Ever heard a song while watching an anime episode and been like “hey, I know that song”? We have too. We’re all aware of (or at least should be) Duvet by Bôa being featured in Serial Experiments Lain and the legendary drum fills and bass lines associated with Cowboy Bebop’s intro (Tank! by Seatbelts), but we thought we’d introduce a few more niche picks from some of our favorite shows at Cooledtured. From Radiohead to Duran Duran, it’s no surprise that some of our favorite animes have been host to some of our favorite music picks as well.

Ergo Proxy (2005): Paranoid Android by Radiohead

A Japanese sci-fi rendition of events that focus on Earth post-ecological apocalyptic disaster in the second half of the 21st century, humanity is reduced to just under 20% of its prior population size and is pitted against Cogito virus-infected newly conscious androids, whom they cohabitate cities with. The “Proxy” in question is a humanoid (read: robotic) species who is deployed in response to a series of murders that the androids are suspected to be tied to. 

It’s reported that Radiohead initially declined when asked for permission from the Ergo Proxy studio to use their work, though they changed their mind after they reviewed the script. We’re pretty glad they did because in our opinion, Paranoid Android is very reflective of the anime in more ways than one. Both media are bleak, gritty, and artistically very in-tune with each other - we wouldn’t want it any other way. 

What's that? (I may be paranoid, but no android)

FLCL (2005): Soundtrack by The Pillows

FLCL is a hugely musically-inspired anime - from the names of the installments being christened after music genres such as Alternative, Grunge, Shoegaze, etc., we can be at least partially aware of at least a few of the bands that inspired the writers. After the main character Naota is run over (yes) by Haruko, he’s then hit in the head (yes) by Haruko. Her weapon of choice? A Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar. Somehow this causes a portal to be opened by which giant robots can materialize from. It gets weirder but we’ll skip that for now because you should honestly just watch the series.

Anyways, Japanese band The Pillows wrote and performed the entire 6-part soundtrack for the show - five insert songs and one closing theme - including two entirely new songs, "Ride on Shooting Star" and "I Think I Can”. The popularity of FLCL in the Western hemisphere allowed The Pillows, a band we can confidently say was pretty much unknown by then, to go on tour in the United States. Pretty cool.

“I found out about your irreplaceable dream - now I can't fool anyone anymore. Sleeping or waking, I'm repeating 'I can'.”

Speed Grapher (2005): Girls on Film by Duran Duran

Former war photographer Tatsumi Saiga performs an investigation on the underground taboo club known as the Roppongi Club when the mysterious captive mistreated goddess Kagura spares him, while also giving him the ability to destroy anything he photographs. In an attempt to gain favors from Kagura, club members often vy for her attention and attempt to become as “worthy” as possible to also gain powers from her. However, when Saiga attempts to free Kagura from captivity, members who were granted powers by Kagura are deadset on stopping this from occurring by any means possible.

Again, similarly to how Ergo Proxy employs the Radiohead song Paranoid Android in its credits, we like how Speed Grapher chose a song that is lyrically quite related to the context of the show. The Genius annotation states that the Duran Duran song’s lyrics are meant to portray the exploitation of models in fashion and adult industries, which is a good fit for the character Kagura.

“There's a camera rolling on her back, and I sense a rhythm humming in a frenzy - all the way down her spine”

Conclusion

In conclusion, anime has long been a powerful medium not just for storytelling and visual innovation, but also for its bold and evocative use of music. From globally recognized hits to hidden gems, the synergy between sound and scene in Japanese animation often elevates a show from memorable to iconic. 

Whether it’s Radiohead’s haunting introspection in Ergo Proxy, The Pillows’ chaotic energy in FLCL, or Duran Duran’s provocative glamour in Speed Grapher, these musical moments do more than just complement their respective series—they become an inseparable part of their identity. So next time you watch an anime, listen closely. You might just discover your new favorite song wrapped in a scene you’ll never forget.