Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Kame to Yamapi defeat Che’Nelle and WANIMA. This week, we have three newcomers facing off against a returnee from a previous week. 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: THE IDOLM@STER – THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS LITTLE STARS! Etude wa 1 Kyoku Dake (not released digitally / Billboard #5)

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Ronald: This is actually surprisingly enjoyable. It wasn’t what I expected. The intro reminds me of one of one of those songs that an enka or kayokyoku singer would sing on a show like Utacon or Kohaku. The rest of the song carries on with that vintage vibe, which is strangely refreshing when mixed with the more idol-like vocals. 6/10

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Recochoku #1: Beverly – I need your love (not released physically / iTunes #6 / Billboard #10)

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Ronald: Same review as before: The vocals… This song is all about the vocals. And they are some of the best Western-style vocals I’ve heard out of Japan in a while. It’s funny though that Beverly isn’t Japanese, but Filipino, but then again Filipinos are known for vocals. Her main vocals are great, but the backing vocals she did also caught my attention. There are a lot of riffs and runs in this song, which is something that isn’t as common in Japanese music, so it caught me by surprise. The one problem I have with this song is the pre-chorus; it just sounds really juvenile. 7/10

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iTunes #1: TrySail – adrenaline!!! (Oricon #6 / Recochoku #6 / Billboard #3)

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Ronald: I expected this for the most part. It’s really cheerful, but not to the point where I was annoyed, thankfully. I can’t say that I would seek this out, but I wouldn’t have a gut reaction against it either. 4/10

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Billboard #1: GOT7 – MY SWAGGER (Oricon #3 / not in the Recochoku or iTunes top 50)

Ronald: What is this noisy crap? And who the hell says “swagger” still, let alone make it the title of their single? So not only is this a sonic disaster, it’s also dated as hell. Songs like this are why people hate KPop. Thankfully it’s only 3 minutes long. 0/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Recochoku #1: Beverly – I need your love

2. Oricon #1: THE IDOLM@STER – THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS LITTLE STARS! Etude wa 1 Kyoku Dake

3. iTunes #1: TrySail – adrenaline!!!

4. Billboard #1: GOT7 – MY SWAGGER

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