LiSA: 10 essential tracks to get into anime music
LiSA isn't just another anime music artist — she's the voice of a whole generation of anime fans. Over 15 years of her career she's recorded openings and endings for Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, Demon Slayer, and dozens of other titles — and never once sounded the same twice. If you're just starting to explore her discography, these 10 tracks give you a full picture of LiSA's range.
What makes LiSA a category of her own
There are plenty of strong artists in anime music, but LiSA stands apart for a few reasons:
- Vocal range: from delicate ballads to throat-tearing rock anthems, all without losing her signature tone
- Hit-rate consistency: Crossing Field, Gurenge, Homura — each tied to a turning point in the history of an entire anime
- Cross-genre appeal: loved by J-pop fans, visual-kei kids, and anime rock listeners alike
Her discography is both deeply personal art and a soundtrack to the last decade and a half of anime as a whole.
The entry point: three must-listen tracks
1. «Crossing Field» — Sword Art Online OP 1 (2012)
If you've heard one LiSA track, it's most likely this one. Crossing Field opened the first season of SAO and instantly became her calling card. Everything fans love is here: an energetic verse, an explosive chorus, and vocals that feel both powerful and personal.
2. «Gurenge» — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba OP 1 (2019)
The biggest hit of her career by every metric. Gurenge was the first anime opening to reach platinum status in Japan and made Demon Slayer instantly recognizable before its first season even ended. It works as a standalone rock song — no anime context required.
3. «Oath Sign» — Fate/Zero OP 1 (2011)
Technically the start of LiSA's solo career in the anime space. Oath Sign is a powerful rock opening with symphonic elements that set the tone for everything that came after. It's hard to imagine Fate/Zero without it.
Ballads: the other side of LiSA
4. «Shirushi» — Sword Art Online II ED 3 (2014)
The third ending of SAO II shows LiSA in a completely different mode. Shirushi is slow, vulnerable, and deeply honest. For listeners who only know her rock side, this one feels like a revelation.
5. «Homura» — Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020)
The theme song for the «Demon Slayer: Mugen Train» film. Homura is a ballad with a swelling orchestral arrangement that turns into a full anthem by the finale. After the movie's release, the track topped every chart that mattered — and rightly so.
6. «Unlasting» — Sword Art Online: Alicization — War of Underworld ED 1 (2019)
One of the most underrated tracks in LiSA's discography. Unlasting is a ballad of loss that gradually unfolds into something bigger. As the ending to the Alicization sequel, it works as a perfect counterweight to the raging OP «ADAMAS» and showcases the full emotional range of the artist.
Rock mode at full volume
7. «ADAMAS» — Sword Art Online: Alicization OP 1 (2018)
If Crossing Field is an invitation, ADAMAS is a full manifesto. Heavy guitar riff, metallic flourishes, LiSA pushing her vocals to the edge. One of the best SAO openings and one of the strongest rock tracks in her career.
8. «Rising Hope» — Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei OP (2014)
Rising Hope is often cited as a pivot moment in LiSA's career — the point where she started working confidently with heavier arrangements. Hard-hitting, charged, and with a chorus that locks in immediately.
9. «Akeboshi» — Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc TV OP (2021)
The opening for the TV adaptation of the Mugen Train Arc often gets overshadowed by Gurenge, but unfairly. Akeboshi is a different approach: tighter in sound, with a cleaner structure and excellent visuals. A great example of how LiSA doesn't repeat herself within the same franchise.
Where to look next
10. «ReawakeR» feat. Felix of Stray Kids — Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadow OP 1 (2025)
The newest track on the list and one of the most unexpected. LiSA teams up with Felix of Stray Kids for the opening of Solo Leveling's second season — and it works far better than you'd expect. ReawakeR proves that in the 2020s LiSA isn't standing still and is comfortably experimenting with collabs and new directions.
A roadmap through the discography
If you're just getting into LiSA, the optimal path looks like this:
- First listen: Gurenge — the most accessible entry track
- Rock direction: Crossing Field → ADAMAS → Rising Hope → Akeboshi
- Ballads: Shirushi → Unlasting → Homura
- Recent and experimental: ReawakeR
Each of these tracks is its own story, but together they explain why LiSA has been one of the defining voices of anime music for 15 years and counting.
Test yourself on AniQuiz
Can you name all 10 from the first few notes? Time to put it to the test — play the quiz on AniQuiz. An anime music quiz game: LiSA tracks and beyond, from openings to endings. Find out how well you really know anime music.