MF GHOST has announced that the full-length version of their ending theme song, “Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm),” is available to stream and download on services such as Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and the iTunes Store.
The ending theme song, “Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm),” is sung by Himika Akaneya, a member of the idol-hybrid unit i☆Ris, making this song her debut as a solo artist. The song is produced by AmPm and is written by ARAKI. It is based on the city pop genre that is popular both in Japan and overseas. By combining AmPm’s delicate production skills and ARAKI’s nostalgic lyrics, they were able to create their own unique spin on the city pop genre. Akaneya was chosen to sing this song due to her transparent singing voice that matches the overall vibe of the song, her singing ability, and her unique presence. Together, they made a song that is warm, comforting, and calming, which is great after watching the exciting races from the how.
The official music video for the song was released on November 6 on i☆Ris official YouTube channel:
The song is also set to be released physically on November 22, 2023. There are two versions that fans can buy: the CD + Blu-ray luxury package or CD only package. The CD-only package is priced at ¥1800YEN + tax ($12.01USD) while the CD + Blu-ray luxury package is priced at ¥4000YEN + tax ($26.69) and will also include the music video.
Himika Akaneya is a voice actor, actor, and artist. She is a member of the idol-hybrid unit i☆Ris. She was known for her roles as Laala Manaka from Pripara, Izetta from Izetta: The Last Witch, and Ritsuka Tachibana from Dance with Devils. She was also known for playing the role of Shirori Usami in the “World Trigger: The Stage.” She is also an active YouTuber who puts her body to the test through one project after another.
She commented on the song saying,
The lyrics ot this song is referencing the imagery to driving, such as the ‘stereo’ and ‘a neon heart refelcted in the windows’, while the word ‘sunset’ melds perfectly into the song’s relaxing melody, putting the listener right there in the scene. I think you will be able to immerse yourself in the lingering afterglow at the end of each episode of the anime. This will be my first time to sing solo, and while I do feel a little nervous, I’m very happy to be involved with the music for ‘MF GHOST,’ which is a series loved by fans. I hope that as each episode ends, this song’s casual melody and poetic flow will touch your heart-even just a little. Please check it out.
AmPm is a Japanese masked production duo. They debuted in 2017 with their song “Best Part of Us” which became a hit song worldwide. Since then, they have worked with various global artists, releasing over 40 tracks to date. They are currently one of the most popular Japanese artists overseas with 80% of their fanbase coming from outside of Japan.
ARAKI is an artist producer, music director, and songwriter who works on various songs as a composer, lyricist, and arranger. He is known for creating old-school, J-pop songs with a modern twist. He has written many songs for i☆Ris such, as “Queens Bluff,” “12 Gatsu no Snowry,” and “Summer Dude.”
MF GHOST is based on the manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno and is considered the successor to the hit classic series Initial D. The series was serialized by Young Magazine in 2017 and has already sold over 4.5 million copies. It takes place in the same universe as Initial D and follows the story of a rookie driver, Kanata Rivington. Following the events after Initial D, public road races have been held regularly in a time when self-driving cars are everywhere. Street racing has been taking the world by storm through a race series called MFG, where the fastest cars go head-to-head. Kanata Rivington returned to Japan after he recently graduated from racing school in Britain to fulfill a promise.
Crunchyroll is currently streaming the series in English sub and dub.
Source: Press Release
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