This a cappella version of Cruel Angel's Thesis is absolutely beautiful and haunting; had it played during some of the more emotional moments later on, it could have enhanced the impact, which is saying a lot.
When it's played inHayate the Combat Butler it evokes the same memories it did for the show it was made for, and the visuals helped. Shizuka Itou's singing voice doesn't hurt either.
This remix of Cruel Angel's Thesis is as haunting as it is magnificent.
This troper is inordinately fond of the version of A Cruel Angel's Thesis played in the final scenes of the series proper— Good, Or Don't Be, if I'm not wrong.
"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" takes on new layers of awesome / heartbreaking when you realize just how much foreshadowing it contains. Masayuki's Test-Type Opening music video takes full advantage of this to create an impressive four-minute recap of the entire series (now available completely in English).
Komm, süsser Tod dudes. Komm, süsser Tod. Not only is it catchy as hell and surprisingly touching, the dichotomy of the pleasant tune and painful lyrics gives it an ambiguity that makes it a perfect match for the scene it plays in.
In regards to Thanatos, the first time this troper watched End, all he could think while it was playing was: 'Best. Intermission Music. EVER.'
The stripped down version of Thanatos, which plays in End of Evangelion while Shinji is catatonically depressed and Misato sends him down the elevator just as she's dying is arguably just as powerful, but not tear-jerking as much as just chilling, in an empty and depressing way.
Fly me to the moon, the ending, while not as action-oriented, is very beautiful, and if I would have heard it before, I would have never thought it was from an Anime. I'm going to use this for my marriage!
The first "Angel Attack" theme. The menacing riff drones on and on, and the rest of the melody is incredibly dissonant and eerie. A classic evil song that must be heard: ANGEL ATTACK
The Hedgehog's Dilemma. The relaxing, but melancholy jazz really captures the feelings of ambiguity that human relationships can create.
M-15, an incredibly smooth piece composed for End of Evangelion but never used. It's especially noteworthy because you wouldn't expect something so mellow and optimistic to fit Evangelion so well - and yet it does.
Remember "The Beast II" from the original? Sin From Genesisups the ante.
Four more to add to the pile. "Beautiful World", the new single by Utada Hikaru for the movies, available in both Standard (Movie 1) and remixed (Movie 2), Destiny, which is played during the race to catch Sahaquiel, and Fate, which plays during the battle against Sahaquiel.
Also from Rebuild 2.0, there's In My Spirit. If there's any song that says that the entire human race is completely, utterly, and absolutely screwed, it is this song.
This troper would like to submit "The Longest Day" from 1.0. Sagisu managed to take the much-overused "Spending Time in Preparation" from the original series and turn it from "'DECISIVE BATTLE' with the melody removed" into a solid piece in its own right.
Keep Your Head Above The Mayhem is very, very awesome. Almost a sister piece to "At the Very Beginning" (see above), it contains a choir who appear to be singing in Ominous Latin Chanting, but are, in fact, singing in Gratuitous English. And it is awesomeness at its finest. One of the best battle themes seen for a long time.
In the battle of the bravest souls, over evil shall the good prevail,
If the universe is crashing down, heed the chaos and then drown it out,
Showing flashes of bravado, in a torrent of destruction, keep your head
above the mayhem; clarity will be your weapon as the blinded falter and die.
Fate, which just really captures the feel of the whole series, when you think about it.
The soundtrack for 2.0 basically comes in two flavours: Super Robot and World Ending. All of it is awesome.
