Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto – Someday’s Dreamers – Original Soundtrack – Review
| Album Title: | Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto Someday’s Dreamers – Original Soundtrack |
|---|---|
| Anime Title: | Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto – Someday’s Dreamers |
| Artist: | Takefumi Haketa, Yuichi Ichikawa, the Indigo |
| Catalog Number: | PICA-1271 |
| Release Type: | Soundtrack |
| Release Date: | March 07, 2003 |
| Purchase at: | CDJapan, Play-Asia |
Tracklist
[spoiler]
| Track Title | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Where the sky and earth meet | Takefumi Haketa | 3:27 |
| 2. Midnight summer dream | Takefumi Haketa | 3:33 |
| 3. Heart of Ice ~ After you’ve left | Takefumi Haketa | 2:49 |
| 4. Sunflower ~ Surrounded by the wind of light | Takefumi Haketa | 3:26 |
| 5. Golden sunlight | Takefumi Haketa | 1:26 |
| 6. First job | Takefumi Haketa | 1:53 |
| 7. Friend | Takefumi Haketa | 1:24 |
| 8. Memorable scene | Takefumi Haketa | 1:26 |
| 9. Days of Pechanga | Takefumi Haketa | 0:52 |
| 10. Home country of a water imp | Takefumi Haketa | 1:34 |
| 11. I won’t forget | Takefumi Haketa | 2:04 |
| 12. Under the moon light | Takefumi Haketa | 1:30 |
| 13. Breakfast ~ I’m fine today, too | Takefumi Haketa | 1:46 |
| 14. PAIN | Takefumi Haketa | 1:40 |
| 15. Feeling is magic | Takefumi Haketa | 3:01 |
| 16. Hot frenzy | Takefumi Haketa | 2:32 |
| 17. Forever straight | Takefumi Haketa | 1:02 |
| 18. As a human as a witch | Takefumi Haketa | 2:44 |
| 19. Our future | Takefumi Haketa | 1:56 |
| 20. Kidorkorone ~ doze | Takefumi Haketa | 1:43 |
| 21. Destination of magic | Takefumi Haketa | 1:32 |
| 22. In flower language, it is “love” | Takefumi Haketa | 1:29 |
| 23. Sweet Memories | Takefumi Haketa | 1:33 |
| 24. “Sincerely” | Takefumi Haketa | 1:50 |
| 25. Poem of Hope | Takefumi Haketa | 1:05 |
| 26. Blue sky without a cloud ~ No trouble in the world | Takefumi Haketa | 1:50 |
| 27. Clear | Yuichi Ichikawa, the Indigo | 3:48 |
| 28. UNDER THE BLUE SKY / the Indigo (TV EDIT) | Yuichi Ichikawa, the Indigo | 1:37 |
| 29. Eyecatch 1 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:16 |
| 30. Eyecatch 2 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:10 |
| 31. Eyecatch 3 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:11 |
| 32. Eyecatch 4 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:09 |
| 33. Eyecatch 5 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:09 |
| 34. Eyecatch 6 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:09 |
| 35. Eyecatch 7 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:08 |
| 36. Eyecatch 8 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:12 |
| 37. Eyecatch 9 | Takefumi Haketa | 0:09 |
[/spoiler]
Review: You’ve really gotta hand to Takefumi Haketa. His soundtracks might not be packed with diverse melodies, but he sure knows how to compose themes that are pleasant and catchy while also arranging those themes in such a way that their presentation is different enough that I won’t mind listening to those same melodies come up over and over. It’s not an easy feat to pull off, but Haketa sure did a decent job of it when he composed the soundtrack to Aoi Hana. That said, Aoi Hana is arguably not the best example of this; it’s in his music for Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto (Someday’s Dreamers) that he really excels at that craft.
The first time I listened to the anime’s main theme in “Where the sky and earth meet” so long ago, I was rendered speechless by its charm and beauty and I continue to love this piece to this day. The manner in which it evokes a pastoral setting is impeccable; its measured piano introduction channels a sense of innocence and the guitar accompaniment conjures images of a lush, green countryside complete with rolling hills where the grass is waving along, brushed by the breeze that flutters to and fro. The shift over to an Irish air, courtesy of the tin whistle, reinforces that rustic image, and the children’s chorus that takes this song towards the end fills me with an aching nostalgia to revisit the happy times in my childhood for memory’s sake.
Where the sky and earth meet
[audio:01 sdreamers.mp3]
The second track, titled “Midnight summer dream,” is used as Yume’s theme. It’s quieter compared to the preceding track, with a piano accompanied by a harp and some chimes to depict the character’s reserved, yet kind nature. The presentation isn’t nearly as engaging since it takes one basic melody and iterates upon it through the addition of other instruments and another use of the children’s choir to impart that charm and innocence, making one’s enjoyment dependent on how much you like that melody. Following that is Oyamada’s theme, “Heart of ice ~ After you’ve left,” which builds a layer of mystery through a reserved piano melody that depicts a person hiding his past and the sorrows that he’s endured. It’s emotionally heavy; you can feel the extent of Oyamada’s pain as the piece proceeds along, but underneath all that is a kind-hearted person, evident in the nuanced string section which supports the piano part.
Heart of ice ~ After you’ve left
[audio:03 sdreamers.mp3]
Of the major character themes, I prefer Kera’s theme (“Sunflower ~ Surrounded by the wind of light”) over Yume’s and Oyamada’s because it’s got a spunky feel to it. The guitar effectively sets the rhythm as the violins and piano weave in and out, creating a bouncy piece that also soothes since I can’t help but feel that aura of warmth and optimism pour forth.
Sunflower ~ Surrounded by the wind of light
[audio:04 sdreamers.mp3]
So having established the main themes for this soundtrack, I’ll say this: you’ll be hearing them a lot if you go through this album from start to finish. Though the dangers of the music becoming boring certainly do exist, Haketa dodges them through the strength of the melodies and the stylistic changes that he puts into each arrangement. For example, the main theme makes for a lively Irish jig in “Days of Pachanga,” Oyamada’s theme feels much warmer with “In flower language, it is love’s” guitar duet, and so buoys the listener with the hope that Oyamada will find his happiness after all, and Kera’s theme receives a wonderful New Age guitar treatment in “Kidokorone ~ doze.” For her part, Yume’s growth is illustrated wonderfully in “‘Sincerely,'” which moves at a graceful pace, displaying confidence, overall earnestness, and optimism for the road ahead but still possessing the kindness we’ve come to know and love.
Days of Pachanga
[audio:09 sdreamers.mp3]Kidokorone ~ doze
[audio:20 sdreamers.mp3]“Sincerely”
[audio:24 sdreamers.mp3]
And lest you think those themes are all that Haketa puts forth in this album, he does mix in a lively salsa piece in “Hot frenzy” though my favorite out of the non-themed tracks is by far “Home country of a water imp” with its Irish reel. If you’ve read my thoughts on Durarara!!’s soundtrack, you’ll know that Celtic music is a particular weakness of mine and with “Home country,” I find the energy it pours forth to be utterly irresistible, setting it apart as one of the best tracks on this album.
Hot frenzy
[audio:16 sdreamers.mp3]Home country of a water imp
[audio:10 sdreamers.mp3]
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na koto might reuse a lot of its melodic themes, but the slight changes Takefumi Haketa makes to the music brings out different facets of the anime’s characters while also reflecting the extent of their development and them coming to terms with who they are. And with all the different renditions that are available, from the stately string quartets to the other cultural styles that Haketa employs, it’s rarely, if ever, boring.
Rating: Excellent
Asatte no Houkou next?
I really liked this soundtrack. It’s mainly mellow and has various versions of the main themes, but that’s not a bad thing. I felt that it also worked really well with the show. The less dramatic music made the show’s ambience more… real.
And I can’t resist the salsa feeling in Hot Frenzy. It’s an awesome song. 🙂
Good soundtrack. I remember “Someday’s Dreamers”, this music goes along well with it. Listening to these songs makes me want to just relax in the countryside.
@omo
The reason this album got a review is because the CD has been sitting in the car for about about 2-3 months now, so I know it pretty much by heart, which made writing this easier. I’ll add it to my queue though!
@Twilightshiva
It really is a swell, mellow soundtrack isn’t it? I don’t consider the over-arrangement of the main theme to be a weakness because.. well, I love the melody to begin with and the way he goes through with a flute/violin version, a string quartet version, and, of course, that Irish jig, allows you to see so many faces to that one piece that it’s really interesting.
Also, more anime soundtracks need to employ salsa music. I’d love to hear more.
@Reltair
I haven’t seen the series, but the warm tones sure accentuate the subtle mood that would be required of a show that is of that particular coming-of-age story with small doses of drama. Maybe I should give it a go or something…
Yes! More soundtracks should have salsa music. Or any other upbeat ballroom dance. Or even tangos. I have a weakness for tangos.
And you should watch it! Like the soundtrack, it’s nice and mellow and pretty short (I think there are 12-13 eps… I don’t quite remember. It’s been a while). Hmm maybe I’ll start rewatching it tomorrow… lol.
I wasn’t aware of this anime at all, but I love the music. The first piano pieces and Sunflower are wonderfully calming and bright.
Also didn’t realize the same artist also Aoi Hana. That’s kind of nice.
Rarely do I find it that I enjoy a great number of tracks hosted per review, so I assume that I may, in fact, like this soundtrack in whole. I’ll have to add it to my queue for future listening.
I liked “Home country of a water imp”, but a performance critique I can give is that the flautist in the beginning may need to work on her points of breathing because it caused her melody line to be a bit jagged. Other that, good stuff!
This is absolutely one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. I, like you, have a huge soft spot for Celtic music, and the fusion of contemporary instrumental arranges and whimsical Irish jigs is like candy for my ears. I have no idea how “Home Country of a Water Imp” managed to evade my ears for so long. The piece is absolutely stunning. I have the soundtrack to the 2008 remake of this show, Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto~ Natsu no Sora (which is also very good) but I haven’t seen either. I guess I need to get busy because they look pretty good and the music is more than enough reason itself.
I love the samples, I’ll have to check it out.
I’m neutral towards Celtic styled music. Those reels start blending together… but then again, most other styles do that if you listen to too much.
@Twilightshiva
If ballroom dances include waltzes, then I think there’s plenty of that in stuff like Ouran. But that’s not exactly the high-energy upbeat dances that you have in mind. Tangos are pretty rare (I can’t think of any at the top of my head) and I’d welcome them for the diversity they can bring.
Also, these posts seem to get people to rewatch series for some reason… definitely a good thing!
@Yi
Takefumi Haketa’s a pretty decent composer and I always do look forward to his music since it always delivers something good to look into.
Maybe I could also compare some of the more upbeat piano tracks to ARIA too… heh.
@Rhythmroo
Haha, yeah, I noticed that about the flautist too in that it’s not exactly a smooth performance there. Like I said to omo, this album’s been sitting in my car for a few good months now and I haven’t tired of it. Hopefully your mileage is the same as mine!
@kevo
Did you listen to this before you read the review or after since I sorta can’t tell from the AIM conversation. And yeah, Natsu no Sora will get its chance. I’ve listened to one track so far and it’s more of the same, and that’s not a bad thing at all!
I’ve also seen 3 eps of Natsu no Sora, which I thought were kinda decent, introspective drama/slice of life stuff, so it should be good. Very subdued too.
@Yu
I can see blending being a problem, but on the good side, Celtic styles in anime music isn’t so ubiquitous (at least, not yet) that each one can be savored and enjoyed.
Yeah waltzes are all over the place. They are great but fairly common. I guess I was thinking of more on the upbeat ballroom side, or tangos, which aren’t exactly slow or upbeat… I’m not sure what category they fall under lol.
I feel like I’d hear more tangos in a series that has lots of sexual tension that is not immediately played for laughs. I don’t find that too often in anime or maybe I’m just not watching the right shows.
I didn’t rewatch the whole series but I did start! If only I had more time…
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i love the sample…….i really really like it over,,,,,,
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