was used as the basis for the Sailor
Mercury single, "Ashita Mo Mata Jitensha." But the single fails to
live up to the original. This track reigns supreme as an example
of successful mood-inducing BGM.
-
Lovely / Cute Plot
(from "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi") - Another short track, this one done with
almost entirely with synthesizers and bells. This song makes me want
to go skipping down the street whenever I hear it. Though overwhelmingly
cheerful, the occasional dramatic pauses manage to give the piece an underlying
sense of suspense. Though you'd think "cheerful" and "suspenseful"
would contradict one another, especially in a song of this short length,
it works marvelously.
-
Dread, Danger, Mercury Appears
(from "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi") - The pauses of the previous track may have
given a vague air of suspense, but this piece immerses you in an entire
atmosphere of anticipation. After opening with a brief foreboding
tune, the song switches to a recap of "Ami-chan's Morning." The effect
is rather like watching a young child running blithely toward a cliff.
You can almost SEE Ami walking into danger. Sure enough, the melody
soon turns chilling, using violins and flutes to convey a sense of imminent
disaster. This section of the piece is crowned in the middle with
a startling gunshot -- nearly scared me out of my seat when I first heard
it. But then, ho! The music changes abruptly as Ami snaps,
threatens her nemesis, and transforms. The music used for her transformation
here is wonderfully original and more appropriate to her character, in
my opinion, than that regularly used in the movies and the TV series.
In all, an excellent piece that manages to tell a story at the same time
it tantalizes you with beautiful music.
-
End Song (from
"Ami-chan No Hatsukoi") - An amusing, reggae-style track using the melody
of "Rashiku Ikimasho." Though slightly slower in pace than "Rashiku
Ikimasho," its remarkable use of horns makes it a sheer delight.
-
"Rashiku" Ikimasho
(from "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi") - A familiar song to most Sailor Moon fans,
originally used as the end credits theme for "Ami-chan No Hatsukoi."
This piece is immensely perky and fast-paced, using a great deal of synth
and funky guitar-work to make an unforgettable impression. It's almost
indescribable. Just take a listen. You won't regret it.
-
Touching Each Other -
A gentle, beautiful violin-and-bells piece from the Super S Movie.
Incredibly romantic, yet somehow sad at the same time, this brief melody
leaves you wondering whether to laugh or cry. A true triumph.
What more needs be said?
-
Pupuran's Flute and Children
- If you're one of those people who consistently gets songs stuck in your
head, you may want to avoid this track. Then again, who would mind
getting a song so marvelously silly and perky in their head? Beginning
with a flute melody, it soon turns into an addictive children's vocal.
It's so absurdly fun that'll you'll want to go running off after Pupuran's
flute, too.
-
Bon-Bon Baddies Attack
- This is not your typical bad-guy music. Combining suspenseful music
with an infectious xylophone beat, this brief track leaves you laughing.
-
Transformation and Performance
- You all know what this is! Sailor Senshi henshin music! Cheerful,
awe-inspiring stuff, with the music that ultimately became famous as Sailor
Saturn's "Silent Wall" BGM tacked on to the end. A thoroughly enjoyable
track. If only those silly singers weren't there to belt out "Sailor
Solider" just as you were getting into the vibe.
-
Castle - An incredibly
suspenseful tune with horns, culminating in Badianne's theme. Unfortunately,
the track is all too short to grow attached to.
-
Badianne and the Black Dream Hole
- Extending the Badianne theme introduced in the "Castle" piece, this track
is both exciting and sad. It has a slightly Arabic flavor to it,
which, strange as it seems, fits in marvelously with the rest of the soundtrack.
One of my favorites on the CD.
-
Risking Life - An exciting,
fast-paced, dramatic piece that embodies the mood of a Sailor Moon battle
against evil. This track will have you running up walls if you let
it get to you!
-
Light of Love - This
song vacillates between the softly romantic and the intensely exciting.
Opening with a soft recap of the "Touching Each Other" theme, the song
soon turns to Badianne's theme in its most evil and dramatic form.
After a brief spin though the Sailor Moon attack music, complete with funky
guitars, it's back to sad and soft. Then -- just to keep you alert,
mind -- it returns again to Sailor Moon attack music. As if that
weren't enough, it rounds out with another refrain of the "Touching Each
Other" theme. Amazingly, the piece holds together without seeming
schizophrenic. You'll feel pleasantly exhausted after listening to
it.
-
Let's Go Home - Just
when your defenses are down, the delightful "Pupuran's Flute" melody returns
for a second attempt at getting wedged in your brain. This time it
is buttressed by the "Touching Each Other" theme and a dramatic movie-finishing
flourish. An excellent, all-too-brief track.
-
Morning Moon de Aimashou
- Unfortunately, this one track almost manages to single-handedly ruin
the CD. A vocal ending-credits song for the Super S Movie, this piece
sounds like a sick combination of disco love-music and Karen Carpenter.
The less said about it, the better. Avoid at all costs unless you
want to receive subliminal urges to dance like John Travolta.
With the exception of Morning Moon, the quality of music
on this CD is exceptional. Ultimately not as significant as some other
soundtracks,
such as the Sailor Moon S Music Collection, it is nonetheless
worthy of a honored place in your music collection.
(c) Takeuchi Naoko, Koudansha,
TV Asahi, Toei Douga
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