It’s been interesting to watch Korea’s changing approach to the Japanese market. There was a time when the biggest K-pop idols boasted equally huge J-pop careers. Acts like Girls’ Generation, SHINee and Kara released a ton of original Japanese music, often embracing local tastes rather than copying the exact sounds that made them popular in … Continue reading
I’m sure many Bias List readers are like, “Johnny what?!?”, but I’ve decided to branch out this year and offer my thoughts on one of J-pop’s biggest agencies. I mostly want to do this because I think they’ve had a great year worth writing about. As usual, the thoughts are my own and aren’t privy … Continue reading
The emergence of a new Johnny’s group will always be exciting. It was exciting in January 2020, when Snow Man and SixTONES made a dual debut, and it’s been even more exciting watching these groups go on to dominate the idol industry and usher in a new era for Johnny’s. When Naniwa Danshi’s debut was … Continue reading
I enthusiastically watched the entire NiziU project last year, happy to see many of my favorite personalities and talents make the final group. However, none of their post-show music has appealed to me. They’re one of those J-pop groups who pull a lot from K-pop tropes (JO1 and INI being other prominent examples), and this … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. October 2021 Overall Thoughts When I averaged all my song ratings of October, I was surprised … Continue reading
Boy group INI (pronounced “eye en eye”) was formed through the second season of Produce 101 Japan. After watching the series, I’ve found myself rooting for the guys. The group has so much potential in nearly every aspect. They just need the material to match. Unfortunately, the songs for Produce groups tend to be hit … Continue reading
King & Prince have had a very strong 2021. Beating Hearts was an instant hit for me, while Magic Touch and Namae Oshiete proved to be huge growers. But with On The Moonlit Night, When You Fall In Love (how’s that for a mouthful?), they’ve delivered their best single of the year. Fans of their … Continue reading
Stray Kids aren’t offering any respite for fans. Their newest album bore music video after music video, blurring the line between title track and b-side. Now, we have a new Japanese single. I’m sure hardcore followers are pleased by this rapid-fire blitz, but the sheer bulk of releases threatens of overwhelm us bloggers! Either way, … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. September 2021 Overall Thoughts September is usually a hit of miss month. Releases tend to be … Continue reading
It’s been over five years since I last wrote about a single from Japanese trio (now duo) w-inds. They’re an act I check in with from time to time, because at their best they produce fantastic pop material. The guys got their start as pre-teens, debuting all the way back in 2001 with the kind … Continue reading
I love the idea of Japan’s sprawling, dozens-of-members-strong girl groups, but these large configurations make it difficult to find an entry point in the same way I can with smaller groups. Because of this, I often fall behind on releases by the various 46/48 artists. Then every once and awhile, a song like Sakurazaka46’s Dead … Continue reading
I feel like I’m always writing about Kis-My-Ft2 being my favorite J-pop group, yet rarely provided suitable evidence. The group’s b-side game is strong, and that’s one of the reasons their 250+ song discography has so much to offer. This got me thinking about all my very favorite J-pop tracks, many of which never get … Continue reading
I was surprised how invested I became with the second season of Japan’s Produce 101. I decided to watch it on a whim, and found myself rooting for the contestants in a way I hadn’t since Korea’s second go-around back in 2017. I’m delighted with the final line-up, particularly since it includes a few killer … Continue reading
I wish I would’ve been more diligent about writing reviews for Kis-My-Ft2’s 2016-19 material, because most of my words since then have been critical and don’t capture my love for the group. After that incredible era, I feel like their music has been in a bit of a slump through no fault of their own. … Continue reading
With shake-ups at the agency and an influx of new debuts, Johnny’s Entertainment seems to be in an era of flux. Some changes have been very welcome (SNS accounts! MVs on YouTube!), making it feel like the agency is finally reaching out to global fans. But, we’ve been down this road with K-pop. Outreach threatens … Continue reading
LOONA’s Japanese debut Hula Hoop has no music video, and there doesn’t seem to be one forthcoming. This usually means I skip writing about the song unless I’m ridiculously enthused or enraged. But, enough of you asked for a review and today’s a slow K-pop day. So, here we are! Like so many recent idol … Continue reading
Over twenty years since his debut, Miyavi is releasing some of the strongest albums of his career. He’s found a great juncture that encompasses solo work, collaborations, Japanese and English lyrics, original songs and covers. His new album Imaginary wraps these facets in his incredible guitar work and knack for a killer melody. K-pop fans … Continue reading
After making their long-awaited return earlier this summer, 2PM are releasing new music in Japan. They’ve always had a huge J-pop career – so big that it eclipsed their Korean output in recent years. We’ll see how commercially impactful With Me Again (僕とまた) ends up being, but when it comes to sheer quality, it definitely … Continue reading
A K-pop group’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. In the midst of their ONEUS … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. August 2021 Overall Thoughts When it comes to new music, I often mention the “expectations game.” … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 