Gray's Ongaku Go For January 2025

/

2025 is finally here and we here at Ongaku To You want our readers to know what we’ve been listening to for the month of January. Each song can be found on Apple Music and you can check out our playlist on Spotify.

“Seikai Wa Iranai” by NANAOAKARI

This song is a bit older, but I recently discovered it because it was used as the ending theme to the anime series Go! Go! Loser Ranger! and I fell in love with this song. It’s a catchy song that moves at a very quick pace. I won’t call it upbeat per se, but it’s definitely not a slow song. I find myself singing this song at work and can’t get it out of my head. 

Check out “Seikai Wa Iranai” in the video below and at this link here.

“Cuz I” by Hikaru Makishima

This is another song associated with a Super Sentai-themed anime titled The Red Ranger Became A Hero In Another World which recently started airing. If you don’t know what Super Sentai is, I know this is way oversimplifying it, but think Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. “Cuz I” has been a fun song for me, and another one I find myself jamming to at work. Its tone and melody pump me up and give me the inspiration I need.

Check out “Cuz I” in the video below and at this link here.

“POP UP!” by lol

This is the first release that lol has put out this year, and after a pretty quiet 2024, it is so nice to see this group back. “POP UP!” is a pretty simple tune that is very upbeat and that just sucks me in. I hope this is a sign of many more songs to come in 2025 and I can’t wait.

Check out “POP UP!” in the video below and at this link here.

“Got Boost?” by FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE

This is a group that, if you’re a long-time reader, you’ll know I’m a big fan of. I’ll admit, at first, I didn’t care much for this song, but it is the current opening for Kamen Rider, which is also one of my favorite franchises. Over time, I started to enjoy this song. And now I love this song, it is very poppy, but they lean into that a bit and that makes me enjoy this song even more.

Check out “Got Boost?” in the video below and at this link here.

“TOKYO TRIP” by 7ORDER

I love this song, straight-up, and it’s probably 7ORDER’s best song in a while. This is a very catchy beat that is sung expertly, and the chorus is in English, so when it kicks in I start singing along. The saxophone just hits the right spot as well. I hope 7ORDER puts out an album with this song this year so I can include it for the end-of-the-year round-up.

Check out “TOKYO TRIP” in the video below and at this link here.

Gray Ongaku Go For February 2024

/

February is already behind us and we here at OTY 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 featured on this site, along with our Spotify playlist here!

“SPECIALZ” by King Gnu

So I know this is a bit of an older track but as of late, I’ve had it on repeat due to it being the second opening to Jujutsu Kaisen season 2. When ‘SPECIALZ’ originally came out, I didn’t care for it and put it aside. Giving it a another chance, as it is very befitting to Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 and it has grown on me quite a bit. 

Check out “SPECIALZ” here and in the video below!

“Monopoly” by Nogizaka46

Originally on the show, I was indifferent toward ‘Monopoly’ as I wasn’t sure on if this is a track, I’d go back and listen to multiple times. Surpringly though, it has ended up in my rotation quite a bit while I’ve been working. I think “Monopoly” is one of the strongest releases Nogizaka46 has had in a while but I’m not certain how much this trend will continue. 

Check out “Monopoly” here and in the video below!

“N.E.X.T.” by BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE Tribe

BALLISTIK BOYZ have released their latest album, which I’ve been enjoying it quite a bit but I want to specifically highlight their song “N.E.X.T.” This track is the last song on the album but it is a wonderful ballad that shows off what makes these guys so great. I missed this release when it originally dropped but I’m glad I got the opportunity to finally check it out as its a track that needs some showcasing.

Check out “N.E.X.T.” here and in the video below!

“Good Girl” by Sincere 

This release completely took me by surprise. I already have been enjoying Sincere’s music quite a bit, but I didn’t expect ‘Good Girl’ to be this good. I love the fun catchy beat that this song has and Sincere’s vocals are amazing. However, this number does have me wondering one question, “Who hurt Sincere?” 

Check out “Good Girl” here and in the video below!

“Snowin’” by DXTEEN

I can already hear everyone rolling their eyes on this but what can I say I’ve been enjoying “Snowin’”. I think this is a great release by DXTEEN, as “Snowin’” is a fun catchy number that gets caught in the listener’s head. 

Check out “Snowin’” here and in the video below!

Music Corner Week 144: GENIC

/

GENIC is a seven-member co-ed dance and vocal group that debuted in 2020. GENIC came through Avex’s “a-genic PROJECT” back in 2019. Current members of GENIC are Maiki Nishimoto, who is the leader of the group, Atsuki Mashiko, Joe Nishizawa, Kakeru Amemiya Kakeru, Kaneya Maria, Koike Ryuki, and Ui Yurari. The “a-genic PROJECT” was announced in 2019 as part of Avex’s aim to establish a new dance and vocal group that would inherit Avex’s DNA. Initially, 12 members passed the audio, but, eventually, the number of members was whittled down to seven. GENIC officially debuted in May of 2020 with the release of their first album GENEX, and has since released another album, put out two digital EPs, and released 12 digital singles. Lastly, in March of 2024, GENIC will release their third album N_G.  

GENIC does a great job showcasing their vocals in their songs with some great harmonization. I enjoy the sound of male and female voices harmonizing together, and GENIC does a great job with this. “Sayanara no wake” is a great example of this. The composition has this nice, but simple piano, and the music swells to this great explosion in the chorus. The vocals on display are great and pull the listener in. Their song “I’ll Be There” is a fun, upbeat number where, again, their vocals shine through. They also have songs like “Supersonic”, which is a bit more dance-heavy, and showcases some of their rapping skill, which is also well done.

All the latest news for the group is posted on both their official website along with their X account. Lastly, be sure to check out their song “Sayanara no wake” in the video below.

Gray's Ongaku Go For January 2024

/

January is already behind us and we here at OTY 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 featured on this site, along with our Spotify playlist here!

“Your eyes, Your Voice”  by tonun

What a song tonun has dropped for January. Talk about starting the new year on the right foot. The composition is on the next level the way he layers in all the instruments is done to expert perfection. I’ve been listening to this amazing track on repeat and won’t stop for a while.

Check out “Your eyes, Your Voice” here and in the video below!

“Raise Me Up” by lol

I've been enjoying lol’s new album since it dropped.“Raise Me Up” reminds me of that “Trigger” energy with this high electronic dance number. It’s nice to hear this from lol since 2023 was a quiet year for them. I’ll be listening to their new album for a while. 

Check out “Raise Me Up” here and in the video below!

“Lemonade” by White Jam

“Lemonade” is a fun track that has me thinking of a warm summer day, and it’s been a really cold January. “Lemonade” is the second track on White Jam’s latest album, Hourglass, which just dropped. Per usual, White Jam is at the top of their game, and “Lemonade” is a great addition to their discography. 

Check out “Lemonade” here and in the video below!

“Time Paradox” by VAUNDY

VAUNDY kicks off the year release “Time Paradox” which goes to show how much of a workhorse this man is. I was not expecting him to release anything for a while but to my surprise, this song dropped this past month and for someone who has so many releases it is amazing how he can maintain the quality that he does. 

Check out “Time Paradox” here and in the video below!

“Aiai” by chilldspot

chilldspot is a new band I’ve been listening to recently, and this is off of their “Madaramoyo EP”. “Aiai”  has a nice quiet opening and stays that way until the mid-point of the song; then it begins to build up to this great explosion before dropping back down. Hiyune is the vocalist for the group and I really enjoy her performance in this song.

Check out “Aiai” here and in the video below!

Gray's Ongaku Go For November 2023

/

As the autumn leaves of November have passed us by, that means it’s time for this month’s Ongaku Go! We at OTY 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 featured on this site, along with our Spotify playlist here!

“Sundadokei” by White Jam

This is the latest single by White Jam, and it is not only really good but also made me realize how much I’ve missed these guys’ songs. This has been a pretty quiet year for White Jam, but this song shows they are still working very hard in the industry.

Check out “Sundadokei” here and in the video below!

“WHITE SNOW” by IVVY

A winter song by a boy group is going to be pretty much what you expect from them. Even though this is pretty standard fair for this time of year, I enjoyed hearing these guys belt it out in this track. The whole thing comes together well. This is another group that has been pretty quiet this year, so it was nice to hear something from them.

Check out “WHITE SNOW” here and in the video below!

“snow love” by tonun

This is a lovely seasonal track with a tonun magic touch. “snow love” has a nice upbeat rhythm to it with a nice hook. It’s quite the ditty and I’ve been really enjoying this one.

Check out “snow love” here and in the video below!

“chiguhagulove” by lol

Gray liking an lol song is certainly nothing new, but still, I’ve got to be true to myself and put this song on the list. I enjoy the composition work on this, and it just has this lovely charm about it.

Check out “chiguhagulove” here and in the video below!

“Better With You” by GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE (Ryuto Kazuhara)

While this was released on the latest GENERATIONS’ single, this is a solo track for Ryuto Kazuhara, and it features the best vocal performance I’ve heard all year. Falsetto on men is a bit trickier to hit, and a lot of male vocalists can’t do it well, but Kazuhara nails it here and has completely captivated me. This is easily one of the best songs I’ve heard all year, and I will be talking about it again at the end of the year.

Check out “Better With You” here and in the video below!