Gundam Song Covers
Gundam Song Covers is a cover album by Hiroko Moriguchi, released on August 7, 2019 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise. The album features Moriguchi's versions of the 10 most popular Gundam songs, as voted on NHK's "Announcement! All Gundam Big Vote" (発表!全ガンダム大投票, Happyō! Zen Gandamu Dai Tōhyō).[1][2] Her song "Sora no Kanata de" from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is also included as a bonus track. It was released in two physical CD versions: a regular release and a limited edition release with an LP-sized jacket with a booklet and stickers. The album cover, illustrated by Tsukasa Kotobuki, features Moriguchi dressed in an A.E.U.G normal suit, with the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam in the background.[3][4]
Gundam Song Covers | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 7, 2019 (Japan) | |||
Studio | Bellwood Records • Dutchmama Studio • King Sekiguchidai Studio • Sound Inn Studio • Victor Studio | |||
Genre |
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Length | 54:34 | |||
Label | King Records | |||
Hiroko Moriguchi chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
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To promote the album, Moriguchi released the music video for "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" in July 2019.[5]
Upon its release, Gundam Song Covers sold over 25,000 copies, peaked at #3 on Oricon's Weekly Album Chart on August 19, 2019 and charted for 20 weeks, making it Moriguchi's highest charting album in her career. It was also her first top-10 album since Eternal Songs in 1991.[6][7] As of January 23, 2020, the album has sold over 100,000 copies.[8] On November 16, 2019, the album was announced as one of six recipients of the Planning Award at the 61st Japan Record Awards, which will be held on December 30.[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete (水の星へ愛をこめて, From the Aqueous Star with Love) (with Naoko Terai)" (from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) | Masao Urino | Neil Sedaka | 4:37 |
2. | "Ai Senshi (哀 戦士, Soldiers of Sorrow) (with Kotaro Oshio)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow) | Rin Iogi | Daisuke Inoue | 3:55 |
3. | "Eternal Wind ~Hohoemi wa Hikaru Kaze no Naka~ (ETERNAL WIND~ほほえみは光る風の中~, Eternal Wind ~Smile in the Shining Wind~)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam F91) | Yui Nishiwaki |
| 5:13 |
4. | "Beyond the Time ~Möbius no Sora wo Koete~ (BEYOND THE TIME ~メビウスの宇宙を越えて~, BEYOND THE TIME ~Mebiusu no Sora o Koete~, Beyond the Time ~Beyond the Möbius Universe~)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack) | Mitsuko Komuro | Tetsuya Komuro | 5:12 |
5. | "Arashi no Naka de Kagayaite (嵐の中で輝いて, Shine in the Storm) (with Saburo Tanooka)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team) | Natsumi Watanabe | Maoto Yumeno | 4:41 |
6. | "Freesia (フリージア, Furījia) (with Satoru Shionoya)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) | Uru | Naoaki Iwami | 5:58 |
7. | "Just Communication (with Ino Hidefumi)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) | Shiina Nagano | Kōji Makaino | 4:51 |
8. | "Meguriai (めぐりあい, Encounters)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space) |
| Inoue | 4:21 |
9. | "Zeta - Toki wo Koete (Z・刻をこえて, Zeta - Transcending Times)" (from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) |
| Sedaka | 3:54 |
10. | "RE:I AM (with Tsukemen)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn) | Hiroyuki Sawano | Sawano | 6:15 |
11. | "Sora no Kanata de (宇宙の彼方で, On the Other Side of Space) (Bonus Track)" (from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin) | Yukinojo Mori | Takayuki Hattori | 5:33 |
Total length: | 54:34 |
Credits
Adapted from booklet.[10]
Musicians
- Naoko Terai - violin (track 1)
- Kotaro Oshio - acoustic guitar (track 2)
- Saburo Tanooka - accordion (track 5)
- Satoru Shionoya - piano (track 6)
- Ino Hidefumi - Fender Rhodes & all instruments (track 7)
- Tairiku (of Tsukemen) - viola (track 10)
- Suguru (of Tsukumen) - piano (track 10)
- Kenta (of Tsukemen) - violin (track 10)
Charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Oricon Japanese Albums [11] | 3 |
Oricon Anime Albums [12] | 1 |
Billboard Japan Hot Albums[13] | 5 |
Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales[14] | 4 |
Sequel
On January 23, 2020, Moriguchi and King Records announced that Gundam Song Covers 2 is being planned for a 2020 release. Fans had until February 16 to vote for which Gundam songs Moriguchi should cover on the new album. The official poll results were broadcast on the official Gundam YouTube channel on March 8, 2020.[15][8] The album was originally planned for release on June 10, 2020, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the release date was pushed to September 16, 2020.[16]
References
- "発表!全ガンダム大投票" [Announcement! All Gundam Big Vote]. NHK. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- Hodgkins, Crystalyne (2018-05-06). "NHK Reveals Full Results of Ultimate Gundam Poll". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- "ガンダム40周年記念!森口博子からガンダムファンへ向けたメッセージ動画到着!" [Gundam 40th anniversary! A message video message from Hiroko Moriguchi to Gundam fans!]. Gundam.info. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- "森口博子「GUNDAM SONG COVERS」本日発売!「数量限定生産盤」追加販売も決定!" [Hiroko Moriguchi “GUNDAM SONG COVERS” released today! Additional sales of “Limited Edition” will be decided!]. Mobile Suit Gundam 40th Anniversary Project. 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
- Komatsu, Mikikazu (2019-07-15). "VIDEO: Hiroko Moriguchi Re-Records Zeta Gundam OP Theme for Her Cover Song Album". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
- "森口博子、「ガンダム」カバーで28年2ヶ月ぶりのTOP10入り 「80代まで歌い続けたい」" [Hiroko Moriguchi enters the TOP10 for the first time in 28 years and 2 months with the “Gundam” cover “I want to continue singing until the 80s”]. Oricon. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- "Gundam Song Covers | Hiroko Moriguchi". Oricon. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- "森口博子「GUNDAM SONG COVERS」続編制作決定!本日より収録カバー曲の投票受付開始!" [Hiroko Moriguchi "GUNDAM SONG COVERS" sequel production decision! Voting for cover songs started today!]. Gundam.info. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- "Winners and Nominees for the 61st Japan Record Awards Announced". Arama! Japan. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- "NKCD-6872 | Gundam Song Covers / Hiroko Moriguchi [Limited Edition]". vgmdb.net. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- "Weekly Album Ranking August 5-11, 2019". Oricon. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
- "Monthly Anime Album Ranking August 2019". Oricon. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- "Billboard Japan Hot Albums | Charts". Billboard Japan. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
- "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard Japan. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- "Gundam Song Covers 2 Official Site". King Records (Japan). Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- Moriguchi, Hiroko (2020-05-14). "大切なお知らせ" [Important Notice]. Mori Mori Blog. Ameba. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
External links
- Official website (Hiroko Moriguchi)
- Official website (King Records)
- Gundam Song Covers at MusicBrainz
- Gundam Song Covers on VGMdb