Hello Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Leo Ieiri beat out AKB48 to take the top spot for the third week in a row. This week sees 2 newcomers battling it out. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

Oricon #1: Arashi – Ai wo Sakebe (not released digitally)

Ronald: This is so cheesy. I don’t find this enjoyable at all. I actually find it quite cringeworthy. It’s like a parody of a pop rock song that you’d find in some middle of the road romantic comedy. It’s an attempt at being a fun song, but I don’t get fun from it. I just get copy and past laziness. Like how many times have we’ve heard this before? The only reason it’s getting the score it’s getting is because of the stringed parts. 2/10

Thomas: This is quite fun, but nothing special. It’s a typical Arashi song and not a bad one but I feel like the instrumental is a bit too loud. It almost buries their vocals at some parts. 6/10

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Recochoku #1 / iTunes #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Unfair World (Oricon #2)

Ronald: Ehh, they’ve had much better ballads than this. Actually, they’ve one had 1 better ballad: “Hanabi.” Every other ballad has basically been a clone of “Hanabi”, and “Unfair World” is no different. It’s not that I dislike the song, it’s just that I don’t see a purpose for it. There’s nothing new or interesting going on here. It’s just… there. 4/10

Thomas: I like Sandaime J Soul Brothers when they aren’t  remaking their hits. Sadly, this is just another remake of Hanabi and I even felt like the arrangement was the exact same one. They’re not bad singers at all, but I’m not a fan of this song. 5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Recochoku #1 / iTunes #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Unfair World

2. Oricon #1: Arashi – Ai wo Sakebe

 

Thomas’ Rank:

1. Oricon #1: Arashi – Ai wo Sakebe

2. Recochoku #1 / iTunes #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Unfair World

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