Happy #SongLyricsSunday! This week’s prompt is to find a song with the words “Lion”, “Tiger”, “Bear”, “Eagle”, and “Shark” in the song lyrics or title. I wonder what inspired Paula of Light Motifs II to pick these animals because she nabbed four out of six rangers featured in the Japanese superhero series Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger (Hundred Beasts Squadron Gaoranger). Gaoranger is one of my favorite Super Sentai series (which is the original version of the American Power Ranger series) because I love the theme so much! I decided to feature “Gaoranger Hoero” by Yukio Yamagata as this week’s #SLS pick.
Wait, Why?
So, why am I featuring a Super Sentai theme song? The reason why is because I am a huge Power Rangers/Super Sentai fan. If you didn’t know, the Super Sentai series is a Japanese series that featured different colored spandex superheroes fighting evil. They use martial arts but also giant robots called zords. Each year, there is a new lineup of heroes as Super Sentai that changes themes, show concepts, and casts. It is mostly due to toy sales. You have to have new toys ready for kids as they can get bored quickly, right?
The Super Sentai series started in 1975 with its first series, Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Secret Squadron Gorenger). It is on its 45th series and still going strong.
The American series Power Rangers was inspired by the Super Sentai series when it first premiered in 1993. Power Rangers uses various materials from Super Sentai like costumes, characters, zords, plots, and even footage. I want to say the first season of the American series featured about 50% of footage from its source series Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger (Dinosaur Squadron Zyuranger). Though the current series (Power Rangers Dino Fury) doesn’t use a lot of footage, it still heavily depends o on the Super Sentai series.
I have been a Power Rangers fan since 1994. I remember coming home from kindergarten and turning on the TV to watch the newest episode that aired almost daily. I had to see the show and movies, the toys, the ice cream, and just wanted to be like them. I was in love with the series until 1998. Then, I “grew up” as I got older and discover other things for my age range. Yet, I revisited Power Rangers in 2002 when I started to watch the Super Sentai series (originally, it was Gaoranger that I first watched).
I don’t watch most of the newer series because I feel like both the American and Japanese series got boring with dumb down plotlines and relying too much on CGI. I prefer to watch the episodes that were made in the 90s. Right now, thanks to the official Power Rangers Youtube channel, I have been able to watch the older series weekly. The channel uploads ten episodes each week and I spend every Saturday binge-watching Power Rangers. True statement.
But why do I like Power Rangers? I think there are different reasons why I love the series. I think the 90s Super Sentai/Power Rangers series features cool special effects in fights and the zord sequences. If you ever watch the zord formation in Power Rangers Zeo, you will see that sequence relied more on creative minds (and manpower) than CGI. Like my dad who loves Tokusatsu series as I do, we love the special effects that made Japanese superhero series so likable and even believable.
There are other reasons why I like Power Rangers. There were characters that I adored, especially Kimberly Hart from the original series. Each episode featured cool hard rock songs that I still jam to. There were well-written episodes and series like Power Rangers in Space and Power Rangers Time Force that even adults could enjoy. Yet, the most important strength that I enjoyed about Power Rangers is the fact it celebrated diversity, tolerance, and empowerment and that we should always fight for what we believe in.
“Gaoranger Hoero”
To dedicate my love of Power Rangers/Super Sentai/Tokusatsu, I choose “Gaoranger Hoero” which was the theme song for the 25th Super Sentai series Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger. The main vocals were provided by Yukio Yamagata who has sung from many Super Sentai tracks over the years. The chorus was sung by Taeko Saito, Kumi Sasaki, and Naoki Takao. The lyrics were written by Nagae Kuwahara . He has written lyrics for the Super Sentai series as well as various Japanese musicians.
The song doesn’t mention any of the animals in this week’s #SLS prompt. But, the series does as each ranger represents a different animal (Bison, Tiger, Shark, Lion, Eagle, and Wolf) and also have other animals as zords. However, it is important to point of that “gao” (ガオー） is what the Japanese interpret as the sound for lions, tigers, and dinosaurs. And also, “Hoero” (吼えろ) is the command form of “Hoeru” (吼える) which means to roar. Finally, there are metaphors sprinkled throughout this song that relate to animals.
“Gaoranger Hoero” is one of my favorite Super Sentai theme songs. There is so much to love about it from the cool trumpets featured throughout to Yukio Yamagata’s gruff vocals that fit this song perfectly. I also love how the melody is composed and sequenced in a way that seems to intrigue but excites listeners. The instrumentation features a cool mixture of orchestral and modern popular (maybe rock?) music. All these elements make “Gaoranger Hoero” a pretty cool theme song to listen to!
Listen to “Gaoranger Hoero” down below and let me know what you think!
Here is the TV Size opening for Gaoranger:
Here is Yukio Yamagata performing it in 2007. He is a bit eccrentic.
Here is the English translation of the lyrics, thanks to Power Rangers Wikia.
Roar! Pounce at them!
Roar! Take a bite!
Roar! Shout! Roar! Defeat!
Roar! Roar! Graaahhh!!
The spirits of the beasts
Are spirits that resound together
Sharpen your five senses
To open up the sleeping power
Roar-rar, roar-rar
Roar-rar, roar-rar
(Gaoranger!)
Let the noble war cry rise!
In order to protect the lives of the Earth
Roar! More! Roar! Stronger!
Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
Wraaahhh! Roar!!
Roar! Race swiftly!
Roar! Face up to them!
Roar! Howl! Roar! Burn!
Roar! Roar! Graaahhh!!
When the cruel battle
Is left behind, you can be stronger
As the courage rages on
Reach out for the miraculous power
Roar-rar, roar-rar
Roar-rar, roar-rar
(Gaoranger!)
Let the instinct of a wild beast run free!
For every single living creature
Roar! Not yet! Roar! Hotter!
Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
Wraaahhh! Roar!!
(Gaoranger!)
Let the noble war cry rise!
In order to protect the lives of the Earth
Roar! More! Roar! Stronger!
Roar! Not yet! Roar! Hotter!
Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger
Wraaahhh! Roar!!
The Rules for #SongLyricsSunday
(This challenge is currently hosted by the generous Jim Adams.)
Anyone can participate in #SongLyricsSunday, even if you aren’t a music blogger! If you want to participate, here are the rules:
- Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
- Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
- Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
- Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
- Pingback to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
- Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
- Feel free to suggest future prompts.
- Have fun and enjoy the music.
