Half-Masked

The following are some of my favourite selections of music from both of the official soundtracks to Azumanga Daioh. Due to the temporary nature of any Youtube video that is not unwatchable webcam dreck, if any of these links go down by the time you read this, I’d try Amazon.com. In fact, I’d attempt looking to buy these CD’s even if the youtube links are still up.

Or I would, if I had a freaking credit card. Goddamnit.

This show would not be what it is without these songs in the background, accompanying the characters almost every step of the way.

(Also, my apologies, for I do not know what most of these tracks are called in English):

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“Sakura, Sake”

Simple and short, but I love it when an episode ends with this song. I wouldn’t call it “ska”, because it’s at a slower tempo and it lacks frustrated compositions. In fact, I’m not even sure why the word “ska” comes to mind. That’s almost insulting to it.

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“Shuhgaku ryokoh desuka”

Is there any possible combination of notes and instruments more perfect than 1:02-1:21?

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“Osanpo Desu”

Great acoustic guitar/orchestral intro, and a pleasant, flutey tune to follow(oh shut up, I never said I was good at describing musical terminology… isness…icoty…). For some reason this is the first track I remember, even though it’s not the first song you hear in the starting episode. The guitar segment is used at one of the best parts of the series, when Nyamo drunkenly teaches the girls about the birds and the bees. We see the passage of time, and the cycle of life on Earth, but all sound except the guitar and string instruments is drowned out. It’s funny the first time, but hilarious the second when Nyamo, with facial expressions alone, is confronted with the effects of her prior speech the next morning through a hangover.

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“Shin Gakki(6)”

There are several variations on this theme, but this one is my favourite. I like that it’s less cheery than the others, and I’ll always associate it with Osaka first explaining to the audience how she’s considered “slow”, while she half-mindedly plays with a bar of soap in the school washroom.

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“Like This Sky”

This is all we hear during the Victory Parade scene. That article sums up my thoughts on everything in that scene. It, and several other scenes that use this music would be much less than they are without it.

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~A.H.