| Album name: | Kiki’s Delivery Service Original Soundtrack |
|---|---|
| Anime name: | Qiqi’s delivery service |
| artist: | Joe Hisaishi, Yumi Arai |
| Catalog number: | TKCA-72742 |
| Release type: | soundtrack |
| release date: | August 10, 1989 |
| Where to buy: | Japanese CD, Amazon |
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” soundtrack is like a story
Qiqi’s delivery service Take the magic and combine it with the mundanity of Amazon’s drone delivery service. That said, it’s a great premise with enough drama to make for a compelling watch. In this context, composer Joe Hisaishi once again demonstrates his magical touch of blending the magical and the ordinary. Hisaishi brings the story of a young witch to life with brisk waltzes and softly whispered solos. Qiqi’s delivery service OST.
Hisaishi Joe’s strength as a composer is his ability to create a score that takes you through the entire story. Theme provides the core Qiqi’s delivery service. We get just that in the whimsical, down-to-earth “On a Fine Day…” An antique flute solo depicts the film’s pastoral atmosphere, which then quickly develops to include an array of energetic instruments. The optimism continues in the quiet, loving air of “Departure,” hinting at a hint of fear for the road ahead.
On a sunny day…
Just like that, we set off! “Sea View Town” is reminiscent of a bustling seaside village. I particularly like how Hisaishi made this character fit into this song. The initial mix of business and curiosity gives way to a mysterious, hurried oboe. As it crescendos, the piece gains the joy of life through the string section, which suddenly jumps into a lively pastoral dance, reflecting Qiqi’s enthusiasm.
one sea view town
Qiqi’s character growth comes to life in music
From then on, daily life began. “Helping in the bakery” has an irresistible energy and a sense of mission. The same goes for “Getting to Work,” which has a cheery, no-nonsense vibe about girls figuring things out as they come up. In stark contrast to all the energy, “Jeff” saunters into a languid-sounding tuba, depicting an old dog dozing in a warm corner until stirred by a warm breeze. All in all, these pieces perfectly capture the happy, laid-back pace of seaside life and make me smile as my mind drifts off to magical daydreams.
Jeff
But new life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. After the excitement wears off, feelings of loneliness and feeling out of place can seep in. Hisaishi’s music transformed to represent this aspect of growing up. The poignant piano melody of “Sad Kiki” presents a sadness of searching for self-identity. While melancholy is front and center, I love how the string melody conveys a longing for a sense of happiness and purpose that seems so elusive.
Heartbroken Qiqi
The OST’s conclusion is heartening.
However, the low mood did not last long. Inspiration comes from deep reflection. Joe Hisaishi describes this in “To Ursula’s Cabin”. It starts with a soft main melody and then gently layers on to wash away stress and soothe the spirit. The Mysterious Painting builds on this foundation with its subdued tone. I appreciated how it departed from the previous themes, standing strong in its own right and providing a welcome change of pace.
mysterious painting
But then, it’s time to test your ability for character growth, introspection, and renewal. In “Rugged Flying Airship Adventure,” the urgency is expressed in dissonant lines that keep the listener on edge. Then the scope of “Old Man’s Deck Brush” expanded, in which the theme of “Ocean View Town” appeared, but with a more menacing tone. The trumpet rushes forward with determination, the strings rushing forward, heightening the urgency of Kiki’s experience. These two pieces are more action-oriented than their predecessors, but there’s a bit of variety to keep the album fresh.
Rugged flying airship adventure
When excitement reaches its peak, a cautious sense of hope rises over the deck brush. On “A Date with the Deck Brush,” calm, stately strings infuse the atmosphere with an elegance that matches the growing confidence. Although short, it ensures that no difficulty is insurmountable.
Date a deck brush
The “Kiki’s Delivery Service” OST ends with “Rouge no Dengon” which has a 70s disco pop style. While I wasn’t too fond of its synthetic goodness the first time around, its cheesiness has grown on me. Among the songs, I prefer the ballad “If Wrapped Tenderly”. The guitar duet played right into my soft emotions and the mood of the entire soundtrack. Yumi Arai’s soft, sweet vocals add the final soothing touch to this wonderful album.
if surrounded by tenderness
grade: Excellent