Monday Melodic Musings: Martian Successor Nadesico – Ima wa Oyasumi Wo…

Satomi Arimori’s immortal eponymous line penned for Martian Successor Nadesico’s OP “You Get To Burning” will always give me a chuckle or two because of its engrishy nature, but that doesn’t hide the fact that Toshiyuki Omori’s composition is catchy and engaging and that Yumi Matsuzawa’s vocals deliver the necessary urgency and inspiration that captures the show’s more serious moments.

While Omori’s music is already enjoyable, what I like even more about Nadesico’s music is how composer Takayuki Hattori uses the opening theme as part of the anime’s BGM. The theme not only materializes in the form of a magnificent orchestral display in “Nadesico Hasshinsu!” but also in the mellowness of “Ima wa Oyasumi wo…,” the subject of today’s musing.

Nadesico – Ima wa Oyasumi wo

[audio:Nadesico – Ima wa Oyasumi wo.mp3]
While a large part of the show leans towards conflict (and a bit of goofiness in the form of an anime within an anime), “Ima wa Oyasumi wo…” takes you far away from the tension and combat and instills a more relaxed mood through the guitar duet. The clarinet carries the balmy aura onward during the verses and once it arrives at the chorus, the acoustic guitars resume leading the melody, this time, accompanied by a soft pit pat from the percussion. Then it’s back to the clarinet, then both guitar and clarinet together to close out the first half of the piece. The second half is a repeat of the first, filling the air with a sense of calm and quietude as the soothing melody wends its way about to bring the day to a close while giving you the optimism that tomorrow is another, hopefully better day.

Though a stark contrast from the energy of the opening theme, Hattori’s arrangement does Omori’s melody justice and Hattori’s work ensures that the opening theme and the show’s BGM are deeply intertwined to become a vital part of the anime’s musically thematic component.

(Fun fact: Nadesico’s soundtrack was one of the first anime soundtracks to grace my collection. Oh the memory of running to the drugstore to convert cash to money orders so I can actually purchase CDs over the internet. Good times!)