Millennial Fair – Cowboy Bebop Soundtracks Page
Composed by Yoko Kanno, the music of Cowboy Bebop is quite different from most anime, and
his its own trademark style. Of course, Yoko Kanno adopted the Bebop Jazz style from the mid 40–ties
into her music. Other influences for the CB music are Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones and the Beatles! The
music is performed by the Seatbelts, and most of the vocals are done by Mai Yamane. The Cowboy Bebop music
is extraordinary in style and appeal, and it is definately something that music lovers and Bebop fans would
not want to miss out on.
CD Listings:
Cowboy Bebop: Original Soundtrack
Composed by Yoko Kanno, Performed by the Seatbelts, with vocals from Tim Jensen
1. Tank!
2. Rush
3. Spokey Dokey
4. Bad Dog No Biscuits
5. Cat Blues
6. Cosmos
7. Space Lion
8. Waltz for Zizi
9. Piano Black
10. Pot City
11. Too Good Too Bad
12. Car 24
13. The Egg and I
14. Felt Tip Pen
15. Rain
16. Digging My Potato
17. Memory
Review by
All of the Cowboy Bebop CDs are works of art, and this first OST is certainly one that you
cannot miss out on. The first track, Tank! is of course the well known intro song from the anime
itself. The song itself is a combination of soft rock and jazz, with awesome saxophone work. If you
get the chance to hear the live version, you will notice how important the trumpets and saxophones
are in this track. Rush starts off as a typical Jazz dancing song with a great upbeat sound and of
course great horns to make it all the more powerful. The drum solo gives a very fresh interlude and
the “James–bond–esque” background sound makes it all the more awesome.
Track 3, Spokey Dokey, is a great harmonica song, which starts off with a one–minute solo, and
before the lonely strings join in. A song that perhaps, is more of a blues song than actual Jazz, as it
gives a melancholic feeling if anything. The small harp interludes are brilliant, and they complete
the whole track as something unique. Bad Dog No Biscuits is a fast change of pace, and is of course one
of the songs used for chase–scenes. A real Bebop style Jazz song with some techno elements and
very prominent use of trumpets. The changes from heavy to light instruments in this song makes you feel
as if you are part of an actual chase. The fifth track, Cat Blues, is a more light hearted blues song,
which, in a weird way, does remind me of cats. It’s hard to describe, but it has the kind of sound
used for people sneaking around places, much like how cats sneak around the house; waiting for a chance to
jump your food. Cosmos is more of an interlude than a real track. A lonely saxophone plays for an empty
cosmos, which is the perfect intro for the next song; Space Lion. The longest of all the Cowboy Bebop trakcs,
Space Lion really tells a whole story on its own. If you’ve seen the episodes of the Jupiter Jazz session,
then you would know exactly why this is such a heavily emotional song. After a long saxophone solo, this song
introduces a real Native–American–Indian style that is heard throughout the rest of the OSTs.
Though the vocals may be “weird” for people who are not used to the American–Indian music, they
present a whole new dimension to this song. It was Yoko Kanno herself who actually designed a language used for songs
like this, and many other songs on the various CDs. It’s a combination of Native American and Japanese, as far
as the most of us can tell. Whatever it really is, it’s quite unique. Great, memorable track, which in
combination with the story, makes it a wonderful piece of musical art. Track eight, Waltz for Zizi, is one of my
favourites, as I love walzes. A very slow love song with a whole load of sadness weaved into it. The Italian
influence for this song is heard through the use of special guitars and mandolins. The next song Piano Black is
an upbeat piano song with a techno mask on. Perhaps not one my favourite songs, but definately a solid track.
Pot City is a kind of dopey city song used mainly for scenes that take place on Mars. Mostly trumpet work with some
slow drums and guitars mixed in the whole. Too Good Too Bad is another high speed chase song, and in my opinion, one
of the best tracks on this CD. The trumpet and saxophone work in this song is just really awesome; great song!
Car24 is an unusually cheery song for a serious anime such as Cowboy Bebop. The song really gives you a cheery feeling,
and it was a great choice for this CD, I believe. The light use of the trumpets reminds me of the Neon Genesis Evangelion
music, in particular the song –Barefoot through the Park–, but I digress. The Egg and I is a song inspired
by the Native–Indian style. A strangely happy version of the the song The Egg and You, or is it the other way around?
Anyways, this song makes great use of flute and guitar solos and has a pretty cool drum. This is also the only song that
actually has a bagpipe in it, which came as a surprise to me, since I had not detected any celtic influence in Yoko Kanno’s
work. Track fourteen, Felt Tip Pen, is really a bar song that you would hear in some old western movie, and is probably
inspired by the movie Desperado more than anything. Rain is the only vocal song on this CD, performed by Steve Conte from the
Seatbelts. A great song, also known as Vicious’ theme. Great use of church organs, and of course, great lyrics.
Digging my Potato is really a theme song for the Cowboys (Bounty Hunters). It has some cool harmonica use, and awesome conga
sound. The final track, Memory, is the music–box sound that is associated with Spike’s past, and the woman
Julia. A lovely little theme, with a lot of uncovered mistery inside.
Summarising, the first Cowboy Bebop OST is a great, great CD that you must have if you love either the anime, Jazz or Blues music.
If you are looking for something new and different, Yoko Kanno is the woman to look for. Her music proves to be both original as well
as innovative. Not yet the best OST in the whole series, but still a solid CD full of tracks that anyone, age 2 to 99 could enjoy.
Cowboy Bebop: No Disc
Composed by Yoko Kanno, performed by the Seatbelts,
with vocals from Carla Vallet, Mai Yamane, Masaaki Endo, Gabriela Robin,
Masayoshi Furakawa, Pierre Bensusan and Tulivu – Donna Cumberbatch
1. American Money
2. Fantaisie Sign
3. Don’t bother none
4. Vitamin A
5. LIVE in Baghdad
6. Cats on Mars
7. Want it all back
8. Bindy
9. You make me cool
10. Vitamin B
11. Green Bird
12. ELM
13. Vitamin C
14. Gateway
15. The Singing Sea
16. The EGG and YOU
17. Forever Broke
18. Tank! Power of Kung–FOOD Remix
Review by
The next part of Yoko Kanno’s successful musical series is called No Disc. By far the
best OST in the series. You will notice that this review will skip some tracks, because the tracks
called Vitamin, are all short tracks of less than 10 seconds. With that said, let’s jam on with the review.
The first track American Money should have you laughing if you are not used to hearing it from the anime itself.
This is, of course the background music for the Cowboy program “Big Shot!”, and is so stereotypically
western that its really funny to listen to. Track 2, the first vocal track performed by Carla Vallet, is a french song,
with pretty cool lyrics, and a techno beat which is quite different from any of the former Cowboy Bebop tracks.
Don’t Bother None is a typical Cowboy western song, which really is more of a lifestyle song than anything.
I love how the song changes beat after about a minute, and is also accompanied by vocals. The lyrics are pretty funny
and kind of make fun of Cowboys. LIVE in Baghdad is the only hard–rock song in the anime, and a great one at that.
Once again, Yoko Kanno seems to use her own special language, which I explained in my last CB review.
The style in this song was copied after bands like Megadeth and Iron Maiden, and is a great change fo pace for the
this mostly Jazzy anime. The next track, Cats on Mars, can be described with only one word: silly.
A mostly synthesized track with really silly lyrics and a kiddish voice to vocalise it. Hard to place in a particular
genre, so I will just leave it at that. Track seven, Want it All Back, sung by Mai Yamane, is such a great song.
Not only does it have a great beat, it also has funny and easy lyrics, and of course the great voice of Mai Yamane.
If you’ve seen the anime, this song will take you back to when Spike was still chasing after Ein
(what a cute thought eh? ^_^). The next song, Bindy, is more of a background song with a Middle–East
flavour in it. Not particularly one of the best songs, but not too shabby either. You Make Me Cool, sung by
Masayoshi Furakawa, is true blue Jazz. The lyrics, of course, are awesome. The only problem I have with this song, is
that I can hear from his voice that he’s Japanese, which kind of annoys me. The vocals also could have been more
powerful at some points, but okay. Track eleven, Green Bird, sung by Gabriela Robin, is awesome, just awesome. The
lyrics are in Yoko Kanno’s own language again. A very...celtic song, I would say. If you’ve seen episode five
of the anime, you will also be able to understand the emotion behind this song. I would definately buy this albums just for
this song. ELM, though it has no actual lyrics, is a great vocal song. Again influenced by the Native–Indian style of
music and singing. It’s hard to really describe this song with words, so I guess you will have to buy this CD and listen
to it, hehe ^_^. Track fourteen, Gateway, is a Jazzy dance song with an awesome beat that comes close to being Rock
& Roll. A very great song for you if you love old–school dancing. The Singing Sea is a great vocal song with a
very slown rythym and very deep lyrics. A track with heavy intruments, especially horns. The vocals remind me of some of
Shirley Bassey’s work. The Egg and You is a very gentle, funny, track. The piano in this track makes it funny, while the
bass and guitar give it a sweet, gentle feeling of comfort. Of course, this song is another version of the Egg and I from the
first Cowboy Bebop album. Forever Broke, a solo guitar song, does full credit to its name. This is a track that you would only hear
if you met a poor lonesome Cowboy in front of a saloon. Typical for the Bebop Crew, who, in spite of their hard work, never get the
money they so badly need. This OST ends with a prelude to the next OST, which is a remix album. The
KUNG FOOD REMIX of Tank is a very funny, futuristic version of the trademark introduction song from the
first OST.
With many great vocal songs, this OST is in my opinion, the very finest work of Yoko Kanno. Of course that
doesn’t imply that the other CDs aren’t as good. However, this CD simply appeals to me more than
the others, and it isnpired me to get the other albums as well.
Cowboy Bebop: The Remixes, Music for Freelance
1. Radio Free Mars Talk 1
2. Tank! (Luke Vilbert Remix)
3. Radio Free Mars Talk 2
4. Forever Broke (Fila Brazilla Remix)
5. Radio Free Mars Talk 3
6. Cats On Mars (DMX Crew Mix)
7. Radio Free Mars Talk 4
8. Piano Black (Ian O’Brien Remix)
9. Cat Blues (Mr. Scruff Remix)
10. Radio Free Mars Talk 5
11. Fe (DJ Vadim Remix)
12. Fantaisie Sign (Ian Pooley Remix)
13. Radio Free Mars Talk 6
14. Space Lion (4 Hero Remix)
15. Radio Free Mars Talk 7
Cowboy Bebop: Blue
1. Blue
2. Words That We Couldnt Say
3. Autumn In Ganymede
4. Mushroom Hunting
5. Go Go Cactus Man
6. Chicken Bone
7. The Real Man
8. N Y Rush
9. Adieu
10. Call Me Call Me (Download)
11. Ave Maria
12. Stella By Moor
13. Flying Teapot
14. Wo Qui Non Coin
15. Road To The West
16. Farewell Blues
Cowboy Bebop: Future Blues
1. 24 Hours OPEN
2. Pushing The Sky
3. Time To Know – Be Waltz
4. Clutch
5. MUSAWE
6. Yo Pumpkin Head
7. Diggin
8. 3 14
9. What Planet Is This
10. 7 Minutes
11. Fingers
12. Powder
13. Butterfly
14. No Reply
15. Dijurido
16. Gotta Knock A Little Harder
17. No Money
Cowboy Bebop: Vitaminless
1. The Real Folk Blues (Download)
2. Odd Ones
3. Doggy Dog
4. Cats On Mars
5. SPY
6. Fantaisie Sign
7. Piano Bar I
Cowboy Bebop: Ask DNA
1. What Planet Is This
2. Ask DNA
3. Cosmic Dare (Pretty With A Pistol)
4. Handuche
5. Is It Real
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