Every year I have a little tradition, and list the things I’ve enjoyed the most during the previous year. I haven’t been able to post my best of 2012 yet because of either me being busy or LJ being down D: So I’ve decided to split it into a number of little posts, one category a time, starting with my favourite songs.
Please notice that it’s mostly (if not entirely) idol-related, not because I’m racist against other genres XD, but because I barely have time for my favourite genre, let alone other genres.
Songs of the year:
#1, “Monsters”, The Monsters
Literally my favourite song of the year. I’ve played it so much it’s surpassed every other song, ever since it was released on the Gift of Smap album. It’s surprising how well this strange combi works, and the song itself is great; plus Shingo is extremely hot in this song - and this comes from someone who usually does not find him hot.
#2, “Shake it up”, Kis-My-Ft2
Great, catchy, fun song. The first A-side in which Miyata has two solo lines! The theme song of Miyata's first drama! Wonderfully fun PV in which Kisumai are the characters from our "Kisumai in Rome outskirts" AU XD! There is a number of reasons why this is one of my absolute favourite songs of the year and also of all times, most are emotional but I also genuinely love it as a song. Seeing it live with Kenchan teaching us the aerobics dance was so fun, too.
#3, “Sing for you” Kis-My-Ft2
I honestly think this is the epitome of how cute a song by male idols can be. It’s just unbearably cute. It has my tantou, my oshi and another guy I really like wearing flowery suits and kissing butterflies and doing a happy, adorable dance routine. It never fails to make me smile and go “awwww” whenever I watch the performance or just listen to it. I adore it ♥
#4, “Ai, texas”, Yamashita Tomohisa
I remember downloading this song out of curiosity for the title, and then looping it for hours at night crying without any reason at all. It’s such a dramatic song, even Yamapi’s dull singing fits it perfectly in a way. The story of the song makes me ache inside...
#5, “Jung ya Freud no baai”, AKB48
I paid little attention to it when it was released as a c/w of “Give me five!”, but then it was published in the album “1830m” and it struck something inside of me. Its sweet, melancholy tune is just the best melody out of any ~48 song this year. And the lyrics are reminiscent of when Akimoto used to consistently write beautiful lyrics. What kind of dreams did Jung or Freud have when they were in love?
#6, “Karena kusuka dirimu”, JKT48
Jakarta-based JKT48, the first overseas AKB48 sister group, is a wonderful idol team ♥. I enjoy following them so much, perhaps more than any other female group at the moment. I also discovered that I like how Indonesian sounds! This is the Indonesian version of AKB classic “Kimi no koto ga suki dakara” and I’ve listened to it so much that it comes more natural to shout out “a-ku-su-ka!” than “da-i-su-ki!” in the chorus now XD
#7, “Special Thanks”, Inagaki Goro
I love Goro-chan’s singing voice so much, it’s so kind, soothing and melodic. And this song is just so sweet and positive ♥ actually it helped me get through a very difficult incident that happened around me. Then I saw it live, and Goro singing it so sweetly and earnestly, with Kimura behind him playing guitar for him... it was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.
#8, “Dancing star”, Kis-My-Ft2
I’ve been uncertain till the end whether to put “Dancing star” or “Deep your voice”, but eventually when I remember how awesome was the concert performance of this song I decided on it. The dancing was amazing! The synch was perfect! I’m so glad I could see it live with my own eyes instead of the biased dvd editing because I could witness how great the balance of it was. Plus, I adore this song to tiny little bits since the first time I listened to it. Just my favourite style!
#9, “Mujin’eki”, Iwasa Misaki
Debut single of Wasamin as an enka singer, it’s simply a great song. Both the definitely-enka-but-not-too-much tune and arrangement, and Wasamin’s impressive performance. It’s a song I enjoy listening to during all the seasons but I played it many times a day in the first months of 2012. (So excited for Wasamin’s second single coming next week!)
#10, “Jounetsu no mariachi”, Hikawa Kiyoshi
It was technically released in September 2011 but I’ve played this song on heavy rotation the whole year, and the two singles Kiyoshi released in 2012 were rather sombre. On the other hand, “Jounetsu no mariachi” is a flamboyant faux-Mexican fantasy with red bouganvilleas swaying in the Caribbean night breeze and gold-lined sombreros and Kiyoshi being an absolute star wrapped in tight shiny pants. His voice is also freer to have fun in this kind of kayou songs rather than in pure enka songs. He sounds like he’s enjoying singing it so much ♥
Please notice that it’s mostly (if not entirely) idol-related, not because I’m racist against other genres XD, but because I barely have time for my favourite genre, let alone other genres.
Songs of the year:
#1, “Monsters”, The Monsters
Literally my favourite song of the year. I’ve played it so much it’s surpassed every other song, ever since it was released on the Gift of Smap album. It’s surprising how well this strange combi works, and the song itself is great; plus Shingo is extremely hot in this song - and this comes from someone who usually does not find him hot.
#2, “Shake it up”, Kis-My-Ft2
Great, catchy, fun song. The first A-side in which Miyata has two solo lines! The theme song of Miyata's first drama! Wonderfully fun PV in which Kisumai are the characters from our "Kisumai in Rome outskirts" AU XD! There is a number of reasons why this is one of my absolute favourite songs of the year and also of all times, most are emotional but I also genuinely love it as a song. Seeing it live with Kenchan teaching us the aerobics dance was so fun, too.
#3, “Sing for you” Kis-My-Ft2
I honestly think this is the epitome of how cute a song by male idols can be. It’s just unbearably cute. It has my tantou, my oshi and another guy I really like wearing flowery suits and kissing butterflies and doing a happy, adorable dance routine. It never fails to make me smile and go “awwww” whenever I watch the performance or just listen to it. I adore it ♥
#4, “Ai, texas”, Yamashita Tomohisa
I remember downloading this song out of curiosity for the title, and then looping it for hours at night crying without any reason at all. It’s such a dramatic song, even Yamapi’s dull singing fits it perfectly in a way. The story of the song makes me ache inside...
#5, “Jung ya Freud no baai”, AKB48
I paid little attention to it when it was released as a c/w of “Give me five!”, but then it was published in the album “1830m” and it struck something inside of me. Its sweet, melancholy tune is just the best melody out of any ~48 song this year. And the lyrics are reminiscent of when Akimoto used to consistently write beautiful lyrics. What kind of dreams did Jung or Freud have when they were in love?
#6, “Karena kusuka dirimu”, JKT48
Jakarta-based JKT48, the first overseas AKB48 sister group, is a wonderful idol team ♥. I enjoy following them so much, perhaps more than any other female group at the moment. I also discovered that I like how Indonesian sounds! This is the Indonesian version of AKB classic “Kimi no koto ga suki dakara” and I’ve listened to it so much that it comes more natural to shout out “a-ku-su-ka!” than “da-i-su-ki!” in the chorus now XD
#7, “Special Thanks”, Inagaki Goro
I love Goro-chan’s singing voice so much, it’s so kind, soothing and melodic. And this song is just so sweet and positive ♥ actually it helped me get through a very difficult incident that happened around me. Then I saw it live, and Goro singing it so sweetly and earnestly, with Kimura behind him playing guitar for him... it was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.
#8, “Dancing star”, Kis-My-Ft2
I’ve been uncertain till the end whether to put “Dancing star” or “Deep your voice”, but eventually when I remember how awesome was the concert performance of this song I decided on it. The dancing was amazing! The synch was perfect! I’m so glad I could see it live with my own eyes instead of the biased dvd editing because I could witness how great the balance of it was. Plus, I adore this song to tiny little bits since the first time I listened to it. Just my favourite style!
#9, “Mujin’eki”, Iwasa Misaki
Debut single of Wasamin as an enka singer, it’s simply a great song. Both the definitely-enka-but-not-too-much tune and arrangement, and Wasamin’s impressive performance. It’s a song I enjoy listening to during all the seasons but I played it many times a day in the first months of 2012. (So excited for Wasamin’s second single coming next week!)
#10, “Jounetsu no mariachi”, Hikawa Kiyoshi
It was technically released in September 2011 but I’ve played this song on heavy rotation the whole year, and the two singles Kiyoshi released in 2012 were rather sombre. On the other hand, “Jounetsu no mariachi” is a flamboyant faux-Mexican fantasy with red bouganvilleas swaying in the Caribbean night breeze and gold-lined sombreros and Kiyoshi being an absolute star wrapped in tight shiny pants. His voice is also freer to have fun in this kind of kayou songs rather than in pure enka songs. He sounds like he’s enjoying singing it so much ♥
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