It’s been a tricky few years for us Kisumai fans, as new music trickles out in frustrating fits and starts. We became too spoiled with a full album and multiple singles each year, but the agency’s support of their music seems to have lessened as newer groups emerge. I suppose this is natural for any group past their tenth anniversary, but it still stings. We just want a new album, Johnny’s!
Until that day, new single Sweet Melody is here to tide us over. The song’s video features pre-debut junior group HiHi Jets, known for carrying on Kisumai’s pop-act-on-roller-skates schtick (just as Kisumai inherited the tradition from Hikaru Genji). The song is bright and upbeat – two elements I’ve been craving from their music for a while.
My prime era for Kisumai’s output stretches from 2016 to 2018 – a period where they released some of my favorite J-pop ever. Compared to those triumphs, Sweet Melody feels vanilla and a bit toothless. But, its bounding chorus and groovy, strings-assisted instrumental deliver plenty of good vibes. It’s an unfussy, unbothered pop track performed with earnest panache. I like it more with each listen, which is a promising sign for its future prospects.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I thought I saw some news the other day about Kitayama leaving the group or leaving Johnny’s – is that actually confirmed? Anyway, it’s great to see them all here in this video for now anyway. The song is so groovy and sweet, and I really like it! I’ve been slowly looking into more Kisumai recently and I have to say it took me a while to understand the 3-4 formation they have – I used to wonder very much why some of the members just wouldn’t show up at all, but I do get the impression that things evened out more over the years? And in a song like this, it’s nice that they’re all highlighted.
It was also nice to see HiHi Jets! I quite like them from the Junior channel, and I was under the impression that they would be the group next in line to debut (now that Traja has debuted – I’m also looking forward to their upcoming release, because I really did not like Just Dance at all) though I thought that might be another double debut with Bishounen because the two groups always seem to be paired together quite often. I didn’t realise this long connection between the roller-skating Johnny’s groups, so that was cool to know!
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Still a rumor, but I’m definitely worried! This is one of those groups I imagined sticking together forever, maybe because they made it ten years without losing a member (which is pretty rare for Johnny’s!). Hopefully the rumor turns out to be false.
I feel like they’ll do another double debut with HiHi and Bishounen, but I’d be a little surprised if it happened this year. Maybe next.
I’ve been wanting a HiHi Jets debut for years, so this would be quite exciting!
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Ah, so it’s just a rumor for now! As a very new fan of these Johnny’s groups, it surprises me to see how long-lasting some of these acts are. Them making it so far is definitely impressive and I do hope they can continue!
I don’t have any exposure to their original songs – I’m sure they have some? – so no idea what HiHi Jets’ music would sound like (Bishounen I feel seem like they could take over the early-King & Prince sweet niche?) so that would definitely be exciting to see, whenever it happens.
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I’m partial to these two. The first one is such dumb, catchy fun:
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what could all of us sacrifice just for one album by kisumai 😔
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oh btw snuper disbanded today
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Very sad, even if it was predictable and they’ve pretty much been inactive for years.
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there’ll be a memorial for them on this blog inshallah
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Hey Nick. Have you listened to Ikon’s new song U. Are you going to review it.
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I think not just support for their music, but also support for their group activities in general, which is a pattern for Johnny’s….they recently ended their stint as the host of Shounen Club Premium too…
at least they’re still pushing the individual members, but it’s definitely sad to see less and less group stuff.
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