|
As fair warning, I wanted to begin by saying that I have a huge bias for Hello! Project music. It’s the bulk of what I listen to, because they tend to cater to my tastes to the tee. That being said, there are a handful of picks which aren’t from Hello! Project, so they are definitely something special. Also, I really can’t order these in order of rank, because too many of them would end up as a tie. Instead, I’ve arranged them in order of artist (alphabetical order). Within each artist’s list though, those songs are ordered by rank (this only applies for artists I chose multiple songs from). Trust me, I tried for a long time to rank all the songs but I simply could not. It’s better this way. Think of it this way: if it made it on this list, it’s amazing and deserves to be checked out. I hope you enjoy my list, and if you aren’t familiar with any of these songs, I hope you discover something new and exciting. 1. Otome no Gyakushuu – ANGERME From the moment I heard this song in the beginning of the year, I knew it was going to be hard to top. I remember saying that it would likely be my song of the year. If not for the emotional impact of Berryz Kobo’s final song, this would definitely be my song of the year, without a doubt. It has a very dark tone, a very catchy beat, great use of vocal talent and a very well-directed music video. To top it off, it has a meaning that’s a little deeper than the average idol song. That’s not to say it’s a deep and complex song, but it is reasonably so within the genre. This song is what made me a believer in S/mileage’s reboot as ANGERME. They have since kept their high level of quality and have been on fire the whole time, as can be gathered from the number of songs on my list by them. 2. Desugita Kui wa Utarenai – ANGERMEThis one’s a doozy. Composed by Yuki Uozumi of LoVendoЯ, it has a very heavy rock feeling while still being grounded in the idol world. I’m especially fond of Yuki’s skills and I love her style when it comes to her compositions. The fact that she was able to contribute to the hottest Hello! Project group of 2015 in one of their best songs is awesome. The song has a very beautiful flow to it and makes use of some really strong vocal talent from the group to help push the song forward. 3. Taiki Bansei – ANGERME I’m not going to lie. Anything Takui Nakajima touches is usually pure gold. He’s made some really top-notch contributions for Hello! Project, this one arguably being his best. Interestingly, this was going to be an original song in his own album but he agreed to give this version to ANGERME instead, thus making his version a cover. Odd how that works out, but as far as I’m concerned both versions are his creations so neither is a cover. This song was ANGERME’s first foray into that rock-idol fusion and was a darn good start. This fusion has also been ANGERME’s prevailing theme in their singles since they started. 4. Nana Korobi Ya Oki – ANGERMEAny song where Meimi Tamura is at the forefront of the chorus is a good song in my books. Being one of the strongest singers in not only ANGERME, but also Hello! Project, she brings a very phenomenal talent to the table. This particular song is propelled by her talent, and is undeniably the main pull of this song for me. That’s not to say that the rest of the crew does not shine, because they most definitely do. 5. Mahou Tsukai Sally – ANGERME Alright, this one is a little silly of me. This is far from being intense or complex. In fact, it’s probably one of the most simple. It has a repetitive chorus, and a repetitive sound as a whole. That being said, this song is freaking catchy as heck. Most importantly, it is extremely fun! From the cute little witch outfits to the really adorable approach to the singing style, this song tickles me in all the right ways. This is actually a variation on the theme song for the anime of the same name. Over the many years and many iterations of this anime there have been an equal number of variations on this song. Another reason for my love of this is the very distinct S/mileage feel. This was the first song since they started as ANGERME where I felt they did a good job of bridging that gap between old S/mileage to new ANGERME. That, is ultimately why I love this song so much. 6. Love together! – Berryz Kobo (TEEPU’S TOP PICK FOR 2015) Oh my goodness, I don’t even know where to begin. This song drives me insane. I’ve grown into the person I am today due in large part to the music I started listening to back in 2005. Morning Musume and Berryz Kobo have been the biggest positive points in my life. That being said, having to see Berryz Kobo go on indefinite hiatus (read: quit) was heart breaking. Being there to see it in person even more so. I remember sitting in the audience, holding my breath when the final song was announced, tears on all the members’ faces. Suddenly a piano appeared to the left of the stage, and they sang this song purely to a piano instrumental. Despite their imperfections due to them crying, this song was the epitome of performances to me. It was fueled by the most power, emotion and love of any song I’ve ever seen performed in my life. Not just by the pianist and the singers, but also by the audience as we sung along too. It was an experience unlike anything I’ve seen. This song has some very powerful lyrics that really hit you in the heart as their final farewell to their fans and the world of idols. Admittedly, I like that last live much better than the original arrangement, but the song as a whole is just an extremely beautiful song that will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s composed beautifully, places each of the girl’s talents accordingly and has a very melodic feel to it. I think it is extremely fitting and touching that Tsunku wrote and composed this final song for Berryz Kobo, considering his resignation as Hello! Project’s general producer. That final point is honestly the real defining factor. It’s the thread that ties the whole package together neatly and elegantly. I find my love for this especially odd because this isn’t exactly the type of song I normally like. That speaks volumes of its quality, impact and meaning. Love together! is, without a doubt, my favorite song of 2015. Bar none. 7. The Middle Management ~Josei Chuukan Kanrishoku~ - ℃-ute Most people I know liked Tsugi no Kado wo Magare the most out of this particular single release. Being in the minority, I liked The Middle Management far more. I know it has a little more synth and also a bit more auto-tuning than Tsugi no Kado, but to me it has a far more attractive beat. If a song can effectively intertwine singing talent with auto-tune, and have an organic feel with a practically all synth track it speaks volumes of its quality. I was also very impressed with the music video, which was fun but very grounded. 8. I’m alone – callme (No official or unofficial video source available) My surprise hit of the year: callme. I had the distinct pleasure of reviewing their debut album and to interview them as well. I knew nothing about them, and figured they would be another throwaway J-Pop group who would be of little interest to me. I was grossly mistaken. From the moment I started listening to the album I knew it was something extremely special. I later learned that they are completely self-composed. In the idol world, I found this extremely intriguing. They brought various themes and talents to the table, including but not limited to: video game influence, choreography, instrumental talent and compositional skills. This particular track screams awesomeness to me. I really love how they infused the piano into the song to create a very exciting and addictive song with beautiful singing talent. This song is without a doubt my number 3 song of 2015 (right under Love together! and Otome no Gyakushuu). 9. My affection – callme Forcing myself to being limited to only two songs from Who is callme?, this was my next best choice. The album as a whole is phenomenal, and if you haven’t heard it yet, do yourself a favor and buy it. Seriously, why are you still reading this? Go and buy it! Jokes aside, this song felt like the best combination of composition skill, lyrical arrangement and vocal talent of all the other songs in this album to me. 10. Koi Dorobou – Country GirlsCountry Girls is the oddball of Hello! Project. They tend to focus on more cutesy and elegant songs which are admittedly not going to be as popular as a song that sounds like it’s on fire. While they have solid music, this song was my personal favorite of theirs, and is definitely worthy of being on this list. If you take that cutesy and elegant feel I mentioned earlier and turn it into a catchy tune, this is what you get. 11. GIRLS BE AMBITIOUS – Juice=Juice Words cannot describe how blown away I was by Juice=Juice’s first album. It is hands down the best album release I’ve seen. It had one disc of all singles, another disc of brand new songs and another disc of covers. What a glorious way to kick things off. Admittedly, Juice=Juice’s quality had become arguably unstable after their first 2-3 singles. The sound of a new album wasn’t exceedingly attractive, but when it released and I got to hear the whole thing, I was flabbergasted. This song in particular was ‘the one’ to me the moment it started playing. It’s what proved to me that they could stray from their base style with resounding success. This song is far more poppy and cute than their initial ‘cool’ jazz-pop style that defined them. It doesn’t help that I can never get this song out of my head. 12. Umaretate no Baby Love – Juice=JuiceContrasting my previous choice, this song was the strongest reminder of the jazz-pop style they started as. This song has a nice simple yet complex jazz base to it that is complemented by some really smooth and beautiful vocals. It may not be the catchiest or the most exciting song of the album, but it is most definitely the most well-made in my opinion. It’s also a nice reminder of why they started off so strong to begin with. 13. Nen ni wa Nen – Kobushi FactoryUsually when a group is formed out of eggs (Hello! Pro Kenshuusei), it’s a bit rough around the edges and very underdeveloped. ℃-ute, Berryz Kobo and Tsubaki Factory are perfect examples of this. Kobushi Factory, on the other hand, hit the ground running at full speed. Nen ni wa Nen is one of the most powerful idol songs to come out of Hello! Project in 2015. This is due in no small part to the genius distribution of talent and integration into the instrumental of the song. 14. Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san no Uta – Kobushi Factory Another choice of mine that isn’t bursting with talent, but is simply FUN. Like Mahou Tsukai Sally, it’s mostly repetitive, but is so silly and fun that it’s hard not to smile when listening to this song. Interestingly, this is actually a cover of a Sharam Q song. 15. Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushuu) – Kyary Pamyu PamyuI personally didn’t think 2015 was a good year for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu considering her high quality music from before. That being said, this particular song hearkens back to the kind of silly and catchy music she’s done in the past. The cute Halloween theme helps top off the package perfectly. It’s also oddly addictive. 16. Desert of a moonlight night ~Tsukiyo no Sabaku~ - LoVendoЯ Remember how I mentioned Yuki Uozumi earlier? Here is one of the songs she has composed from scratch. It’s a purely instrumental track, but is really rockin’. She brings her love of anime and video games into the heart of this track, while still keeping a distinct LoVendoЯ feel to the whole track. I’m especially fond of this song because it shows off her talent, which isn’t shown off enough. 17. Iin ja nai? – LoVendoЯHey guess what? It’s another Takui Nakajima song! I did warn you that practically everything he touches is gold. This song is no exception. He manages to show his talent by creating a rock song that has enough of a hint of idol to cater to the unique sound that LoVendoЯ is known for. 18. Sukatto My Heart – Morning Musume ‘152015 was a mixed year for me in regards to Morning Musume ’15. In their defense, they managed to address a variety of styles which catered to various tastes. Since they focused on a singular style in 2014, this was very refreshing. The tradeoff is that fans aren’t guaranteed to like everything they put out. Of all their songs, Sukatto My Heart was definitely their standout song of the year for me. I’m a sucker for jazz-pop songs, and this is no exception. Throw in a slight touch of disco and you’re golden. It has a very swingin’ beat that is something I can’t help but move my body to. Another defining factor that pulls me in is that the singing is spread out in a format that is easy to learn, and thus, easy to sing along to. To top it off, each of the girls is given their own moment to shine in this song. With a group of 13 members, that’s no small feat. 19. Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi – Morning Musume ‘15 I have a feeling this song is going to eventually become one of my favorite songs ever. Back when Toki wo Koe Sora wo Koe released, I was oddly intrigued but didn’t care about the song much. It just wasn’t my style. A year later and it turned into my all-time favorite Morning Musume song. Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi has a similar type of story. The overall style doesn’t exactly appeal to me. There is something really special about the really smooth flow, elegant singing and graceful music video that reaches out to my heart. It’s simple yet oddly alluring. It’s a really beautiful final single for Riho Sayashi that focuses on her while not making her the focus, if that makes any sense. It’s a subtle farewell that plays on the talents of all the girls while still giving Riho her time. This is definitely worthy of being on this list. Even though it’s not one of my favorite songs right now, I know it will be as it grows on me more and more. 20. Pick Me Up – PerfumeOne of Perfume’s most exciting features is that they tweak their sound every album. It keeps them fresh. The problem with this is that we won’t always like what they release. 2015 was a lackluster year in accordance with my tastes. They still produced top-notch high-quality material, but none of it screamed to me. Except Pick Me Up. This song has a very surreal feel to it that makes me feel at ease but also gets my heart racing. It’s an odd feeling that makes me really appreciate the song as a whole. It helps that I totally dig the music video and also that I simply cannot make a favorite songs list without Perfume in it.
There you have it! I actually started this list with 31 songs, cut it down to 25 and then finally (painfully) cut it down to 20. I emphasize that some of these songs may not exude quality, but since they speak to me personally, they are my favorites. I hope you enjoyed the list and maybe discovered something that speaks to you. Here’s to hoping that 2016 proves to be just as exciting as last year! - Teepu (Bowser05)  FLOW is a famed J-Rock band formed in the late 90s, known for doing most of your favorite anime opening themes. #10 is their very appropriately named tenth studio album. With a handful of singles already out (All of them featured in current anime, of course.) this album has been teased for at least a year now. The first song, "Niji no Sora" (a.k.a. Naruto Shippuden ending theme #34) sounds good, but probably isn't a very strong opener. It sounds like it belongs on the end of the album. Luckily, track two doesn't have that same problem. "Oblivion", featuring Hisashi of the band GLAY, is fast, exciting, and probably to be featured in an anime coming out within the year. Let's also not forget the song "World Symphony" which is the ending theme for NHK WORLD show, J-MELO. FLOW - Niji no Sora PV  Anime jokes aside, FLOW is a pretty well-respected band, especially after such a long career. Even on their tenth album, they prove that they've still got it. "Steppin' out" is exactly the kind of playful, high-energy pop rock song that you would expect from a DuRaRaRa!! opening (which this song is, of course).
The album takes a huge turn about halfway through, with "DECATHLON". Feauturing Japanese beatboxer AFRA, this hip-hop influenced track has some of the heaviest guitars (and one of the best basslines) on the whole album. "JOY TO THE WORLD", featuring the band Kiba of Akiba, is a super heavy punk-influenced song with GazettE-esque screams throughout. Overall, #10 is a pretty varied album. It's some pretty high-quality work, which is to be expected of a band like FLOW. It's masterfully written, performed, produced, and sequenced. Except for that thing about the first song being a bad opener, but it's not a huge deal. This isn't a bad album at all, I'd recommend it for sure. Favorites: Oblivion, Steppin' out, DECATHLON, JOY TO THE WORLD -Justin FLOW Is: KEIGO: Vocals KONSHI: Rhythm guitar TAKE: Lead guitar GOT'S: Bass IWASAKI: Drums Tracklist 1) Niji no Sora -Album Ver- 2) Oblivion feat. HISASHI (GLAY) 3) DARK SHADOW feat. TeddyLoid 4) Steppin' out 5) Hikari Oikakete -Crystal Lake mix- 6) Chimimouryou feat. Hayate 7) DECATHLON feat. AFRA 8) JOY TO THE WORLD feat. Kiba of Akiba 9) World Symphony 10) Good Days ~Kimi wo Wasurenai~  J-pop singer Eri Osanai has been active for a pretty long time. This single, "Shining Day", was released in 2006 under the name ERi. Ten years later, it holds up just fine. The title track is super jazzy, backed with horns and what sounds like an upright bass. It's not extremely catchy or anything like that, but it has a lot of character. ERi's vocal range is fantastic, and she hits a ton of really high notes. There's also an instrumental version of the single included as the last track.
The first b-side, "Your Love", is a more stripped-down piece, pretty much all acoustic. ERi shows a more emotional side here, supported by piano, acoustic guitar, and a light drum beat. The second b-side is a live rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". ERi's English is pretty strong, and her voice is really well-suited to the more souldful R&B sound on this song. It sounds like something Namie Amuro could have been doing around the same time this came out. This is a really old release, but that shouldn't put anyone off listening to it. It's pretty calming, especially the b-sides. It's a good few songs to just chill out to, if you're into jazz and R&B. Tracklist: 1) Shining Day 2) Your Love 3) Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)  Guess what WagakkiBand fans? They’re coming back to America! WagakkiBand (和楽器バンド) will kick things off with a special concert in the Irving Plaza at New York City on March 14th. On top of that, they will be a guest for the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. This festival takes place from March 11 to March 20th. WagakkiBand previously played at Club Nokia in Los Angeles for a sold out show at Anime Expo last year. They’re popularity has only risen higher and higher since then, due to their unique approach to performance and music. Based on this, I’d highly recommend you snag your ticket as soon as possible in order to ensure your spot. Along with the normal ticket, you can purchase a VIP ticket which includes: front of the line, access to the VIP Gallery behind the soundboard and a poster. WagakkiBand is a unique group of 8 extremely talented individuals who combine Shigin (traditional Japanese poetry recitation), traditional Japanese music and rock. It’s an experience unlike anything you’ve seen or heard. Tickets for the Irving Plaza show range from $35 to $75 (for standard and VIP respectively) and are on sale now. The doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm. Badges for SXSW range in price from $795 (for the March 15-20 music festival) to $1645 (for the complete SXSW access). For Ticket Information: Irving Plaza Tickets: http://concerts.livenation.com/event/000050360F8F7F00 SXSW Badges: https://cart.sxsw.com/?_ga=1.205152848.1781224809.1454362891 For Information On WagakkiBand: WAGAKKIBAND OFFICIAL PAGE: http://wagakkiband.jp/ WAGAKKIBAND OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/WagakkiBand WAGAKKIBAND OFFICIAL TWITTER PAGE: https://twitter.com/WagakkiBand WAGAKKIBAND OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM PAGE: https://www.instagram.com/wagakkiband/ - Teepu (Bowser05) Official Concert Trailer Senbon Zakura Music Video  On January 6, 2016, A-To-J Connections had the opportunity to see WagakkiBand at the world famous Nippon Budokan. WagakkiBand is most known for their unique fusion of Japanese and western instruments. They are led by vocalist Yuko Suzuhana, who is talented in the art of shigin, singing and piano. Kiyoshi Ibukuro, who plays koto, is never afraid to explore brave new directions with the instrument, he’s also had the privilege of performing in eight countries outside of both Japan and WagakkiBand itself. Daisuke Kaminaga, who plays shakuhachi with extreme skill, also loves to collaborate in video game music projects with various well-known artists. Beni Ninagawa picked up the tsugaru-shamisen after she hurt her throat (she was previously a talented folk singer) and has done an exceptional job since. Kurona, who plays the wadaiko, likes to use his talent to discover exciting new ways to incorporate his instrument in music. Machiya doesn’t settle with being focused on one talent, but instead brings amazing vocals and guitar skills to the table. Asa, who plays bass, likes to fuse instrumental talent with Vocaloid. Wasabi plays the double bass drum with extreme precision and vigor to complement and contrast Kurona’s wadaiko in a fiery spectacle.
With so many different elements and musicians from heavily contrasted backgrounds, it's no wonder WagakkiBand appeals to a wide variety of different tastes. Though they are most known for their strategically composed portrayals of popular Vocaloid songs, the band continues to impress and lure in a larger following, allowing them to reach greater distances with their recent performances overseas. One of these overseas shows was their recent appearance at Anime Expo this past summer in Los Angeles, California. They did a dual performance with Vocaloid sensation, IA, which sold out weeks before the show. Not too shabby for a first visit to the states! Though it's an annual event to have shows for New Year's, the band yet again broke to higher ground and right on to the stage at the famous Nippon Budokan in Tokyo for the first time! Titled, 「和楽器バンド 大新年会2016 日本武道館 -暁ノ宴-」 (WagakkiBand Daishinnenkai 2016 Nippon Budokan – Akatsuki no Utage-), the two and a half hour concert kept the vastly diverse crowd of 10,000 fans extremely engaged, leaving no room for a dull moment.
The concert was exploding with energy and power throughout the entire show from the fusion of the Japanese traditional sound and western rock. They played songs (including some performed there for the first time) from their newest album「八奏絵巻」 (YASOUEMAKI) which ranked first in the Oricon weekly chart last September when it launched. In between songs, each traditional instrument had their own special solo sections that demonstrated their individual skill and depth, also showing off the group as a whole. Kurona led a very powerful wadaiko show in the middle accompanied by 8 other wadaiko performers and a beautiful Kenbu (sword dance) by the lead singer Yuko.
During the MC sections, Yuko expressed the band’s humble gratitude of being able to start off the year at a place like the Nippon Budokan. As the drummer had written on his back, his and the group’s personal goal for 2016 was 飛躍 (hiyaku): to progress, to jump and leap in growth. During another one of their MC sections, they talked about how they’ve recently received comments and letters from fans expressing their happiness but also sadness at seeing the group grow so rapidly. Yuko said the feeling was mutual, since she regrets not being able to see each fan’s face in the venue due to the large venue. This helped to strengthen the connection they have with the fans. Yuko went on to express her goal of spreading the Japanese energy of both the band and the fans to the whole world.
After their last song, the audience called for an encore by singing one of their songs: 暁ノ糸 (Akatsuki no Ito). The touching chorus of 10,000 fans brought back the members with tears in their eyes. The band finished off the concert with a bang with their newest song 「Strong Fate」 (an image song for the new movie 『残穢』 (Zang-e)), as well as two of their most viewed songs on YouTube, 「天樂」 (Tengaku) and 『千本桜』 (Senbonzakura). WagakkiBand’s successful Budokan performance was nothing but a phenomenal start for both the band and the fans for 2016. It was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year for me as well, having known nothing about them before attending this concert. They have a very unique sound that is unlike anything you will ever see in a live environment. I hope that more and more people around the world are given the opportunity to experience the unique and exciting flavor of WagakkiBand! - Konomi
For more information, as well as their newest PV, check out the links below. Official Site: wagakkiband.jp Official Facebook: facebook.com/WagakkiBand Official Twitter: @WagakkiBand Official Instagram: instagram.com/wagakkiband Official Fanclub: global-fc.net/wgb mu-mo Shop Listing: global-fc.net/wgb On iTunes (USA): itunes.apple.com/us/album/ba-zou-hui-juan/id1031872724  WagakkiBand - Akatsuki no Ito PV WagakkiBand Is:
- Suzuhana Yuko (鈴華ゆう子) - Machiya (町屋) - Ninagawa Beni (蜷川べに) - Ibukuro Kiyoshi (いぶくろ聖志) - Asa (亜沙) - Kaminaga Daisuke (神永大輔) - Wasabi (山葵) - Kurona (黒流) Full Concert Set List 1. Akatsuki no Ito (暁ノ糸) 2. Ikusa (戦 -ikusa-) 3. Hanabi (華火) 4. Rokuchou Nen to Ichiya Monogatari (兆年と一夜物語) 5. Hagane (鋼 -HAGANE-) 6. Tsuioku (追憶) 7. Noushou Sakuretsu Girl (脳漿炸裂ガール) 8. Shamisen Solo (三味線ソロ) 9. Yoshiware Lament (吉原ラメント) 10. Koto Solo (箏ソロ) 11. Fuurin no Uta Utai (風鈴の唄うたい) 12. WADAIKO SHOW 13. Homura (焔) 14. Shakuhachi Solo (尺八ソロ) 15. Hangeki no Yaiba (反撃の刃) 16. Kyoushuu no Sora (郷愁の空) 17. Shiromadara (白班) 18. Drum-Wadaiko Battle (ドラム和太鼓バトル) 19. Hana Furumai (華振舞) 20. Chikyuu Saigo no Kokuhaku wo (地球最後の告白を) 21. Nadeshikozakura (なでしこ桜) 22. Hoshizukiyo (星月夜) 23. Perfect Blue ＜Encore＞ 24. Strong Fate 25. Tengaku (天樂) 26. Senbon Zakura (千本桜) 2015 was a big year for A-To-J Connections. When I first started A-To-J in the Summer of 2014 I didn't envision anything like it is now. Those first few months were tough and even at the start of the year we were a ragtag bunch; four people strong with very little direction and focus. A year later we have refined our team and are quickly transforming ourselves into one of the best sources for news on Japanese media! Seeing as this is our first full year we have decided to do a joint article consisting of our favorite songs of 2015. While not all the current A-To-J members were able to submit for this article (due to unfortunate scheduling conflicts) this collection consists of entries by three-quarters of our current crew and extended family. Owing to the varied nature of our content, the songs vary greatly in genre as well. Idol, pop, rock and visual kei are all present and we wouldn't have it any other way! Be sure to check out our favorite songs if you haven't already and keep your eyes on A-To-J Connections in 2016, we have bigger and better things planned! -Manuel Manuel (alavic_222): Project Leader When it came time to choose a song of the year for 2015 I was faced with a dilemma. I wanted to choose a song off of Takui Nakajima's 2015 album "Renga no Ie" and I also wanted to pick one of the awesome idol songs that came out this year. Then I realized I could do both! The song I chose is ANGERME's "Taiki Bansei" a song that is written by Takui Nakajima and also exists as a version recorded by him. One thing I love about Takui's new album is the positive, uplifting messages present in the songs, this one is no different. While I have to say that "Renga no Ie" is my favorite album bar none from 2015 I have to admit that I actually prefer ANGERME's version to his. His isn't bad and has a nice ska feel to it, but ANGERME's arrangement goes beyond the typical idol song and is something that I feel should become a classic as the years go on. It is also important to note that at the time of this song's release S/mileage was still going through the transition to ANGERME and this single pretty much settled everyone's fears that some of the original magic would be lost with the re-branding. While their was a definite image change (I don't think is a song that would have ever been given to S/mileage) it was for the best and ANGERME has continued to take 2015 by storm despite their unfortunate graduation announcements. So there you have it, my song for 2015! Check it out if you haven't already! ANGERME - Taiki Bansei Takui Nakajima - Taiki Bansei Molly (marisuga): Chief Advisor/PR Representative My song of the year is AKB48's "Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai"! Bokutachi has a sound that keeps you interested throughout the song. It doesn't sound like every other idol song, and it's also really fun to sing! (Editor's Note: A live version had to be found due to the lack of an official version available on YouTube. This will be updated if/when it becomes available.) AKB48 - Bokutachi wa TatakawanaiTeepu (Bowser05): Staff Writer There were a lot of good songs in 2015. As I went through my music, picking out songs I really like and contemplating which to choose, I kept going back to the same song: “Otome no Gyakushuu” by ANGERME. From the moment I heard it back in January I already knew it was one of the most amazing things to come out of Hello! Project. It flows really nicely, has a really well-done instrumental and the vocals were sung immaculately (even by the then-new members). It has a very positive message and to top it off the outfits made me really happy. The final part that helps solidify this as my definite favorite this year is the really dark theme of the song's presentation. With the rebranding of S/mileage (which was known for being extremely cute) as ANGERME, this song being their first song helped to set a new tone for them and it was glorious. They've been going strong since then. If there is only one Hello! Project song you listen to from 2015, make it Otome no Gyakushuu by ANGERME. NOTE: This is a partial lie. My number one was actually "Love Together" by Berryz Kobo. Since somebody else picked that song though, I didn't choose it to avoid redundancy. ANGERME - Otome no Gyakushuu Eunice (Yume no Yumi): Fashion Correspondent 2015 has been a very hectic and eventful year. Many amazing songs were released that definitely vie for my favorite song of the year. Not only releases, I had the honor to view many amazing artists this year ranging from: Kamijo, Femme Fatale, Loudness, and Dir en Grey! Meeting Tomo from Rhedoric and being able to participate in an interview with him was also definitely a highlight. A month ago I reviewed their new album Jiggy. I definitely would say that top song of 2015 is from this album. Upon the album had a hidden track, the acoustic version of Possibility. This song was the one for me. Possibility was not a new song for Rhedoric, having the original version of this song on a previous album, but this hidden track was. This song was well written with an amazing sound that Hama and I could just relax to. Yuuji's voice continues to be a beautiful sandwich. A beautiful sandwich that we love to savor. While both Hama and I will be sad to see 2015 end with all its amazing memories, we cannot wait to see what 2016 hold for us. Happy New Year everyone, end it with no regrets! We will see everyone in the new year! -Eunice and Hamachi (Editor's Note: Included is the standard version of "Possibility" check out "Jiggy" for the exclusive acoustic version!) Rhedoric - Possibility Eric (BerryzGenius): Staff Writer Out of the countless new songs to surface in 2015, two songs in specific stood out to me the most. The first runner up being “Taiki Bansei” by ANGERME, an all-around awesome song (go check it out) and the song of 2015 that affected me most, “Love Together” by Berryz工房(Koubou). There were a handful of reasons as to why I picked this song as the most influential song for me this year. Maybe it is because I am a sucker for ballads, maybe it was due to the depth of feeling embedded into the song, or even that the members all got solo lines. In all honesty, this being the group’s final song definitely played a huge part in sucking me in. The message of this song is simple yet significant. Singing about the days that have led them to the present and about how they will treasure every memory, questioning if the decision of retiring is a selfish one. Everything about this song had both the fans and the members of the group, in a mess of tears since the day it was released. While the song brings about sad feelings, it is still a happy one about how the moments we are in right now are every bit as much of a treasure as the memories we have made together. I was lucky enough to be able to witness this song performed live on the very last day of the group’s activities and the performance was breathtaking. While I am not sure whether or not I would call this my “favorite” song of the year due to its sad nature, it is definitely, without a doubt, the most important song of the year for me. I strongly encourage anyone who has not heard the song or seen its music video, to check it out as soon as possible. Berryz Koubou - Love together! (Final Live) Berryz Koubou - Love together! (PV) Tom Kiryu: Chief Correspondent My personal favorite song of 2015 is 君ノ'心臓'ニ恋シテル ("Kimi no 'Shinzou' ni Koishiteru") by SCAPEGOAT. This song is intense and has a nice little creepy vibe to it. I have always been drawn to the dark and heavy type of music, and Visual Kei bands seem to pull it off very well. Songs that are just 100% heavy get a little boring to me. I love this song because it jumps between a calming almost romantic tone to a dark and violent tone. Jarring fluctuations between soft and heavy is a common theme in some of my favorite VK bands (Nega, Dir en Grey, OZ, Sadie). I can’t stop listening to this song (blasting it full volume while I'm at the gym or jogging) and SCAPEGOAT has quickly jumped to one of my favorite bands to be keeping an eye on for future releases. SCAPEGOAT - Kimi no "Shinzou" ni Koishiteru Darice - Translator/Field Correspondent Song of the year is "Quasar" by The Lost Control (TLC) because THERE IS AN ELECTRIC CELLO and also this band is really awesome. Not only do they have an awesome sound -- a medley of hip-hop, metal, alternative, punk, and EDM -- all the members are actual functioning members of society with real jobs. They just make amazing music on the side. The song starts with some funky electronics by Jim (who also does guitar and backing vocals) before going full on rock with TATSUKI on guitar, Ray on the cello and Masaya on Drums. Katy rounds out the sound with a solid bass. The whole thing is a pleasant solar space-y rock experience. Quasar comes on a single with "Dying Flowers", another amazing piece, and you can listen to samples of both on the band's soundcloud and are available for purchase on iTunes. TLC just made its U.S. debut this year, playing at Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles in September, where A-to-J was lucky enough to meet up with them. The band itself is based in Tokyo, Yokohama and they play regular gigs in the area. If anyone is lucky enough to be in Tokyo, their next concert is coming up on the 30th of January, 2016 at Liveholic. They've also just come out with another single: Burn/Way Down which are also available on iTunes. You can check out their official site here : tlclol.wix.com/thelostctrl Or on Facebook facebook.com/thelostctrl The Lost Ctrl - Quasar Christina: Staff Writer “Wings Flap” is the newest single from the legendary Japanese rock band, L’Arc~en~Ciel. It’s the first single in a year and four months from the band and it officially released on December 23rd, 2015. With it’s uplifting lyrics and memorable chorus, it is by far my favorite song from 2015. The song starts off with a mechanical sounding noise that sets the underlying melody for the rest of the song. Hyde chimes in with the English lyrics, “Wings flap in the night”. This introduction establishes the entire mood of the song. The precluding tune reoccurs throughout the song and is most predominant during the chorus (which lends itself to making the chorus a particularly catchy one). The theme of “Wings Flap” and flying is also a continued and expounded on with Hyde later stating, “I wanna fly fly fly high”. The musical mechanics of the song are also profoundly perfect. Hyde’s voice is consistently clear and strong over the music and his ability to still hit the high notes at the age of 46 with his tobacco smoking tendencies is something to be truly admired. The rest of the instruments, bass, guitar, drums, all blend together flawlessly to support the melody. And in true L’Arc~en~ciel fashion there is a rather short guitar solo towards the end of the song, highlighting the musical prowess of the guitarist, Ken. “Wings Flap” is an overall crowd pleaser - if you are a fan of L’Arc~en~Ciel’s older songs you will enjoy the melody and if you are a fan of their more recent rock style (as seen most closely in their “Smile” album) then you will also like this new single. But besides this, the thing that sets the song truly apart from the rest of the 2015 songs is the motivating lyrics. In English, Hyde sings, “I believe in the changing of seasons...I reset...I find a new gate to freedom”. A fierce emotion of wanting to immediately amending one’s life path and put it on new, higher chorus is embodied through the last line of the song, “I’m ready to fly high”. (Editor's Note: A live version had to be found due to the lack of an official version available on YouTube. This will be updated if/when it becomes available.) L'arc~en~ciel - Wings Flap Rubi: Contributor/Foreign Correspondent (Mexico) This was the year where I got a thing for many songs that were released zillion years ago, but oh well. This was also the year where I “came back” to J-Pop and was distraught over many song released under Hello! Project because, to be very honest, the latest releases weren’t as good as years ago. If I had to choose a song it would definitely be “Gamusha Life” by °C-ute. After all that happened to H!P this year, and Berryz Koubou’s disbandment, it made me realize how strong as a group °C-ute is and how much I love those girls. And yes, to be very honest I've been a hardcore °C-ute fan since about 8 years or so. The lyrics, the arrangement, the video, the music… EVERYTHING was perfect I could even picture myself while watching the video. The most perfect thing is that I was able to hear that song live at their concert in Mexico and because of that one of my dreams came true and I made many good friend in a couple of hours. TLRD;; YOU MUST HEAR THIS PERFECT SONG ASAP! ^^;;;;; °C-ute - Gamusha LIFE Kaz: Contributor 2015 was a year filled amazing new music. One particular song that stood out to me was "THE BEGINNING" by Royz recently released on May 5th 2015. At the beginning of this year I decided to become a better person for myself due to very personal reasons. I realized I did in fact have to create a new beginning for myself and even a new life. Shortly after coming to terms with that, this song was released and the lyrics were a perfect musical explication of my thoughts. It was the extra push and motivation I needed, soon it also became one of my favorite songs of the year. Thanks Royz! Royz - THE BEGINNING Nathan (L4verra): Contributor I have written about this song before, but there is still a lot to talk about it. For starters, this was a year spread around not just AKB48 and their sister/rival groups, but other idol groups as well. There was so much to discover and so many idol groups to give a listen to! Yes, SUPER☆GiRLS was one of those idol groups. This song is just too much fun. It has a very upbeat, summertime vibe and the chorus hook is really catchy. The only knock on the song may be the video; it sure is lewd for idol standards, so please do not play this video at work. The nice thing about this song is that I was able to discover other awesome idols, such as Arai Reira, Asakawa Nana, and especially Tanaka Mirei. Let me just say that Tanaka Mirei is my SUPER☆GiRLS oshi just because of how she shines as the center of this song, and that is likely not changing anytime soon. Another reason why I picked this song as my favorite for 2015 is because was basically a good representation of how 2015 went. This was the first year I spent outside of school and into the work field, which was something new I had never experienced. I made new friends, learned new things, and had all sorts of new experiences: three months in a kitchen job and eight months in a behavioral intervention job. Tanaka Mirei was a new idol that I had never heard of until now. This song represents all of the new things seen, heard, found and experienced this year alone. This is why “Icchatte♪Yacchatte♪” by SUPER☆GiRLS is my personal favorite song of 2015. SUPER☆GiRLS - Icchatte♪Yacchatte♪Claudia: Contributor Song: Gyakumanji Yori Ai wo Komete Band: Black Gene For the Next Scene Black Gene For the Next Scene continue to improve in creating heavy songs. Their newest song ranges from slightly slow to intense, but is successfully catchy. Rame's bass skills are clearly demonstrated in this song, and Ice's deep growls and vocals are quite shocking. The breakdown of the song is chilling but fits with the energy of the song. The way this track runs like an energetic ride is what makes it enjoyable to listen to. Black Gene For The New Scene - Gyakumanji Yori Ai wo Komete There you have it! Our favorite songs of 2015! Keen readers might notice that Christina's entry exists as it's own article on the site and Darice's entry is an excerpt from an article of hers as well. Don't want to let awesome reporting go to waste! Also keep an eye out as some members are writing "Best of 2015" articles of their own! We at A-To-J Connections hope everyone had an awesome 2015 and hope you'll have an even better 2016! We look forward to more great music and the opportunity to bring you even more great content in the coming year!
-Manuel (alavic_222) and the rest of the crew at A-To-J Connections!  A-to-J Connections was lucky enough to catch up to RAION 雷音 at Japan Expo LA 2015. A unique group that mixes rock, pop and enka into something that is sure to delight fans around the world!
|
Search
Contributors◆ Emily
◆ Hinacchi ◆ Janette ◆ Manuel ◆ Megan ◆ Molly ◆ Rose ◆ Sylvia ◆ Teepu ◆ Tiffany Support Us On Patreon!
Archives
September 2024
|
RSS Feed
© 2014-2024 A-to-J Connections. All Rights Reserved.