Fushigi Yuugi Singles Collection
This is a Taiwanese bootleg. I got it for 50% off when I made a purchase at an anime store. Well, the deal was that you got any CD half off with a certian purchase limit, but all they had was bootleg CDs. I hadn't seen any of Fushigi Yuugi at the time but had heard great things about the series. I decided to spend the $7 and get this CD as a sort of "sampler," to see what kind of music it was. Also, the CD has an orange-tinted case (not shown in the picture) so it caught my attention.
At first, I was not impressed. The only song I knew was the last track, "Itooshi Hito No Tameni," the opening for the series. Also, I recognized Midorikawa Hikaru-san's voice, because he plays Zelgadiss in The Slayers (and I am a very avid Zelgadiss fan and at the time, I didn't know who Tamahome was.) After several listens, however, I was hooked. I think seeing parts of the series helped, since it gave the songs more personality and meaning (these are mostly character singles, after all!) I recommend buying the original Japanese vocal collection or singles. This music is great.
It's interesting how it was done. Since character singles feature 2 tracks each, the CD maker included 2 tracks from some characters, while including only one for others. No pattern was used. It's sort of random, I think.
Track List:
Artist given is the character and the seiyuu is in parenthesis.
1. Inoru
You ni Aishiteru - Yuuki Miaka (Araki Kae)
2. Still - Yuuki Miaka (Araki Kae)
3. Ai to iu Na no Tatakai ni...
- Tamahome (Midorikawa Hikaru)
4. Sadame no Hoshi - Hotohori (Koyasu Takehito)
5. I Wish... - Tonga Yui (Touma Yumi)
6. Best Friend - Tonfa Yui (Touma Yumi)
7. Wakatte Itahazu - (Akemi Sato)
8. Kaze no Uta - Nuriko (Sakamoto Chika)
9. Otome Ranman - Nuriko (Sakamoto Chika)
10. Kachou Fuugetsu - Chichiri (Seki Tomokasu)
11. Heart ni Kiraboshi Sakashitare!! - Tasuki
(Hayashi Nobutoshi)
12. Hidarite no Kioku - Mitsukake (?)
13. Akai Itsutae - Chiriko (Kawakami Tomoko)
14. P.S. Ai tte eien desu ka?- Chiriko (Kawakami
Tomoko)
15. Itooshi Hito No Tameni - (Akemi Sato)
Track Reviews:
Usually I got track by track through the CD and review it. I didn't feel the need to do so this time. Basically, if you like the characters, you will like their songs. I suggest getting the Japanese version of the character songs, but the music is fairly good. Miaka's songs are nothing to write home about, but they grow on you. Tamahome's song is his fighting BGM with words, sung by the increditable Hikaru-san.
This is one of those CDs where you'd want to know the characters and the story. You can like it with it knowing anything about it, but that's not too likely. Danny hated Nuriko's song the first time I played it for him, but now that he knows who Nuriko is, he can't get enough.
If you like the character, I think you'll like the songs. Chichiri's song rules ^_^ and Miaka's songs are slow love ballads. Tasuki's song is appropriately fired up. Chiriko's songs are cute... Basically, they fit the characters.
Wakatte Itahazu is used as an insert song in several episodes. It's very pretty, but it's not as emotive as other FY songs. I like it, but it isn't a favorite.
Information on this CD, Tracks, Seiyuu, and Songs was gathered at several sites, including Colette's CD Connection, Fushigi Yuugi: Crimson Melody, and Tsubasa Ozora's Cute Little Chiriko Shrine. I scanned the cover MYSELF. Please do not take the image.
