Featured Idol Friday: BILLIE IDLE®

NOT IDOL, NOT KAWAII. BILLIE IDLE® is an anti-idol group half made up of ex-BiS members First Summer Uika and Hirano Nozomi (plus Momose Momo, who was never in BiS but was ALMOST in BiS). Contrary to other anti-idol groups, they're actually a much more upbeat and cheery kind of group. They refuse to call themselves idols though, and take heavy influence from punk rock music and culture. The group was formed immediately after BiS disbanded, by former BiS manager (and current BiSH manager) Junnosuke Watanabe. Teriyaki Boyz member/fashion designer NIGO is also involved in their management and public appearance.

BILLIE IDLE® debuted in 2015 with the A M A Z I N G single "anarchy in the music scene". This is one of my favorite idol (or not idol?) songs of all time, hands-down. Shortly after they released their debut album "IDLE GOSSIP". "IDLE GOSSIP" featured not only "anarchy", but some other incredible songs like "be my boy", "moments", and "po pe pa". Their sound falls somewhere between cute idol pop and Polysics-flavored electro-dance punk. Their live shows are full of energy and even stage diving, which is normally banned by idol group management. First Summer Uika in particular was known for stage diving during her time in BiS.

BILLIE IDLE® - anarchy in the music scene MV

Later in 2015 BILLIE IDLE® released their SECOND album, "ROCK"N"ROLL IDLE". Just as good as the first, this album brought us "Darling ni wa Naranai", "Kanata ni...", and "be-bop tu-tu". With BILLIE IDLE® now solidified as one of the best working groups in J-pop, it's only a matter of time before they take over the entire world. The group's image is highly centered on fashion, including some awesome outfits you can only buy in NIGO's "STORE BY NIGO" in Harajuku. They don't actually play live that often, it seems, so each show really is a big event. They once played in a wrestling ring, which was just as amazing as it sounds.

BILLIE IDLE® is set to release "4-in-1: The Official Bootleg" in April; it's an EP where each of the 4 songs will be written and sung by one member of the group. After that, who knows? Another album would be welcome about now, if you ask me. Something about this group just makes them impossible to ignore. Their musical styles are as varied and unique as their personalities, and the songwriting and performance of those songs is just incredible. These really are four of the most talented singers in J-pop today, as far as I'm concerned.

BILLIE IDLE® - be-bop tu-tu MV

Between 2015 and 2016, BILLIE IDLE® headlined an ex-BiS tour; the "BRAND-NEW IDLE SOCIETY: IDLE IS DEAD" tour would featured BILLIE IDLE® themselves, former BiS leader Pour Lui's new band LUI FRONTiC AKABANE JAPAN, Saki Kamiya's group POP (Period of Plastic 2 Mercy, formerly Pla2me), and Maison book girl (featuring Megumi Koshouji from BiS). Ex-BiS-member-turned-DJ Tentenko also appeared at the finale of the tour. This was one of the best tour lineups of all time, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. I only wish I could have seen them. I hope BILLIE IDLE® continues to put together amazing events like that, and an international tour would not be unwelcomed.

If you're a new listener to BILLIE IDLE®, I highly recommend you start with "anarchy in the music scene". After that, all of "IDLE GOSSIP". It has all those great songs I listed above, plus "Konin Todoke wa Tomaranai", plus "idle fellas" (also the name of their official fan club). You can't go wrong with any of the songs on that album, it's perfect front-to-back. After that, listen to "ROCK"N"ROLL IDLE". And after that, well, cry because there's nothing else to hear. Yet. But just wait until April. I'm gonna write about that EP so hard. It's not even an album, but it's gonna be one of my favorite albums of the year. Guaranteed.

-Justin

BILLIE IDLE® IS:
First Summer Uika
Hirano Nozomi
Momose Momo
Yasui Yuuhi

For More Information:
Website: http://www.billieidle.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/b_idle_official
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG1VeRu87NHxaNuEt_a3jzw

BILLIE IDLE® - be my boy MV