Opera Singer Reacts to "Unicorn" from MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN

[@lorzon]

“To my only desire. The beast of possibility. The symbol of hope.”

[@nightingale0601]

This quote lead me found out I'm ADHD, when I'm too playful in year 1 in university....Technically unicorn gundam saved my life

[@Lolsocialism]

@@nightingale0601 You have to tell me how that quote lead you to an ADHD diagnosis.

[@LoboRundas]

Crazy how he mentions the sensation of "a storm" and "fire around" at the beginning, while that's exactly how the Unicorn (gundam and song) debuted Great vid!

[@traphimawari7760]

Sawano Hiroyuki gundam Unicorn album was his magnum opus. My favorite in his album is mobile armor.

[@Calvin704704]

that one always give goosebumps

[@solastro5595]

Love the ost Rx-0.

[@charliec.-lite1466]

I think mine is named The Univerz or something like that. Absolutely magical.

[@edisonuy7707]

mine is this kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqTMqGWmed2kqs0 particularly the 2nd half.

[@Kindi001]

Dude, when i play SRW that have Unicorn series, i never able to skip the unicorn atk move because this bgm

[@mitumies]

WRONG GUNDAM ON THUMBNAIL lmaoo buut anyway, Unicorn is an amazing piece.

[@Marcoweebball]

clickbait used to be believable. (jk we fucked up)

[@Bobbias]

Yeah, I saw Unicorn, then the thumbnail and was like "ok..." but if you aren't super into Gundam it's an easy mistake to make.

[@mitumies]

​@@Marcoweebball It's fine, all good. 😂

[@rathalos1522]

@@Marcoweebball Hey, at least the series Unicorn is from is a sequel (with several steps in between) to the one in the thumbnail. Not a completely different universe like Witch from Mercury, hahaha!

[@diobrando9910]

@@Marcoweebball Should have put Optimus Prime there

[@Geth-Who]

YES. This is one of the moments where Gundam began to make people Sit Up And Take Notice again.

[@Gaming_Groove]

This piece arguably put Sawano on the map as an anime composer, and it's easy to hear why. One thing I like to point out is how comfortably this and many of his other pieces would transcribe to drum and bugle corps music. The use of brass and percussion is just on another level. There are few composers who arrange those parts as masterfully as Sawano.

[@Phyllion-]

TBF Sawano had already made his way on said map by that point and that's how he got into Unicorn, which then got him in AOT, and those two together led to him becoming one of the biggest names. (With the bonus fun fact that iirc, Unicorn is also what got Monolith interested in asking him to do the OST for Xenoblade X, which is the project that defined the musical style that he is now known for)

[@RedHornSSS]

@@Phyllion- it's fair to say Unicorn is his first big name project.

[@Phyllion-]

@@RedHornSSS I'd say Sengoku Basara the year before as it's a pretty big IP in Japan, but globally, yeah, Unicorn is his first big big thing.

[@RedHornSSS]

@@Phyllion- yeah. I've played the Game before the anime came out. But honestly I've barely seen anyone talking about it in english circles

[@martijn208]

you describe Banagher's character here, and the unicorn is also known as "the beast of possibility". other great songs from this OST are; "INEQUALITY - A CLOUD OF WAR", "MIVEVA", and "ANGELO". also maybe listen to the counterpart of the unicorn the Banshee.

[@SeanCrosser]

MINERVA is a definite must

[@陳威麟-q7o]

Unicorn is quite special in the UC series by the theme. Asides to the strong confliction between overwhelming government, double-sided enterprise and suppressed colony with terrorism, the main characters focus more in the hope of resolving, correct the wrong, and bring back true liberty. Such burden takes extra-ordinary will and sympathy, which are the must for man-kind to make step in the unbound and unforgiving universe. Our hero, halfly mature and grown,, are forced to the destiny under-told, risking life for people in the instintional urge to make free.The military element are eye-catching, but the emotional part stike much more.

[@dungeonmaster16]

The entirety of Gundam unicorn soundtrack is amazing.

[@respox2191]

Gundam Unicorn was my introduction to Sawano-sensei and this piece instantly made me a fan. I was a longtime Gundam watcher and used to having the series elicit strong emotions, but the scene where this plays took that to the next level and the music was a huge part of it.

[@durgamugen5004]

I very much feel the same. Long time gundam fan, and gunpla builder. I'm tears just feeling it again after a few months. It's very moving. The score was an amazing element to the series.

[@_Dovak]

Thanks for doing this request my jaw dropped when i saw that you made this video and i got super happy when watching this

[@MtAt1000]

So one of the very fun things I find about Sawano's work in Gundam Unicorn is that the pieces evolve as the series goes on. My recommendations if you wanted to listen to more of them is MADNUG, RX-0, Pyscho-Field and 6thMob : Unicorn Gundam.

[@nomarlera102]

SAWANO THE GOAT That's all. Any anime he touches turns to gold with his music.

[@Zeromortisimus]

I would listen to this soundtrack for YEARS when the show made its debut. God it's still beautiful even after so many years.

[@Kyanern]

Wholly agree with your summary at the end. Gundam as a series typically has young people piloting giant robots that they should never have been involved with and in Unicorn, the main character is entrusted with the titular Gundam, and has to grow as a character and move forward with his beliefs. Sawano Hiroyuki's also done music for Kill la Kill, 86 - Eighty Six - (together with Kohta Yamamoto who I'll also recommend), and Guilty Crown among others. Fantastic work and discography overall and he really knows how to use music to bring out the emotions in the pivotal and/or iconic scenes in the works he's involved in.

[@draaxus2969]

Please check out the Gundam Witch From Mercury OST as well! They have an official upload of the performance of the songs "The Witch From Mercury" and "Asticassia" on the official Gundam JP channel!

[@AbrahamArthemius]

Outside of Unicorn, the other Gundam series which has very prominent music are either The Witch From Mercury and Iron-Blooded Orphans. The Witch From Mercury has some orchestral grandeur much like Unicorn, while IBO goes the Ace Combat Zero vibe with the spanish guitars.

[@zedblade2526]

red:birthmark is so good

[@Herr_Gamer]

@@AbrahamArthemiusput some respect on Char’s Counterattack smh

[@AbrahamArthemius]

@@Herr_Gamer Hence why i said "series" rather than "movie". IBO & The Witch From Mercury (i will add Unicorn as well with its OVA & tv version) are all coming from a Gundam TV series.

[@Herr_Gamer]

@@AbrahamArthemius CCA is per definition part of the Gundam series and is integral to the events of Unicorn so including it is only right. Not to mention a fantastic soundtrack

[@ledias4263]

Another reason why sawano's the goat

[@yeetyeeter5476]

I would love to see you react to 'Moon' by Yoko Kanno from Turn A Gundam, this piece never fails to give me chills

[@nmnrx2271]

Hard yes on this. However, the finale version “Tsuki no Mayu” is the best version of that theme imo.

[@Bylov6812]

I was thinking of sending a request your way for this song, but someone has beat me to it! I absolutely adore the whole OST for Gundam Unicorn. This was Sawano's first major series for which he wrote music. People call it his magnum opus and "John Williams" level. I highly recommend checking out "Mobile Armor" from the same OST!

[@Gatherway]

Still remember the first time I heard this in the anime -- my jaw was on the floor as the scene played out. Sawano's score truly elevates the work into something special.

[@xxrolloutxx1143]

Imo it also is used during the best Gundam launch

[@AC_AZ20]

HE DID IT!!! As much as I'd love for you to react to other UNICORN OSTs like MAD-NUG, MOBILE SUIT, ON YOUR MARK, and RE: I AM (MARIE) I'll let the others have a go with their music suggestions. ^^

[@whiteboynoises]

Ahh from Ace Combat to Gundam. Everything is going according to plan. i Highly recommend to look further into Hiroyuki Sawano's work. ALso Mobile Armor is probably the best song in the whole ost.

[@fsaavedrap]

Ace Combat is pretty much just Gundam with planes instead of goant mecha, so it makes sense.

[@solastro5595]

You should check out the Hiroyuki Sawano / project [emu] "Mobile Gundam Unicorn" Suite. The end credits in the video is also an OST.

[@LordAnubisGaming]

I'll always love this song. It always gives me goosebumps when the music starts. If you have the time sir there's an 18 minuteish live action vid of Sawano Hiroyuki's Unicorn Suite playing multiple songs blended together in front of the once proudly displayed 1:1 original Gundam. It's such a beautiful video with two songs having vocals in them. I can never recommend it enough.

[@Vracuon]

The song evolves across the show as the main character affirms his personality, it could be great to have a stream or video about all the versions!

[@hendystark8333]

if not for Gundam 00, Gundam Unicorn might be my favorite series, this piece is just hits me like "oomph"

[@crowedarken]

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID MY REQUEST, THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭 Hiroyuki Sawano is indeed quite well-known for his big orchestral pieces, and not just from Gundam Unicorn. He's also worked on Seven Deadly Sins and Attack on Titan!

[@SeanCrosser]

Watching episode one, and seeing this piece with context was amazing. The calmer strings parts, in the scene, was more about how this... naivete of the main character has him flit about in this dangerous battlefield. The theme of hope, of peace will always play amidst this blaring of empowerment. It ends with a rather foreboding, unsure note. Because while the hero does have hope, purpose, and power, what lies ahead is still uncertain. Because it's the ends of Episode 1 of Unicorn.

[@BrushpointJ]

This is my personal favorite Sawano track. It's so empowering. Great piece.

[@crayonph7103]

How come I missed this and for a whole week!? I've been wanting to hear your take on this masterpiece for quite a while. I'm glad you got the chance to hear Sawano Hiroyuki's best work which is the Gundam Unicorn soundtrack. This piece always reminds me of how the Unicorn Gundam is presented as a majestic yet dangerous mobile suit. Still gives me goosebumps ever since I first heard it back in 2010. I do hope you also get to hear RX-0 from the same album.

[@mewbork]

YESSS THE GUNDAM UNICORN OST IS SO GOOD THERE'S SO MANY BANGERS I'd recommend watching the project emu Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn suite!

[@sakidickerson]

This is it this is the song that I heard that made me fall in love with the Gundam franchise it was 2011 and I randomly saw a quick little trailer for the new project Gundam unicorn and along with the visuals it was this song that got me it made me say hey I want to check out Gundam so that summer I watched every single Gundam Series in release order I became a big fan of building the plastic model kits. I started a KZbin channel about building the model kits I found a local store that was opening up a small hobby shop nearby and I made a KZbin video about them and that got me a job working for them also all these things happened and changed my life because of this song

[@sethdraxus6840]

A huge theme of Gundam Unicorn is carrying on and doing what you think is the right thing even when it doesn't seem like it fits or that the world is too stacked against it, countering with a simple "even so". To me the strong melody of Unicorn carrying on through the heart of the piece as its surrounded by so much other instrumentation really delivers that feeling.

[@zedblade2526]

Nice to see you get into gundam music, I can't recommend Red:Birthmark (the season 2 ED for witch from mercury) enough, its so unique and the only song i've heard that uses weaponized voice cracks

[@joelgoh2044]

Final misson-quantum misson from gundam 00 awakening of the trailblazers

[@Ultraelectromagnetic]

Sawano's work in Gundam is fantastic. He composed the scores of Gundam: Unicorn and Gundam: Hathaway's Flash and they both have his signature flair with very different tones. Unicorn's OST is mostly uplifting and optimistic, while the Hathaway's Flash OST feels a lot more somber, enigmatic, even desperate. Highly recommend you check out "XI" and "Möbius" from the Hathaway soundtrack!

[@Ignissis]

Thank you so much Marco for stepping into Gundam and covering it! I'd love to recommend Iron Blooded Orphans and let you experience its own set of very unique OSTs. Have a good one!

[@WishDragonGaming]

He's doing Gundam! So many amazing tracks from all the series. Gotta get my money up to get some of the lesser popular ones into his patreon like After War X and Victory. The X prelude screams for a video on his channel. Better yet, maybe even the orchestrated version as it merges the Satellite Canon with the prelude.

[@ramadhanisantoso2973]

Man it's more than a decade since I heard this OST for the first time. I loved how the percussions imitate how horses/unicorns galloping through the field. Dozens of years later and this piece still a permanent track on my playlists.

[@Thorax_The_Impaler]

EVEN SO!

[@Snowie1940]

THE BEAST OF POSSIBILITY, YES!! I've enjoyed Hiroyuki Sawano for years, but only discovered his work on Gundam last year, it easily became my favourite straight away. It just sounds grand, heroic, and yet so bittersweet. You're in this machine designed for war, thrust into a conflict beyond your comprehension, and there's no escaping it. This just perfectly captures that feeling. I'd also suggest listening to the Unicorn Gundam Suite they performed live, as it covers multiple tracks from the series. Nevertheless, It makes me so happy to see you react to this!

[@LinkinMark1994]

Dammit, Marco! You got my hopes up with that thumbnail, thinking you were reacting to the 1979 series’ music. I hope you make a video on Tobare Gundamu after this!

[@CoffeeHobby]

The music of this series always punctuates every scene. Hearing certain pieces even years after I’ve last watched it always brings the scenes they are used back into my mind and gives me the emotional punch they did the first time I heard them. No gundam music has stuck with me as much as unicorns ost.

[@InvaderAlex22]

If you want to check more Gundam music, you should check out the scores that Shigeaki Saegusa wrote for Zeta Gundam and the movie Char's Counterattack, both 80s Gundam anime. They are criminally underrated anime scores. Saegusa actually wrote several Operas and some of the passages from Chushingura legit sound like they came from Zeta Gundam. Anyway Sawano's music for Unicorn is definitely one of the highlights from that OVA series. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@reikyfoxxe1847]

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him”

[@fonsy8944]

Thank you for this analysis! Gundam is one of my favorite franchises ever. It has tons of amazing tracks that i would love to see on the channel. Gundam thunderbolt with its funky jazz and blues. Build fighters with some flamenco dubstep. Iron Blooded orphans and Turn A being some of my favorites.

[@jesta96]

You've got to listen to On Your Mark now that you've done Unicorn. Probably my favorite track from the Unicorn OST. Great vid as always!

[@mclovett116]

I don't know if you'll see this but from Turn-A Gundam there's a song called Moon by Yoko Kanno in the ost I really really hope you'll get around to checking it out it's such a beautiful piece!

[@MrJulio632]

YES, so happy you're finally checking out Gundam

[@salmanmahyuddin8384]

I'd recommend you check out Jerid to Mouar (for some reason we know it more as Riders in the Sky) from Zeta Gundam. A bit on the older side but i think the stuff by Shigeaki Saegusa is pretty neat. This one has a bit more urgency and tense to it. My favorite use of this track is actually in its sequel where they were in the heat of battle as well as the soundtrack but all of a sudden the music is cut off because a catastrophic thing happened (the way i worded it is underwhelming but spoilers, a space colony literally FELL upon a city.)

[@lostnumberaptom3927]

Now for [Symphonic Suite "UC2012"] 1st Mov. :Banshee next for comparison of the two suits.

[@fsaavedrap]

Crazy how much you managed to get right about the series from just a single piece (even if it's the titular piece).

[@stringer2998]

I love your description of the song because as someone who’s watched the entire series, the way you describe the song is exactly how the main character is characterized to the viewer and how their thoughts are progressed throughout the story. Vigilante, also by Sawano is something I think would be interesting for you to listen to. There is both a lyric and instrumental version

[@M1903Enjoyer]

Be sure to watch the Unicorn launch sequence. It's easy to find on KZbin. Or check out the series, incredible sequences throughout.

[@MadMax-kn7nf]

Marco! It is fantastic that you are getting into analyzing anime OSTs! Can’t wait to hear you analyze Gundam 00 OST and the Big O, if you get the opportunity.

[@stonerjesus6144]

unicorn gundam and 86 are some of sawano's best works ever.

[@gundamenjoyer217]

1:32 you will NOT believe what happens in the scene where this part of the song plays

[@Zerohour2k12]

Dude this one's epic! Always hyped when this comes on in either the anime and the Super Robot Wars games.

[@Amuro1X]

Buddy, you absolutely nailed the scene this is played in as if you had actually watched it. From the fire, to choice to launch forward despite the unknown ahead of our hero, to the sense of responsibility over the power that was passed onto him. That's uncanny.

[@Yamato-tp2kf]

All Hiroyuki Sawano's songs and music are masterpieces!!! I love it!!!

[@christiangarcia5348]

When the drop comes all i ever see is banager shout "Get the hell outa my way!!!" As he rams Marida Cruz

[@acaeleus]

His OST for Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway is really underrated. Would love to see your reaction to any of it. Also Christopher Drake is an incredible musician who scored quite a few DC Comics animated films. His Dark Knight Returns Soundtrack is an incredible work that evolves throughout fantastically.

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

Great theme choice! Haven't seen Unicorn yet, but I have heard this piece and it's easily one of my favorites from this new era.

[@SuperHexer123]

Everyone has thier favorite gundam and for me it's Unicorn. I may or may not have what I call the "unicorn shrine" in mt collection lol. A lot of that had to do with Sawano's work and his phenomenal OST. Everytime "Unicorn" plays its such a good moment, and even the first launch has burnt itself into my brain lol.

[@ZxCv134-n3b]

Finally gundam stuff i hope he react to OO osts too

[@RitsuCurisu]

Hell yeah! This show has a special place in my heart.

[@SleepyKaga]

After I first heard this soundtrack in the anime I constantly listened to it on repeat to the point it is probably my most listened to song ever...

[@gamingnewsandupdatesph]

You absolutely need to listen "On Your Mark", "RX-0", and track number 5 "Mobile Suit". Those are absolute bangers.

[@Dracodeus]

The song is to reflect the main theme of Gundam Unicorn, that being "possibility." Making the things most say cannot be done into something within grasp. Each segment of the score reflecting the main character, Banagher Links journey. The somber begining of the song is tied to the loss of a father long displaced from his life after only a brief reunion in a moment of chaos. After passing from a wound, and the flames taking him, the cockpit shuts. We then get the first conflict between the unicorn and kshatriya where the music swells showing Banagher's new found determination. The rest of the score is tied to similar moments of hope, sorrow, determination, triumph and loss throughout the serise.

[@Skroopy]

A few days late but I'm so glad you covered Unicorn! The Gundam franchise is 45 years old now and has a lot of different soundtracks from throughout the years. Please check out 'Moon' from Turn A Gundam (or any of Yoko Kanno's other work if you haven't already), Sawano's other works for Gundam like Hathaway or maybe a track like 'Final Mission - Quantum Burst' from Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer

[@carterbohren8253]

POV what I hear as a random teenager flys a random giant white robot at me at Mach speeds

[@stellarmassjack2415]

I love how knowing almost nothing about the series you can just absolutely NAIL the premise from the emotional points of the music. Love the content, hoping for more Star Citizen and Pedro Camacho music!

[@bunneza]

The brick of possibilities gundam unicorns Yeah i love Sawano stuff on this series Thanks for explaining it

[@hotjonmw90]

lol I love it when you call something 100% right out of the plot just from the music 3:50 Gundam always has a point where the internal question of self acceptance and finding the right path when the young MC finds out the world isnt black and white in Unicorn's case if you watch the movies the third one i believe has that

[@TempestFox]

Gundam unicorn has one of my favourite osts Ever not just in anime but in general. a few other songs i suggest listening to are Mad-Nug, Ego, Remind you, and OYM-PF

[@Wanderingswordwind]

This is. Honestly, one of my favorite pieces of music of all time. I think this was one of the pieces that first made me think, "Huh, I really like music". Unicorn is such a good series, and I consider it's OST to be Sawano's Magnum Opus. "Humanity alone possess the god called Possibility"

[@PacoSlimee]

While we're out here recommending pieces from Gundam "Moon" by Yoko Kanno for Turn A Gundam is spectacular. There are two versions, one sung in Japanese and one sung in a "language" loosely based of of Portuguese and that version in particular is amazing.

[@kradhunter00]

YES, I been waiting for this one! I'd also like to recommend "Angelo", 'Mobile Suit" and specially "Banshee".

[@SaucyPeeps]

I would really want him to listen to the track called Mobile Armor. It's one of my favorite pieces of music from unicorn and I'd love to see him react to it as well.

[@skylordianandy2644]

It still hits so hard to hear UNICOOOOORN from Banager

[@しばたさとう]

Hello! I also love ”GUNDAM”(not anime title but song name) composed by Sawano Hiroyuki. ”GUNDAM”is ost of gundam unicorn. There is also a song called "But Still" which is an arrangement of this song for singing.

[@ImUhmean]

It makes me laugh remembering he composed the OST for Unicorn believing this is the end of the franchise. From Unicorn one of my personal favorites are Mad-Nug, 5thMob, 7thMob, and 9thMob But if I had to pick one I’d like for you to listen to, it’d be EARth. I think this song is criminally underrated in the Gundam community. To me, it’s saying even if we have left for the stars, even with the endless conflicts (both in Gundam and IRL), Earth is still the cradle of humanity

[@ctitor2646]

I love your reaction! Unicorn also has a suite same as AOT. Whether you react to it or not is upto you but i highly recommend as he did it in front of the life-size moving gundam in Yokohama!

[@Serom_974]

Gundam has so many good OSTs, worth to be react and be reviewed by you

[@fva1835]

Gundam Unicorn. The Beast of Possibility. The destroyer who open the hearts of its pilot toward the possibility of humanity to be better even if its just a dream.

[@exoborrisxoxo2872]

Unicorn OST si sooooo good ! Sawano...I remember having discover Sawano on "Sengoku basara" animation OST, even if everybody think true beginning with AoT or Guilty crown, Sengoku basara have some excellent musics. Not relevant at all with Gundam OST or Sawano, but I've just rediscover juste one of my favorite anime OST EVER, For the next poll on the community part, I'm ready : Karas, "Shikkoku no Tatakai Hen" and "Meiou Tanjou Hen" are ...incredible

[@theSpartan187]

What's really sad is looking at the message unicorn tells you and then look at what happens 30 years later

[@hieioni3354]

This piece is magical. Glad to see you somewhat enjoyed it. Next, please check out Ai yo Faraway by Rie Fujiwara, it's the OP of Choju Kishin. Very good ^^

[@A_Cort]

Your descriptions are spot on

[@tastykimchiOFDOOM]

6:44 Glad to see that you survived the earthquake.

[@FoxB117]

NOW WE NEED an analisis of MOBILE SUIT, UXO-RXO, UNICIORN GUNDAM suit and UC0096SUIT

[@14112ido]

I suggest Gallant Char for the next Gundam song. It's an absolute classic.

[@dragojess]

Another banger Soundtrack Sawano has done for Gundam is Gundam Hathaway, its seriously incredible I highly recommend it. I especially love how its main theme, Xi, feels like the dark counterpart to Unicorn

[@Chooie6]

On the thumbnail the unit you are looking for is the RX-0 unicorn Gundam. Highly recommend watching the series and movie to understand the story but there are a lot of emotions in particular around this song you pretty much hit the nail on the head though. A key thing about the unicorn is that it's intended to be a symbol of hope and not a machine of war despite being quite powerful in that. Out of this one tooth my favorite track is full frontal but going into the Gundam unicorn narrative movie soundtrack there's a distinct progression that you may find interesting musically and later songs become mixes of multiple songs together in crazy ways.

[@legojoe2]

Finally, Unicorn. I hope he also reacts to RX-0. I can't believe how much story is within music notes. You are literally describing the protagonist, Banagher's life in this series. Maybe that's why the song resonated so well when I watching it. It hit really hard during Unicorn Gundam's appearance and near the end when Banagher says the lines: "Humans are weak and frail. That's why we entrust ourselves onto each other. No matter how hard the road is ahead, we walk it together."

[@nepgeardam6807]

It'd be fun to see Marco's reaction to older Gundam's BGMs like "Here comes Char" and "Riders in the Skies"

[@syntheskeleton]

Begging and pleading for a look at the Witch from Mercury soundtracks! Hands down some of my favorite soundtrack work in Gundam (from what I've seen), up there with Turn A imo

[@AlvinREDDELTA]

Unicorn cooking soundtrack since 2010

[@13erzerker33]

FINALLY SOMEONE THAT CHECKS OUT SAWANO'S GUMDAM OST

[@jocax188723]

Gundam, like Macross, is ripe for the picking for awesome OSTs. I have The Witch from Mercury stuck in my head in a loop.