Overview
SAVIOR OF SONG is a driving, post-hardcore-infused rock anthem that served as the opening theme for the 2013 anime series 蒼き鋼のアルペジオ -アルス・ノヴァ- (Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-). Performed by bilingual Japanese singer-songwriter ナノ (nano) alongside the band MY FIRST STORY, fronted by vocalist Hiro, younger brother of ONE OK ROCK's Taka, the track was composed by MY FIRST STORY, arranged by WEST GROUND, and written lyrically by nano herself. Originally released as a single in October 2013, it became one of nano's most widely recognized works and marked her major-label debut.
In maimai, SAVIOR OF SONG arrived with the ORANGE PLUS update on October 8, 2015, categorized under POPS & ANIME (POPS＆アニメ). The maimai version uses the TV-size edit, running roughly 1 minute and 26 seconds, noticeably shorter than the full-length cuts featured in sister SEGA titles CHUNITHM and オンゲキ. The Master chart, designed by はっぴー (Happy), is a level-13 (constant 13.0) course that leans heavily on slide notes, 109 out of 590 total, creating a restless, sweeping rhythm that mirrors the track's relentless 192 BPM energy. The Expert chart was designed by Jack with a constant of 9.6. As a pre-DX era chart, it uses none of the Touch notes introduced in later hardware revisions. Due to licensing restrictions, SAVIOR OF SONG was removed from all maimai arcade units on March 18, 2021, and was never made available in non-Japanese region releases.
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Trivia
- SAVIOR OF SONG is the opening theme of the 2013 anime series 蒼き鋼のアルペジオ -アルス・ノヴァ- (Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-), which is based on the manga by Ark Performance.
- The song was composed by MY FIRST STORY and arranged by WEST GROUND. Nano wrote the lyrics and performs lead vocals alongside MY FIRST STORY frontman Hiro.
- SAVIOR OF SONG was nano's major-label debut single, released on October 13, 2013 under the Flying Dog label.
- The maimai version uses a TV-size edit of approximately 1:26, whereas CHUNITHM and オンゲキ use a longer full-version cut running 2:28.
- Due to licensing issues, SAVIOR OF SONG was never available in non-Japanese versions of maimai. A translated artist credit reading 'nano feat.MY FIRST STORY' existed in the game data but was never displayed on actual international cabinets.
- The song was removed from maimai on March 18, 2021. It was also removed from オンゲキ R.E.D. PLUS on July 8, 2021, but remains playable in CHUNITHM as of the current version.
- In its original maimai ORANGE PLUS appearance, SAVIOR OF SONG was categorized under the ANIME genre. It was reclassified to POPS & ANIME starting from maimai PiNK and has remained under that genre in subsequent DX releases.
- The Master chart (designed by はっぴー) features 109 slide notes out of 590 total, an unusually high slide density for a level-13 Standard chart, demanding both stamina and precise pattern reading.
- The Master chart's difficulty constant was adjusted across versions: 12.0 in ORANGE PLUS, 12.4 in DX, 12+ (roughly 12.7) in DX PLUS, and finally 13.0 from DX Splash onward.
- In CHUNITHM, SAVIOR OF SONG was unlockable as part of the 蒼き鋼のアルペジオ -アルス・ノヴァ- event MAP from October 8 to November 10, 2015, after which it became available by default.
FAQ
- Who composed SAVIOR OF SONG?
- SAVIOR OF SONG was composed by the band MY FIRST STORY, with arrangement by WEST GROUND. The lyrics were written by the vocalist nano, who performs alongside MY FIRST STORY frontman Hiro.
- What anime is SAVIOR OF SONG from?
- SAVIOR OF SONG is the opening theme of the 2013 anime series 蒼き鋼のアルペジオ -アルス・ノヴァ- (Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-), an adaptation of the manga by Ark Performance.
- When was SAVIOR OF SONG added to maimai and when was it removed?
- SAVIOR OF SONG was added to maimai on October 8, 2015 as part of the ORANGE PLUS update. It was removed from all maimai units on March 18, 2021 due to licensing restrictions, and was never available in non-Japanese region versions.
- Who designed the maimai charts for SAVIOR OF SONG?
- The Master chart (level 13) was designed by はっぴー (Happy), while the Expert chart (level 9+, constant 9.6) was designed by Jack.
- What is the BPM and difficulty of SAVIOR OF SONG in maimai?
- SAVIOR OF SONG has a BPM of 192. The Master chart is level 13 with a difficulty constant of 13.0 and 590 total notes, including 109 slide notes. The Expert chart is level 9+ with a constant of 9.6 and 339 notes.
- Does SAVIOR OF SONG appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes, SAVIOR OF SONG also appears in SEGA's rhythm games CHUNITHM and オンゲキ. It was removed from オンゲキ on July 8, 2021 (R.E.D. PLUS version), but remains available in CHUNITHM as of the current version.
- What is the composition and arrangement behind SAVIOR OF SONG?
- The song was composed by MY FIRST STORY, arranged by WEST GROUND, with lyrics written by nano. It blends post-hardcore instrumentation with an anthemic, melodic vocal delivery characteristic of both nano's and MY FIRST STORY's styles.
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