Idol Rewind | My Top 5 Jpop Boy Group Releases of 2019

So yeah, I did this for 2018 so I thought it would be fun to do it for 2019 as well. Admittedly I was a bit AWOL for the latter half of 2019... I had my debut idol performance in August and around that time I moved into my own place as well. Plus the fact that September would mark the beginning of my first year of no longer being a college student so having to start properly looking into finding work and figuring out what I actually want to do has been...interesting to say the least but anyway, even if I wasn't posting I was always there, always lurking. Certain idols I like to stalk online can probably attest to this. So anyway, without further ado, here is my slightly biased top 5 list of Jpop boy group releases from 2019!

1. SUPER★DRAGON - 2nd Emotion

SUPER★DRAGON takes the first spot on this list for the second year in a row! I stand by everything I've said about them in the past; they're just a group that knows no boundaries and is always surprising us with the interesting concepts they come out with and this year they of course didn't disappoint. "2nd Emotion" was their second album and not only did we get two tracks with music videos from it but also a dance version of the main track, not to mention the abundance of extras you got if you bought the disk. There wasn't a single song on this album that I didn't like and it's just good, man. So good.

2. BUZZ-ER. - #BFF

A group of new faces takes the second place spot, and this is also a group that has managed to creep their way into my top 5 male idol groups list this year too. Welcome BUZZ-ER.! BUZZ-ER. actually released 2 albums and a single this year but I chose this particular album because it contains all of the songs from all their other releases as well. Most of BUZZ-ER.'s releases this year have had such a fun dasa-kakkoi (goofy-cool) vibe to them that I absolutely love and all the songs have been so catchy I've been looping them on Spotify for months. 

Idol Rewind | My Top 5 Jpop Boy Group Releases of 2018

Another year of fangirling done, except this wasn't just any other year. Within EBiDAN specifically there were quite a few sad times with members leaving left and right (check out Angi's post about that here) but we also had some huge accomplishments for our boys like with Bullet Train's MAMA performance. MEN'S PANIC -- a festival just for male idols -- was held for the first time and on a more personal note my lifelong dream of going to Japan finally came true. DA PUMP broke the Oricon charts with an unexpected jam and we also had the debut of Japan's very first all-foreign male idol group. I wonder what 2019 will hold for us? But before we start thinking about that let's take a look back at 2018 with a few of my favourite releases from this year.

 1. SUPER★DRAGON - Monster!

"Monster!" is the 3rd single from SUPER★DRAGON and has to be my favourite of their releases thus far, not just because of the main song but all of the coupling songs are extremely lit. I'm always going on about "Get Treasure Journey" but seriously, if you haven't already do yourself a favor and listen to it.

2. SUPER★DRAGON - SWEET DEVIL

"SWEET DEVIL" is SUPER★DRAGON's 4th single and it had just come out around the time that I was in Japan so the group performed it both times that I saw them live during my trip. Hearing both the main song and the single's coupling tracks brings back great memories of both lives and is a large part of what's made SUPER★DRAGON my favourite group this year (RIP M!LK).

3. MAG!C☆PRINCE - Bel!ever

The main reason I like this one is probably because it's now available internationally on both iTunes and Spotify. All of the songs are jams. Buy the album. Stan Magipri.

Watch Out for the Jams | My Top 5 Da-iCE Songs

Hey there, idol fans! If you're looking for some song recommendations for this month's featured group then look no further. Today I'll be sharing with you all my top 5 songs by Da-iCE. Let's get started!

1. BILLION DREAMS

The main song from Da-iCE's fifth major single, "BILLION DREAMS" is a total jam. It's one of the songs that gets stuck in your head for days after just listening to it once.

2. WATCH OUT

The first song by Da-iCE I ever came across and it caused me to fall in love with them instantly. It's catchy as heck and I love the English version just as much as the Japanese. The B-side track from this single, "Sora" is also pretty amazing and both songs take me back to around the time when Da-iCE had their first ever overseas live in the US.

3. Splash

I'm a sucker for a good debut song and "Splash" definitely does not disappoint. From the group's self-titled indie debut mini album, this one is always a crowd-pleaser at lives.

Sh*tty Noise | My Top 5 SUPER★DRAGON Songs

Hey there, idol fans! If you're in need of some Jpop recommendations then check out my top 5 songs by this month's featured group, SUPER★DRAGON.

1. Get Treasure Journey

This song is an absolute gem. Incorporating the group's usual rap and dubstep-inspired sound with a surprising raggae/dancehall influence, even my dad who has always questioned my interest in Japanese music approves of this song, haha. "Get Treasure Journey" is one of the coupling songs from the group's 3rd single, "Monster!". As much as I love Jean, I feel like some of Supadora songs just don't really fit him very well and the writers are just kind of looking for a place in the song to shove him in just because he's the lead rapper but this is not one of those songs. This song fits him and his voice extremely well in my opinion.

2. City Noise

Another one of the coupling songs from "Monster!", I was in awe the first time I heard "City Noise". It's so modern-sounding and unbelievably catchy that I feel like even people who aren't really into Jpop will like this one. I can't help but giggle a bit though at how Hyoma pronounces "city" as "sh*tty".

3. Ringing, Love

One of the coupling songs from SUPER★DRAGON's most recent single "SWEET DEVIL", I fell in love with "Ringing, Love" instantly the first time I heard it when I attended the SWEET DEVIL Release Event in Chiba. We all know that Tsuyoshi has a gorgeous voice but hearing him sing the "I love you so bad" lines in English in this song gets me every time.

Cows and Flames?! | My Top 5 M!LK Songs

Hey there, idol fans! I'm back with some more song recommendations. Check out my top 5 songs by this month's featured group, M!LK!

1. miruku!

A true throwback song, "miruku!" was one of the first songs that M!LK performed together as a group before their CD debut. It lacked a proper studio release up until late 2017 when it was included as a bonus track on a special edition of the group's debut album, "Osama no Gyuunyuu". This song is super upbeat and catchy, the choreography is adorable, and it's one of the few songs that they perform at almost every concert so it accurately documents how far the group has moved forward since they first performed it at Hoshio Matsuri 2014 (Just compare Mizuki's solo lines from that performance to the most recent one from Haruki's graduation live!).

2. Coffee ga Nomemasen

"Coffee ga Nomemasen" was the title track of M!LK's debut single and was also used as the ending song for the anime "Pankisu!". I personally feel that the group still have yet to release a single that tops this one! This song is so fun and innocent and truly shows what M!LK as a group is all about.

3. Shingakki A La Carte

"Shingakki A La Carte" was actually the first song by M!LK I ever came across and it also seems to be the single that was responsible for a lot of their success in the last few years. The song and music video are both absolutely adorable and it has such a fun wotagei routine that I can't help but get excited whenever I hear it start up during concerts.

My Top 5 MAG!C☆PRINCE Songs

Hey there, idol fans! If you're looking for some song recommendations for this month's featured group then look no further. Today I'll be sharing with you all my top 5 songs by MAG!C☆PRINCE. Let's get started!

1. Clap Your Hands

Not a main song so no music video for this one unfortunately but my all time favourite Magipri song has to be "Clap Your Hands". It's from their debut album "111" and this song is so cute and upbeat I can't help but sing along every time it comes up on my Spotify. In a few of their previous lives the group has allowed the audience to record them performing this song. It's such a simple and fun song that everyone can join in with so it always looks like so much fun for everyone there.

2. Zettai Aishiteru

Magipri's debut song and another one that never fails to get me excited. I always want to do the calls and wotagei routine (although I have to refrain while I'm in in public, haha). In the part that goes "minna aishiteru" I always sing "Kengo aishiteru". I know, I'm shameful.

3. Spin The Sky

The first Magipri song I ever came across and quite possibly their cutest music video to date. I'm just now realizing I may have a slight weakness for school-themed music videos. I really like the choreography for this one too.