Runaways Image Songs
This might be something more recognizable to anime fans, but image songs are songs specifically designed to fit the personality of a fictional character, usually performed by the original voice actor (seiyuu in Japanese). They're often released with tie-in albums for anime, manga or video games, including soundtrack CDs and often as special bonus material on drama albums (otherwise known as radio/audio plays).
My time spent as an otaku, a hardcore anime fan, was primarily focused on seiyuu. It was just entertaining and awe-inspiring to watch these folks become the characters through their voices, with gusto and humor, so image songs were something I wholeheartedly loved.
My introduction to them was through Gundam Wing, but I started on GW English dubbed so I didn't connect. It was until my fangirl affair with Weiß kreuz did I truly appreciate the dramatic image albums and character songs. In fact, my introduction to the boys of that show didn't begin with the anime; it was Omi Tsukiyono's character song "Suicide Seaside" as performed by the VA of lil' Omi, Hiro Yūki. The song has a wonderful beat and succinctly captures Omi's personality.
From this, you can kinda see the fan idol appeal, because honestly Yūki-san is not a technically perfect singer. Despite the fact not every seiyuu can carry a tune, all still perform character songs, while in-character. Sometimes they even got their own PV, such as the animated character pieces made for the drama CDs for Velvet Underworld (watch here).
I see Sam being a pop music lover, maybe a lil' hipster under that street-smart guise, and this song by [Alexandros] (formerly [champagne]) jumped out at me immediately, for several reasons. The title being the most obvious, then the trendy aspect of the musicians and the theme; but what caught my attention the most was the opening and ending scenes with the girl staring off at the sea... if you read the fan-theory in my fanfic Louder Than Words you'd catch the similarity I saw.
Although my Japanese has gotten way rusty, the lyrics seem pretty basic: unable to sleep, feeling stifled by faking the life that others want you to have, and being told to be satisfied with half-hopes and regretting the past. So run away, be yourself, don't settle for someone else's second best. A spirit I think Sam represents. (Although I apologize to voice actress Janice Kawaye for picking a song with so many high notes! xD)
There is so much about Tye's personality which I connected to, and given how he fled in rage, with his dark, brooding, and dejected attitude—not to mention the studded rocker wristband he wears—I felt he'd also enjoy some kick-ass Disturbed and "Down With The Sickness" seemed appropriate. Metal music to release and express anger, a coping mechanism for when he tries not to get into it with Maurice. If you don't know Disturbed then be warned: there is explicit language. (Another song I thought might represent his feelings towards his mother's situation would be Disturb's "Façade".)
Interestingly enough, Tye's voice actor, Gregg Rainwater, actually does sing. He traveled as part of a choir in his youth and always listed singing as a hobby he enjoys. Wonder if he'd like a less-classical, more death-vocal song? ^^
Ed is like my own little hero, and I would love him to be into head-banger music too, really because he has the perfect hair for it. XD While I do picture his style to be heavy, I imagine with his emotional conflicts and struggles he'd be more emo, less screamo. I chose his image song "Erased" from Swedish band Dead by April because it's got Jimmie Strimell's awesome screams, but there's also a gorgeous intensity in the notes and perfect lyrics; he is the one who wants a cure, so obviously he feels changed, something erased, and wanting someone (his Dad) to understand his feelings. I also typically use light references when thinking in terms of Ed, and you'll hear some in this song. Freddy Rodriguez in this style? Yes, please!
If we take him back home, before everything, I can kinda see him enjoying the nu-metal grunge of Argentina's own wicked PR3SSION: "Blind Soul". (My Spanish sucks, but watch out for language with this band, too.)
Okay, I'll admit, Virgil stumped me. For whatever reason, I couldn't picture him a music lover. I felt like Virgil might be one of those who enjoys whatever plays on the radio, but easily enough tunes it out. This was originally why I went running to fellow music aficionado Yoru, to get some help with his selection. I noted how a lot of people say intelligent types listen to classical, but I couldn't see Static playing Beethoven while he studied.
And Yoru recommended a video game soundtrack instead, which I found brilliant as Virgil can come across as a bit of a nerd. XD So in honor of that brainiac gamer spirit, I went with a Rudebrat dubstep drop. Again, I know VA Bryton James is a singer himself, but hopefully he'd be okay with being DJ instead. :D
My time spent as an otaku, a hardcore anime fan, was primarily focused on seiyuu. It was just entertaining and awe-inspiring to watch these folks become the characters through their voices, with gusto and humor, so image songs were something I wholeheartedly loved.
My introduction to them was through Gundam Wing, but I started on GW English dubbed so I didn't connect. It was until my fangirl affair with Weiß kreuz did I truly appreciate the dramatic image albums and character songs. In fact, my introduction to the boys of that show didn't begin with the anime; it was Omi Tsukiyono's character song "Suicide Seaside" as performed by the VA of lil' Omi, Hiro Yūki. The song has a wonderful beat and succinctly captures Omi's personality.
From this, you can kinda see the fan idol appeal, because honestly Yūki-san is not a technically perfect singer. Despite the fact not every seiyuu can carry a tune, all still perform character songs, while in-character. Sometimes they even got their own PV, such as the animated character pieces made for the drama CDs for Velvet Underworld (watch here).
Anyway!
I've often lamented how other voice actors don't get the same spotlight as Japan's seiyuu, and wondered how cool it would be if cartoon characters here had their own image songs. So I bounced ideas off of my friend Yoruhoshi at deviantART and, to be a complete fangirl, thought these genres, style, theme and/or lyrics would fit best with the Runaways...I see Sam being a pop music lover, maybe a lil' hipster under that street-smart guise, and this song by [Alexandros] (formerly [champagne]) jumped out at me immediately, for several reasons. The title being the most obvious, then the trendy aspect of the musicians and the theme; but what caught my attention the most was the opening and ending scenes with the girl staring off at the sea... if you read the fan-theory in my fanfic Louder Than Words you'd catch the similarity I saw.
Although my Japanese has gotten way rusty, the lyrics seem pretty basic: unable to sleep, feeling stifled by faking the life that others want you to have, and being told to be satisfied with half-hopes and regretting the past. So run away, be yourself, don't settle for someone else's second best. A spirit I think Sam represents. (Although I apologize to voice actress Janice Kawaye for picking a song with so many high notes! xD)
There is so much about Tye's personality which I connected to, and given how he fled in rage, with his dark, brooding, and dejected attitude—not to mention the studded rocker wristband he wears—I felt he'd also enjoy some kick-ass Disturbed and "Down With The Sickness" seemed appropriate. Metal music to release and express anger, a coping mechanism for when he tries not to get into it with Maurice. If you don't know Disturbed then be warned: there is explicit language. (Another song I thought might represent his feelings towards his mother's situation would be Disturb's "Façade".)
Interestingly enough, Tye's voice actor, Gregg Rainwater, actually does sing. He traveled as part of a choir in his youth and always listed singing as a hobby he enjoys. Wonder if he'd like a less-classical, more death-vocal song? ^^
Ed is like my own little hero, and I would love him to be into head-banger music too, really because he has the perfect hair for it. XD While I do picture his style to be heavy, I imagine with his emotional conflicts and struggles he'd be more emo, less screamo. I chose his image song "Erased" from Swedish band Dead by April because it's got Jimmie Strimell's awesome screams, but there's also a gorgeous intensity in the notes and perfect lyrics; he is the one who wants a cure, so obviously he feels changed, something erased, and wanting someone (his Dad) to understand his feelings. I also typically use light references when thinking in terms of Ed, and you'll hear some in this song. Freddy Rodriguez in this style? Yes, please!
If we take him back home, before everything, I can kinda see him enjoying the nu-metal grunge of Argentina's own wicked PR3SSION: "Blind Soul". (My Spanish sucks, but watch out for language with this band, too.)
Okay, I'll admit, Virgil stumped me. For whatever reason, I couldn't picture him a music lover. I felt like Virgil might be one of those who enjoys whatever plays on the radio, but easily enough tunes it out. This was originally why I went running to fellow music aficionado Yoru, to get some help with his selection. I noted how a lot of people say intelligent types listen to classical, but I couldn't see Static playing Beethoven while he studied.
And Yoru recommended a video game soundtrack instead, which I found brilliant as Virgil can come across as a bit of a nerd. XD So in honor of that brainiac gamer spirit, I went with a Rudebrat dubstep drop. Again, I know VA Bryton James is a singer himself, but hopefully he'd be okay with being DJ instead. :D