Ongaku To You's Songs, Artists, and New Artists of the Year for 2021!

2021 was a very interesting year for the Japanese music industry and we at Ongaku to You would like to praise the songs and artists that helped us traverse this amazing year. Each member broke down the year in three categories; Song of the Year, New Artist We Discovered in 2021, and lastly our Artist of the Year. We hope that 2022 will bring many surprises to the Japanese music industry like we received in 2021!

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Luna’s Top Song and Artists of 2021!

Song of the Year: “JOYRIDE” by Miliyah Kato

When I first heard 'JOYRIDE', I was immediately pulled in by the lyrics as they are sad, emotional, and make a tremendous impact. Miliyah's vocals fit 'JOYRIDE' perfect in every aspect; she knows how to hit each note matching with the melody of the song. Miliyah's vocals, lyrics, the melody all come together making it a song that makes an impact. 'JOYRIDE' has personally made that impact moving me to tears and it has made its way onto my playlist on repeat.

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New Artist of the Year: BRIDEAR

BRIDEAR was a pleasant surprise finding out about this year. They were recommended to me by several people in the JME music group and also popped up on my Apple Music recommendations. I started listening to their Baryte album, which pulled me into checking out more of their music. The tracks "Ghoul" and "Mirror" made the biggest impacts on me. I enjoy metal but I don't listen to it as often, however, when I do, BRIDEAR is the type of band I enjoy listening too. Vocals, compositions, lyrics - all the members blend so good together when creating music. Ever since I did MC on them, I've add them in my rotation.

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Artist of the Year: CREAM

This year, I dived deep into the Hip-Hop/R&B fusiion scene and CREAM became a huge part of my playlist this year. In 2019, "Banana" got me into the group, my MC got me further. This year, I took a turn of going through their whole discography again and appreciating it to no end. CREAM has four songs and all four are in my top 10 on Apple Music Replay for most played. On top of that, I've listened to CREAM the most this year. Not only has CREAM released several new digital singles this year that are on many of my playlists but their older songs such as "Change", "Wonderland", "Playboy", "Girl LIke Me", "Banana", and "#nofilter" have been the most played for me. 2021 has consisted of CREAM and Yayoi Daimon, however, CREAM has reigned supreme.

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Gray’s Top Song and Artists of 2021

Song of the Year: “Ame ga Hajimari no Aizu” by 7ORDER

I love this song and while I've technically listened to "Seiyaku No Toushi" more, "Ame Ga Hajimari No Aizu" has my heart. I just love the melody and song composition. Everything works so well together. The vocal work at play here is super good. Every member does a standout job and the harmonization in the chorus is just spectacular.

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New Artist of the Year: White Jam

I've been obsessed with White Jam since I covered them for MC and I know I talked about them all the time on the show. I love Shirose and Niki's vocals plus you have Gashima's rap which is always done super well. White Jam doesn't release too often, but when they do they really make it something. Can't wait to see what these guys do next.

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Artist of the Year: Da-ICE

Becoming my consecutive artist of the year, Da-ICE started off the year really strong and stayed consistent throughout. Their latest release is their "CaITRUS" first take which is just phenomenal. Also I'm eagarly anticipating the release of their song "Live Devil" which is being used for the excellent Kamen Rider Revice. I know I haven't talking about them too much on the show but I'm still carrying the torch for these guys and I can't wait to see what they do next.

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Ken’s Top Song and Artist of 2021

Song of the Year: “Fushigi” by Gen Hoshino

This was one of the songs that upon first listen I knew that would be a part of my top songs of the year. However, to becoming number 1 is something of a surprise due to the fact that i didn’t know how much I would absolutely love it. While Hoshino might not be an artist that I’m a total fan of, I do respect the range of styles this man does. As the release before this “Create” was to my dismay, a track that did capture me like the mass have, but “Fushigi” more focus on Hoshino’s vocals with its slow to mid-tempo composition absolutely encompassed me like “Pop Virus” had years ago. While I might not like all of Hoshino’s releases, I cannot deny the influence “Fushigi” did to me throughout the year.

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New Artist of the Year: Rung Hyang

Rung Hyang is the breakout star for me in 2021 as she brings a unique taste as a "soul" writer who continues to evolve with an "omnivorous" style. They incorporate various genres such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul, and folk, with realistic lyric styles that anyone can relate to. Hyang is sure to have a work that fans can always jam to throughout her amazing and varied discography. While her solo work is phenomenal, her collaboration work is some of the best work I heard of in the pandemic era. 

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Artist of the Year: TENDRE

What more can I say about TENDRE that I haven’t said before in my prior Music Corners. I shall reiterate that I was really afraid of his signing to EMI RECORDS of Universal Music Japan, his style, while not bad per say, is very difficult to garner an audience in which studio tampering could happen. So to my present surprise, TENDRE’s style is still there and doesn’t skip a beat. While this major label debut was the biggest thing this year for him, it was also what he did behind the scenes as a composer and produces that proved more then enough to become my artist of the year for 2021.

Gray's Onkagu Go For May 2021

Picking up after Ken and Luna with another month down from 2021, we at Ongaku to You would like our readers to know what was 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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“Vivid Vice” by Who-ya Extended

At first I wasn’t too crazy about this song but since it served as the second opening to Jujutsu Kaisen. I got to be much more familiar with it over the course of the back half of the season and it really started to grow on me. The first take version is on YouTube and it’s really good as well.

Check out “Vivid Vice” here, and the music video below.

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“Kirari” by Fujii Kaze

This was just a delight when it popped up on the Oricon. I’ve had it on repeat ever since. It is songs like this that got me into J-pop. I’m not too sure you would see a song like this do well in America which is really sad because this release is so well done with such a catchy tune. I’ve taken a liking to Fuji Kaze and I’ll definitely be talking about him again in the future.

Check out “Kirari” here, and the music video below.

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“Ganbarenaiyo” by JUICE=JUICE

JUICE=JUICE is one of the more consistent idol groups that produce great songs and their latest release is no exception. Sadly “Downtown” has been added to Apple Music but “Ganbarenaiyo” was just as good and I’ve been listening to this on repeat since it dropped. It’s such a beautiful number that really shows off the vocals of the girls.

Check out “Ganbarenaiyo” here, and the music video below.

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“Something New” by Johnny’s West

This song is so good it actually made me go out and purchase the single off CDJapan. I’ve never bought anything produced by Johnny’s before and that has been mostly due to the lack of money but this song was so good I just had to have it. It’s such a fun number that is does really well by the boys and Aimyon wrote the song in which it shows real well.

Sadly this song isn’t available on Apple Music but the music video is right below so check it out.

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“Fushigi” by Gen Hoshino

Gen Hoshino can be a real hit and miss with me but this is a release I greatly enjoyed. It’s honestly out of my typical wheelhouse in how laid back the tune is. There is a funkiness to it that I find refreshing.

Check out “Fushigi” here, and the music video below.

Ken's Ongaku Go for May 2021!

May is warming us up as we head to the summer season, that means a brand new Ongaku Go is here! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.

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“Cry Baby” by official HIGE DANdism

Now this was a big surprise for me. An Official HIGE song was the last on my list of being a song to be on my top 5 this month, I was quite surprised by the finished product. I was fearful when I learned that they will be releasing a song so soon as in the past we admit that they end up sounding very stale in terms of composition to sound like “Pretenders”. However the “Cry Baby’s” composition is a bit jarring and out there for a band like them, but I had enjoyed it 100%. I hope for future releases they can experiment a bit more like they have with this track. 

Be sure to check out the music video for “Cry Baby” below, along with the track here!

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Fushigi by Gen Hoshino

Now I had absolutely loved this song upon first listen 20 seconds in, and I am so happy that he had released a track like this after “Create” back in February. His vocals and the melody just melts into one and entices the listeners on this magical ride that Hoshino is trying to convey. Like I had said prior in other episodes covering him in the past, he’s a type of artist where the miss for a release is a big miss depending on the person and when he creates a hits for a listener, it’s a track that is and absolutely becomes a song of the year contender.  I for one can’t wait for his upcoming release and would like to congratulate him for his marriage to actress Yui Aragaki and wish them a life time of happiness. 

Check out the music video for “Fushigi” below, along with the song in its entirety here!

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“Embrace of light” by RAISE A SUILEN

I’ve said it once and I’ll keep saying it, the B-side tracks for RAISE A SUILEN are probably some of best songs that this band makes if not in the entire BanG Dream!! franchise. As they are not required to stay to their usual persona on the B-side tracks, “Embrace of light” kicks it back to the past with a more power ballad feel with vocalist Raychell’s vocal range on the front stage throughout the song. While holding a minor esscents of electronica mix throughout, overall it sounds like a totally different band. While fans might come for the A-side track “EXIST”, I personally think that everyone should stay for “Embrace of light”.

Be sure to check out “Embrace of light” here!

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“A Kite (feat. Yellow Bucks)” by Kojoe

This is a track that I fell in love with upon first listen, and while I’m kinda hot and cold about Kojoe’s discography overall, “A Kite” brought a more chill and relaxing factor to my already hectic month. While it does have that slight “yo yo yo” feel, its composition is top notch and I can find myself lost in it time and time again. While I had originally thought of skipping his album HALFTIME, if any of the tracks are half as good as “A Kite” I’ll be giving it a listen soon.

Check out “A Kite” on here!

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“MAP For LOVE” by Tomita Lab

While just missing my April Ongaku Go by a couple days, I’d be betraying my Replay 2021 by not including this song on my May list. The absolute wonderment that both Tomita and several of his guest vocalists did for this track is out of this world and had enjoyed every minute of it. The fact that every vocalist made the song their own in the short time they had gives testament to both Tomita as a composer and the vocalist as well. I absolutely loved the rap brake in the middle of the tune and how it was implemented without feeling out of place. I can’t wait for more releases by Tomita Labs as “MAP For LOVE” had shot to my short list of songs of the year and Tomita Lab had instantly gave SIRUP a run for his money for my artist of the year.

Be sure to check out the lyric video for “MAP for LOVE” below, along with the track here!

Billboard Japan drops Top 10 list for first half of 2019!

With the arrival of June, Billboard Japan dropped rankings for the first half of 2019. The particular rankings were taken from the Billboard Japan Top 100 Chart and somewhat different from what we usually cover on the show with the Oricon, but they’re pretty similar in some regards.

#1 Aimyon

#2 Kenshi Yonezu

#3 Queen

#4 back number

#5 ONE OK ROCK

#6 TWICE

#7 Gen Hoshino

#8 Nogizaka46

#9 BTS

#10 DA PUMP

Surprising no one, vocalist Aimyon takes number one Top Artist. With thirty-one tracks on the Japan Hot 100 and four releases charting on the Japan Hot Albums list, it’s no surprise she’s the face of Japan’s Top Artists this year. What’s even more impressive is that she was only rank sixteen on last year’s chart. Not too far behind her is predecessor Kenshi Yonezu who took this past year’s Top Artist of NHK’s Kohaku, bearing twenty-five tracks on the Japan Hot 100 list and four releases charting on the Japan Hot Albums list. It’s no question, then, that Yonezu will remain in the top three. With the upcoming release of “Umi no Yurei”, Yonezu is hoping to overtake Aimyon to take the number one spot overall. With the success of “Bohemian Rhapsody” fever hitting Japan, Queen rounds out the list at number three.

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#1 Yonezu Kenshi「Lemon」

#2 Aimyon「Marygold」

#3 DA PUMP「U.S.A.」

#4 Aimyon「Konya Kono Mama」

#5 Yonezu Kenshi「Flamingo」

#6 Kiyakizaki46「Kuroi Ushi」

#7 back number「HAPPY BIRTHDAY」

#8 Hinatazaka46「Kyun」

#9 Nogizaka46「Kaerimichi wa Tomawari Shitaku Naru」

#10 Aimyon「Kimi ha Rock wo Kiganai」

Strangely enough for the Hot 100 list, the top two artists swap with each other; “Lemon” continues to dominate from last year’s Hot 100 list with it also wrecking this year’s download charts. Overtaking last year’s impressive point count at 219,288.49, Yonezu is looking to become a mainstay in the industry for Reiwa. Running in at 155,429.37 points, Aimyon’s “Marygold” takes number one Top Streamed song and ninth Top Downloaded. Rounding out the list at number three is DA PUMP’s “it song” “U.S.A.“

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#1 Gen Hoshin『POP VIRUS』

#2 ONE OK ROCK『Eye of the Storm』

#3 Nogizaka46『Ima ga Omoi Detani Narumade』
#4 Queen『Bohemiam Rhapsody Official Sound Track』
#5 back number『MAGIC』
#6 Aimyon『Shukanteki Six Sense』
#7 Kobukoro『ALL TIME BEST 1998-2018』
#8 TWICE『#TWICE2』
#9 Kenshi Yonezu『BOOTLEG』
#10 GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE『BEST GENERATION』

Surprisingly, none of the top three artists above have taken the Hot Albums list, with Gen Hoshino’s POP VIRUS taking the number one spot for both CD sales and downloads overall. Selling an impressive 281,000 copies since the album’s release back in December of last year with downloads over 26,000, Hoshino outdid himself with this album. Not too far behind him, popular rock band ONE OK ROCK took the number two spot with their album Eye of the Storm, taking fourth in CD sales with an impressive 288,000 copies sold and third in downloads with over 53,000. The idol community not to be forgotten, Nogizaka46’s album Ima ga Omoi Deni Naru took third.

We at Ongaku to You would like to congratulate all of the artists for their achievements thus far and look forward to their future releases this 2019.

Billboard Japan Releases Mid-year Rankings!

Billboard Japan announced today their mid-year ranking. Kenshi Yonezu took the first spot for TOP ARTIST  with both TWICE and BTS taking second and third respectively.

For HOT 100, “Lemon” took first which is understandable with its amount of digital sales. “Glass wo Ware” from Keyakizaka 46 took second and Gen Hoshino’s song “Doraemon” took third.

For HOT ALBUMS Namie Amuro’s Finally took first --once again, very understandable with close to two million copies sold as of this post. AKB48’s Bokutachi wa, ano Hi no Yuake wo Shitteiru took second and Kenshi Yonezui‘s BOOTLEG took third.

We congratulate everyone for all their hard work to secure their place on the list and we can’t wait to hear what is next for these artist!