Awesome Music / Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club

aka: Love Live School Idol Festival All Stars

Love Live! Awesome Music Index
Love Live! | Love Live! Sunshine!! | Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- | Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club | Love Live! Superstar!! | Link! Like! Love Live!

Nijigasaki High School Idol Club

The Nijigasaki High School Idol Club is composed of solo performers and thus, places more emphasis on the solos than the group songs.

Ayumu Uehara

• "Yume e no Ippo" (One Step To My Dreams) tells you everything about this sweet and hardworking idol, that is working step by step towards her dreams. The interposed guitar solos mixed with the piano are guaranteed to melt your heart.
• Ayumu delivers a more heartwarming message with "Kaika Sengen" (Blossoming Declaration).
• Ayumu's development in Chapter 16 of ALL-STARS is capped off by the cheerful "Say Good-bye Namida" (Say Good-bye Tears), which combines a guitar-heavy composition with the soft vocals of Aguri Onishi in order to tell us that Ayumu has finally gained the courage to stand on her own.
• Ayumu's introduction in the anime is accompanied by "Dream with You", a magnificent orchestral piece that makes heavy use of the piano and violin, and follows one of the most emotional moments in Love Live, with Aguri finally getting to show-off a more extended range of her voice.
• "Awakening Promise" wraps up Ayumu's development in episode 12, starting all the way back from Episode 1. Her newfound courage and determination shines through the lyrics and composition, with Ayumu finally "blossoming" into a stronger person, yet remaining equally connected to her dear childhood friend Yu.
• "Break The System" switches out the more happy-sounding instrumentation for fierce and grunge-like guitars and electronica.

Kasumi Nakasu

• "Diamond" is a cute and catchy pop song that really captures the essence of Kasumi Nakasu.
• "Muteki-kyuu*Believer" (Invincible Believer), composed by famous Vocaloid producer DECO*27, is a catchy song starring a more mature Kasumi expressing the normal girl underneath the cutesy school idol persona.
• Her anime solo, "Poppin Up!" is a jazzy and pleasing composition that encapsulates Kasumi's "kawaiiko" persona the best.

Shizuku Osaka

• "Anata No Risou no Heroine" (Your Ideal Heroine) is a soft ballad whose selling points are the lyrics, that are just short of a declaration of love, and Kaori Maeda's interpretation, incredibly emotive and poignant for a Love Live song.
• "Audrey" is a powerful song with equally powerful lyrics, delving harder into the dramatic aspirations of Shizuku and her worries about not being a good enough actress and idol.
• Shizuku continues her strong performance with "Yagate Hitotsu no Monogatari"(Finally, a Single Story).
• Kaorin finally gets to show-off her potent voice in "Solitude Rain", a powerful pop-rock ballad evocative of a shonen anime and with equally powerful lyrics that narrate the struggle between the image that Shizuku wants to portray, and the person that she truly is, and finally accepting the duality that compounds her and banishing the doubts in her heart.

Karin Asaka

• Do you like hot, catchy EDM? Karin's got you covered with "Starlight".
• Karin surprised everyone with the slow, emotional "Wish", which shows a more vulnerable side to her.
• The flamenco-inspired "Fire Bird" will surely make you dance.
• "VIVID WORLD" is a catchy piece with electronic instruments, that evokes a sidereal feeling on the listener and will certainly lift your spirits.

Ai Miyashita

• "Meccha Going!!" (Extreme Going!!) is fun, catchy and exciting! Ai’s reason for becoming a School Idol is to bring happiness to everyone and it shows through this upbeat song!
• Prepare for an extremely upbeat pun salad in "Yuu & Ai" (Friends and Love). The song is retroactively even funnier after the anime protagonist turned out to be named Yuu.
• "Saikou Heart" continues Ai's cheerful streak, with a piece that is certain to move the hearts of the audience and get even the most stone-faced person to smile.
• "Diabolic mulier" is a slow, brooding, yet powerful piece that allows for Nacchan to showcase her vocal skills in a new light (or dark, rather).

Kanata Konoe

• "Nemureru Mori ni Ikitai na" (I Want To Go To A Forest Where I Can Sleep) is soft, whimsical and cute. It's guaranteed to make you relax on a hard day.
• Kanata delivers a more upbeat, yet equally fantastical song in "My Own Fairy-Tale", with a blend of whimsical instrumentation, heavy percussions and character singing that's guaranteed to make you travel to Fairyland.
• Her "dreamy" string continues with "Märchen Star", which combines more traditional instruments, orchestra and Kanata's recurrent clock motif into a more dramatic but still characteristic addition to Kanata's repertoire.
• "Butterfly" is a beautiful composition filled with love towards Haruka, Kanata's little sister. Her soft and calm voice, combined with the story told in the lyrics and the brilliant MV are guaranteed to get any viewer teary-eyed.
• Kanata has significantly more energy in "Silent Blaze", a ninja-inspired rock song complete with an acoustic guitar opening, lots of traditional Japanese instrumentation, and even sword-swinging sound effects. It would feel right at home as the opening theme song to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise, since Akarin also voices Nezuko.

Setsuna Yuki

• Setsuna surprised listeners with "CHASE!", a track in the style of an anime opening that exemplifies her powerful vocal range and solidifies why she's one of the most popular NijiGaku characters. It's no wonder the song was chosen as the first insert for the anime.
• "MELODY" is a catchy, energetic song with Setsuna singing her real feelings about being a school idol.
• "LIKE IT! LOVE IT!" is an upbeat rock tune that sounds like it came right out of the early 2000's in which Setsuna sings about her newfound freedom as a school idol.
• The duality of Setsuna's life as a passional and fiery idol, and the serious and cold Nana couldn't be expressed better than through a powerful and moving song such as "DIVE!", with Setsuna promising to never hesitate to express her loud feelings anymore.
• "Yada!" is a bouncy, upbeat pop tune that lacks the rock feeling of her previous songs, but should nonetheless provide the listener with a fun time.
• "Cherry Bomb" is Coco Hayashi's first recorded solo as Setsuna, and shows off the power of her singing voice to great effect in the energetic rock style that is Setsuna's signature.

Emma Verde

• "Evergreen" is unlike anything you have ever heard in Love Live, with a clear Celtic influence and instruments that manage to evoke Emma's nostalgia for her far away home.
• "Emma's Lullaby Collection" is a nice surprise and showcases Chunrun's versatility.
• "Aion no Uta" (Song of Sorrow) brings out Chunrun's amazing talent for singing and is a strong contender for one of the best solos in the franchise, perfectly contrasting her powerful voice with a slower, more dramatic and emotional style.
• For Love the Life We Live, Emma returns to form with the lovely, upbeat Itsu datte for you! (Always for you!).

Rina Tennoji

• Rina will "connect" with you with the surprisingly catchy and fast-paced "Doki ☆ Pipo Emotion". The spelling rap will have you die from cuteness! She even makes use of Nico's catchphrase!
• "Analog Heart" is a cute and catchy Vocaloid-like song, which makes use of heavy video-game references in lyrics and composition to show-off Rina's less known nerdy side.
• The development of Rina in the anime is capped off by the bouncy and cheerful "Tsunagaru Connect", that uses the already-familiar electronic elements of Rina's discography to deliver her newfound emotions to the audience.
• "First Love Again" completely ditches the electronic elements of Rina's previous songs, instead opting for a more traditionally-orchestrated, slow-paced, and emotional ballad.

Shioriko Mifune

• Despite her late arrival, Shioriko proves that she can keep up with the rest with "Ketsui no Hikari" (Light of Determination), a rock song combined with Japanese instruments that leaves an impact and immediately convinced listeners that the first character to break the nine-member mold was worth the wait.
• Shioriko continues her impressive streak with the fast-paced "Aoi Canaria" (Jade Green Canary), a more traditional yet equally powerful pop-rock piece that can be summed up in a single word: Epic.
• "Concentrate!" is a more light-hearted and upbeat song with fast-paced and expressive lyrics about finding happiness even in hectic times that is guaranteed to improve one's mood.

Mia Taylor

• "I'm Still..." is a sentimental piece, reminiscent of early 2000's Western pop, and almost entirely sung in English (a first for Love Live) that narrates Mia's development from someone terrified of failure and disappointing her family, into someone able to express her feelings through the songs she writes and performs. Shu Uchida's raw potential shines through the multiple changes in key and language through the song.
• "Toy Doll", the first fully English song in the franchise, is reminiscent of the pop punk of the early 2000's (notably Avril Lavigne) with a very lengthy guitar solo and a minor music change in the bridge.
• English-speaking viewers of the anime were delighted with "stars we chase", a short electropop ballad evocative of 2010's American pop songs, with tearjerking lyrics and a beautiful cinematic MV.

Lanzhu Zhong

• Want to know who Lanzhu Zhong is? Just listen to "Queendom". Lanzhu may be arrogant and pompous, but damn if she doesn't have the skills and powerful aura to back up her claims with a sensual and memorable piece. Not only that, "Queendom" is the first tetralingual song in the story of Love Live, and Homin's talent enables her to pull it off without a hitch.
• Lanzhu has certainly taken the Ms. Fanservice role from Karin with the sensual "Ye Mingzhu", a unique piece of EDM within the franchise that goes light and sexy in the first verse, goes hard in the catchy chorus, then segues into rap for the second verse. All of these while Lanzhu effortlessly switches between Japanese, Mandarin and English. Partnered with striking visuals and simple yet seductive dance steps for the PV, Lanzhu again shows why she's the best school idol at Nijigasaki.
• Her debut episode in Season 2 of the anime was punctuated by the spectacular "Eutopia", a stunning, sexy piece that enraptured thousands of viewers with Lanzhu's flashy and powerful style.
• "5201314", Lanzhu's entry for the 6th live concert's "Love Exchange" theme, makes better than ever use of Mandarin lyrics, while also having the most difficult choreography in any of her solos so far. And Akina Houmoto delivered the performance without a hitch, showing just how hard she's worked to improve her dancing.

Group Songs

• "TOKIMEKI Runners", the opening for ALL STARS, shows a promising future for the school idols of Nijigasaki HS, with multiple solos for each of the 9 Nijigasaki girls that manage to show off their uniqueness and also why they blend so well as a group. Indeed, a 9-colored rainbow of dreams!
• "Love U my friends" is a fun-filled energetic song.
• The third group single, "Just Believe!!!" (yes, with three exclamation marks), is a more dynamic song meant to move the audience's hearts and bodies, fittingly encompassing both the lyric's themes and the fast-paced composition.
• "Mirai Harmony" is pleasant to hear from start to finish as the girls sing their solo lines with a more serious feeling, and their voices harmonizing really well during the chorus.
• The opening to the anime, "Nijiiro Passions!" (Rainbow-Colored Passions), does both a fantastic work showing off the different voices in Nijigaku and the way they shine on their own, with multiple duets sprinkled in that also show how well the Nijigaku members play off each other, while also keeping enough of a feeling of familiarity for those that have been following the Love Live franchise since before.
• Want a more happy-go-lucky/party-worthy song from Nijigasaki? Say no more, "Sweet Eyes" is just for you! You can just imagine the girls in a beach party!
• The anime ending, "NEO SKY, NEO MAP!" is a brilliant composition from start to finish. The change of pace in instruments and vocals in order to make the second and third choruses feel way more impactful, a marching band bridge, the layering of both orchestra and vocals through the final stretch of the song; all combined together for what may be the most powerful and emotional Nijigasaki's group song.
• "Yume ga Koko Kara Hajimaru Yo" (Our Dreams Begin Here) closes-off Season 1 of the anime in a spectacular way. In one of the rare times Love Live has gone meta, the setup and atmosphere acknowledge the difficulties the project as a whole has faced from early-on and how it's only through the support of the fans that Nijigasaki has managed to achieve so much. Filled with gratitude and affection, and plenty of callbacks and fanservice, it's a love letter that's guaranteed to make cry the fans that it's dedicated towards.
• "L! L! L! (Love the Life We Live)" might sound similar to Love U My Friends at first (they were composed and arranged by the same person), but it does a great job at showcasing Nijigasaki as a group of 12.
• Season 2 of the anime starts out with a banger in the form of "Colorful Dreams! Colorful Smiles!, an exhilarating, fast-paced song with significantly different tempo from other Nijigasaki group songs.
• "Twilight" is a melancholic electronic ballad, with an atmosphere akin to a snowy season. The voices of the Nijigasaki girls blend together in a harmony that's guaranteed to make you shiver with emotions!
• "Ryouran! Victory Road" is a fun, catchy, and intense EDM banger that gives each of the 12 Nijigasaki girls a short self-introductory rap verse. It has also proven to be wonderfully versatile for collaborations, as anyone can create their own self-introduction verse and join in. First done at Bushiroad Rock Festival with Bang Dream! and D4DJ members, and again at Ijigen Fes with representatives from all the other participating groups.
• "OUR P13CES!!!", apart from having great energy and a chorus that really draws the audience in, also acts as a call-back to the µ's era; like "Mi wa µ'sic no Mi", it was created with audience suggestions for the title and lyrics, and like "Bokutachi wa Hitotsu no Hikari", the girls' names are worked into the lyrics as well.
• Nijiyon Animation's theme song, "Wachu Gonna Do", perfectly captures the zany, lighthearted fun of the shorts. And the other draw, of course, is that it's the only song in which Yu officially participates, delivering exactly what the fans have always wanted.^note HITORI DAKE NANTE ERABENAI YO!!
• "Fly with You!!" is a bright and uplifting piece that really makes you feel as if you're flying ever higher with them.

Official Units

DiverDiva (Karin, Ai)

• DiverDiva's first single proves that Ai and Karin are a perfect match:
  • "SUPER NOVA", combines both idols' styles, resulting in a cool EDM track that is both sexy and energetic. Bonus points for Ai rapping on the second verse.
  • "Love Triangle" borrows elements from Korean Pop Music and Contemporary R&B with its chill modern vibe. Exactly What It Says on the Tin, it's a song about two girls stuck in a Love Triangle who doesn't want to hurt the other yet at the same time doesn't want to lose either.
• Saika -saika- is a laid-back EDM centered around the two on a summer festival date.
• Their insert song in the anime, "Eternal Light", is a breathtaking piece that highlights Karin and Ai's relationship not only as friends, but also as rivals, contrasting their personalities, styles and "competition" for the spotlight, with Karin voicing the slower and more emotional lines, while Ai swiftly takes on a multitude of rap lines.
• "Kiss the Sun", done in the style of '80s American pop music, is perfect for a day at the beach.

A•ZU•NA (Ayumu, Shizuku, Setsuna)

• A•ZU•NA's first single, "Dream Land! Dream World!", is a surprisingly catchy song featuring Ayumu, Shizuku and Setsuna's genki side. Welcome to A•ZU•NA Land!!!
• "Happy Nyan! Days" is a whimsical and unconventional piece told from the perspective of a cat clowder that will definitely make you laugh and smile... if you don't die from diabetes first.
• "Maze Town" surprised everyone with its sinister rock-heavy composition that makes use of Latin lines and the powerful vocals of the entire trio to evoke a feeling of helplessness and eeriness in the listener, proving right A•ZU•NA's motto of being a "box of surprises". Perfect for a Halloween party!
• "Folklore ~Kanki no Uta~" (Folkore ~Ode to Joy~) is as joyous as its name would suggest, offering fast and upbeat instrumentation reminiscent of a Japanese fair, though it's quite substantial Mood Whiplash considering it's the only other song on the Maze Town album.
• "Dancing in the Light" has a tempo of 260 BPM and evokes a festive Christmas atmosphere.

QU4RTZ (Kasumi, Kanata, Emma, Rina)

• QU4RTZ's first single had the girls just letting loose and absolutely nailing it for both songs:
  • "Sing & Smile!!" is just heartwarming all throughout, with the girls showing-off a beautiful harmony between all their voices.
  • "Beautiful Moonlight" surprised everyone with its "City Pop"-style, bringing a sense of elegance and wistfulness.
• Want something for your Christmas playlist? "Twinkle Town" is a stimulating Southern-gospel-inspired piece that will definitely put you on the mood for the holidays. Amen!
• Described by Akari Kitou and Chiemi Tanaka as "a song to listen to while in the bath", "Fuwa Fuwa Hour!" reflects this in both in its lyrics and in its light and relaxing melody and instrumentation.

R3BIRTH (Shioriko, Mia, Lanzhu)

• What do you get when you combine the mature and sensual image of Lanzhu, the power of Shioriko's voice and the newborn passion of Mia? "MONSTER GIRLS", a tri-lingual piece that is extremely catchy and memorable, with a sound that wouldn't be out of place in a night club. These "monster girls" are indeed the stars of a new era!
• Bubble Over! gives listeners extremely catchy sounds, but it seems more like a D4DJ song than that...

Others

Background music (Naoki Endo)

• Nijigasaki's main theme manages to be both cheerful and epic at the same time, introducing the Nijigaku idols in an uplifting way!
• "Tokimeki e!", which plays whenever Yu and/or the club are excited because of a new development, looking brightly towards their futures. It's also the theme that closes-off Season 1 of the anime.
• "Daisuki!!!", the theme that plays when Ayumu confesses her true feelings to Yu, is an touching composition that makes use of the violin and the piano, and slowly adds more instruments until it explodes into a beautiful climax of emotions right before going silent and setting up the "Dream with You" performance. It's just a tearjerking experience from start to finish.
• "Muchuu ni Nareru Mono" plays on the next episode previews and ending cards. It's guaranteed to get you excited for the next episode!
• "Tsutaeru Aite wa Dare nano Kashira?" is a piece introduced with Karin that fits her sensual image with the prominent use of the Sexophone.
• "Asahi" is a relaxing and calm tune used for the various montages on the anime.
• "Jibun o Sarake Dase" is a dramatic piece most well known because it's the BGM used when Ayumu desperately asks Yu to "only belong to (her)".
• "Ameagari, Sasu Hikari" highlights Ayumu dispelling the doubts in her heart and finally gaining the courage to pursue her dreams alongside Yu and the rest of the club. It's also beautifully used in Episode 13 to setup the "Yume ga Koko Kara Hajimaru Yo" final performance and get the audience ready for an emotional rollercoaster.