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The *very* best

Created manually using JG Soft's EditPad for credit in CRS12.

I want to be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause

I will travel across the land
Searching far and wide
Each Pokémon to understand
The power that's inside

Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all!
It's you and me
I know it's our destiny
Pokémon!
Oh, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all!
A heart so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokémon

Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all!
Pokémon!

I apoligize for that, I just love the opening song of Pokémon, which is one of the television shows we will be discussing today at Critic at Large. Actually, I like the songs of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and Frasier better, but the former is in Japaneese, and the later changes every couple of episodes.

Part I - Opening Songs

DragonBall Z - Simple, and to the point. But I just don't think it's as awe-inspiring as the opening titles for Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or even that of Pokémon. Now I'm not saying that DragonBall Z doens't have good music, because I especially like the fanfare when the title of the episode is shown. That part kicks ass. But the intro doesn't quite do it for me, although it does a fine job of sticking in my head:

Dragon, DragonBall
DragonBall Z!

Dragon, DragonBall
DragonBall Z!

Rock the dragon
DragonBall Z!

Rock the dragon
DragonBall Z!

Topic / Item:   Opening Titles - DragonBall Z
Rating:            ***½ (out of *****, in ½* increments) View ratings info.

Frasier - Yeahh! Don't tell me you've never heard the song for Dr. Frasier Crane? "Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs"? Well, click here and you shall listen. (MIDI format, 117K) But don't expect to hear the whole thing on the tv show anytime soon. I'm not quite sure what they do about that... do they use a different part of the 4:45 song every week, or do they just change the lyrics to the same part? I have no idea, but the general thrust of what I've heard is this (and remember, I'm going from memory here):

Oh baby I hear the blues 'a callin'
Tossed salad and scrambled eggs

And maybe I seem a bit confused
Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!

But I don't know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs
They're callin' again

[Sometimes:] Scrambled eggs all over my face, what is a boy to do?

Goodnight, Seattle!

[Or:] Frasier has left the building.

Ya know, it's just funky stuff! And the show is even better, but we'll talk about that later.

Topic / Item:   Closing Titles - Frasier
Rating:            **** (out of *****, in ½* increments) View ratings info.

Pokémon: Season I - Although the TV show was obviously produced to sell more Pokémon products, the sad truth is that most children's shows these days are also half-hour commercials for toys, games, and cards. But I give Pokémon much more credit than that, it is actually a suprisingly good show. But I will elaborate on that momentairily. The opening song for Season I is what I am going to talk about here. It's actually quite an uplifting and moving piece of music, and that's saying quite a bit since they're 'only' singing about someone who captures and trains Pokémon. A thing I don't like though: The constant reference to the Pokémon slogan "Gotta Catch 'em all!". I mean, it's not enough that the slogan encourages children to bug their parents to buy them every single Pokémon, but they have to insert it into the theme song like some sort of not-so-sublinimal message. Yuck. But other than that, me likes.

Topic / Item:   Opening Titles - Pokémon: Season I
Rating:            **** (out of *****, in ½* increments) View ratings info.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - The show was awesome, the opening song a small masterpiece in my opinion. And I'd sing it a lot more if I understood Japaneese. =) Oh, but it's *awesome*. A moving, sensitive, and triumphant piece of music. And I'd really love to know where one could download the opening titles, if anyone knows they could get their name mentioned here! C'mon, help me out!

Topic / Item:   Opening Titles - Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Rating:            ****½ (out of *****, in ½* increments) View ratings info.

Well, that's all about tv for today. Stay tuned for an upcoming discussion about the content of the actual shows. Until then...

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