2017 has been a mixed combo of winners in many genres, including some classic artists. Here’s the songs that J-Pop Go think stood out this year – along with the personal lists from the J-Pop Go contributors…
Perfume – TOKYO GIRL
YOU’LL MELT MORE! – モイモイ
NIJI NO CONQUISTADOR – キミは無邪気な夏の女王~This Summer Girl Is an Innocent Mistress~
Utada Hikaru – Forevermore
°C-ute – Final Squall
The Tomboys – Tell Me Why
BRATS – Nounai Shoukyo Game
FEMM – Do It Again
Gang Parade – Foul
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku – Sing along sing a song
BiSH – プロミスザスター (Promise The Star)
LOVEBITES – Shadowmaker
MORNING MUSUME 17 – BRAND NEW MORNING
KYARY PAMYU PAMYU – HARAJUKU IYAHOI
BAND JA NAIMON! – YAKIMOCHI
CONTRIBUTOR’S LISTS
MARY GROUTAGE
Songs Of The Year
1 Hikaru Utada – Forevermore
2 °C-ute – Final Squall
3 Morning Musume 17 – BRAND NEW MORNING
4 Kis-My-Ft2 – Tonight
5 Tsuri Bit- My Victory
Albums Of The Year
1 Arashi – Untitled
2 Seiko Oomori – kitixxxgaia
3 Appare! Harajuku – APPARE! WORLD
4 Akko Gorilla – GREEN QUEEN
5 Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku – Ebicracy
Promising New Act
Deadlift Lolita
ROXY SIMONS
Songs Of The Year
1 [Alexandros] – Snow sound
2 Jonghyun – Let me out
3 one ok rock – We are
4 LOVEBITES – Shadowmaker
5 Taemin – Move
Albums Of The Year
1 LOVEBITES – Awakening from Abyss
2 Jonghyun – Story Op. 2
3 Wagakki Band – Shikisai
4 Miyavi – All time best ‘day 2’
5 BTS – Love Yourself: Her
Event Of The Year
Drug Restaurant at 229 the venue
Promising New Act
LOVEBITES
PAUL BROWNE
Songs Of The Year
1 Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku – Aoiro no Monday
2 You’ll Melt More! – モイモイ
3 FEMM – Dear Friends
4 Perfume – TOKYO GIRL
5 Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Harajuku Iyahoi
Albums Of The Year
1 FEMM – 80s/90s J-Pop Revival
2 You’ll Melt More! – Youtopia
3 Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku – Ebicracy
4 BiSH – The Guerrilla BiSH
5 Himezawa – Spades & Stars
Promising New Act
NECRONOMIDOL
Event Of The Year
NECRONOMIDOL at Water Rats, London
KAREN KEMP
Songs Of The Year
1 You’ll Melt More! – Yaru
2 Bandjanaimon! – Yakimochi
3 Gang Parade – Foul
4 Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku – Sing Along, Sing A Song
5 Niji no Conquistador – Kimi wa Mujakina Natsu no Jouou
Albums Of The Year
1 You’ll Melt More! – Youtopia
2 Bandjanaimon! – Kanpeki Shugi na Sekai ni Fukanzen na Ongaku wo
3 Zenbu Kimi no Sei da – Egoistic Eat Issues
4 Up Up Girls (Kari) – 4th Album Force
5 Niji no Conquistador – Rainbow Phenomenon
Promising New Act
Zenbu Kimi no Sei da. Despite a rocky 2 years of member dramas and an unstable lineup, they have hit the underground idol scene as a strong presence and continue to gain support and momentum into the new year, as they ride on a mix of ever-catchy dempa music and heavier emotional tunes. Egoistic Eat Issues, their latest album, packed a punch and shows promise for greater things to come.
Event Of The Year
As much as Hyper Japan and Japan Expo continue to establish themselves as providers of the greatest selection of J-pop content and guests in Europe, my favourite event of the year has been the Juice=Juice world tour, which earmarked the first live performance of a Hello! Project group within the UK.
Following hot on the success of °C-ute’s farewell gigs in Paris and Mexico, I feel it’s successful running and positive response has set a precedent for various other acts to follow as support for the industry expands.
- 2019 – Songs Of The Year - December 31, 2019
- LOVE LIVE! SUNSHINE!! Aqours World LoveLive! in LA - July 8, 2019
- HYPER JAPAN 2018 Gallery - August 3, 2018