Along with same-day-debuts SixTONES, Snow Man have become a quick success in Japan. I’m always eager to join the party, but I’m still searching for the track that would cement this group in my mind. They’re great performers, known more for their dance than their vocals, and are charming on variety as well. But although … Continue reading
Tag Archives: jpop
Song Review: Nogizaka46 – Wilderness World
Groups within Japan’s Sakamichi series can be hard to keep up with, not because they come back so frequently, but because each release tends to be supported by multiple music videos. Take Nogizaka46’s new single as an example. It’s promoted with no less than four videos, resulting in more “title tracks” than most K-pop acts … Continue reading
Song Review: IMPACTors – Top Of The World
It’s a brave new world for fans of Johnny’s Entertainment. Once restricted solely to physical media, the agency has slowly dipped their feet into the digital market, making edited versions of music videos available on youtube and even supplying streaming platforms with the discography of the now-retired Arashi. The company recently announced that it would … Continue reading
Song Review: SixTONES – ST
SixTONES have been taking advantage of their popularity with a veritable marathon of releases. A single in November, a full album in January and another single coming up next month. Johnny’s Entertainment does this occasionally with its acts, and it’s always a nice way to build momentum. New single ST arrives on the heels of … Continue reading
Song Review: Baekhyun (EXO) – Get You Alone
Whether related to the pandemic or not, SM Entertainment’s reach into the Japanese market seemed to stall in 2020. I’ve always considered them one of the few K-pop agencies that really put an effort into their J-pop discography, with incredible catalogs from Girls’ Generation, TVXQ, SHINee and EXO. Last year’s release slate was relegated to … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of December 2020
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. December 2020 Overall Thoughts It always feels like a bit of a comedown posting one of … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2020: 10-1
I’ve compiled a “Best of J-pop” list every year since The Bias List started, but it always came from a very narrow point of view. In 2020, one of my personal resolutions was to follow the J-pop industry more broadly and (hopefully) expand my palette in the process. So while those past lists definitely included some epic … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2020: 30-11
I’ve compiled a “Best of J-pop” list every year since The Bias List started, but it always came from a very narrow point of view. In 2020, one of my personal resolutions was to follow the J-pop industry more broadly and (hopefully) expand my palette in the process. So while those past lists definitely included some epic … Continue reading
The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2020: 50-31
I’ve compiled a “Best of J-pop” list every year since The Bias List started, but it always came from a very narrow point of view. In 2020, one of my personal resolutions was to follow the J-pop industry more broadly and (hopefully) expand my palette in the process. So while those past lists definitely included … Continue reading
Song Review: King & Prince – I Promise
Billed primarily as a winter single, King & Prince’s I Promise is the kind of sentimental pop song you could listen to year-round. After a 2020 filled with diverse sounds, the track brings them right back to the sweet style found on their blockbuster 2018 debut Cinderella Girl. It’s nothing we haven’t heard before, but … Continue reading
Song Review: Yurina Hirate – Reason For Dance (Dance no Riyuu)
Nearly a year after withdrawing from girl group Keyakizaka46, former center Yurina Hirate surprised fans with a performance of her debut solo single on annual music broadcast FNS Kayosai. It was a show-stopping moment, befitting a song as bold and exciting as Reason For Dance (ダンスの理由). With her hard-hitting performance style and androgynous style, the … Continue reading
Song Review: Hey! Say! JUMP – Ookami Seinen (Wolf Youth)
The rollout for Hey! Say! JUMP’s new album has been kind of fun. A few months ago, they secretly uploaded a couple of music videos on youtube under mysterious pen names. Without revealing their faces, these “new” groups established a bit of buzz, though anyone remotely familiar with Jump’s vocals instantly knew it was them. … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of November 2020
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. November 2020 Overall Thoughts November was absolutely packed with releases, and though only one title track … Continue reading
Song Review: Sakurazaka46 – Nobody’s Fault
For reasons I’m still not entirely clear on, J-pop idol group Keyakizaka46 has renamed and rebranded itself as Sakurazaka46. Apart from some member changes earlier in the year, the reboot hasn’t really affected their general sound. Ahead of their first single release in early December, the girls are blitzing fans with multiple music videos. They’re … Continue reading
Song Review: Bullet Train (Choutokkyuu) – Asayake
With eighties synth sounds currently in vogue, Bullet Train feel like the perfect J-pop match for the sound. Given their exuberant – often goofy – dance style, they’re uniquely positioned to capitalize on the cheesier side of the era. And all it takes is one look at the delightful outfits in the music video for … Continue reading
Song Review: BuZZ – Sun and Love
Some melodies are so instant and insistent that you come away from the very first listen with the hook rattling around in your head. This is often referred to as an “earworm,” and Japanese group BuZZ’s Sun and Love is the mother of all earworms. These guys have been around for a few years, but … Continue reading
Song Review: Exile – Red Phoenix
It’s not always appropriate or fair to compare different artists to one another, but you’ll have to indulge me on this. For the past few months, you’ve suffered through me ranting about how I wish SM Entertainment would lean further into the ambition of the NCT project, giving them a big, bombastic showstopper rather than … Continue reading
Song Review: NiziU – Step and a Step
Shortly after their formative survival series concluded, JYP’s NiziU soared to the top of Japanese charts. They’ve been a fixture there for months, which only goes to show how powerful certain agencies are. I mean, the girls hadn’t even made their official debut until now! As with most survival series-spawned groups, it didn’t matter if … Continue reading
Song Review: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Rising Soul
LDH Japan has suddenly begun to blitz the internet with new music videos from its Exile Tribe acts, which is pretty exciting. Unfortunately, many of these have been in support of ballads that were digitally released months ago. But then we have Rising Soul – a new single by the agency’s popular Sandaime J Soul … Continue reading
Song Review: SixTONES – New Era
SixTONES have taken the J-pop world by storm this year, and much of that is due to their ability to subvert expectations. Yes, they still brandish the elaborate costuming that’s become a hallmark of Johnny’s Entertainment acts, but their music has pushed toward a more international direction. I’m of two minds about this. I love … Continue reading