Ongaku to You's Songs and Artists of the Year for 2020

2020 was a very interesting year for the Japanese music industry and we at Ongaku to You would like to praise the songs and artists that helped us traverse this amazing year. Each member broke down the year in three categories, Song of the Year, New Artist that we discovered in 2020, and lastly our Artist of the Year. We hope that 2021 will bring many surprises to the Japanese music industry like we received in 2020!

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Luna’s Top Song and Artists of 2020!

Song of the Year: “XXKK” by Koda Kumi

“XXKK” felt like a comeback song to me. Koda Kumi always does great songs, but “XXKK stuck out from her more recent songs as it brought you back to her early-middle career mixed with her current music career.  The chorus is catchy, and the lyrics ring true to me as she is my queen. This is the perfect celebratory track of her 20th-anniversary career and it shows who she is now while incorporating her old self as well. 

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New Artist of the Year: Miyuu

Miyuu was an artist that I discovered randomly on Spotify. I remember that from the moment I heard that first track, "Southern Waves," I was hooked. This track moved me to the point I began checking out all her other music and discovered so much by Miyuu. Her voice is beautiful and despite her having the "girl with guitar" theme like many others, Miyuu gives a breath of fresh air to the industry with her light voice and how it matches with all her composition perfectly.

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Artist of the Year: Awich

Awich has had an amazing year - starting off with the release of Kujyaku in January, then releasing her first major label release, Partition in August. Both releases were amazing and I fell in love with how real her music is, her rap style, her lyrics, and just everything about her. Awich brought something new to the Japanese Hip-Hop scene to me and she stuck out in a good way. She caught my ear with so many tracks this year. Her Kujyaku album was a masterpiece in how it was put together and Awich did not disappoint in Partition. She ended the year with a cover of a famous Christmas song and by being featured in the remix of AI's latest single "Not So Different.”  Awich was a "hit" with me all year and has kept me looking forward to anything new from her.

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Gray’s Top Song and Artists of 2020

Song of the Year: “Ayumi” by YU-TA of IVVY

I still remember the day I discovered these guys and I always knew they would be at the top of my list. For the longest time it was "Alice" which was the first song I ever heard by them, but then I heard "Ayumi" and knew immediately that it would be my number one for the year. I absolutely love the piano that is in this song. Played expertly by YU-TA, he also carries the track vocally, with the rest of the group joining him only on the chorus. YU-TA’s vocals are on point for this track. The whole song just comes together and I fall in love with it each time I hear it. IVVY has put out a lot of great songs for the year but this one is their best. Even if you are not into boy groups, this one is a must listen.

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New Artist of the Year: IVVY

I still remember the day I first discovered IVVY and I've been listening to them ever since. I just love their ability to harmonize and they have a bunch of catchy songs. They just dropped their first album and I'm looking to pick it up soon. This past year will be the year of boy groups for me. There have been a few that I've discovered that I've quite enjoyed, but, of all the artists I've heard over the year, these guys are still my favorite. I look forward to hearing more music by them. My number two song is "Alice" which is just a showcase of how you take a generic song and make it memorable with awesome vocal work and fantastic rap at the end. 

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Artist of the Year: Da-ICE

Man, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with Da-iCE the way I did, but I'm glad I took the plunge. It all started with Sota's song he did with Beverly, "Endless Love". I just fell in love with his performance in that song and I was encouraged to go back and check out Da-iCE because I had seen them around but never felt like looking them up. So, I checked out their album Face, which came out in April, and I've had that album on repeat ever since. Sota is my favorite mostly due to how I discovered the group, but all the guys are fantastic. They really bridge the idea of vocals and dance-heavy so well. They have a ton of songs, so it's hard to just sit there and listen to them without getting up to dance your butt off. I've been busted in public dancing to Da-iCE a few times, and this in a year when I'm not getting out as much as normal. I'm so glad I checked these guys out. I'm hoping to pick up Face physically soon and I'm super excited for Six which is due to come out close to my birthday. Da-iCE has really made my 2020, and to me there is no other group I could imagine taking this spot for me.

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Ken’s Top Song and Artist of 2020

Song of the Year: Stinging Spica by Polkadot Stingray 

Honestly, this track was going to be my number one since March or so. I loved this track and it was the small ray of hope that kept me going throughout the year that was 2020. Its simple composition is something that I can get lost in hours on end, and in fact, I’ve done exactly that while doing articles. The guitar work done by both was something that just intices me even more to the track every time. 

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New Artist of the Year: Daichi Yamamoto

Honestly, for New Artist of the Year this was a very easy choice for me to make, as listening to Yamamoto has been a treat for the eyes and ears for a genre that I only listen to once in a while. His various demos on his YouTube channel is what won me over, to be honest. The Tokyo Drift remix is absolute fire and really shows his range and diversity. That one spark of “Blue Berry” ignited a passion for me to dive deep into his discography. 

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Artist of the Year: Polkadot Stingray

Now. for overall Artist of the Year, this was another easy pick as Polkadot Stingray, as a whole, had a very sold year for me with three digital singles, one mini-album and one full album that were, in my opinion, just hit after hit even in this horrible year that was 2020. Polkadot was also one of the first groups to transition to streaming concerts back in June, when the ongoing pandemic was reaching in Japan, and proved that artists with big labels backing them can make this successful. With the release of their album, Nanimono, in December, the band has no plans on backing down for 2021 and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for fans.

Gray's Ongaku Go: November 2020

Picking up after Ken and Luna, and with another month down from 2020, 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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“Damn It!” by Da-iCE

This year will go down as the year I truly discovered my love for Da-iCE. Their album, FACE, has been an absolute gold mine full of amazing songs and this one is no different. This is easily the coolest song on the whole album and almost made it into my top five for the whole year. This is a fun dance tune at the end of the day, and there are no words to describe how catchy this song is. When the chorus kicks in, I can’t help but sing the line “Demo damn it, damn it Baby.”

Check out “Damn it!” here along with the official dance practice video below.

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“Talk” by Sway

So, I know Luna is a fan of Sway and I’ve never taken the time to really check him out, but I was looking for a Music Corner to cover and stumbled across this awesome song. It’s more laid back than what I typically listen to, but the mood and smooth rap just pull me into where I’ll listen to this song three to four times in a row. I can see why she likes him and when I get the free time, I’m going to check out more of his work.

Check out “Talk” here along with the YouTube audio below.

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“Stand by me, Stand by you” by Hiraidai

This was my first real exposure to Hiraidai and he left one hell of an impression on me. Outside of being sung in Japanese, this feels like a song I would have heard growing up as a kid. I live in the south where country music is the only music to listen to. While this isn’t a country song, I can hear it being played on a country music station and listening to it makes me feel nostalgic.

Check out “Stand by me, Stand by you” here along with the official music video below.

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“My Prayer” by The RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE

I generally have a love-hate relationship with The Rampage, but lately they’ve been knocking it out of the park. Earlier this year they dropped their first ballad, and I wasn’t too sold on it. Well, this is their second ballad and it’s a more traditional one, however, it is an awesome showcase of the guys’ vocals. Truly an outstanding song and if they keep this up, I’m excited to see what they have in store for their next release.

Check out “My Prayer” here along with the official music video below.

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“Love So Sweet: Reborn” by Arashi

While this song pales in comparison to the original being mostly in English, this version is way easier to sing along with, and as we’ve been working on our Arashi Artist Spotlight, this has stayed in my rotation for the past month. This is probably my favorite song by Arashi and I’m glad they released this track earlier this year.

Check out “Love So Sweet: Reborn” here along with the official lyric video below.

Luna's Ongaku Go For November 2020!

Continuing from Ken’s lead, we at Ongaku to You 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 being featured on this site.

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“tell me tell me” by m-flo loves Sik-K & eill & Mukai Taichi

With the limited vinyl release of m-flo’s digital singles “tell me tell me” and “RUNAWAYS” released on November 3rd, I was brought back to “tell me tell me” which originally released digitally back in March. “tell me tell me” is the song that brings back the m-flo loves series from 2008 with a fresh sound and new featured artists. The three featured artists are eill, Sik-K and Mukai Taichi who are all rising stars in the music industry. The opening gives a great throwback to their hit loves series track “miss you” and changes it up with great beats that put you in a dance vibe.

Check out “tell me tell me” here along with the music video below!

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“Aitai” by Miliyah Kato

With the release of Miliyah Kato’s first upcoming cover album, I revisited her powerful ballad “Aitai” in “THE FIRST TAKE” version released in June of this year. Both the original “Aitai” and THE FIRST TAKE version are beautiful. Every time I hear this track I am moved to tears as it is a sad ballad but beautifully done in both composition and vocals. “Aitai” is so well performed that you can hear all of Miliyah’s emotions coming through in each bit and the piano sets the mood of the perfect ballad at the beginning. This is a song that is easy to sing along to and makes me want to learn it on piano.

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

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“half-moon” by FAKY

With the newest digital single release of “little more”, it brought me back to FAKY’s track “half-moon” since I loved it the first moment I heard it. “half-moon” has the most beautiful harmonies and vocals and a magnificent beat. The beat draws you in mid tempo with a feet tapping and head moving style during each verse. When it gets to the chorus, it comes together in the best harmony that makes you sing-a-long with the girls. “half-moon” is a gorgeous track with the composition’s use of piano flowing with each girls vocals especially the last verse. One of the best displays of FAKY’s vocal capabilities.

Check out “half-moon” here and the music video below!

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“A･RA･SHI” by ARASHI

With ARASHI’s release of their latest album “This is ARASHI”, I began going back through their discography and their debut track “A･RA･SHI” has been stuck in my head. It has a catchy pop beat, a mixture of harmonous vocals and good rap, the musical riff in the middle throws you for a spin. This is an amazing debut track for a boy group and sets the mood for ARASHI. I love the chorus and how easy and fun it is to sing along to. Hearing this puts me in a great mood and makes me want to dance. I love how the track ends as they slow down the chorus and show off their talent.

Check out “A･RA･SHI” here and the music video below!

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“Freesia” by Uru

With the release of Uru’s latest single “Break/Furiko”, I doubled back to my favorite song “Freesia”. This track is a beautiful ballad and Uru’s vocals show off and match the composition so well. I first heard this while watching Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans, which “Freesia” serves as the ending theme. “Freesia” fits the show perfectly, being a heart breaking ballad and Uru delivers the emotions through her vocals flawlessly. The orchestra sound as the composition is beautifully done with Uru’s smooth vocals and the chorus is where you feel all the emotions.

You can check out “Freesia” here and the music video below!

Ken's Ongaku Go for November 2020!

Another month down from 2020 and we at Ongaku to You 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 being featured on this site.

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“KiLLiNG ME” by SiM

This is only in my rotation because I really like the cover version done by RONDO. Both versions are apples and oranges to each other, but both have their own unique qualities. SiM brings their usual blend of heavy metal and pop-punk masterfully, especially with the year that is 2020 having a track that I can pretty much yell out at the top of my lungs is refreshing. The English lyrics also helped its popularity in my rotation even more, heavily thoughtful and emotion-filled than I initially thought. 

Be sure to check out the music video for “KiLLiNG ME” with the song here!

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“22” by Hakubi

The track that brought me into their world of music, “22” was something that struck me as vocalist Katagiri’s vocals gripped me and never let go. I had thought the slow-tempo commotion would be a turn-off for me but as it gets to the chorus the shift to mid-tempo gets me every time. As I had deluged more into Hakubi’s amazing discography with tracks like “Akatsuki” and “Kubo” (some of my personal favorites), I always go back to the “22”. 

Check out the music video below along with the song here!

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“Pika Nichi Double” by ARASHI

To hype up the release of their upcoming album This is ARASHI, I had gone back to one of my favorite tracks done by the group (and arguably the most popular one by them). Before this track, ARASHI had always sold well, but for me “Pika Nichi Double” brought forth what I think is ARASHI’s style. Either it is the unforgettably uplifting pop composition or the amazing vocals that the boys bring up. The track is a ten out of ten in my book. 

Check out Pika Nichi Double here!

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“Back to Back” by Kimiko Yanagida

I’ve been highly anticipating this release when it was announced at the beginning of the month and it did not disappoint. It’s an interesting blend of mid-tempo composition that mixes well with Yanigida’s vocals and is something that is absolutely filled with love. While this is a very recent addition to my rotation, I don’t see it leaving it any time soon.

Be sure to check out the track here!

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“Stand by me, Stand by you.” By HIRAIDAI

Another fairly recent addition to my rotation, however an unexpected one as I’ve never really paid too much attention to Dai’s career before this year. His vocals, while strong overall, just shine through this track, and with every listen I just keep falling in love with it more and more. The composition brings it to eleven making it understandable why it charted on the Oricon when it did. The pop goodness of the tune really opens up my eyes towards Dai and this will probably end up on my list at the end of the year for 2020. 

Check out the music video for “Stand by me, Stand by You” below, along with the song here!

Gray's Ongaku Go For October 2020

Picking up after Ken and Luna with another month down from 2020, we at Ongaku to You 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 being featured on this site.

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“Image” by Da-iCE

I love the acapella opening this song has, as it leads into this beautiful uplifting melody. This is the latest song by Da-iCE and they have been on a roll with tear dropping great songs. “Image” is definitely worth listening to and hopefully will brighten whoever happens to listen to it.

Be sure to check out the official image video below, along with the streaming link here!

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“LIVIN’ IT UP” by The RAMPAGE from Exile Tribe

This track is super catchy and I feel is The RAMPAGE’s best song to date. This number really shows off the vocal talent that each member has since it’s not really a “pop and lock” song. If anyone isn’t a fan of The RAMPAGE from Exile Tribe, I encourage them to check this one out.

Be sure to check out the official lyric video below, along with the streaming link here!

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“High Fever” by The FANTASTICS from Exile Tribe

This is a last-minute entry but once I heard it I knew I had to include it. Easily their best song this year and I really enjoyed “Winding Road- Mirai” but their latest number is just a lot of fun to listen to. Also, the music video is insanely cool and the choreography is pretty nuts. 

Be sure to check out the official music video below, along with the streaming link here!

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“sign” by lol

This was a bit of a toss-up for me but I believe “sign” is a slightly stronger song than “restart”. The track reminds me of early “lol” and as a fan I like hearing something that sounds like it could have been released in their early days. It’s an enjoyable melody that pulls the listener in.

Be sure to check out the official music video below, along with the streaming link here!

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“Last Dance” by Mamoru Miyano

This song is special to me as it will be the last song played at the reception for my wedding in March. The wedding planning is kicking up in high gear so this song has been on my mind a lot. I love jazz and the swinging feel of this song makes me want to drive to a night club to let loose. This song is still in my top five for the year and I encourage everyone who hasn’t heard it to give it a listen.

Be sure to check out the official music video below, along with the streaming link here!