On February 9, MONDO GROSSO will release his new album, “BIG WORLD.” This album is self-titled in a way, with “MONDO GROSSO” meaning “BIG WORLD” in Italian. The album’s concept is a musical journey that searches for heart in a world that has changed and is continuing to change.
The album will feature an array of collaborators, including Mika Nakashima, Seiko Oomori, CHAI, Awesome City Club‘s PORIN, and Nogizaka46‘s Asuka Saito.
Ahead of the release of “BIG WORLD”, the music video for the song “IN THIS WORLD” has been released. The song features Hikari Mitsushima on vocals and Ryuichi Sakamoto on piano. UA wrote the song’s lyrics. Hikari previously worked with MONDO GROSSO on the viral hit “Labyrinth” from his 2017 album “Nandodemo Atarashiku Umareru.” The music video for “Labyrinth” has been viewed over 30 million times on YouTube.
Check out the music video for “IN THIS WORLD”, which features Hikari performing choreography created by s**t kingz‘s NOPPO, below!
This week, King Gnu topped the Combined Single chart with their single “Ichizu / Sakayume”, with 116,901 points in its first week of physical release.
Nogizaka46 retook the top spot on the Combined Album chart with their album “Time flies”, with 12,957 points in its third week, topping the chart for the second non-consecutive week.
King Gnu also topped the Single chart with “Ichizu / Sakayume”, selling 47,009 copies in its first week.
Nogizaka46 retook the top spot on the Album chart with “Time flies”, selling 11,550 copies in its third week, topping the chart for the second non-consecutive week.
King Gnu also topped the Digital Single chart for the second consecutive week with “Sakayume”, selling 25,754 copies its second week.
YOASOBI topped the Digital Album chart for the fifth consecutive week with their mini album “THE BOOK 2”, selling 3,888 copies in its fifth week.
King Gnu also topped the Streaming chart for with “Ichizu”, with 8,946,161 streams in its fourth week.
Utada Hikaru is preparing to release their new album “BAD Mode”, out digitally January 19 and physically February 23. All of the details in regards to the album have now been released.
“BAD Mode” will contain three new songs: “BAD Mode”, “Kibun Janai no”, and “Somewhere Near Marseilles ーMarseilles Atariー.” The album will have ten songs in total, along with four bonus tracks, which include the Japanese version of “Find Love” and the A.G. Cook remix of “Face My Fears.”
Utada will release the full music video for the album’s title track during their January 19 online concert “Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios”, but a short version of it can be found below, along with more information on their new album!
In related news, the vinyl edition of “BAD Mode” will be released on April 27, along with the vinyl editions of “ULTRA BLUE”, “HEART STATION”, and “Fantôme.” The vinyl edition of “Hatsukoi” will be re-released on March 10, along with the vinyl editions of “First Love”, “Distance”, and “DEEP RIVER.”
On January 10, Satomi Ishihara announced through her agency HoriPro that she is pregnant with her first child!
“I am very sorry for the inconvenience, but I would like to report that I am pregnant with my first child. I have safely reached the stable period of my pregnancy, and taking things easy. I am due in the spring,” Satomi said in her statement.
This week’s guest was LACCO TOWER.
LACCO TOWER – Seishun
This week’s guests were Tokunaga Hideaki, Ryokuoushoku Shakai, and SixTONES.
Tokunaga Hideaki x Nagaya Haruko (Ryokuoushoku Shakai) – Genki wo Dashite
Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Landscape
SixTONES – Rosy
Tokunaga Hideaki – Eien no Hate ni
This week’s performers were INI, WurtS, and 4s4ki. There was also a talk segment between the show’s hosts, Harami-chan, and Matsumura Sayuri. They went over a list of the acts that a group of 296 music industry professionals chose as the ones to look out for in 2022. MUSICA Editor-in-Chief Ariizumi Tomoko also provide commentary. The list can be seen below!
INI – Rocketeer
WurtS – Wakattenai yo
4s4ki – Chronicle
This week’s guest was EXILE.
EXILE – EXILE Pride ~Konna Sekai wo Aisuru Tame~ / RED PHOENIX
