I am one of those people who is rather addicted to the opening and ending songs of anime, they fill my computer and my CD holders. And yes, One Piece op/ed rank high among my favorites.
So what I'm wondering now is what is everybody's favorite op/ed of anime other than One Piece. Because we all know One Piece music rocks, but there's some other gems out there too. Don't bother to rank, just list the ones you love and why you love them.
My list:
Yuzurenai Negai - Magic Knight Rayearth
Magic Knight Rayearth was one of my first anime obsessions, back in the day when Media Blasters was small and MKR was like it's biggest title. But I loved this opening song the moment I heard it, and I still do. It's a great song for a fighting shoujo anime like MKR.
Houki Kumo - Yakitate! Japan
I song I sometimes cannot stop playing, I dunno there's just something really infectious about this cheerful, pretty song. Maybe it's the fact that it conjures the image of a comet ball of dough that I like it so.
Tori no Uta - AIR
I was blown away by how pretty this song is. It's like ethereal electronica or something. But I think it fits a title like AIR very well, adding that mystical quality to it.
Kinjirareta Asobi - Rozen Maiden
A terrifically kooky song with lyrics that are entirely too dirty for an anime about Victorian dolls. If there ever was a goth pop song, this is it. One I play when I'm trying to get into the mood to write, oddly enough.
TACTICS - Rurouni Kenshin
A highly under-appreciated ending. I know everyone raves about "Heart of Sword" and it is a great ending, but TACTICS appeals to me more. It's a little more . . . . sensual, so to speak, and captures that side of the swordsman drama.
GO!! - Naruto
The best of the Naruto openings, and the one that perfectly captures the essence of a shonen series like Naruto. The current opening sucks all kinds of ass, so I like to pretend this song is still the opening.
Sousei no Aquarion - Sousei no Aquarion
A little gem I just discovered on my latest mp3 binge. A song that suits my personal tastes tremendously, and now I'm kinda curious about the anime. (and yes, that is the title of the song, at least according to ANN)
Northern Lights - Shaman King
Megumi Hayashibara is not only a great seiyuu, but a great singer. Slayers would be nothing without her, and she is equally good with this Shaman King song. It really gets my blood moving.
Pastel Pure - Maria-sama ga Miteru
And now for something completely different. Yes, I like a good fast-paced song that invigorates me, but sometimes you just need to be quiet. And that's what this song does for me, and yes I prefer it straight instrumental (first season) to the one with lyrics (second season).