Hello there! I am doing something a little fun to end July and kick off August. By some weird happenstance I've completely neglected to post song collection reviews from any of the three Tokusatsu series from 1985. This wasn't an intentional slight against the fine people of Brazil or this guy, it just never happened.
So to correct that I will kick things off with the shortest song collections of the bunch--Kyodai Ken Bycrosser. The dipshits at Netflix would have you believe that this is a Super Sentai series, but it isn't. This is a Shotaro Ishinomori series independent of any real genre. Henshin Hero is so...vague. Anyway, I briefly listened to these songs in my review of Tokusatsu Hero Shudaika sonyuu uta taizenshuu III if you want to check that out.
---------------
01. Tatakae! Bycrosser / Gentaro Takahashi
I really like this theme song. It kinda feels like an upbeat precursor to Chojinki Metalder's opening theme song, but it has some nice modern splashes to keep it modern. The obligatory guitar part is fun, but a smidge on the modest side. You remember the guitars of the Bioman theme...but not here.
The vocals are a smidge obscured, in my opinion. Singer Gentaro Takashi is something of an odd choice. He was definitely a Columbia player as he is largely known for his singing on the Columbia cover of Mach Go!Go!Go! from 1967. Outside of that...from what I have heard he was something of a crooner back in the day. Check out his group's cover of Del Shannon's Runaway from 1962. Fun, right? But soooo random that he ended up doing the theme songs to Bycrosser.
Yeah, so I dig this theme song. It's one I listen to often.
02. Ore to omae wa Bycrosser / Makoto Fujiwara
OK, so I really like this one. It's probably my favorite IN song of the year. For starters, the singer is Makoto Fujiwara in his first of two Tokusatsu songs. It may be strange that I'm gushing over a guy who has only ever done two Tokusatsu songs, but his is responsible for one of the finest anime theme songs of all time. The opening theme song to Macross is just...perfection.
He brings the same energy here and turns in a great action song for Bycrosser. It's very similar to the Macross theme...minus the badass orchestra and catchy lyric. It's still a great song.
03. Go Go! Ken Roader / Makoto Fujiwara
The second of two Makoto Fujiwara Tokusatsu songs. This one isn't as good, but it's still a great little action diddy. I would say it's a smidge catchier at least...and as far as songs that name drop series toys equipment, this one keeps it pretty fresh. Remember that Action Fantasy song in Maskman that blandly mentions all the gear? Yeah...this isn't that.
04. Sonona mo Kyodai Ken Bycrosser / Gentaro Takahashi
The companion ending song to the series is also sung by Gentaro Takahashi. It's a more mellow version of the opening theme more or less. This may be sacrilege, but I think it's the best ending theme song of the year. I really like the wavy synth. It makes it pretty memorable to me.
---------------
OVERALL: I know this song collection is a shorty, but it's significant enough to give it a post. On one hand, I really wish there was more songs...but on the other it's brevity steers it away from any mistakes like a badly sung duet by the brothers.
My hopes for this series is to get a full remastered release with Karaoke, Music Collection, the works. Columbia has been dusting off a lot of gems from the archive lately and Cinema-Kan has been there along the way as well. The sad truth is that unlike Machineman, Bycrosser's music was handled by Tokuma...which has since folded. Who knows who has the rights...but Columbia releasing these songs on CD for the first time in the early 2000s was a promising start. A company like Cinema-Kan would be perfect for this...just saying. They did a wonderful job on their Ultraman Powered and Gridman releases.
---------------
That's it for Bycrosser! Be sure to check out my music collection page and also my Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion and Dengeki Sentai Changeman Song Collection reviews!
-CC
PREVIOUSLY...
Song Collection: Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion
Song Collection: Dengeki Sentai Changeman
A Huge Discovery in Time for 25 Years of Gekisou Sentai Carranger!
CCLemon99 Magazine Issue 9
Can you still find a deal in 2021?
The Toei Situation
The series uses the ED as a battle theme a lot of the time, and it fits pretty well. I've a soft spot for some slower or less bombastic songs that get used as battle themes (like the Bioman OP or Kessho Da).
ReplyDelete