The music Dic vs the Japanese original.

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Dec 7, 2012
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#1
Just want to read people's thoughts. Some people prefer the Dic music calling the Japanese music cheesy and dated, others find the DIC music generic.

While I like the Dic Dub (the first 30 or so episodes anyway they end up butchering their own show right around the time the plot actually happens) and the music isn't so bad I much prefer the Japanese music. It stands out a lot more. About the only piece from the Dic dub that stands out is Moon Crystal Power. I've noticed that when most people call the Japanese music cheesy they're almost always referring to the ooooh Sailor Moon which is just small part of the music, its not like the entire score is just a a chorus of Japanese women singing the Senshi's name but you wouldn't know from the Japanese music's detractors. The Japanese music holds a lot more resonance especially during the emotional scenes. The violin and sad piano work is amazing.


For the actual song inserts with lyrics and such I think the DIC songs are usually catchy but a lot of them fall somewhere between Hannah Montana and Lizzie Mcguire. My only love is good on its own but its a little too melodramatic, and the more somber sweetness of Mabaroshi no Ginzuishou was infinitely more appropriate. Likewise Carry On fit the animation really well but I thought having the main theme song Moonlight Densetsu that basically sums up the show was a good choice. Still better than them using She's the one named Sailor Moon for the dub I guess. To be honest I prefer the Cloverway/Optimum freely adapted English songs Tear Our Hearts in two, Love is in my heart, and Let's Fight than anything Dic did. But no one ever says anything about those songs.


The action music in the Japanese music is also preferable. I just love the retro Charlie's Angels feel. The Dic music just sounds very 90's video game-ish. Moon Prism Power Make-up and Moon Tiara Action gets me pumped. The Dic music just..exist.
 
Sep 9, 2011
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#3
I like both scores for different reasons. I found the DiC score to be more "magical" sounding, but I liked the orchestral sound of the Japanese score (though I could've done without the jazzy pieces). With that said, I have nostalgia for both, since the second half of the English dub kept in the Japanese music.
 
Sep 13, 2009
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#4
I like the Pan Flute DiC used in Makaiju arc, but it did get repetitive when it was the ONLY piece of music that guy kept playing, when he'd play all sorts of creative tunes in the original.

The DiC transformation music for both Moon and the others was also kinda cool, but original's epic "Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!" music blows them both out of the water. :cool:

The Tuxedo Mask music was also neat, but too short and quick. His original tune sounded more regal, elegant, and could carry the scene for much longer.

The rest was mostly rehashes of Moonlight Densetsu that, while nice, got old and repetitive fast when they were just the SAME song redone and replayed over and over and over and over AGAIN.

The few non-Moonlight Densetsu tunes were okay, but were oftentimes used in ways that really did not synchronize with the emotional flow of the scenes like the original tunes did.
 
Mar 22, 2012
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#5
This is a topic that I'm really split on.

The Japanese track contains some excellent music, but on the flip side so much music is used poorly that DiC's music will often end up being more appropriate. I specifically don't like it when the Japanese track tries to use music 'comically', as it ends up stretching out the jokes and making them feel really lame.

Japanese episode 6 is something that couldn't have worked with the DiC soundtrack, as it's heavilly built on the use of music and counterbalancing silence (which is the dub's biggest weakness, the music is used too thickly and too frequently). On the other hand, episode 2 of the dub does a really good job of actually enhancing the atmosphere beyond that of the original, improving it to a level where a strangely compelling and mysterious feeling arises along with the comedy.

For transformation and most* attack sequences, I vastly prefer DiC's music. Serena's transformation music feels incredibly appropriate for her, it just feels right to me that a young, naive girl forced to take on the role of a princess/hero should have a transformation sequence like that of the dub. The original Japanese music would have been perfectly appropriate for someone like Sailor V, and I wouldn't have disagreed with it had it actually been used specifically for her, but as it is it just doesn't feel suited to Usagi at all and on top of that I find that it completely destroys the atmosphere of the episode whenever it it used, the English music tends to fit in with itself better.

But if there is one thing about the dub soundtrack that just sucks, it's that it ends up making most of the episodes feel the same. This makes the series overall feel more boring and generic in dubbed form, it's far easier to get sick of watching the dub then the original. Having said that, the original soundtrack can be irritatingly sappy (especially in R, good God) and when the dub 'corrects' this, all the better.

Interestingly enough, the SuperS soundtrack seems to be a kind of happy medium between the two styles of musical accompanyment. It has all the wamth, consistancy and brassiness of the dub, while retaining and enhancing the variety of the original soundtrack. I don't think that SuperS reaches the heights (musically or otherwise) of the previous seasons, but it's just so solid that I have very little to criticise of it (much like most of the season itself).

*AkuyouTaisen naturally kicks the ass of anything in English.
 
Mar 14, 2012
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#6
in my opinion they were both very wonderful each at different parts / times and for different reasons.

DIC music did become repetitive, but it was VERY catchy. I Remember humming the tunes to the transformation song, as well as that generic battle music as a kid.

the first seasons original score wasnt bad i suppose i never paid too much attention to it, the songs I Really paid attention were from StarS which i think had really perfected its score, especially at the more dramatic moments. Honestly a lot of spots where the original music was bad, the dic music is great, but the two clash so much its amazing that they both fit for the show.

As far as the opening theme goes, I will always find the DIC opening more fitting. Its cheap and simple, but it got the action and such that I considered sailor moon to have. Moonlight densetsu never really seemed to fit, the sailor stars song was better but still didnt seem to fit the show very well.

As far as the special songs with lyrics, both were also equally amazing in my eyes Carry on worked a LOT better then moonlight desnsetsus mix for the final fight. My only love was far superior to the song they had in the jap. Rainy day man was epic. when it came to the R movie and R finale, i found both the english and japanese versions of the music to be awesome.
 
Likes: blondibear_17
Dec 7, 2012
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#7
solarsailors said:
As far as the opening theme goes, I will always find the DIC opening more fitting. Its cheap and simple, but it got the action and such that I considered sailor moon to have. Moonlight densetsu never really seemed to fit, the sailor stars song was better but still didnt seem to fit the show very well.
Not that the DIC opening doesn't work and it's definitely fitting and I just love the guitar solo and the animation to match it with Serena looking forlorn and her reflection as Sailor Moon looking back. But Moonlight Densetsu is about Mamoru and Usagi being reborn from their past lives to find each other again and how they will find each other in every new life which is perfectly fitting. I think the theme songs give different resonance. The original has a more..beauty to it The Dic theme song gets you more pumped for an action cartoon.
 

ChibiBoi

Aurorae Lunares
Jan 2, 2010
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#8
I like the original Japanese instrumental background music better, it gets a lot less tiring than DiC's music. I don't really like the music that they used with actual lyrics though, ie. Rei and Yuichiro's episode, or Makoto's flashback episode. I just like Moonlight Densetsu lol
 

SnowWolf

Aurorae Lunares
May 17, 2012
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#9
It's a pity we couldn't have had a combo for the English Dub.

Original Japanese
Moonlight Densetsu
Moon Revenge
Transformation music for Outer Soldiers

DIC
Transformation music for Sailor Moon + Inner Soldiers, but remixed each season. (Got a bit sick of the Japanese vocals saying their names over and over.)
Negaverse music, but used more sparingly.

I know a lot of people don't like it when the openings/endings get dubbed, but they would have had to do that anyway since Moonlight Densetsu plays during the final battle of season 1.
 
Mar 14, 2012
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#10
ABC123 said:
solarsailors said:
As far as the opening theme goes, I will always find the DIC opening more fitting. Its cheap and simple, but it got the action and such that I considered sailor moon to have. Moonlight densetsu never really seemed to fit, the sailor stars song was better but still didnt seem to fit the show very well.
Not that the DIC opening doesn't work and it's definitely fitting and I just love the guitar solo and the animation to match it with Serena looking forlorn and her reflection as Sailor Moon looking back. But Moonlight Densetsu is about Mamoru and Usagi being reborn from their past lives to find each other again and how they will find each other in every new life which is perfectly fitting. I think the theme songs give different resonance. The original has a more..beauty to it The Dic theme song gets you more pumped for an action cartoon.
While that may be true I never really felt like that was the point of sailor moon, the romance always seemed to be the C-plot to me, and with it their past life romances as well. For me it would be similar to buffy having a quirky opening just because it had a lot of comedy. I do enjoy moonlight densetsu of course, i mean the DIC version is just a more actiony version of it, i just dont see it as the best way to open for the show. Always felt itd work better as an ending theme.
 
Dec 7, 2012
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#11
SnowWolf said:
Got a bit sick of the Japanese vocals saying their names over and over.)
.

Outside of the S season when did this happen for the Inners? In Classic and R they just got a shorten version of Sailor Moon's transformation music before the ooooh Sailor Moon. In SuperS and Stars they got the Saiiilor Soldiiiirs chorus.

And Sailor Moon herself the ooooh Sailor Moon is only at the end of Moon Prism Power Make-up and is nowhere to be found in her SuperS transformation.
 

Rhett Butler

Lumen Cinererum
Nov 4, 2012
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#12
I haven't watched the dubbed version in such a long time I had to look it up. I have to say some of the music is a lot better.

I really love the Japanese music, but there are some things that bugged me. I like some of it now, but you remember the transformation music? The "Sailor Moon, lalalala, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury.....Sailor Mercury etc..."

It drove me nuts. I thought it was so cheesy. The songs Mina and Rei sing also bugged me.


On the Dic side, I didn't like most of the songs with lyrics including the opening.

The Japanese music on a whole is better, but I think Dic didn't do such a bad job. I mean they had do to do some things right.

Outside of the S season when did this happen for the Inners? In Classic and R they just got a shorten version of Sailor Moon's transformation music before the ooooh Sailor Moon. In SuperS and Stars they got the Saiiilor Soldiiiirs chorus.

And Sailor Moon herself the ooooh Sailor Moon is only at the end of Moon Prism Power Make-up and is nowhere to be found in her SuperS transformation.
I just read this, sorry. Look, who cares. It still sucks.
 
Jul 31, 2012
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#13
I like them both in certain ways.
I like the Japanese version more.
My fav transformation music is when Serena changes
for the first time in the very first episode and I generally
like all the Japanese music. SuperS and StarS had very diverse soundtracks.
 
Sep 10, 2012
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#15
I think the music was the only thing that DiC changed that I actually liked. The original was alright, but I thought DiC music was on par with the scenes in the show (although the theme song could have been done better).
 
Sep 13, 2009
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#16

sailor-diamond

Lumen Cinererum
Jun 4, 2011
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#17
PurpleWarrior13 said:
I like both scores for different reasons. I found the DiC score to be more "magical" sounding, but I liked the orchestral sound of the Japanese score (though I could've done without the jazzy pieces). With that said, I have nostalgia for both, since the second half of the English dub kept in the Japanese music.
This is pretty much me. Both have their pros and cons. I loved that DiC used the 'Moonlight Densetsu' melody as the basis for the majority of the music, whether it was a funny scene or a dramatic scene, they played the tune in different ways. However, some of the DiC music (like Sailor Moon's transformation theme) were way too corny, Barbie-esque for my liking. Although it is a bit dated, I love Sailor Moon's transformation theme in the original version. Much more epic, superhero-ish.
 

Rhett Butler

Lumen Cinererum
Nov 4, 2012
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#18
matt0044 said:
Rhett Butler said:
I just read this, sorry. Look, who cares. It still sucks.
I actually like it. Especially the chorus here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rym2q2o8hRM

My comment wasn't directed at anyone who actually liked the transformation music. It seemed like the person I was responding to was trying to justify its existence by pointing out that it was used sparingly, which is just absurd. Regardless of whether or not you think it's used sparingly doesn't make a difference. If you didn't like the song it being used even once would have been too much.You know?
 

Rebochan

Lumen Cinererum
Aug 29, 2003
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I can't stand the DiC soundtrack. It's too generic for kids shows made around that era and it largely just recycles the main theme over and over where the Japanese soundtrack was more varied. Sure the Japanese soundtrack did this from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as the dub, which did this because every kids show back then did it. The Japanese soundtrack is something I can easily identify as unique and even for anime made around that era it's unique. I can hear a piece of music from the Japanese version of Sailor Moon and immediately identify it. It has far more energy and life and it just pumps up every action scene.

Oh, and I far preferred the transformation songs of the Japanese version BECAUSE they were actual songs for each character. The dub made them as generic as hell and got so lazy as to only cut one song for Usagi and one for the rest of the team, and it's really painfully obvious that they failed at looping Usagi's song when they had to slap it on top of the longer R transformation. Yea, the Engrish is silly, but they could have easily just fixed the Engrish.

There's a few pieces here and there that aren't inherently bad - the Tuxedo Mask cues are more varied in the dub, and My Only Love is probably the only song replacement I like (Carry On, as I've said before, would have been a great replacement had they not rewritten the plot to contradict the lyrics.) I also would kill for a full version of "Tear Our Hearts In Two".