Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Flower defeat AKB48 and back number. Flower is back this week, facing off against 2 newcomers. 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: V6 – Beautiful World (not released digitally)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFba3rQSjB0

Ronald: V6 is one of the more tolerable Johnny’s acts, and I have liked some of their songs before, but this one is quite dull. It’s kinda cheesy actually. I think it’s the bells and the synth that accompanies them. It’s like something from a greeting card or detergent commercial. I’m actually surprised by how much it bothers me. Also, this song doesn’t really seem to go anywhere. It honestly feels like something that’s done to show a different side of V6, a side that I would rather not see again. They’re much better at more upbeat stuff. 4.5/10

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Recochoku #1: Flower – Yasashisa de Afureru You ni (Oricon #13 / iTunes #2)

Ronald: Same review as last week: When I heard that Flower was covering JUJU’s contemporary classic, “Yasashisa de Afureru You ni”, I was curious. I love the original, so I wanted to see how this turned out. The first thing that got to me was the :11 second market. There is a really strange bit in the arrangement that was a bit jarring, and pointless. Flower’s vocalist has a nice voice, but it doesn’t compare to JUJU’s. When you cover a song, you either need to make it your own, or outdo the original. This cover did neither. It’s pleasant, but it very much reminds me of a girl in a high school talent show. There’s just something lacking here… I don’t get the same emotion from this girl that I get from JUJU and it bothers me. JUJU gives me “woman”, a woman who sings from experience, while this just gives me a girl who lacks that experience, and is just singing something “pretty.” 7/10

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iTunes #1: Fujiwara Sakura – Soup (Oricon #4 / Recochoku #2)

Ronald: This song has been on the charts for a while, but it’s finally #1 now, due to the fact that the drama it’s the theme for, “Love Song”, just ended. I think the reason for its success is due to it being the theme for that drama, not necessarily because of how good the song is. Because honestly, it’s really average. I feel like this song could’ve been done by YUI or miwa or Leo Ieiri or any other girl who works in this vein of music. It’s nice enough, but nothing really exciting or that I haven’t heard a million times before. 5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Recochoku #1: Flower – Yasashisa de Afureru You ni

2. iTunes #1: Fujiwara Sakura – Soup

3. Oricon #1: V6 – Beautiful World

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