Bioman Complete Song Collection
Nippon Columbia - 1996 (COCC-13734 )
Philip Nino Tan-Gatue

Introduction

The CD being reviewed is the 1996 issuing of all Sentai Song series. This CD is number 8 in the series. (COCC-13724) As with all the albums in the series, the first 10 are songs while the rest are karaoke versions.

Bioman was characterized by music that alternated between the lively and the cosmic. They are a very strong point of the series. Perhaps I'll review that album next time. The songs of Bioman, on the other hand, seem more suitable for an evening of relaxation in your study rather than being superimposed on a fight scene. Perhaps this is why during the series, Bio Robo no Uta is used for the Bioman fight scenes a whole lot more than the opening, Chodenshi Bioman. In comparison, most sentai opening songs seem composed with the main purpose of having a fight scene choreographed to it. Strong examples of what I mean are the opening themes of Dynaman, Gaoranger, Liveman and Maskman. There are other sentai opening themes which are on the lively side, such as Jetman, but it would seem that even those songs can be used for fight scenes. Except Carranger, but I digress.

But would this mean that I don't like the songs? Hardly, I love them all, but to different degrees and for different reasons. Heck, let's go down to the nitty gritty.

Song List

1) Chodenshi Bioman (Super Electron Bioman) 2:47 - Takayuki Miyauchi
2) Oretachi Bioman (We are Bioman) 3:56 - Takayuki Miyauchi, Koorogi '73
3) Sexual Lady 4:52 - Miki Ishido(?)
4) Blue Togetherness 4:07- Takayuki Miyauchi
5) Oozora Kakero (Soar Through the Sky!) 3:24- Koorogi '73, Japan Echosingers
6) Karafuru Bioman (Colorful Bioman) 4:29- Takayuki Miyauchi, Koorogi '73, Japan Echosingers
7) Yume miro Peebo (Dreamy Pibo)(?) 3:34 - Kyoko Oota, Columbia Yurikaokai
8) Bio Robo no Uta (Song of Bio Robot) 3:50 - Takayuki Miyauchi
9) Yurasate no Pegasus (Pegasus of the Sunset) 3:16 - Ryosuke Sakamoto
10)Biomic Soldier 2:59 - Takayuki Miyauchi

01. Chodenshi Bioman

>>This song starts out on a fast note with a great great opening electric guitar sequence. As I said before, one would find it difficult to choreograph a fight scene to the first half of this song, but it's very light on the ears and I always find myself pretending to be the drummer. Between stanzas, there are great instrumental numbers. Takayuki Miyauchi's voice is perfect for the mellow yet powerful melody. 5 out of 5 stars!

02. Oretachi Bioman

>>Also begins with some great instrumentals, and again Takayuki Miyauchi. I'm a fan of brass instruments, so I enjoy the use of trumpets on this one. However, I feel that Miyauchi's voice range is not as properly utilized in this song as it could have been. There is also a great electric guitar sequence somewhere in the middle. However, this is one of the examples of songs that can never be used in a fight scene. My distinct memory of this song
being used in the series comes during a training sequence. 3.5 out of 5 stars!

03. Sexual Lady

>>The title is katakana for "Sexual Lady" (Sekushuwaru Reidee). However, the song is anything but sultry. For me, this is the quintessential female sentai senshi song - very very feminine, yet not sickeningly sweet. The beat is very catchy yet is light on the ears. It's a shame that this song was underused during the series. However, the powers-that-be righted this when they used Sexual Lady during the Onna Senshi (female warrior) fight clip sequence in the Gaoranger vs Super Sentai video. My only complaint is that I was hoping for a better
singer; she's good, but she's no Mitsuko Horie. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

04. Blue Togetherness

>>The ultimate in Bioman easy listening! So cool and refreshing that even my wife found it nice to listen to. No comments I make will do this song justice. This song will make you a Takayuki Miyauchi fan. This song was also used in Gaoranger vs Super Sentai during the "power warrior" sequence. (I distinctly remember green flash of flashman appearing on screen during this song) 5 out of 5 stars.

05. Oozora Kakero

>> I personally call this the Bio Dragon song, since it's always played when the Bio Dragon is launched and the Bio Jets are activated. I've always said that the criteria for a great song, whether in anime or tokusatsu, is it's ability to make you recall images of the series in your mind as you listen to it. With that criteria, this song tops the charts. However, my complaint is that the blending of voices of the two groups (Koorogi '73 and Japan
Echosingers) isn't as perfect as I'd like it to be. My opinion is that this song would have been better off with either only one group singing it or a gentleman and a lady singing a duet. 4 out of 5 stars.

06. Karafuru Bioman

>> The first line translates as "colorful characters", and it seems to be dedicated to the colors and personalities of the five bioman. I don't really like this song much, as it sounds too much like Blue Togetherness. I think that a song detailing the five members of a sentai team should be a bit more lively. It's merit? Takayuki Miyauchi! 3 out of 5 stars.

07. Yume Miro Peebo

>> This song would have been good... if only they got a different singer. With all due respect to Peebo's voice actress, this song only irritates me. It's a shame, because the melody and instruments used are magnificent and almost captures the essense of the motherly robot. I say almost because the singer's voice really really takes a lot away. 2 out of 5 stars.

08. Bio Robot no Uta

>>If only more Bioman Songs were like this! This song is the perfect mixture of easy listening, great use of the electric guitar and brass instruments and even a piano. It evokes emotions of dynamism and heroic power. This song is so good and action packed that very often IT is used during fight scenes instead of the opening song! And quite creatively, the ending intstrumentals are based on the BGM of when the Bio Robot finishes off the Mechagigan of the week. Perfect song, perfect lyrics, perfect lyrics. 10 over 5, oh you mean I can't go over 5? alright... Bio! Bio! Bio! Robo!

09. Yurasate no Pegasus

>> In case you don't know, singer Ryosuke Sakamoto is the actor who plays Gou Shirou, Red One! And whoa, the man can sing! He ain't as good as Mr. Miyauchi, but he's not bad either. This song, of all the others, reminds me that this is an Eighties show most of all. 3.5 over 5.

10. Biomic Soldier

>> Definitely one of the better sentai ending songs. The use of the tambourine adds to the festive atmosphere of this song. Bubbly yet not sweet, fast but not overdrive. The closest song I can think of to compare to this one is Megaranger's Bomb Dancing, but faster and more memorable. And I can never listen to this song without visualizing the ending sequence, which in my personal criteria means this song is one of the best. In particular, I can never forget the sequences where the bio team is cleaning the bio robot with mops and pails, and where they wave at the audience one by one as they run towards the camera in slow motion. Again, this song utilizes Takayuki Miyauchi's voice excellently. I can't imagine someone else singing this song. 5 over 5 stars.