Link between JAM Project and SRW (updated)
NOTE: This is an updated version of the article I wrote ages ago. You can find the original script here. The reason that I leave the original script untouched is that somebody else has been using this article without my permission, so I'm leaving it as it is as proof.
—————————————————————————————————–
It's not new that JAM Project is practically the official singers for Super Robot Wars. Ever since they sang the song Hagane no Messiah for SRW Alpha Gaiden (PS) as its OP theme, their fame had been spread out to all SRW fans who do not know their presence. And since then, all SRWs for home consoles will have its OP and ED done by JAM Project (except for SRW GC, which doesn't have any OP or ED), and even SRW OG the Animation is not spared. Why are they the fated ones? That's because of their passion to push forward with anime songs. Somehow or rather, they managed to sing out their passion in those OP themes, the passion that all SRW fans crave in the game. The term "hot-blooded" can't be described anywhere else.
But they are not some unknown group popping out of nowhere. As a matter of fact, if you look into their members, you will have discovered that more than half of them are in fact linked to SRW.
Mizuki Ichiro – The aniki (Big Brother) and the Legendary Figure of the anison world, and also one of the earliest anison singers, as well as the first leader of JAM. He's famous for his theme songs for mecha shows, so it's no surprise that when Banpresto decides to release songs based off SRW, he would be the man of choice. He had sung numerous songs for SRW, whether it's a improved version of those old super robot songs, or new songs catered to SRW, and he had done it with his own style, pushing him further more to the top of the anison world. He appeared as a cameo voice appearance in SRW @3 as the final boss Keisar Ephes.
Kageyama Hironobu – He may be much younger than aniki, but he has been in the anison world for at least 20 years, and is the creator of JAM as well as its second leader. He has been the source of passion to push forward anime songs in the current generation, and he's one artist who keeps improving and challenging the heights, earning him the title of "anison prince". He sang SRW songs at about the same time as aniki, and he's really good at re-singing old songs using his own style and making it more relevant to the current generation. Together with aniki, the two are the undefeated duo in anison history, leading the anison world.
Endoh Masaaki – His greatest peak was when he sang the OP themes for Yuusha-oh Gaogaigar, and he redefine the power of passion and hot blood in anime songs. Since then, he had become a regular singer for SRW even before he's in JAM Project. During that time, he formed a duo with Kageyama Hironobu as "Koutetsu Kyoudai" (Brothers of Steel), and was active in SRW songs. By the way, Mizuki, Kageyama and Endoh are part of the permanent staff at the yearly anison concert Super Robot Spirits. You can hear his voice in SRW @3 in the bgm Yuusha-oh Tanjou! MYTHOLOGY version.
Matsumoto Rica – Not so affiliated with SRW as the trio do, but as a seiyuu, she had performed a few roles in SRW:
Haro – the famous icon for Gundam. Originally made by Amuro, it appears in the UC series from Gundam 0079 to V Gundam. Most notably a sub-pilot in SRW for V Gundam, as a partner for Usso Ewin.
Hyuuga Jin – The main character in Zettai Muteki Raijin-oh (SRW GC).
Rilcarla – one of the main female characters in SRW Alpha. Expect to hear Matsumoto Rica voicing her in SRW OGS.
Sakamoto Eizou – At first sight, he may seems far away from the SRW series. But his Animetal albums consist mainly of super robot, real robot and tokusatsu songs. Thus, he's actually much closer than what you think.
Fukuyama Yoshiki – He sang the songs in Macross 7 as Nekki Basara (although he wasn't the seiyuu), and with the appearance of Macross 7 in SRW @3, u can hear his cameo voices in the game. Those songs sung by him which appeared in the game, you can actually hear him singing parts of the songs. The songs are SEVENTH MOON, PLANET DANCE, Totsugeki LOVE HEART, HOLY LONELY LIGHT, POWER TO THE DREAM and TRY AGAIN. You can hear him explicitly in POWER TO THE DREAM.
Their style for SRW opening themes will alway be the same – that of a hot-blooded one. But they also insist on the same ballad style for SRW ED themes, which is great for endings.
JAM songs affiliated with SRW so far:
SRW Alpha Gaiden [PS1] (2001)
- Hagane no Messiah (OP)
- POWER (ED)
- Hahane no Messiah (2006 version) (2006)
SRW Alpha [PS1] (2000)
- Neppu! Shippu! PSYBUSTER EDGEWIRED ver. (2001)
SRW Impact [PS2] (2002)
- GO!! (OP)
- DEPARTURE (ED)
SRW Alpha 2 [PS2] (2003)
- SKILL (OP)
- FOREVER & EVER (ED)
- SKILL ~album version~ (2003)
SRW MX [PS2] (2004)
- VICTORY (OP)
- Yakusoku no Chi (ED)
SRW Original Generation the Animation [OVA] (2005)
- Meikyuu no PRISONER (OP)
- Protect you (ED1)
- Name of the Truth (ED2)
- Hoshi no REQUIEM (ED3)
- Neppu! Shippu! PSYBUSTER (IN)
SRW Alpha 3 ~Shuuen no Ginga e~ [PS2] (2005)
- GONG (OP)
- Brother in faith (ED)
- GONG <album version> (2006)
Leave a Reply