Awesome Music / Macross Frontier

With a soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno and several vocals sung by Megumi Nakajima and May Nakabayashi, Macross Frontier by itself is able to put all the previous entries of the Macross franchise to shame in the music department, and stands tall as one of the most iconic collections of awe-inspiring songs since it aired in 2008. It's really saying something when the first soundtrack^* Nyan FRO. broke into the top 3 of the Japanese charts, something that hasn't happened since Neon Genesis Evangelion over a decade prior to Frontier!

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• Maaya Sakamoto sings the series' first opening with the catchy "Triangler". It's reprised in the series' finale with Megumi Nakajima and May Nakabayashi, alternatively named as "Triangler (fight on stage)".
• The second opening, "Lion", is once again sung by both Nakajima and May'n, and is reprised and remixed into several more songs throughout the two movies.

May'n

As Sheryl Nome's singing voice, May Nakabayashi (better known as May'n here) brings some of the most memorable battle songs in the series.

• "Welcome to my Fanclub's Night!"; while initially seen as an unused song on the tracklist, it's sung to great effect in the Recap Episode and The False Songstress's opening battle scene.
• Continuing from the above is "What 'bout my star? (Sheryl On Stage)".
• "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late"(link) ^* "Sagittarius☆9pm", which is used for Episode 7 and 24's sorties.
• "Diamond Crevasse", the series' first ending credits theme.
  • "Diamond Crevasse 50/50", co-sung with Nakajima and used in Episode 15, revealing that the Galaxy colony is still afloat and conspiring against Frontier.
  • "Shinkuu no Diamond Crevasse", for the heartbreaking moments in Episode 20.
  • "Diamond Crevasse ~ thank you, Frontier", used in the second movie as Galaxy's coup is botched and Sheryl is arrested for conspiring against Frontier.
• "Northern Cross", the series' second consistent ending credits. It's also used in Episodes 22 and 25's dogfights.
• "Yousei", used in Episode 22 and the first movie.
• "Universal Bunny", her first song in The False Songstress, which goes with the movie's gorgeous display of 3D animations and her fanservice-y concert, as shown here.
• "pink monsoon" is an upbeat ear-worm. Becomes even better if you look up the translation of the lyrics and realize just how sexy it gets.
• "Obelisk", the climactic song used as part of Sheryl's plan to bait the Vajra back to her after they abducted Ranka. Seen here.
• Eien, Izolado, Aenai Toki, Giragira Summer (^ω^)ノ, and Tenshi ni Nacchatta (universal version) from the Universal Bunny album.
• "Kindan no Elixir", the very first song used in The Wings of Goodbye as part of Sheryl's very risqué concert.

Megumi Nakajima

On top of providing voice acting for her actual character, Ranka Lee, Megumi Nakajima is the other prominent songstress, and she certainly doesn't fall behind May'n.

• The series' pilot episode (Episode 1, although aired way ahead of the actual schedule) ends with a calm rendition of "Do You Remember Love?", aptly named "Deculture Edition". The song is also featured as a Dark Reprise during Episode 24, as "Ai Oboete Imasu ka ~ bless the little queen". Grace O' Conner comments "she couldn't have sung a more fitting song", considering Lynn Minmay saved humanity with it in Macross history and a brainwashed Ranka used it herald humanity's destruction.
• "Aimo" and all variations thereof. The soothing melody contrasts very nicely with the action going on.
  • "Aimo ~ Tori no Hito", which is sung to great effect during the in-universe filmed adaptation of Macross Zero.
  • "Aimo O.C.", which turns Ranka's signature song into a battle hymn capable of actively disrupting the Vajra's communications. It's also a shining example of the Dark Reprise at play - something sounds very, very wrong once you hear the choral singing and church bells. This symbolizes the strings Grace and Leon are pulling behind the scenes.
  • "Haha to Ko Ranka no Aimo"^* "Mother and Little Ranka's Aimo", a short duet with Ranshe that was used as an insert song in Episode 14 of the anime.
  • "Brera to Ko Ranka no Aimo"^* "Brera and Little Ranka's Aimo", a cute and sweet harmonica only version that was used as an insert song in Episode 24.
  • The movie The False Songstress gives us the sad "Sheryl no Aimo" that, alongside her earrings, is the only thing she has left of her late mother. The same movie also gives us this haunting duet version with Ranka.
• What 'bout my star @ Formo", which cements Ranka's start of her singing career. In a Zentradi shopping mall, no less!
• While short, "Ninjin Loves You Yeah!"^* Ninjin = Carrots and "Super Dimension Restaurant Nyan Nyan" Jingle" are both used as catchy songs for Ranka's early job at advertising herself. There's also a hilarious rendition of both called "Bobby no Ninjin Tou" by Bobby Margot.
• "Watashi no Kare wa Pilot -MISS MACROSS 2059-", which makes for a standout throwback to Lynn Minmay's song of the same name. Here, it's used in Alto's mock battle against Klang Klang.^* For added fun, listen to Bobby Margot's version called "Bobby no Watashi no Kare wa Pilot ~ Mousou no Kare mo Pilot".
• "Neko Nikki"^* "Cat Diary", also used as Episode 11's ending credits.
• "Seikan Hikou"^* "Interstellar Flight", another of her signature songs used to quell a Zentradi insurrection and as Episode 17's opening credits.
  • It gets an even better rendition in the second movie!
  • The song also affects the other protagonists of the other mecha shows in the Mega Crossover Mecha Game Super Robot Wars Z2: Hakai-Hen during Scenario 34-B: Memorial Debut.
• "Anata no Oto"^* "Your Sound".
• "Ao no Ether"^* "Azure Ether", used as Episode 21's heartbreaking ending credits while Ranka leaves Alto to search for the Vajra homeworld with Brera.
• "Sou da yo."^* "Is it so?", the first movie's heartwarming ending credits.
• The Wings of Goodbye adds four original solos:
  • "Niji-iro Kuma Kuma"^* Rainbow-colored Bear. It's very hard to unsee the scene in which it's used.
  • "Koi wa Dog Fight (FIRST LIVE in Atlantis Dome)"^* "Love is a Dogfight", for the skirmish against the Vajra nested in a Bodolza-class fortress.
  • "Houkago Overflow"^* Afterschool Overflow, the first of three songs used during the climactic final battle. Notably plays during the Macross Quarter's Awesome Atmospheric Reentry.
  • "Hoshi Kira"^* "Twinkling Star", the movie's ending credits song.

May'n and Megumi Nakajima

As a duet, Sheryl and Ranka rock out even more awesome than their solos, which is no small feat.

• "Infinity", sung in Episode 7's climax.^note "Infinity" is initially sung in the first soundtrack by May'n only, but the episode itself features a variant named "Infinity #7", which includes Nakajima.
• "Nyan Nyan Service Medley", which is an epic mashup of several songs in the series ^note In order of appearance: Lion, Infinity, Watashi no Kare wa Pilot, Diamond Crevasse, Seikan Hikou, What 'bout my star?, Lion, Ai Oboete Imasu ka, Lion, Aimo (last one is sung by Maaya Sakamoto), is used in Episode 25's climactic fight against the true mastermind who has hijacked the Vajra, Grace. The third album, "VOCAL COLLECTION Nyan Tama", provides an extended version, called "Nyan Nyan Special Service Medley (Tokumori)", which adds "Iteza☆Gogo Kuji Don't be late", "Triangler" and "Anata no Oto" to the mix.
• The Wings of Goodbye adds several more duets to the list:
  • "Get it on ~ Kousoku Climax"^* "Get in on ~ Light Speed Climax", which is used as Alto and company rescue Sheryl from her imprisonment under the guise of Ranka's concert. A version with different lyrics, Get it on - flying rock, was included on the Houkago Overflow single.
  • "Nyan Nyan Final Attack Frontier Greatest Hits!"; this differs from "Nyan Nyan Service Medley" in that it incorporates other songs; it ditches "Infinity", "What 'bout my star?", "Diamond Crevasse", "Watashi Kare Wa Pilot" and "Seikan Hikou" for "Northern Cross", "Niji-Iro Kuma Kuma", "Universal Bunny" and "Obelisk".
  • "Sayonara no Tsubasa ~ the end of triangle", the third and final song used in the movie's climax.
  • The ending credits add "d Shootin' Star b" after Ranka's "Hoshi Kira", signifying Sheryl's recovery and comeback to the stage.

The Soundtracks

Yoko Kanno is the main composer for the series and movies' musical score (this is on top of doing the arrangement for both singers' vocals), she's no slouch in that department, even when considering all the above songs. Her bombastic orchestral tracks add a grand scale befitting of a militaristic space opera.

• "Prologue F", a ridiculously epic piece that reintroduces us to the Macross franchise within the first few episodes.
• "Frontier 2059"; unlike the above, this track presents the setting in which the anime takes place.
• "Vital Force".
• "Zero Hour", aka THE sortie preparation theme. Relatedly, "Wilders", which was incorporated into The Wings of Goodbye's collection.
• "Innocent Green", a beautiful piano piece used in Episode 5.
• "Big Boys", one of the many recurring military themes.
• "Private Army", similar to "Big Boys" above.
• "SMS Shoutai no Uta ~ Ano Ko wa Alien"^* "SMS Platoon's Theme ~ That Girl is an Alien", the SMS's anthem, with lyrics composed by Shoji Kawamori himself! To make this song even better, both Ranka and Bobby collaborated together and covered a special version of this song called "Ranka to Bobby no SMS Shoutai no Uta".
• When gazing into Alto's past, look no further than "Alto's Theme".
• "The Target", the series' main battle theme and the most iconic track from the pilot episode, where one of the larger Vajras destroys a cruiser with a single cannon blast!
• "TALLY HO!", which is used in Episode 14 as the Frontier forces end up crushing the Vajra's ambush.
• "Bajura"^note Often translated as "Vajra", one of the more ominous themes belonging to the alien race featured in the series.
• "Take Off".
• "High School Life", the theme used for each episode's preview.
• "Transformation", which is used for Episode 14's battle preparations and Episode 25's hijacking of the Vajra Queen.
• "Inumimi Ranka"^* "Dog-eared Ranka".
• "Tsuioku no Trumpet"^* "Reminiscence Trumpet".
• "shadow of Michael", Michael Blanc's Leitmotif. It's used to tragic effect when Klang talks to Alto about Michael's death in episode 22.
• "is this LOVE?"
• "Nejire Trauma"^* "Twisted Trauma", which plays in episode 23 when Ranka falls into Galaxy's hands, remembers the past, and Brera desperately fights to take her back before being shut down into slave mode by Grace.
• "Battle Frontier", playing during Episode 25's big reveal.

Unsorted

• The crossover movie Macross FB7 gives us "Nyan Nyan FIRE! Totsugeki Planet Explosion" which is Sheryl and Ranka singing covers of Fire Bomber's "Totsugeki Love Heart" and "Dynamite EXPLOSION". In addition to this, the movie also gives us as a new Fire Bomber song, "Virgin Story".
• The Macross F Drama CD: Nyan Dra o Dra3 drama CD gives us the Heartwarming Moment that is a young Sheryl singing Fire Bomber's "Totsugeki Love Heart".
• Continuing the Totsugeki Love Heart covers is a rendition from one of Fire Bomber's biggest fans, Ozma Lee (with Cathy)!
• Basara Nekki and Ranka Lee team up for REMEMBER 16!
• As part of a special single release, we're treated to Sheryl's cover of Ichirou Dokugawa's "Uchuu Kyoudaibune" called "Sheryl no Uchuu Kyoudaibune"^* "Sheryl's Brother Spaceship".
• Included in the first drama CD and the 30th Anniversary Super Dimension Duet Collection is a hot-blooded Alto and Brera duet cover of Minmay's Shao Pai Long.
• Flying Between Stars, a fantastic livetune remix of Seikan Hikou.
• In-between the release of the soundtracks for the first and second movies, Yoko Kanno came out with a special Christmas-themed concept album from the series called "cosmic cuune" that lives up to the greatness of the original soundtracks. In it, we have "Songbird" and Ranka no "Kutsushita no Uta."^* Ranka's "Stocking Song." by Ranka, "Liebe ~ Maboroshi no Hikari"^* "Love ~ Phantom Light" and "Funanori"^* "Sailor" by Sheryl, three new duets between the singers ("Silent de Nanka Irarenai"^* "I Can't Stay Silent", "Tablet" and a new version of "Seikan Hikou" called "Seikan Eve (Seikan Hikou Christmas ver.)") and the pièce de résistance, a collaboration between Ranka, Sheryl, and the "Frontier Stars"^* Alto, Ranka, Sheryl, Michael, Clan, Bobby, Monica, and Ram. called "Merry Christmas without You".