F ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

F ORIGINAL SOUNTRACK

— by Charles McCarter

1. F 3:29

The Burst

2. Jama wa sasenai (I Won't Let Anyone Get in My Way) 4:13

"r" Project

3. Love Affair 4:01

Shimizu Koujiro

4. You Are My Energy 6:08

Harada Shinji

5. Kazaru - Hijiri no Teema (Showy - Hijiri's Theme) 4:48

6. Movin' Out - Gunma no Teema (Gunma's Theme) 2:17

7. Country Road 2:46

8. Nigatsu no Asa (February Morning) 1:43

9. Kaurenbo (Hide-and-Seek) 1:39

10. Morning Call 3:05

11. Aitakute (I Wanted to See You and=85) 2:31

12. Runaway 2:28

13. Kazaru - Hijiri no Teema II 4:41

The anime series F, based on the manga by Rokuda Noboru, ran on television during the 1988-89 season. The story followed the young, impetuous, and oftentimes rash Akagi Gunma as he moved to the big city to fulfill his dream of racing a Formula One car. And, despite being slotted against anime powerhouse CITYHUNTER II and ending early as a result, the show produced a wide variety of music that is, surprisingly, very enjoyable.
In an age when anime vocals all seem to have the same saccharine idol-like quality to them, the vocals of F truly stand out. The first track, "F," is the first opening theme, and it revels in its own exuberance and recklessness as it races along. The song is cocky and brash, and it works very well to convey the attitude that Gunma exhibits during the entire show and is also very memorable.
In keeping with the spirit of the show, the first ending, "Jama wa Sasenai" ("I Won't Let Anyone Get in My Way"), is also a fast, upbeat song. Although the lyrics are not quite as arrogant, the song still conveys rather forcefully that the singer won't give up on his dreams, and won't tolerate any interference, either. This is another catchy tune.
The second opening is, "Love Affair," and, while the lyrics do not really have much to do with the show, the song itself is one of those variety that tends to stick in a listener's head. Shimizu Kojiro delivers a confident yet playful vocal; the lyrics tell of the singer trying to coerce a woman into a love affair. This is my favorite vocal on the disc, and "Love Affair" is one of those songs that listeners can hear a number of times without becoming old.
The last vocal, "You Are My Energy," is the only ballad on the disc. And while the song itself is all right, I have never taken a particularly strong liking to this song, perhaps because the other vocals on this CD truly overpower it. And Harada Shinji, the vocalist, is a very well-known singer in Japan, so my opinion of this song is probably based on how it feels in relation to the rest of the music on the CD.
But, amazing as the vocals are (and even more amazing that they were all performed by men--a rarity on anime soundtracks!), the BGM is equally good. My favorite instrumental track is "Movin' Out," which starts off with a basic drum beat and is joined by a blast of fast moving synthesizers. This track first appears in the anime when Gunma is racing his tractor (yes, tractor) down a country road doing about 75 miles per hour. Not surprisingly, it is fast, energetic, and very good to drive to.
However, the BGM also has a serious side. "Kakurenbo" ("Hide and Seek") is beautifully performed on piano. The piano has a lot of echo, as if it were being played in an empty hall, which adds significant emotional weight to the piece. Also, "Kazaru" ("Showy"), which is the theme for Gunma's main rival Hijiri, is another slow piece, but also a complex orchestration of synthesizer and electric guitar. It is beautiful to listen to, even if one has no idea who Hijiri is.
In short, this CD is one of the better ones in my collection. And, although it may be very difficult to find, due to it being ten years old, it is definitely worth the search. I believe it has some of the best music that has appeared on TV anime in the last decade or so.