We update with 10 new J-Pop songs once each month, on the day first day of each month.
毎月1日に、新たに10曲紹介します。
RSS feed for our song reviews can be found at: https://jtop10.mymti.org/category/j-pop-song-reviews/feed
1. Perfume — ナナナナナイロ
Ethel’s thoughts: Perfume returns to the Japanese music charts with their first release of 2019「ナナナナナイロ」. A charming, catchy, high energy summer tune that easily makes its home alongside the trio’s other popular songs. Listener’s will be a little surprised two-thirds into the song (like I was) as music producer Yasutaka Nakata sneakily weaved in some heavy dubstep techno beats which briefly changed the songs into a late 2000s club banger. The single was featured heavily in a commercial series featuring Perfume as they travelled to Taiwan endorsing a range of moisturizing face masks, Hadabisei. (8/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/nananananairo-single/1470032548
2. [Alexandros] — 月色ホライズン
Ethel’s thoughts:「月色ホライズン」is the band’s latest single released last month in July during their SLEEPLESS Tour in Asia to support their latest album SLEEPLESS IN BROOKLYN. The band performed in cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Jakarta, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Bangkok. The lyrics for the song depicts a sort of a begrudging acceptance that adulthood isn’t as bad as one would think. The arrangement and styling of the song reminds many fans of [Alexandros] previous hit songs like ワタリドリ, starrrrrrr and Run Away. (6/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/tsukiiro-horizon-single/1470585075
3. DAOKO x MIYAVI — 千客万来
Ethel’s thoughts: Definitely the most unusual musical collaboration of the year goes to DAOKO and Miyavi. 「千客万来 」seems to perfectly capture each musicians core music genre and seamlessly blends their best assets – DAOKO for her sharp but sweet vocal-rap skills and Miyavi for his electrifying guitar work. The music video is a riotous celebration of chaos between flashing neon signs, colour, dance choreography, and stylish food settings. The song is featured in the Japanese movie, Diner, which stars actors Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kanata Hongo. The movie directed by Mika Ninagawa, famed for directing AKB48’s music video, ‘Heavy Rotation’. (9/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/%E5%8D%83%E5%AE%A2%E4%B8%87%E6%9D%A5/1469155942?i=1469156256
4. ゆず — GreenGreen
Ethel’s thoughts:「GreenGreen 」 marks the duo’s overall 60th single release and 16th digitally released single which charted at #2 on Oricon’s Digital Single Charts. According to Yujin Kitagawa, the lyrics symbolised bidding farewell to an important person which were similar to their other songs like 「サヨナラバス」 and 「桜木町」. A light-hearted, easy listening pop duet filled with familiar Yuzu acoustic guitar work. 「GreenGreen 」 was used as a tie-in song for the commercial featuring Ito En’s new drink “O~ Ocha” or O~ Green Tea. (6/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/greengreen-single/1470571251
5. BiSH — More Than Like
Ethel’s thoughts: A typical high energy idol pop song perfect for the summer. The stylish music video features each member dressed according to their unique personalities while having fun in different settings. The lead single of their third studio album 「CARROTS and STiCKS」and is used as the opening theme song for the final season of the popular anime series FAIRY TAIL. (6/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/more-than-like/1465713955?i=1465714080
6. AI — Summer Magic
Ethel’s thoughts: This is AI’s first digital release to celebrate her 20th anniversary since debuting in 1999. A carefree, island pop song that evokes dreams of summery vacations and loving life. I have a particular fondness for the catchy rhythm that is the backbone of entire track. The music video for Summer Magic is complete with stunning drone shots of the sea, sky, forests and lighthouse peak where AI is seen just enjoying a solo moment by herself. Be sure to check out her official Instagram (@officialai) as AI and her dance crew have created a super fun piece of choreography for her #SummerMagicChallenge to support the release of her latest single. (9/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/summer-magic-single/1462867212
7. 手塚 翔太 — 会いたいよ
Ethel’s thoughts:「会いたいよ」is the main theme song for the NTV Japanese mystery drama series 「あなたの番です」or It’s Your Turn. The melancholic ballad is sung by actor Kei Tanaka who plays the part of Shouta Tezuka, the husband to Nana Tezuka played by actress Tomoyo Harada. The lyrics of the song speaks about missing someone who is no longer part of your life. This is Kei Tanaka’s first ever single release as a singer. (7/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/%E4%BC%9A%E3%81%84%E3%81%9F%E3%81%84%E3%82%88-single/1470899298
8. BUMP OF CHICKEN — 月虹
Ethel’s thoughts:「月虹」was featured as the first opening theme song in the anime series 「からくりサーカス」or Karakuri Circus. The song is featured in their ninth studio album, aurora arc, which comes three years after Butterflies was released in 2016. The lyrics to the electrifying pop-rock song is about the constant motivation to be a better version of yourself. (6/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/aurora-arc/1471600590
9. 菅田将暉 — キスだけで feat. あいみょん
Ethel’s thoughts:「キスだけで 」is a beautiful, tender song written and composed by Aimyon and sung by both herself and Masaki Suda. In the song, two singers swich roles singing from different perspectives about approaching love and sex that has to follow a woman’s period cycle. Suda sings from a woman’s point of view as she voices out her insecurities of being loved or not while on her period as her partner may not want to sleep with her. Meanwhile, Aimyon sings from a man’s perspective of wanting to love but not her while his partner is on her period. It’s a beautifully written song about an incredibly taboo subject which I completely appreciate ad I’m super impressed by the word play Aimyon has used throughout the song to subtly touch on those points that any woman and man may face while in a romantic relationship. 「キスだけで 」is feature in Suda Masaki’s recently released second studio album, LOVE. (10/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/love/1468228241
10. 女王蜂 — Introduction
Ethel’s thoughts: Introduction is the theme song for the live-action movie of the popular manga and anime series, Tokyo Ghouls. The music video for the single is very interesting featuring the members of the band, performing in two juxtaposing sets – a bright floral banquet scene and a dark candlelit cathedral scene. I’m pretty interested in their lead singer Avu-chan who seem to be a very sassy character with even sassier lyric work about enjoying the pleasures of life that have been earned from hard work. Their fashion is certainly quite unusual but they really stick to their guns and being very comfortable in their own skin. Introduction appears in their latest studio album titled Ten which is the kanji character (not a cross!) “engraved” across their foreheads in the music video. (8/10)
Download from iTunes: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/%E5%8D%81/1460117965