Birthday Song, Requiem
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Album Title: Birthday Song, Requiem |
| Record Label: Key Sounds Label |
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| Catalog No.: KSLA-0007 |
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| Release Date: December 28, 2002 |
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| Purchase: Buy Used Copy |
Overview
Following their successful collaboration on Air, songwriter Jun Maeda and vocalist Lia teamed up several other times. The first of these was Birthday Song, Requiem, a single featuring two original songs. While hardly one of Key’s major releases, the music here is enjoyable.
Body
All fans of Air‘s theme songs should check out “Birthday Song, Requiem”. Once again, Jun Maeda wrote a rich melody and inspiring lyrics for this song. Arranger Magome Togoshi brings out the upbeat and airy feel of the song with pumping beats and electric guitar solos — all of them pop-flavoured, but never trashy. But the star of the show is Lia, who adapted her voice wonderfully for the song and penetrates the hearts of the listeners. The build-up that culminates at 3:11 is especially liberating.
The song also receives a remix by Fish Tone. The acoustic elements of the original are replaced by uplifting beats, but the vocals are left untouched. While a relatively conservative remix, it’s almost as enjoyable as the original.
“Loving Heart” is a slower ballad. While many game artists lean towards producing melodramatic ballads, Jun Maeda avoided it here with his focus on ethereal soundscapes. Lia emphasises the warmth and spirituality of the song with a tender performance, while the various acoustic, electronic, and worldly forces come together to create a unique accompaniment. All the elements are implemented and mixed successfully, and there isn’t a single bland sample or generic beat to be heard.
Summary
Those that enjoyed Air‘s theme songs should first heard for the mini-album Spica / Hanabi / Moon. Those desiring even more can’t go wrong with Birthday Song, Requiem, a brief but poignant single.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
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Posted on August 1, 2012 by Chris Greening. Last modified on January 22, 2016.
About the Author
Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!
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