Hello, AramaJapan readers! We are back with our new weekly feature “#1 Song Review”! Last week it was a battle between EXILE, Takako Matsu, and ONE OK ROCK, with ONE OK ROCK winning the user poll. This week we have 2 new songs to review and a holdover from last week. Check out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped Oricon, Recochoku and iTunes. Also, give us your reviews and vote for which song you like the most.

Oricon #1: SKE48 – Bukiyou Taiyou (Recochoku #6 / didn’t appear in the iTunes top 10 all week)

Ronald: Ok, I’m just going to say it: I’m not here for idols. The Japanese girl/boy groups don’t really interest me. It’s not something that falls within my taste. I know people say they like them for other things they do outside of music but since I’m only really here for music, all that’s lost on me. That being said, I’m glad this song isn’t some kawaii sugarfest (another thing I’m not here for are cute/overly happy things… I find them very cringe). This song isn’t that bad to be honest. Mostly because it’s more on the mellow side. It reminds me a lot of a school chorus. I do like the chanting part in the chorus. Parts of the chorus also randomly sound like a drum and bass song. It’s ok, but it’s not something that I’d personally seek out. 5.5/10

Kyle: I was actually really excited to review this because then I could see if Jurina finally washed her hair, but this isn’t a video review. (I think she DID btw) At first I found the songs verses to be pretty stale, and I was struggling not to fast forward. I actually really like the chorus though, especially the 2nd half. It bothers me that the girls all sound really bored, I know it’s a mellow song but there isn’t any passion in the vocals. This would be amazing if it was sung by someone else. 7/10

Ryan: I’ve been the most interested in SKE48 out of all the AKS girl groups since Banzai Venus (which I still occasionally hum). I definitely prefer more upbeat songs and colorful videos as A-sides from idol groups, but luckily they have other teams on this single to fill that gap for me. Like Kyle, I had a hard time not fast forwarding through the video, but when they started CHANTING in the chorus I was all about it. I think it’s fine they sound bored because chanting is sort of mindless and monotonous. Give me more chanting in pop music! This kind of rocks??
7.5/10

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Recochoku #1: ONE OK ROCK – Mighty Long Fall  (Oricon #2 / iTunes #2)

Ronald: This hasn’t grown on me since last week’s review. If anything, I side-eye it even more than I did before because of Ryan pointing out in his review of it last week that is sounds a pre-Skrillex Skrillex song. I’m going to knock them down half a point from last week’s review due to this revelation of their lack of originality. 4/10

Kyle: This past week I’ve been having an early to mid 00s phase, I really associate that era with this style of music so this song kinda took me back. Taku’s English is quite impressive, I’m not familiar with their work at all but I was surprised at how great he sounded. Song isn’t bad but I wouldn’t seek it out to listen to again. 5.5/10

Ryan: I don’t have anything new to say. (His review from last week: This reminds me of a song Skrillex released before he was Skrillex called Mora (which had a Japanese version called Kai Sui for some reason). I’ve seen a lot of fans complain about the vocal production and compression used on Taka’s vocals but I quite like it. They have a very international sound now and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. The ground collapsing around them was really visually interesting. 5/10)

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iTunes #1: BUMP OF CHICKEN – You were here (not released physically as a single / Recochoku #2)

Ronald: Surprise, surprise, this is my pick of the week. What can I say about this song? It just has this nice mellow, chill feel that I really like. I find Motoo’s voice on this to be quite soothing. I kinda feel like I’m floating when I listen to this. I just feel like swaying. I tend to listen to music mostly at night at the end of my day and this kinda fits the mood when I just want to relax. Surprisingly, I can link this mellow feeling back to the SKE48 song which I liked more than I thought I would. I just tend to like mellow music at times. I’ve been told before that I kinda like depressing music but just because something is mellow, it doesn’t mean that it’s depressing. 8.5/10

Kyle: Once this song started to play I felt really relaxed and at ease. I really love the intro, reminds me of the xx. The vocals were also great, I could hear the passion in his voice unlike SKE48. This song seemed to go on forever though, and halfway though I was just waiting for it to end. 6.5/10

Ryan: This is good sleeping music (in the best way possible!). I usually don’t like behind the scenes or tour music videos but this was really nicely shot and fits the mood of the song. I’ve always been a fan of Motoo’s voice. 6/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. iTunes #1: BUMP OF CHICKEN – You were here

2. Oricon#1 : SKE48 – Bukiyou Taiyou

3. Recochoku #1: ONE OK ROCK – Mighty Long Fall

Kyle’s Rank:

1. Oricon #1 : SKE48 – Bukiyou Taiyou

2. iTunes #1: BUMP OF CHICKEN – You were here

3. Recochoku #1: ONE OK ROCK – Mighty Long Fall

Ryan’s Rank:

1. Oricon #1: SKE48 – Bukiyou Taiyou

2. iTunes # : BUMP OF CHICKEN – You were here

3. Recochoku #1: ONE OK ROCK – Mighty Long Fall