For this week's Three Tune Tuesday — a tradition started by the one and only @Ablaze on Hive — I wanted to share a few songs that hold a special place in my heart. Each one is tied to a moment in my life, a cherished memory, or an obsession that just wouldn’t let go.
- I'll Be The One by Kazuhiro Hara, from Hikaru no Go
This song takes me back to 2005, when a classmate in business school introduced me to the world of Go through the anime Hikaru no Go. It was my first real dive into the game, and it stuck with me ever since. The theme "I'll Be The One" captures that sense of discovery and passion I felt back then, and it remains a powerful reminder of that time.
(A cover, sung slightly better than the original HAL version)
- ブルーバード (Blue Bird) by Ikimono Gakari, from Naruto Shippuden
Naruto quickly became a favorite for both me and my wife, Vera, when the manga started getting published in Finland. Vera, being the true collector, made sure we had every volume. Although we ended up selling them, those were fun times filled with great stories and even greater music. (An honorary mention goes to the Sadness and Sorrow by Toshio Masuda, a song from the same anime, which Vera particularly loved. Not to say I hated it, quite contrary.)
- Binks no Sake by Kohei Tanaka, from One Piece
Lately, I've been deep into One Piece, and the story of Brook has somehow touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect. "Binks no Sake," with its old pirate's charm and soulful melody, feels like the perfect reflection of that story. It's a song that carries both the weight of loss and the joy of adventure — a fitting way to close this list.
There are so many great anime themes out there, and these are by no means the best of them — just a few that have resonated with me personally over the years. I hope they bring back some memories for you too!