V.A. - V-Anime Collaboration -Femme-
Artist: V.A.
Album: V-Anime Collaboration -Femme-
Overall Score:
Various well known OST mixed in visual style
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Hello everyone,
I’m going to review V-Anime Collaboration -Femme-. This is my first review here and my English is faaar away below average so please bear with my stupid mistakes.
I review this because I found out this Collaboration is interesting since male vocals was covering OST which was originally sung by female vocals. Besides, -as someone who has no many clues about visual bands- I thought visual bands usually had something like rock/metal sounds with some synth effects for their musics. That’s why it was very interesting to know how would those cute songs become when they are sung by male vocals and infused with rock/metal sounds.
This review is my subjective personal opinion. Since I listened to the original version first, I had some weird attachments with the original one. That’s why, I couldn’t really give a good score for covers which I feel “This song shouldn’t be like this”.
Let’s begin. . . .
「JOINT」from Shakugan no Shana II covered by 昴（Royz）× 風弥（DaizyStripper）
The original version had been packed with Rockin elements already. I think it won’t be difficult to make a good cover of this song. The cover version had a more intense guitar filling with pretty cool sound effects and Subaru’s voice went well with the song.
About Kazami, all I know when I googled about him is that he’s a drummer. I think that drums parts of this song had been just average. I don’t know whether it’s Kazami’s style or because of the song, but I think this song would be better if it has more intense drum kicks.
Score for this track: 3.3 of 5
「オレンジ」from Toradora! covered by yo-ka（DIAURA）× 涼平（メガマソ）
I’m a fan of Toradora and Orange is my favorite OST from it. The original version was a very cute song which was sung by super cute vocal, gave the listeners light and cute atmosphere. Before listening to this cover, I listened to the original version and then a DIAURA’s song titled ‘Reason for Treason’ and instantly got excited about how this cover would be.
The cover version started with cute effects and then followed by Ryohei’s guitar parts. It was kinda hard for me to listen to yo-ka’s voice since I compared him with the original vocal all the way, but overall yo-ka and Ryohei did well. This song still felt so bright and gave me ‘happy-jumpy-feeling’ when I listened to it, and Ryohei’s guitar parts gave this song different punch.
Score for this track: 3.7 of 5
「NIGHT OF SUMMER SIDE」from Kimagure Orange Road covered by 桜井青（cali≠gari）× 那オキ（THE BEETHOVEN）
This is originally a classic song from a classic anime that feels so classy.
Ao and Naoki gave this song a lot of electric touches so this song sounded a lot more ‘modern’ than the original one. At some parts, Ao’s voice was effected so it sounded kind of ‘robotic’.
Speaking of the feeling, this cover is absolutely wasn’t a retro song like how Night of Summerside used to be, but somehow I can tell it was something from Kimagure Orange Road or at least a comedy anime. Maybe if Kimagure Orange Road will have a sequel with futuristic background, this version can be used as the theme song.
Score for this track: 3.5 of 5
「フェアリーテイル～約束の日～」from FAIRY TAIL by 米倉千尋× 咲人（NIGHTMARE）
Actually, I can’t really comment on this one since Yonekura Chihiro is the original singer of this song, so let’s just leave the vocal as how it was.
The original version of this song was filled with electro sounds, with a part of the guitar solo and violin effect, made this song sound pretty complex. Collaborating with Sakito made this song sound heavier than the original one. Sakito’s guitar parts all over the song unexpectedly went well with Chihiro’s vocal and they still kept electro sound effects in the whole song. A nice approach to combine sound effects and cool guitar lines.
Score for this track: 3.8 of 5 (just for the music)
「ゆずれない願い」from Magic Knight Rayearth covered by 夕霧（DaizyStripper）× MiA（MEJIBRAY）
This song always reminds me of Naomi Tamura classical beautiful voice which sounds kind of emotional and signature guitar parts which somehow has become ‘identity’ of this song.
I think Yugiri’s vocal type is an advantage because it can make him, sang this song almost like how Naomi Tamura did.
Yugiri nailed it well. I could feel the emotional feeling like I did when listened to the original version. MiA also did the guitar parts cleverly. He kept the signature guitar parts and went well with Yugiri’s vocal.
I personally think this cover is very close to the original version. I don’t know whether it’s good or bad since I feel it’s more like another-version of the original Yuzurenai Negai. Maybe some people said this track is lack of creativity, some others said this is well done.
Score for this track: 3.9 of 5
「ブルーウォーター」from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water covered by 揺紗（THE KIDDIE）× 風弥（DaizyStripper）
I think the original version was just ‘another theme song’, I meant nothing special about this song among the others at that time. That’s why I was looking forward about the cover, wished they would do something to make this song became an outstanding one.
The cover version was quite different from the original one, but I thought it was just ‘another-visual-band-songs’. Kazami’s drum parts are better than on his previous track, but still, I felt there were many similar songs made by visual bands. Maybe it was an example of a visual band song?
Score for this track: 3.25 of 5
「ムーンライト伝説」from Pretty Soldiers Sailor Moon covered by Kaya × 涼平（メガマソ）
A famous song from one of the most well known anime at 90’s.
Before listening to this song, I listened to (actually I watched on YouTube) Kaya’s song titled ‘Chocolate’, and then I feel that the cover version of Moonlight Densetsu was so Kaya-ish. Kaya has such strong distinctive character and this song was almost completely overwhelming with Kaya’s character, although he kept the signature melody at the beginning of this song.
Anyway, I could barely hear guitar parts in this song; just some rhythm as filler far away in the back of Kaya’s voice.
Anyone knows what did Ryohei do for this track?
Score for this track: 3.5 of 5
「薔薇は美しく散る」from Rose of Versailles covered by 団長（NoGoD）× MiA（MEJIBRAY）
Another iconic song from famous 80’s anime. I remember there’s a visual band called LAREINE covered this song at 90’s. LAREINE was a rosy band and its members even dressed like Rose of Versailles’ characters back then.
This version surely was completely different with LAREINE’s version or the original version. Dancho and MiA gave an entirely brand-new-Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru with heavy rock and metal elements. They replaced it signature violin melody with guitar, which sounded pretty cool. I think someone who listened to this version without knowing the original or LAREINE’s version wouldn’t expect that it was covering a classic 80’s dramatic Shoujo anime’s theme.
I appreciate their creativity, but I felt completely lost when I listened to it.
Why should Dancho scream? Where did the image of beautiful Rose of Versailles go?
I wish they spare some parts for something that sounded more ‘Berubara-ish’ so people who listened at least know that this isn’t a mecha anime song
Score for this track: 3.27 of 5
「キューティーハニー」from Cutie Honey covered by RYO:SUKE（WING WORKS）×涼平（メガマソ）
When I read this track on the list, I thought “Really? They will cover such song?!”
Then I listened to (again, actually I watched on YouTube) WING WORKS’s song called 不死鳥-FENNIX- and after looking that Ryohei accompanied RYO: SUKE for this track, I began to think that it would turn out like Kaya’s cover of Moonlight Densetsu.
...And I think I wasn’t entirely wrong. I didn’t expect (or I didn’t want) RYO:SUKE to sing in a flirty style like the original version of Cutie Honey and fortunately he didn’t sing as flirty as how the original version did. The music was also pretty creative, but still kept the bounchy Cutie Honey theme well.
Overall, this track is amusing! Honey Flash!
Score for this track: 3.63 of 5
「プラチナ」from Cardcaptor Sakura covered by 谷本貴義× 那オキ（THE BEETHOVEN）
Anyway, I’m a fan of Takayoshi so I think this part is more subjective than the rest of this review.
As we know, the original version of Platina was a light, bright, soft, fluffy and easy listening song.
Takayoshi sang this song pretty well. He kept this song bright and light all the way. Naoki’s bass went well along with this song, and some guitar parts gave a pretty good impact.
I personally am impressed with the guitar pars at this song because it could keep ‘brightness’ of this song and give a punch as well. Anyone knows who’s filled it?
I think I won’t mind if CLAMP inserted this version into some of Carcaptor Sakura’s episodes.
Score for this track: 3.85 of 5
「残酷な天使のテーゼ」from Neon Genesis EVANGELION covered by HAKUEI（PENICILLIN）× 風弥（DaizyStripper）
When I was a mere kid, I thought that the singer of this song was the one who sang Magic Knight Rayearth’s Theme Song. Based on that experience, I thought HAKUEI would sing like Yugiri for this song.
How HAKUEI and Kazami did with this song surprised me. They made an entire jazzy song from that classic EVANGELION theme. This cover started smoothly sweet with piano and HAKUEI’s soaked voice and then surprisingly followed by a jazz melody which I felt very brilliant.
Actually, I’m not into HAKUEI’s vocal and his groan at some parts felt creeped me out, but I think this cover is creative and interesting and well done. Kazami also did well at this track. His drums made this song felt more jazzy. Maybe he’s accustomed with jazz songs?
Score for this track: 3.93 of 5
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this compilation because I could find various types of music here.
I heard there’s a compilation where many visual bands covered song titled ‘妄想日記’ in various ways. I think it must be interesting!
