Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi defeat Masaharu Fukuyama. DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi are back again this week, facing off against a newcomer and a blast from the past. 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: Happiness – GOLD (Recochoku # / not in the iTunes top 50 / Billboard #3)

Ronald: To get get straight to the point: this is a bop. It’s not trying to be anything more than that. The tropical house trend needs to die already, but this is actually not as annoying as a lot of those songs are. I could live without the rapping though. 6.5/10

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Recochoku #1 / iTunes #1: Namie Amuro – Hero (Oricon #37 / Billboard #5)

Ronald: Same review as before: This song needs a hero. It’s just another piece of nothing song that I’ve heard a million times before from a million other acts. If Namie was going to do something of this tempo, she should’ve taken notes from “BRIGHTER DAY” because this is just a bore, lacking in character and excitement. 4/10

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Billboard #1: DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi – Uchiage Hanabi (Oricon #40 / Recochoku #7 / iTunes #3)

Ronald: Same as before: This is basiacally a Yonezu Kenshi song featuring DAOKO. I have my problems with Kenshi, and they’re evident in this song. While listening to this, all I can think of is a rehash of a The Chainsmokers song. But I will say that DAOKO’s voice has improved. I listened to one of her albums a few years ago and I had to stop it a few songs in because her voice literally gave me a headache and made me want to vomit. I don’t have that issue now! However, I’m a bit lost as to what her point is. She was a rapper, and now she’s trying to be a popstar? I don’t get it… 5.5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Oricon #1: Happiness – GOLD

2. Billboard #1: DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi – Uchiage Hanabi

3. Recochoku #1 / iTunes #1: Namie Amuro – Hero

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