If you have not already listened to the podcast of this category, this is the final results, so this will spoil the course of the discussion on that podcast! Be warned!
The human voice is an incredible thing. Talented artists work tirelessly to train their vocal chords to produce amazing moments, beyond just the lyrics themselves. Incredible vocals can elevate any song, but these three rose to the top in 2023.
The Winner
Idol (Oshi no Ko)
Yoasobi pulls off their second win in our awards, and for good reason. This talented duo are incredible singers that manage to surprise and delight in their music. Almost every aspect of Idol is the group pulling in the tone of Oshi no Ko perfectly in line with lyrics that are poppy, dark, and heartfelt without skipping a beat. The instrumentals of this song do well to reflect the state of mind of the show’s central character with lyrics that feel pulled from Ai’s private diary.
From start to finish, Idol is a banger. The shifting tone of the lyrics, from Ai’s contempt for the media, self-doubt, and then love for her children makes the song more resonate with us. People are complicated, and this song reflects that inner life of Ai with attention grabbing lyrics and vocal stylings. We couldn’t help but award Idol with our top honor.
The Runners-Up
Yoton Yo (Alan Wake II)
Karaoke can be a terrifying activity. It requires you to stand up before friends and strangers and put your singing ability and heart on display. It’s more fun for some then it is for most, but every now and again, if you go to enough karaoke bars or private parties, the most unassuming person will belt out something incredible. Yoton Yo is that moment, captured in song form. The vocals here are this smooth baratone register that shakes you to the core as this song sweeps you away.
The lyrics here are no slouch. With lines like “The knives are out with a rattle, and it’s the last thing you’ll hear” and “a black cloud boils inside his skull,” the lyrics are dark and feel like a ritual come to life. Even if you don’t speak Finnish, the power of the vocal delivery was stunning to us and stood out. It’s powerful, simple, and if you heard this coming from the mouth of a stranger, you’d turn your head in wonder. What a great song.
Zenryoku King (Ohsama Sentai KingOhger)
Listen, sometimes a song only has to be fun. But just calling this song fun feels like a disservice. Sentai openings tend to be simple fun and high energy affairs, but Zenryoku King feels like a departure from the typical. The aggressive and unusual guitars open up for the lyrics to feel off, but not offputting. It feels like a frantic tumble down a hill, gathering speed until it rights itself with a heroic sprint. In a show about petty and selfish kings coming together to save the world, it feels right.
Zenryoku King’s best strength is the energy and passion of the lyrics. They feel right at home in Sentai openings, but the chaotic nature adds this unique tone. KingOhger was a delightful departure from typical Super Sentai series, and this theme did an excellent job at conveying that. It’s a blast from start to finish, and while this song didn’t take the top spot, it perfectly fits as one of our runner ups.
The home stretch! Only 2 categories remain, as we award the best anime and then game of the year!
Our art is a commission from @yonsoncb on Twitter!
