Gray's Ongaku Go For November of 2021

Picking up after Ken and Luna, we’re another month down in 2021, and we at Ongaku to You would like our readers to know what has been filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms with Apple Music being featured on this site.

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“Lost In Paradise” by ALI

Man, am I glad this is has been put back on digital platforms. This is one of my favorite songs of the year and I’m glad I get to enjoy it again. 

Check out “Lost In Paradise” here and the music video below!

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“A New Day” (feat. Phum Viphurit) by Nulbarich

I’m just a sucker for the sound of a synthesizer and this track has it in spades. I listen to this track and it takes me back to earlier days, which I find really enjoyable.

Check out “A New Day (feat. Phum Viphurit)” here and the music video below!

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“No.1” by DISH//

This is a song I wasn’t too high on when it first dropped, but I’ve come around and have been enjoying it as of late. I’m glad to see that DISH// is going to be performing at the Kohaku this year and I’m really hoping to hear this song.

Check out “No. 1” here and the music video below!

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“All Me” by IVVY

November has been a pretty slow month, so I’ve been going back and listening to tracks that came out earlier this year and reflecting on the year so far. “All Me” is a fun track that I just keep coming back to. So, even though I’ve already featured this number, I wanted to give it another shout-out.

Check out “All Me” here and the music video below!

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“Can’t Keep It Cool” by Akira Takano

Another track I’ve talked about here, but this is such a wonderful way to kick off his ENTER album, which is easily my favorite album of the year so far. There is a rush of life and energy in this track that keeps me coming back for more.

Check out “Can’t Keep It Cool” here and the music video below!

ALI Announces Resumption of Activities!

It was announced that ALI will resume its activities from November 18. ALI had originally announced an indefinite suspension of activities following the indictment of former member drummer Kahadio earlier this year in May. A comment from vocalist LEO was posted on the band's official website on the 18th as well, saying, "No matter how beautiful the future that will come, I will carry the past and I will never forget it. It can't be helped if it's pointed out. It can't be helped if someone hates me to death. Still, I want to do ALI music. Even if ALI is treated as a sinner for the rest of my life, music in still the best in the world. Beautiful, the world is beautiful, and life is a wonderful thing worth living, I want to continue to draw and scream through music until I die."

In addition, LEO added to the passage of ALI's famous song "LOST IN PARADISE," "I will continue to be saved by the song and live like a song. Let me tell you for the first time in a long time. Music is the best.”

ALI has also begun to rerelease their songs across all digital streaming platforms. An edited version of the music video "Lost In Paradise feat. AKLO" with AKLO has been released on YouTube.

We at OTY would like to welcome back this amazing band and hope to hear more from them in the future.

Upcoming ALI Opening for The World Ends With You will Change Following Drummer Kahadio's Arrest!

We have the unfortunate news that the drummer Kahadio, of the seven-member band ALI was arrested. The news was announced on their official site, and the charges are unknown at the time of reporting. ALI's new song "TEENAGE CITY RIOT" was scheduled to be used as the opening theme in the upcoming anime "The World Ends With You", which will start broadcasting this Spring Anime season. With Kahadio's arrest, the opening theme has changed for the foreseeable future.

Gray's Ongaku Go For February 2021

Picking it up after Ken, and Luna, we’re another month down in 2021 and we at Ongaku to You would like our readers to know what has been filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms with Apple Music being featured on this site.

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“Lost In Paradise (feat. AKLO)” by ALI

I’ve been watching Jujutsu Kaisen and this is one hell of a way to end the show. This is a fun song that is easy to listen to on repeat. It has a great saxophone solo in the middle and a great rap bridge to back it up. The fact that Ken picked them for Music Corner is a bigger boon, I had such a blast listening to them.

Check out “Lost In Paradise” here, along with the official music video below.

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“Boku Wa Boku Wo Suku Ni Naru” by Nogizaka46

This track is honestly not a stand-out for the group, but I really missed them last year for the most part, and so while this is not the most exciting song they have released, I’ve been really enjoying listening to it. I’m excited to see what 2021 has in store for these girls. The melody is pretty catchy, and the girls’ harmony is still excellent.

Check out “Boku Wa Boku Wo Suku Ni Naru” here, along with the official music video below.

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“Zeal of Proud” by Roselia

This tune was a nice surprise that really hit me. There was a point in my life where I only listened to rock music and I guess I just got burnt out so now I don’t listen to that much rock for fun, but “Zeal of Proud” is really good. This is easily my favorite song that I’ve heard by Roselia. I really have enjoyed just going back and listening to this song on repeat.

Check out “Zeal Of Proud” here, along with a preview for the track below.

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“Everlasting Sky” by Beverly

I recently just finished watching Kamen Rider Build the Movie: Be the One, which this song served as the ending theme to, and I’ve had it on repeat ever since. I love this song so much; I love Beverly’s vocals that are in this song. Also, this song is used to maximum effect in the closing moments of the movie and, honestly, it was hard to sit there and not cry.

Check out “Everlasting Sky” here, along with a preview of the official music video below.

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“endless journey” by lol

What a wonderful surprise this song has been. This number dropped a few days ago and I’ve had it on repeat ever since. This tune to me is classic lol with a catchy melody and fun lyrics. Also, as usual, Honaka has a great rap break in the song. This is a great way to start off the new year and I’m excited to see what they do next.

Check out “endless journey” here along with the official music video below.

Music Corner Week 66: ALI

ALI is a seven-member, multinational, hip hop/funk band that formed back in 2016 in Tokyo. Originally starting as a nine-member group, they use the name of the band as an acronym for Alien Liberty International, and they look to shake up the norm by having all the members diverse, with roots in Japan, Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. However, one of the first impressions that new listeners might have of the band is how could they be in the genre that they say they are, as they do not have the typical look.

Taking the unique blend of hip-hop and funk is no easy task, but all seven members are expert in their craft. From saxophone player YU to percussion player ALEX, each give a 110% to any song they perform, which adds to the overall enjoyment for the listeners. Vocalist LEO’s out of this world vocals are the cherry on top of this multi-layer sundae that perfectly balance any guest rapper they might have featured on the track. “Better Days feat. Dos Monos” and “LOST IN PARADISE feat. AKLO” are great examples of that genre mix, with the guest vocalist providing that hard side of rap, expertly blended with the group’s highly emerging tone of funk leading to unique compositions.

Currently the band has four singles, all of which were released in 2019, along with two digital singles that released in 2020. ALI has also dropped two Eps, Wild Side (2019) and LOST IN PARADISE (2020) with a mini-album, LOVE, MUSIC AND DANCE set to drop on January 27. Be sure to check out their official site, and Twitter, along with the music video for “LOST IN PARADISE feat. AKLO” below!

ALI stars:

KAHADIO/ Drums

LEO/ Vocals

CÉSAR/ Gutair 

ALEX/ Percussion

YU/ Sax

LUTHFI/ Bass

JIN/ Keyboards