Gensomaden Saiyuki Image Albums Volumes I-III (Anime Music Review)

This hub focuses primarily on the three image albums from Gensomaden Saiyuki. You'll see the track lists for these albums as well as information on the songs and even some sample songs.

If you're looking for more information on Gensomaden Saiyuki such as a summary on this anime, then look at this.

If you're just looking for general information on all the anime in the Saiyuki series, then look at this. You'll also be seeing some information on the 4 main characters in that hub.

There's a lot of music related to Saiyuki and all of these are exceptionally good. The sounds are all wonderful and the voices of the singers are remarkably stunning. Even the lyrics (when translated into English) have great meanings, some of which are even inspirational, motivational and quotable. Here are some of the music albums from Gensomaden Saiyuki:

This contains 13 tracks but only 7 are songs. The rest are merely instrumental music that are all still good even if there's no song.

The 7 songs from this album are as follows:

1. Freedom
2. Junk Boys
3. Believe In
4. Looking For The World
5. The Way To Paradise
6. Hold The Light
7. Open Up Your Mind

The 6 instrumental music from this album are as follows:

1. Long Way
2. The Air From Tifania
3. Against The Wind
4. Winding Path
5. Strong Will
6. Curious Coincidence

This was sung by Masaki Nomiyama. This song also appears in Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Volume 2, only it was sung by Seki Toshihiko (Sanzo), Hirata Hiroaki (Gojyo) and Hoshi Soichiro (Goku).

From the music album Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days, this song appears as a piano instrumental version.

The song has a nice lively ring to it and, as the title suggests, it's about freedom. The translated lyrics mentions freedom and birds and the sky, among other things.

This may be in reference to a quote from Saiyuki wherein the character Koumyou Sanzo tells a young Genjo Sanzo that birds may be able to fly to wherever they want to, but if they have no place with which to rest when they get tired, then they may not like their wings. As such, "true freedom may be having a place to go back to".

This was sung by Kida Rintaro, Ayumu, and Hoshino Hiroshige. This song also appears in Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Volume 1, but it was sung by the seiyuus or voice actors of 3 of the Sanzo-ikkou (Gojyo, Goku and Sanzo).

This is a more lively song than the previous one. This song also has a number of words that are sung in English like 'Junk Boys' and 'fly away'.

And there are some parts that are said in a rap sort-of way, which adds to the lively beat of the song. Junk Boys may be referring to the Sanzo-ikkou as they continue on their journey to the west.

This was also sung by Masaki Nomiyama.

This song has great music and the words 'believe in' are sung in English.

This has good lyrics about believing in yourself and continuing on walking in the path that you've chosen for yourself, which fits with what Genjo Sanzo believes in.

He may be a monk of the highest order, but Sanzo is always wont to say that he believes only in himself and that he's the one who chooses what path he'll walk on.

Masaki Nomiyama sang this song. This song has a lot of words sung in English that mix well with the rest of the song that's sung in Japanese.

Some of the words sung in English are 'looking for the world', 'everything all right' and 'careless heart'. This song may be in reference to the Sanzo-ikou's journey to the west as they are looking for the answers to stopping the Minus Wave and trying to save the world.

This was sung by Masaki Nomiyama. However, in the album Gensomaden Saiyuki Vocal Album Volume 3, where this song also appears, the singers are Seki Toshihiko (Sanzo), Hirata Hiroaki (Gojyo) and Hoshi Soichiro (Goku).

This is one very lively song that even has some rap parts (some of which is also sung in English) in it and a lot of words sung in English.

Examples of these English words are 'won't you join us?', and 'feeling'.

This song may be in reference to the Sanzo-ikkou's journey to the west as they invite the people who are listening, watching, reading to continue supporting the series.

An instrumental piano version of this song appears in the music album Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days.

This is another song that Masaki Nomiyama sung. This has a light beat to it. There are also a lot of words sung in English like 'give me sunshine, give me daylight'.

Parts of the lyrics mention light, rain and sun, which may be in reference to Genjo Sanzo and Cho Hakkai, both of whom don't like the rain as it reminds them of their sad and tragic past.

This was sung by Mirai. This also appears in Gensomaden Saiyuki Singles Collection.

This is a really great song with inspirational lyrics and a nice melody to go with it. This song sometimes plays as a background music in some parts of the anime Gensomaden Saiyuki.

This song has a lot of parts that are sung in English and they just make the song even more wonderful.

Here are some of the parts that are sung in English: 'in this world when life can be so tough, you must be strong. Just believe in yourself'. This song definitely fits with the Sanzo-ikkou, all of whom just continue to believe in themselves and move forward no matter what obstacles stand in their way.

This album contains 11 tracks, 5 of which are songs while the rest are instrumentals.

The 5 songs are as follows:

1. Calling My Soul
2. Shiny On Light
3. Bunny Doll
4. Shooting Star
5. From Way Before

The 6 instrumental tracks are as follows:

1. Whim Of Life
2. Making Progress
3. By Degrees
4. The Chaotic Ground
5. Reincarnation
6. Hold The Light - Reprise

This was sung by Manabu Enuma. This song has a nice beat to it and has several words sung in English.

Examples include 'open your eyes', 'calling you' and 'broken my soul'.

Parts of the lyrics mention such words as soul, eyes, heart and calling, which may be in reference to the Sanbutsushin (The Three Aspects) telling Genjo Sanzo that he must look with the eyes of his heart.

This is because Sanzo, who is a monk of the highest order and a human, has been ordered by the Goddess of Mercy (Kanzeon Bosatsu) to travel to the west with 3 demons. They've been tasked to stop the demon king from being resurrected.

The 3 demons he's traveling with are, curiously enough, not affected by what is known as the Minus Wave (this caused demons from all over to lose control of themselves and start hurting humans).

Masaki Nomiyama sang this song. This has a different beat that's not really fast-paced but not all that slow either.

Many words are also sung in English in this song like 'shiny on light' and 'ray light'.

With this song mentioning a lot about light, it may be in reference to Genjo Sanzo whom Son Goku has always thought of as his sun and he has even said that Sanzo shines like the sun.

Yes, Sanzo does have blond hair, but that's not the only reason Goku thinks of him as his sun.

Far more than his blond hair, it's actually how the monk rescued Goku from the cave where he was being imprisoned.

Sanzo may be rough and gruff and he may not be one to share or speak about his feelings, but it's obvious that he does care about Goku even if he may hit him with his fan or shout at him at times.

Manabu Enuma also sang this song. This is a pretty fast-paced song with a fast beat. The title 'bunny doll' is sang in English.

This song may well be in reference to Nii Jianyi (or Ni) who is helping Gyokumen Koushou because Nii actually carries a stuffed bunny.

From Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days, "Bunny Doll" shows up as merely an instrumental piano version.

This was sung by Ryosuke Neriki. This song has a nice beat to it.

There aren't any words sung in English but that doesn't make this song any less good.

It's still a nice song with great meaningful lyrics.

The shooting stars may be in reference to the anime episode wherein Hakkai sees a shooting star and he wants to make a wish but finds that he can't think of anything to wish for right away. Gojyo responds that it must be because he doesn't need any wishes.

This was sung by Laynah.

This is a slow song with a light and slow beat.

It is also sung entirely in English.

The mention of taking one's hand and being alone may well be in reference to when Goku was alone and imprisoned in a cave and how Sanzo freed him from that by holding out his hand and bidding Goku to take hold of it.

In the music album entitled Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days, a version of "From Way Before" appears as an instrumental piano music.

This album contains 12 tracks, 6 of which are songs and the rest are instrumentals.

The 6 songs are as follows:

1. Let Me Be
2. Tapestry
3. Fortuneteller
4. Red Criminal
5. Bitter Fruits
6. See The Sun

The 6 instrumental tracks are as follows:

1. Togenkyo
2. Nishi E
3. At A Desert
4. A Poker Face
5. Affectionate Time
6. Tranquility

This was sung by Masaki Nomiyama. The song has a nice melody and tone and it's sung entirely in English.

The lyrics of the song, which mentions the words 'tell me what you want', 'babe', 'you are everything, my everything' give the impression that this is a love song.

This may well be in reference to Hakkai who was once in love with a woman named Kanan who was later on murdered.

This song also appears as a piano instrumental version from the album Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days.

This was sung by Koji Ueno. There's a nice, catchy beat to this song.

Just like the title of the song, the lyrics has a lot of symbolism to it with the mentions of such things as fate, spinning, time, past, future, meetings, partings and light.

This song may be in reference to the time when the Sanzo-ikkou first met each other because it has been said that it may be fate that has brought them together and it may be destiny that has kept them together.

Masaki Nomiyama sung this song. There's a different beat to this song that might seem to be a rap of sorts although it isn't really. This song might take a bit of getting used to but it is a good song with a lot of meaning.

The lyrics mentioning cruelty, crimes, pain, destroying and other such words may well be referencing this song to Nii Jianyi yet again.

This was sung by Manabu Enuma.

This song has a fast beat from the beginning and it is catchy with great lyrics that have good symbolism and meanings.

Parts of the lyrics mentions red, sunset, apples, curse, struggling, lifelessness, misery and crying.

This may well be in reference to Gojyo who hates the red color of his hair and eyes because half-breeds are generally considered to be a curse and he is subsequently shunned by people who believe this.

This was sung by Ryosuke Neriki. This song has a very solemn tone to it. It's rather slow-paced. There's a lot of meaning to this song with words from the lyrics mentioning things like gods, punishments, fate, pain, reality, tranquility, living and truth.

This may well be in reference to the bitterness of life and to the sad, tragic pasts of each of the Sanzo-ikkou who have had to deal with less than stellar lives. Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Piano Supplement - Lively And Relaxed Days is where "Bitter Fruits" appears in its piano instrumental version.

This was sung by Masaki Nomiyama, Manabu Enuma, Koji Ueno and Ryosuke Neriki. This song is a bit slow-paced in the beginning but it picks up a bit in the middle parts.

It does have a nice tune to it. It has good lyrics pertaining to the sun and light. Saiyuki does have a lot of symbolism relating to the sun such as Sanzo being likened to the sun and the fact that the Sanzo-ikkou are heading for the west where the sun sets.

There are actually a lot of images of them behind the backdrop of the setting sun or looking towards the sun.

Saiyuki has a lot of wonderful, amazing music with great and meaningful lyrics and catchy tunes.

The singers of the songs have done a good job.

The superb music of the Saiyuki series is just one of the many things that make this anime and manga very special and well-loved.

Pic credits: The images are enlarged pics of the products from Amazon.com

Sources:

• References to the translated lyrics are from the site 'home.earthlink.net/~ayanosuke' via waybackmachine while some are also from the translated lyrics at saiyuki.wikia.com.
• Some information is from saiyuki.wikia.com

Saiyuki and all things related to it is copyright to Kazuya Minekura.