If you’re expecting a typical idol song from Watarirouka Hashiritai’s 4th single then you are going to be in for a shock as this is unlike anything I’ve heard before from any idol group to be honest and I’m not sure what to make of it. Sakura no Shiori provoked a split amongst AKB48 fans who feared it might bomb before being stunned by the huge figures on the opening day of sales and I can safely say that this is likely to inflict another split between fans with the huge majority thinking that this is not a good song at all. It’s just plain bad. The nursery rhyme-like feel for it doesn’t do anything whatsoever for me and it’s unlikely to make me change my mind. I just can’t see this song generating any healthy sales at all. If this breaks 12k during the first week of sales I’ll be very surprised. I’m all for Akimoto trying something different but I’m just scratching my head who he’s trying to target with this song – little kids? What do you think about this tune? Do you agree with me that this song is a mistake or maybe you like it? Let me know.
Sorry for the poor LQ PV, I’ll change it as soon as I find a better quality version. I also forgot to say that the new song also features the newly promoted Ayaka Kikuchi.
SKE48 follow up their debut single Tsuyoki Mono yo with their 2nd called Aozora Kataomoi which is out on the 24th March. Tsuyoki Mono yo was great but Aozora Kataomoi is definitely a step up. It’s a fantastic pop song with the PV shot on the roof of a tall building (must be somewhere in Nagoya) with a stage set up surrounded by their fans. I expect this single to do even better for them in terms of sales. If people assume without listening first that SKE48 are inferior to AKB48 in every way are doing the girls a huge injustice. They’re a talented idol group on their own and all of the stages they’ve done so far especially the 2nd have been awesome. Give them a chance and I’m sure you’ll grow to love them just as much as their sister group in Akihabara.
One of the best music talent to emerge out of Japan in 2009 was Jasmine. She burst onto the J-pop scene with the excellent Sad To Say then followed it up with the equally brilliant No More Cry. Now she’s back with another cracking single – This Is Not A Game. What I like about her is how she keeps changing her image with each new single specifically the color of her clothes and wig. For her debut single she was all in pink then she was clad in green for the 2nd single and for her newest single she’s in shocking red which I think looks cool on her. I love the wig with the horns!! Is she trying to tell us that she’s a sexy devil or what in the PV? Check out the PV below.
Last week I posted that the two Tomomi’s who have a recurring role in Kamen Rider W were releasing a single together under the moniker of Queen & Elizabeth. The PV for the single called Love Wars is finally out although what I’ve got here is low quality. I’ll try and update it when I find a better one. The song itself is fantastic – a catchy pop rock number. I hope it does well for Itano and Kasai.
Tokyograph reports that AKB48′s producer Akimoto has won the prestigious 5th Shin Watanabe Award that recongizes a person’s contribution to the entertainment industry in Japan. It’s easy to know why this has been given to him with AKB48′s rising popularity not only in Japan but around the world after an extremely successful 2009. Well done Aki-P!!
Another week , another new no.1 as boyband Hey!Say!Jump! crash straight into the top spot with their new single Hitomi no Screen. It’s not too bad of a song but it’s nothing special either. AKB48 dropped from no.1 to no.5 and sold 22,223 copies of Sakura no Shiori in their 2nd week bring their total up to 340,051. I think it’s a bit impossible for them now to try and catch up with sales for KAT-TUN’s single as they’ve gone over 400k but to be the 2nd highest selling single of the year so far is very good for them. Expect KAT-TUN to relinquish that spot once Arashi release a single.
There were 7 new entries inside the Top 10 with H!P Mano Erina entering at no.10 with her best song in a while. Actress Kii Kitano came in at no.7 with Sakura Saku. A nice song by her and I enjoyed Backborn’s song at no.2. Kana Nishino is at no.3 continuing the great run she’s enjoyed lately after the success of Dear…/MAYBE and Motto. My favorite songs in the charts are all outside the Top 10 starting off with GoGo….I mean Chiaki Kuriyama at no.11. She has a surprisingly good voice. Every Little Thing and The Brilliant Green also get new entries in the Top 20 at no.16 and no.17. Two great songs to listen to and I would have liked to see them a bit higher in the charts.
I can’t believe that terrible rumba song by Kiyoshi Hikawa is back in the Top 30. It annoyed the hell out of me last year but it must be popular to move back up the charts.
The chart rundown in full:
30 Matchy Kondo – Zanbara
29 Takeshi Kitayama – Takechiho
28 Yuzu – Sakurae
27 Graham Come Across Acres Yuichi Nakamura – Mobile Suit Gundam OO Voice Actor Single
26 Nana Mizuki – Silent Bible
25 Yoshimi Tendo – Fellow Traveler Life
24 Qwai – Sayonara No Sora
23 Yuya Matsushita – Trust Me
22 Fuyumi Sakamoto – Mata Kimi Ni Koi Shiteru
21 Hiroshi Itsuki – Oshiroi Hana
20 JUJU – Sakura Ame
19 Kiyoshi Hikawa – Tokimeki no Rumba
18 Sataandagi – Flew To Okinawa Rail
17 The Brilliant Green – Like Yesterday
16 Every Little Thing – Change
15 Daisuke Ono, Hiroshi Kamiya + – Adoring S.O.S!
14 Elisa – Real Force
13 fripSIDE – Level5 ~judgelight~
12 Theatre Book – Uragiri No Yuyake
11 CHiAKi KURiYAMA – Ryuusei No Namida
10 Mano Erina – Haru No Arashi
09 Shinsengumi Rian – Honto Ni Boku De Iin Desuka
08 Chihara Minori – Yasashi Bokyaku
07 Kii Katano – Sakura Saku
06 KAT-TUN – Love Yourself ~ Kimi Ga Kirai Na Kimi Ga Suki ~
05 AKB48 – Sakura no Shiori
04 Onna Lovely – Onara Hazukashikunaiyo
03 Kana Nishino – Best Friend
02 Tsubasa Imai – Backborn
01 Hey! Say! JUMP – Hitomi No Screen
