What is your favorite Ai Oboete Imasu Ka cover?
Let's get one thing out of the way. Mari Iijima owns this song. Completely owns it. I've heard the studio version countless times, as well as the various live recordings, and even attended an Iijima concert where she performed it. No one comes close.
So fan boy moment out of the way, what's your favorite cover of this iconic song? I've been listening to a lot of covers recently, some old favorites, and some new ones. And here are my thoughts.
Official covers
Honorable mentions:
Walkure 2nd Live version. Very emotional rendition of an already very emotional song. Walkure performed thinking that this was their last performance together. Junna in particular was so young at the time. Only 17.
Macross the Tribute version by Yoko Ueno. Great acapella arrangement makes for a unique version.
Winner:
Macross Frontier Live Budokan version. I like the arrangement better than the original Frontier cover, and May'n does an amazing job backing up Megumi Nakajima without overpowering her. Also, Yoko Kanno is right there conducting!
Fan covers
Honorable mentions:
Metal cover by Angelo Bissanti & Yuri. It's metal and it's Macross, two of my favorite things! It certainly made me wonder what a similar version by Yohsiki Fukuyama and May'n would sound like!
Jazz cover by Platina Jazz. These guys do amazing Jazz covers and this one wasn't any different.
Winner:
Caitlyn Meyers English cover. Caitlyn has made a name for herself covering 80's City Pop songs, so she was perfect for this.
I'm sure there are tons of great covers I had never heard of, so please share your favorites!