Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Album: Neon Genesis Evangelion II
Composer/Lyricist: Shiro Sagisu
Release Date: 16 Feb 1996

Neon Genesis Evangelion II Tracklisting 1. A Vision 2. A Cruel Angel’s Thesis 3. BORDERLINE CASE 4. A Crystalline Night Sky 5. ANGEL ATTACK II 6. ANGEL ATTACK III 7. Both of you, Dance Life You Want to Win! 8. Waking up in the morning 9. BACKGROUND MUSIC 10. A Moment When Tension Breaks 11. The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still 12. Spending Time in Preparation 13. She said, “Don’t make others suffer for your personal hatred.” 14. MAGMADIVER 15. PLEASURE PRINCIPLE 16. THE BEAST II 17. THANATOS 18. Rei III 19. When I find Peace of Mind 20. FLY ME TO THE MOON (CLAIRE) 21. FLY ME TO THE MOON (Rei #5) 22. FLY ME TO THE MOON (Rei #6) 23. Next Episode 24. FLY ME TO THE MOON (Aya) 25. FLY ME TO THE MOON (Aki) *Bold titles - recommended listening.

OVERVIEW

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s background music is usually greatly overlooked on the account of how controversial Evangelion was, with the story trumping the music in most discussions. This is unfortunate, because Neon Genesis Evangelion II is a great collection of underrated songs. Shiro Sagisu’s talent emanates from almost every track found of this soundtrack. However, Evangelion II carries some unnecessary baggage otherwise labeled as “Sinatra’s Classics”.

THE GOOD

Both of you, Dance Like You Want to Win!
I have said before that I enjoy a song that can bring the scene in which it is played to life inside my head, whether I am watching it or not; “Both of you, Dance Like You Want to Win!” becomes an iMax projector in my mind every time I listen to it, giving me the image of Shinji and Asuka gracefully moving in sync. Considered on its own merits, “Both of you, Dance Like You Want to Win!” is elegant and well-composed. Opening in a piano solo, it quickly evolves into a complex orchestra score that fills the ears. Rising and falling tunes make your arms wave in the air like a conductor’s baton.

THANATOS
When Shiro Sagisu gets it right, he does it well. “THANATOS” is a soft and fluid piece of music in the beginning, and grows like the Eva cast into a greater being. It starts off with only the sorrowful playing of the piano and cello; then after half the song has passed, “THANATOS” gains the eccentric playing of drums, flute and, xylophone. This is a song befitting the pacing of its parent show.

Next Episode
I guess you all think I am joking to include “Next Episode” in “The Good” section; however, this is not a farce. “Next Episode” is eighteen seconds of a fast-paced and memorable beat that once held the attention of thousands of viewers. The piano, trumpet, and xylophone play like hyper children running in a field, playing tag with each other.

FLY ME TO THE MOON
Five renditions of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” grace this soundtrack, but really only two are worthy of positive mention. “Aki Jungle Version” is a longer dance version of the original ending to Evangelion, sung by Aki. The dance beats plunge Sinatra’s love song into a new era, and Aki’s female voice gives “Fly Me to the Moon” a sexier appeal. “In other words; I love you” just sounds better sung with a woman’s voice than with Sinatra’s legendary vocal cords.

THE BAD

FLY ME TO THE MOON (Rei #5)
This is track 20, no wait, track 22, no no, I’m sorry; “Rei (#5) TV Size Remix Version” is actually track 21. The reason I get confused with that is because there are very few difference between all three tracks. The only major difference between tracks 20, 21, and 22 is the singer. As the title suggests, tracks 21 and 22 are sung by Rei 24. Her voice is too childlike to sing such a love song; Aki and CLAIRE’s (track 20) voices are more befitting on this sonata.

FLY ME TO THE MOON (Rei #6)
If I could ask one question of Shiro Sagisu, it would be “Why did you make track 22?” It would be a waste of space to repeat everything I said just above, so if you don’t have the general idea about track 21 and 22, please re-read it. They are unnecessary and unpleasant.

The Rating: 7

Reviewed by: Kurier