Since 2008, May’n has been an important influence on my Anime Song music preferences, something unavoidable ever since watching her rehearse Diamond Crevasse.
And over the years, her way with music has improved greatly with her maturing vocals, gaining better control of emotions with every performance, making every one of her shows to be unique and endearing.
This songstress from Nagoya was the winner of the 28th Horipro talent hunt, making her the best out of a total of over 34 thousand entries. Her win kickstarted her singing career at the tender age of just 13, officially debuting in 2005.
Allow me to introduce to you the top 10 songs that got me hooked. Some songs might seem a bit distanced, some are not even theme songs for anime, so do stay with me here. All of these songs are really good!
ViViD
Opening song for the anime Blood Lad, it struck me with it’s numerous repetition of the word ViViD. And before long, I’m already humming the song while trying not to break into dance! Without a doubt, it’s one of the more flashy and catchy songs recently.
今日に恋色 - Kyō ni Koiiro
The opening theme song for the 2014 Winter anime, Inari Kon Kon Koi Iroha. This is actually a collaboration with livetune(Kz), the song was released just last month in Japan.
もしも君が願うのなら - Moshimo kimi ga negau nonara
Not an anime song. This title is actually the theme song for the PSP Game Valkyria Chronicles 3, it was released only in May’Ns’ second album “if you…” in 2011. I almost never got to hear this song, since I don’t really game on the PSP.
I totally am in love with the emotional aspect of her voice in this song!! Always looking forward to hearing this live during concerts.
シンジテミル - Shinjitemiru
Again not an anime song, but it should feel familiar, after all it is a theme song for one of the most popular movies of 2010, “The Incite Mill”.
Have you noticed?
May’n last Solo live in Singapore was actually all the way back in 2011, in the UNITE!! Asia tour.
Iteza Gogo Kuji Don’t be late
A song from the Macross Frontier collection. No surprise here, this is afterall her most powerful song during her time singing as Sheryl Nome. She has opened some of her earlier concerts with this song, using it like a call for attention from the audience to listen to her.
Released in 2008 as the first single by Sheryl Nome starring May’n along with Diamond Crevasse.
妖精 - Yousei
This lovely ballad is also part of the Macross Frontier Collection, depicting about how Sheryl is trying to live up to everyone’s expectations as a fairy. A song that would defnitely resonate with many of you living under the same high expectations to perform.
Along with it’s slow tempo, May’n's vocals and emotionally stirring rendition, it has put tears in my eyes many times. At concerts, she would usually follow up with a high tempo song like Diamond Crevasse or the next song…
Pink Monsoon
A newer title in the Macross Frontier collection, Pink Monsoon was written for the movie Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime. In the movie the song is depicted as Sheryl Nome’s début single at the age of 16. Written by Gabriela Robin, and music composed by Yoko Kanno, this song is very different from the rest of the Macross Frontier collection with a hint of maturity.
This style continues for Sheryl Nome in her other song also for the movie.
Universal Bunny
Also written for the movie adaptation, and used as the CM Song of Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime, the song sets out to define the maturity of Sheryl Nome, and May’n~ released only on a Mini -album of the same name just a month before May’n's twentieth birthday, which is Japan signifies becoming an adult.
Trivial: Despite being the more mature character in Macross Frontier, May’n is actually the younger one between her and Megumi Nakajima(Voice of Ranka Lee), by four months.
キミシニタモウコトナカレ - Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare
One of my favourites actually, this is the opening song for the future drama, sci-fi, and spiritual?? anime, Shangri-La. No many people liked the show due partially to the confusing and seemingly random plot line. Did you know, the opening song remained the same through out the 24 episode.
Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare was shipped out as May’ns’ first single after her name change from Mei Nakabayashi and the first after her run as Sheryl Nome.
Diamond Crevasse
Ah still my favourite, the video is from 2008, her first TV appearances and the most similar to when she performed at AFA08. Quite a trip down the memory lane, no?
On watch list,
Re:Remember
May’ns’ latest song revealed as you can see from the trailer of the School Live, sci-fi anime M３～ソノ黑キ鋼～. Sounds like another ballad from the songstress that would leave a deep impression on me.
The above are my 10 picks for some May’n's best song in my opinion, some of them I would gladly pay a premium to view. What are your favourites? Do let me know in the comments!
And so, with May’n Road to Tenth Anniversary Japan & World Tour, I sincerely hope that she would perform some of the songs listed in my list as they defined May’n as a world class singer for me.
Fortunately for us in South East Asia, May’n will be stopping by in 2 major cities, in Singapore and Jakarta in the month of May 2014, before heading off to the other parts of the world. Her “Dots and Lines” is currently on the way in Japan.
So don’t miss this chance to catch May’n's SOLO live in these 2 cities!!
Edit: An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that ViViD was the opening theme for Btoom.
The post [MUSIC] MUSIC of MAY’N, MY TOP 10! appeared first on AFA Channel!.