Well they overshot it by a couple of weeks into 2025, as
opposed to the promised 2024, but we finally have what we’ve been long promised:
a whole plethora of Macross titles making their US debut on Disney+. So where did I start? Macross 7?
Macross Delta? Well I might have
plans for those later this year so, no.
Nope, I started with an old friend: Macross Plus. While the subtitles might be a bit of an
issue, there’s no denying this legendary OVA looks more amazing than ever in
high definition. I could talk about my
favorite scenes but how about we talk about the one part of this Anime whose
power no one can deny: the OST by Yoko Kanno.
This mix of sweeping orchestral composures and future techno tunes could
be considered Kanno’s Magnum Opus (or maybe a very close second behind Cowboy
Bebop). Today on Top 5 Wednesday I’ll be
counting down my picks for the Top 5 Macross Plus Songs. No orchestral stuff, just the lyrical
melodies sung by digital songstress Sharon Apple or Myung Fang Long.
This is a pretty short song but it maximizes a critical
moment of the OVA, to be more specific it kicks off the final act with Sharon
Apple launching the Macross.
The second
that haunting choir starts chanting the lyrics and the golden light of Sharon
shines on the original battle fortress, one thing is certain: S*** just got
real.
It sucks there isnt a longer version
of this song beyond it’s near minute and a half usage.
It’s beautiful, it’s bold and it’s a helluva
way to reintroduce Sharon as the Final Boss for Isamu, Guld and Myung to confront.
#4-Borderline
Sharon dims down the lights and unleashes the inner
sexual Goddess with this base induced piece of hypnosis.
It’s Sharon at her most seductive and the
crowd is just as into it as the viewer is watching it.
It’s equally sexy and also instills a feeling
of uncertainty.
It’s like listening to a
Siren luring you to doom with the promise of the ultimate pleasure.
And the scary thing is?
The song is so freaking hot that it actually
could work.
#3-Voices
Voices is the perfect choice to represent Macross Plus as
it’s main theme.
There’s a strong sense
of wonder as it plays over the opening scene of Myung watching Isamu and Guld
launch a make shift plane into the air.
The song soars as high as Isamu’s bird plane, launching things properly
with the promise of adventure, excitement, maybe a little romance and the
garuntee that there are no limits past that beautiful blue sky.
Myung’s singing voice is so beautiful too,
she could sing me to sleep any night without fail.
#2-Santi U
The song that kicks of the big Sharon Apple Concert in Episode
2, this song is our first true exposure to the power of Sharon, both visually
and vocally.
The entire set piece is
done with a mix of CGI and 2D animation that must’ve been a pain to animate but
worth it.
The song itself starts off
very haunting and just like Borderline, instills an unease in you.
But then the song kicks into its rave portion
and gets the blood racing and that unease is quickly forgotten.
Bonus points to the bit of the song where
they simulate switching stations on a radio between both halves of the song.
#1-Information High
If Macross Plus is the “Top Gun” of Anime, then
Information High might very well be its “Danger Zone”.
The song has an amazing build up and when the
main beats kick in, you want to jump into your Valkyrie and go kick all kinds
of ass.
The song runs almost 8 minutes
long and doesn’t have a single weakness within it, serving as a fun track to
dance too and also have ridiculously awesome aerial dog fights too.
It’s a nice reminder that while the quieter,
more introspective songs are amazing, Macross can still give you a song that
just makes you go “Hell Yeah” while chasing your dreams or racing to save the
woman you love.
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