Slam Dunk Theme Song Collection

SLAM DUNK THEME SONG COLLECTION
Copyright © Shueisha * TV Asahi * Toei Films
B-Gram records
JBCJ-1008
Available now in Japan
¥ 2,000

—by Keith Rhee

6 tracks; 25:58

1. Kimi-ga Sukidato Sakebitai 3:50

2. Anatadake Mitsumeteru 4:44

3. Sekai-ga Owarumadewa 5:16

4. Kirameku Toki-ni Torawarete 4:25

5. Zettai-ni Daremo 3:22

6. My Friend 4:19

SLAM DUNK, a long-running sports anime airing from 1993 to 1996, is best remembered for the passion and energy that its cast had for the sport. It was also memorable for its upbeat opening and ending songs, and the fact that it went through three sets of OP/ED songs is perhaps a testament to how long and popular the series was. The SLAM DUNK Theme Song Collection features the six OP and ED songs, and captures the spirit of the popular sports anime title in a neat little package.
The macho nature of the series is reflected in the OP tracks: straightforward songs whose lack of sophistication are more than made up for by upbeat melodies, with lots of electric guitar and drum beats—in other words, good old fashioned rock and roll. The male vocalists are neither horrible nor outstanding, but like Huey Lewis or Bruce Springsteen they really put their heart into their singing.
The first OP track, "Kimi-ga Sukidato Sakebitai" (I want to Shout that I Like You), will be immediately recognizable to SLAM DUNK fans. The song opens with an explosive drumbeat and a slight echo, sounding almost like a basketball pounding the floor in an in-door basketball court, and listening to the fast-paced song, one can almost imagine the players running around and dribbling the ball. The second OP "Sekai-ga Owarumadewa" (Until The World Ends) is a slightly slower, more moody number, reflecting the more serious mood of the show mid-series. The last OP track "Zettai-ni, Daremo" (No Matter Who) picks up the pace again, portraying an I-won't-be-beaten-no-matter-what type of urgency.
If the OP tracks seem to portray the story from the view from the male basketball players, the ED songs seem to convey the feelings from the females' point of view; they sing of love, friendship, and passion, both towards the sport and the people who play the game. The ED songs are all performed by female vocalists this time around, and are slightly more sophisticated but just as energetic as the OP tracks that they complement.
In "Anatadake Mitsumeteru" (I'm Looking Only At You), the female vocalist belts out the vocals with a power seen only in the likes of MIO. This girl isn't going to wait for her knight in shining armor: she has her eyes locked on him and she's going to get him. The real gem of this disc, however, is the second ED track "Kirameku Toki-ni Torawarete", a high-powered number that makes for a great dance tune. In fact, the female group MANISH enjoyed quite a bit of fame in the Japanese dance scene a while back. Last but not least, rounding up the album is "My Friends," performed by the soft-spoken female singer ZARD. Starting out with a slow ballad melody and a sweet singing voice, it too launches into an upbeat melody. Unfortunately, the loud band music threatens to overwhelm the softer vocals of the singer, whose melodic voice isn't nearly as powerful as those for the first two ED songs. Despite this minor quibble, though, it is still an enjoyable tune.
At 6 tracks the album is rather short, even for the slightly lower price of ¥2000, but it beats the alternative of trying to dig up the CD singles containing the OP/ED songs. If you're a SLAM DUNK fan but don't already own all the soundtracks, the choice should be a no-brainer. Even for those who haven't watched the series, if you like upbeat, energetic music in general, this mini-album should prove a worthwhile purchase.