Feel So Bad -- Baribari Saikyo No. 1（バリバリ最強No.1）

 

I never read the original manga or saw the anime for the comedy-horror "Jigoku Sensei Nūbē"（地獄先生ぬ〜べ〜...Hell Teacher Nube） although I recall catching a scene from the live-action version one night via TV Japan several years ago. From what I further remember, it was about a young teacher who was also an exorcist with a demon-powered hand. I can gather that discipline was probably not a problem in his classes.

The anime had its run between 1996 and 1997 on NTV, and this is where commenter Fireminer and I come in since he was wondering about the opening theme song for this version of "Jigoku Sensei Nūbē". "Baribari Saikyo No. 1" (Furiously The Strongest No. 1) is a grand metal march taking on those monsters created and performed by the rock band Feel So Bad. If it sounds somewhat familiar, that would be due to the fact that when vocalist Daria Kawashima（川島だりあ）and guitarist Fuyuki Kurata（倉田冬樹）had composed the song, they decided to base it on Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9", a classical composition that also happens to be one of the favourites to be played over the Holidays in Japan.

Now, if the name Daria Kawashima rings a bell as well, congratulations, you know your songwriters. Kawashima just happens to be the one who created the tango-esque opening theme, "Moonlight Densetsu" (ムーンライト伝説）, for "Sailor Moon". But for "Baribari Saikyo No. 1", I also get to hear how she sounds as well. This opening theme for "Jigoku Sensei Nūbē" was released as Feel So Bad's 7th single in May 1996, and it became the band's most successful hit as it reached No. 35 on the Oricon weeklies.

Feel So Bad was first formed in 1993 with just Kawashima and Kurata but then beginning from the following year, drummer Masato Yamaguchi（山口昌人）, bassist Masato Ohashi（大橋雅人）, guitarist Chris and 6-string bassist Shoui（翔己）joined the band. They've been quite prolific in their output with 12 singles being released up to 2001 and 24 albums up to 2017. Tragically, though, co-founder Kurata passed away in 2019 from lung cancer.