Luna's Ongaku Go for May 2023!

With Spring coming to an end and Summer heating up fast, it's that time of the month for May’s Ongaku Go! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.

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“CANDY CANDY (Moe Shop Remix)” by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

I have had the KPP’s “CANDY CANDY" (Moe Shop Remix)” stuck in my head since its release and was lucky enough to be able to see Moe Shop do this remix live AND see Kyary Pamyu Pamyu sing “CANDY CANDY” live, all in one day. This track oozes with energy both from Kyary’s sweet vocals and adds Moe Shop’s EDM flare to it. The high energy this track brings makes me want to get up and dance to it - that jump around, fun type of dance. This has one of the catchiest chorus’ making it easy to sing-a-long to.

Check out “CANDY CANDY (Moe Shop) Remix” here and the video below!

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“Sunflower” by CHANMINA

With the release of CHANMINA’s new album Naked, immediately upon hearing “Sunflower”, I fell in love with this track. CHANMINA’s vocals are perfect for it showcasing the power and emotion behind the lyrics of “Sunflower”. The composition gives easy listening vibes, but it could always be easily remixed and played in a club to jam out to. The chorus is catchy and flows perfectly with each versus, also making it an easy track to sing along to. If the composition doesn’t pull you in, the lyrics absolutely will.

Check out “Sunflower” here and the music video below!

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“Game Over” by CREAM

CREAM is back with their third digital single of 2023 and I couldn’t be happier. “Game Over” starts out with a more poppy tune and Minami’s vocals are as smooth as ever. The chorus and composition are very catchy, making you want to dance and sing with CREAM. The lyrics are about a break-up; I like this take on a break-up song giving it an up beat sound makes it a break-up song to make you feel better than those sappy ballad ones. Staxx-T’s rap is more minimal in this track but fits perfectly with ‘Game Over”. CREAM really slapped with this one, making it such a memorable track when it comes to the lyrics and composition.

Check out “Game Over” here and the video below!

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“WORK” by millenium parade & Shiina Ringo

I rarely watch any new anime while it airs, but a friend convinced me to watch Hell’s Paradise (Jigokuraku) and I heard the opening track “WORK” and became instantly hooked. The opening of this song pulls you in immediately. Shiina’s vocals match the composition and the rap millennium parade provides just flows together with ease. The guitar riff in the midst of “WORK” is odd yet works with the style this track represents. I love the use of Shiina’s vocals in “WORK” more than anything as that is what originally pulled me in.

Check out “WORK” here and the music video below!

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“Like a Tattoo” by BONNIE PINK

I’ve been a BONNIE PINK fan for a long time, hearing her begin to release new music again has made my heart happy. “Like a Tattoo” is a fantastic way for BONNIE PINK to start off 2023 with. BONNIE PINK’s vocals are still as great as ever and the composition has a modern flare that sounds different from BONNIE PINK’s music I grew up listening to. She makes it fit by bringing her own style to it. The lyrics, vocals, composition just pull you in, making it an easy listening track that you take in and enjoy. I just love the ending lyrics as they stick with you like a tattoo.

Check out “Like a Tattoo” here and the music video below!

Luna's Ongaku Go For April 2021!

Picking up after Ken with another month down from 2021, we at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.

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“Bijin” by CHANMINA

With the release of CHANMINA’s latest single, “Bijin”, I fell in love with this track as soon as the music video was released. Not only is “Bijin” a catchy track as far as composition goes, but the lyrics are what pulled me in as it talks about the meaning of beauty. This song really hit home for me with it’s subject matter as it deals with many struggles that women go through. CHANMINA did a fantastic job putting the lyrics in “Bijin” and making it an upbeat track that also hits home and is easily relatable too.

Check out “Bijin” here and the music video below.

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“Koko de Iki wo Shite” by eill

This is eill’s latest digital single and it is also being used as the ending theme song for the anime Tokyo Revengers. I was so hyped for “Koko de Iki wo Shite” and it did not let me down. This track encompasses the perfect flavor of jazz, rock, and pop all in one. The opening immediately grabs you with its jazzy feel and eill’s vocals fall right into it before the saxophone picks right up. “Koko de Iki wo Shite” flows so perfectly together in its composition between jazz and rock and eill’s vocal range shows.

Check out “Koko de Iki wo Shite” here and the music video below!

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“Dance In The Rain” by Koda Kumi

With Koda Kumi’s release of MY NAME IS….20th Anniversary tour, I went back to her discography after watching her latest tour. “Dance In The Rain” became a top runner on my playlist as it is an absolutely gorgeous track. The opening with the piano is marvelous, the composition starts out slower and when it gets to the actual chorus, it picks up. I love how Koda Kumi’s deep vocals fit perfectly with the composition from deep and quiet then explodes in the chorus. “Dance In The Rain” is the perfect mid-tempo ballad.

Check out “Dance In The Rain” here and the music video below!

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“Torches” by Aimer

With the release of Aimer’s album Walpurgis, I was brought back to her track “Torches”. I remember when this single was originally released in 2019 and I fell in love with it. Going back and re-listening to it on Walpurgis made me fall in love with it all over again. The composition is beautiful and Aimer’s soft yet powerful voice resonates with you along with the lyrics in “Torches” itself. The mixture of Japanese and English lyrics is incorporated so flawlessly as well. “Torches” has a relaxing and summer night feeling to it that it just can’t help but pull you in.

Check out “Torches” here and the music video below!

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“Together When…” by Ayumi Hamasaki

As A BALLADS 2 just released this month, it has been a treat to go back and listen to Ayu’s ballads. “Together When…” is still one of the ballads that has me in tears and pulls at my heart strings each time. I love how it starts out slow, then in the chorus when Ayu starts singing “Aishiteru to”, the composition picks up along with her vocals. You can hear all the power and emotion put into this song and it gets to you. The music break in the middle has that orchestra feel that makes it feel like this song is coming to its climax and it does. You can feel every bit of emotion Ayu is portraying and it sticks with you.

Check out “Together When…” here and the music video below!

Chanmina Unmasks True Beauty with Upcoming Single

“Bijin” Jacket Cover

Vocalist Chanmina announced that she will be releasing a brand new single, “美人” (“Bijin”) on April 14. This will be the latest physical release done by the artist since “Angel” back in September of last year and will be her third single overall. The song is a hip-hop tune that breaks new ground for the 22-year-old artist. She questions and voices discomfort about the modern concept of beauty such as "what is beauty" and "will beauty make you happy?" that is spelled out with these iconic lyrics. Ryosuke "Dr.R" Sakai is in charge of producing the title song "Bijin" and had teamed up with Chanmina in the past with "Angel", "Never Grow Up" and "CHOCOLATE".

In addition to the title song, this single will release with three songs total, including the slow ballad "Needy" based on R & B, which was co-written with JIGG who worked on "Doctor" and "Call". It will also drop with two editions: a CD-only standard edition and a limited edition that will come with a bonus DVD. The DVD will included the online live concert THE PRINCESS PROJECT - In The Screen that Chanmina preformed last September along with a behind the shed documentary. For fans that can’t wait for this physical release, it will be made available across digital music streaming platforms on March 19.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out the teaser for it along with pre-order links for “Bijin” below!

Standard edition

Limited edition

CHANMINA & SKY-HI Bring New Meaning To Holy Night!

Rappers and vocalists CHANMINA & SKY-HI have teamed up for a special collaboration digital single “Holy Moly Holy Night” that was released on December 4th! Both CHANMINA and SKY-HI have been good friends for quite some time and have wanted to “make music together someday”. That time has come with “Holy Moly Holy Night”, a fun jazzy Christmas track that gives a whole new meaning to the classic song “Holy Night”. The track was produced by Ryousuke “Dr.R” Sakai who has worked on CHANMINA’s popular tracks “Chocolate” and “Never Grow Up”. CHANMINA and SKY-HI show off their powerful vocals along with their flawless rap skills in this Christmas themed dance track.

Both artists commented on the fun they had working on this track. CHANMINA stated “This song is an extension of our usual fun and that people who make music together should do it while having fun.” SKY-HI stated “I already had much respect for CHANMINA but as proceeding with the production, I gained more respect for her from different angles I had not seen before. It was not only fun, but exciting to work on this project. This track has a strong memorable meaning and deviates from the usual holiday love songs.”

The “Holy Moly Holy Night” music video premiered on December 3rd on YouTube and shows the fun CHANMINA & SKY-HI have in this colorful music video. The video shows both artists singing and dancing with styles from different eras making for not only a colorful music video but a uniquely interesting one as well. Check out “Holy Moly Holy Night” on all digital streaming platforms and the music video below!

Taeyeon Helps Girls Speak Out In Latest Mini Album!

Korean vocalist and Girls’ Generation member Taeyon released her second mini album, #GirlsSpkOut on November 18th. #GirlsSpkOut comes out after about a year and a half since Taeyeon’s Japanese debut mini album VOICE that released in June 2019, and includes her latest digital single “I Do”. The title of the album was created based on the message by Taeyeon stating “Speaking on what you think and showing who you are will have a positive impact on your life.” The lead track, “#GirlsSpkOut,” is an empowering song for all the women out there encouraging them to be themselves and speak out. CHANMINA lends her rap while eill lends her lyrics, making it not only empowering, but a great dance track as well. #GirlsSpkOut includes a total of five bombastic tracks. “Worry Free Love” is being called a ‘future lick tune’ that is anticipating the future trend while “Be Real” is a R&B-LATIN mixture that symbolizes the current global era of music. “I Do” was previously pre-released during Taeyeon’s “THE SIGNAL GIFT” tour in 2019 and is a message to all of Taeyeon’s Japanese fans. “Sorrow” is beautiful ballad with only Taeyeon’s vocals and the piano. SM Entertainment released a Studio Live Session of “Sorrow” on their channel on November 28!

#GirlsSpkOut released in four editions: CD+DVD limited edition, CD+DVD+Cushion limited edition, CD-only standard edition+Cushion, and a CD-only standard edition. The CD+DVD+Cushion limited edition includes the music video and making for the lead track “#GirlsSpkOut”, an exclusive interview with Taeyeon, 36-page photobook, tall digipak packaging, and an original spangle cushion. The CD+DVD limited edition includes the same features as the other limited edition minus the cushion. The CD-only standard edition+cushion includes an original spangle cushion along with the CD. You can find links to purchase all the editions below. Also, be sure to check out the track listing, cover art, and the music video for “#GirlsSpkOut” and the newly released video for “Sorrow” below!

CD+DVD+Cushion limited edition

CD+DVD limited edition

CD-only+Cushion standard edition

CD-only standard edition

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Taeyeon「#GirlsSpkOut」

CD:

01. #GirlsSpkOut
02. Worry Free Love
03. Be Real
04. I do
05. Sorrow

DVD:

#GirlsSpkOut music video & visual making