The appeal of the anime "The Idolmaster" lies not only in its unique characters, but also in the music that makes the most of the idol content. The songs sung by the idols have added color to the anime and games. We've carefully selected 10 of the most popular songs from the vast collection.
10th Place: SMOKY THRILL
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This song appeared as Ryugu Komachi's signature song in THE IDOLM@STER 2. The song is a perfect match of Iori's cuteness, Ami's innocence, and Azusa's seductiveness, and is characterized by rap-style lyrics and a complex rhythm. It was also depicted as Ryugu Komachi's debut song in the anime, and was performed in episode 6. This song inspired the other idols, and it was the catalyst for 765 Pro's rapid growth.
9th Place: Sleeping Beauty
Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This song is included in "MASTER ARTIST 2 FIRST SEASON Kisaragi Chihaya." It's a majestic ballad sung by Chihaya. It's a powerful song about waiting for someone to wake you from your eternal sleep, but then giving up and resolving to wake up and live on with your own strength. It was also used in episode 21 of the anime. Chihaya, who had suspended her entertainment activities due to a gossip scandal, sang this song as a sign of her determination to take to the stage once again. After being interrupted by President Kuroi, they performed it a cappella, but the technical staff had a change of heart and the song started playing at the chorus, creating an impressive scene of Chihaya's complete comeback. Incidentally, it was also used as an insert song in the movie version.
8th Place: Next to Me...
Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
Included in "MASTER ARTIST 07 Miura Azusa." Azusa sings this sorrowful ballad about a man and woman who have lost their loved ones. The song makes the most of the range of Azusa's voice actress, Takahashi Chiaki's voice, but the chorus has many high notes and sustained vocal range, which other idol voice actresses apparently struggled to sing. It's commonly known as "The Tough Slope." In the anime, it was played briefly in episode 26 as an insert song for the movie starring Azusa.
7th Place: Relations
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This is Miki's signature song, included in "THE IDOLM@STER MASTERWORK 02." It first appeared in the xBOX 360 version of the game. The song is about a love triangle in which one's heart shifts from "me" to "that girl." It's a stylish dance number and Miki's favorite song. In the anime, a piano arrangement is played in episode 21 when Chihaya tells the 765 Pro members how she really feels, and in episode 23 when Miki tells Haruka how she really feels, while the regular version is played in episode 22 as the song for a commercial featuring Miki.
6th Place: THE IDOLM@STER
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This song was the ending theme for the arcade version and has been included on many CDs and arranged in numerous versions. It was first included in "MATERPIECE 01." As the title suggests, the lyrics are memorable and sing about the series The Idolmaster itself. The song describes the feelings of a girl who has finally achieved her dream of becoming a popular idol, but is also struggling in the harsh world of showbiz. It was also used as the ending theme for episode 6 of the anime. With Ryuuguu Komachi's debut, the daily life of 765 Pro has changed a little, and the song selection seems to foreshadow the changes that will begin to occur every day. The words "Next Stage" that appear at the end of the ending theme are very meaningful.
5th Place: READY!!
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This is the opening theme song for the first season of the anime. It's included in "THE IDOLM@STER ANIM@TION MASTER 01." Created by the golden duo of iM@S, lyrics by Yura and music by Komatsu Satoru, this song has come to represent the iM@S anime and has become one of the most popular songs, wowing many fans with its up-tempo and catchy melody. The song plays alongside images of the idols preparing for the live performance in their dressing rooms, making it a true song of "preparation." It sings of the determination and anxieties of the idols as they take to the sparkling stage.
4th Place: My Song
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This song was first performed in the DLC for the game "THE IDOLM@STER Live For You!". It was also first featured in "THE IDOLM@STER MASTER LIVE 04" as a song by Iori, Makoto, and Azusa. It's a ballad and has been described as an ending-like song, but it was actually used as the ending theme for episode 26 of the anime. Iori's voice actress, Kugimiya Rie, lists it as one of her favorite songs and often performs it at live shows.
3rd Place: M@STERPIECE
Source: THE IDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This is the theme song for the movie "THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Beyond the Glittering World!". This song was also created by the golden duo of Yura and Satoru Kanzaki. The song is depicted as the first song sung by idols who have overcome numerous difficulties to take on the huge stage of an arena live concert. It is a song that is truly fitting for "Beyond the Light," as it sings of the desire to cherish the present while moving forward into the future amidst anxiety. In the anime, the entire song is played along with the live performance scene, a famous scene that has been described as "a shocking 5 minutes and 30 seconds." Incidentally, the title of the song was chosen in reference to "MASTERPIECE," iDOLM@STER's first CD series.
No. 2: Promise
Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This ballad, used as the ending theme for episode 20 of the anime and during Chihaya's live performance scene in the same episode, is a tear-jerking song. The full version is 7 minutes and 36 seconds long, making it the longest original iM@S song. This song is about Chihaya, who had been living alone, bound by the past, but with the help of her friends, she decides to live into the future with everyone. In the anime, the members of 765 Pro write the lyrics for Chihaya, who becomes depressed when she is no longer able to sing. The scene where they sing this song alongside Chihaya, which is filled with everyone's feelings, and the moment Chihaya finally regains her voice, express Chihaya's feelings as she fulfills her "promise" with her younger brother, Yu, and makes a new "promise" with the members of 765 Pro. It was first recorded in "THE IDOLM@STER ANIM@TION MASTER 06" and is available in two versions: one sung by Chihaya solo and one sung by all 12 members.
No. 1: JibunREST@RT
Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
This up-tempo dance song was performed in episodes 11 and 13 of the anime. This song was performed by the nine idols who were overtaken by Ryugu Komachi at 765 Pro's first major live concert. The nine idols took to the sparkling stage and this song opened the door for them to rise from their previous unpopular selves to become hugely popular idols. This song truly marked a restart for them, drawing attention to 765 Pro and marking the start of their great rise. This song also appears in the series as a hand-drawn live performance scene, with each idol giving it their all. It is depicted as a popular song that represents 765 Pro, with children and dancer Kana singing it in the series. It was first recorded in "THE IDOLM@STER ANIM@TION MASTER 05," abbreviated as "Ghibli."
There are still many more songs
Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA
So far, we've introduced 10 popular songs, but there are actually a whopping 250 songs in the iM@S series. New songs are still being released, and if you include Cinderella Girls and Million Live, the total number of songs is 857. Of course, the songs featured in the anime are only a small part of the collection. Each song is unique and there are many different versions available. Why not take this opportunity to find your favorite song?
