Ah, the power of love… it’s a wonderful feeling that can carry you through the day, especially when it’s rough. Sometimes, love can all you to do additional things or learn more about someone. Intimate connections aside, love can be many things.
We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day by talking about the waifu (or husbando). Loaned from the English language in the 1980s, it was an alternative Japanese term to more intimately describe your person of interest or significant other. During the 2000s, both terms were re-appropriated into slang to mean a fictional character from non-live visual media (video games, anime, or manga) that one considers their ideal significant other. It was first mentioned in the anime “Azumanga Daioh”.
This week, we’re playing tracks from video games with waifu potential: a region in Tamriel, high school life in and out of the Metaverse, and a world that follows its own laws of physics. And yes, we’ve got some covers and remixes to follow each track.
Have a listen to these tracks as you think lovingly about your waifu or husbando…
Glossary of anime and manga – Fandom
Fictional Characters Dictionary – Waifu
Intro and BMG: “Power of Love” – by Huey Lewis and the News
“The Streets of Whiterun” – [The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim] – composed by Jeremy Soule
“TES V: Skyrim – The Streets of Whiterun – Cover by Dryante (Jeremy Soule)” – covered by Dryante Zan
“Encounter/Meeting” – [Persona 5] – composed by Toshiki Konishi
“Persona 5 – Encounter (Remix)” – remixed by Harminder
“Marching of Xiezhi” – [Genshin Impact] – composed by Dimeng Yuan, performed by the International Philharmonic Orchestra
“Yanfei Theme Music – Legal Expertise (tnbee mix) | Genshin Impact” – remixed by tnbee
Outro: “Wind’s Nocturne (Luna’s Boat Song)” – [Lunar Silver Star Story Complete] – composed by Noriyuki Iwadare, vocals by Jennifer (Sigile) Magallanes
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