FLOW to perform "Anime Shibari Online" Worldwide Livestream Concert on August 7!

Popular five-member rock band FLOW will stream their live concert "Anime Shibari ONLINE" on August 7 at 8:00pm JST, taking the stage at Ebisu Liquid Room for their first live performance on stage in six months

The worldwide livestream event – featuring a setlist of FLOW's anime songs from Naruto, Code Geass, Eureka Seven, Tales of Zestiria the X, and others – will celebrate the release of the band's concert DVD/Blu-ray FLOW Chokaigi 2020 -Anime Shibari Returns- on August 5.

Two types of tickets are available for the event, including the full concert plus an exclusive online after-party “FLOW Cheers Hour” through the Zoom video conference platform, allowing band members and participants from around the world to chat after the livestream.

Ticket info: https://l-tike.zaiko.io/e/animeshibarionline

* information is available in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean

* The concert will be archived and available for viewing for 24 hours after the end of the livestream

* The after-party event will be presented live; no archive will be available.

FLOW's live DVD/Blu-ray FLOW Chokaigi 2020 -Anime Shibari Returns- captures their February 24th, 2020 "Anime Shibari LIVE" performance at Makuhari Messe, where the band performed 24 hit songs from Japan's most popular anime series. The DVD/Blu-ray concert will also be available in a deluxe edition containing an exclusive photobook, video documentary, and audio commentary by the members of FLOW.

Check out the trailer for FLOW Chokaigi 2020 -Anime Shibari Returns- along with the pre-order links for the release below!

Standard edition

2 CD+DVD Limited edition

2 CD+Blu-ray Limited edition

Gray's Ongaku Go For July 2020

Continuing from Ken’s and Luna’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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“Ayumi” by Yu-Ta from IVVY

This song is a very recent addition to my playlist but upon hearing it I cannot stop listening to it. IVVY has been releasing digital singles for each member and while all of them are really good, “Ayumi” stands above the rest with a gripping vocal performance and wonderful melody. This song is just absolutely amazing and one I highly recommend.

Be sure to check out “Ayumi” here

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“work it out” by lol

It’s a running joke at this point how much I love lol, but they are an amazing group that I find to be really talented. 2020 so far has not been a highlight with them. Their lightning album was okay with only a few stand out tracks so I was starting to worry about the future of the group but then they released “work it out” and I have to say this is their best song in quite a while. “work it out” has a great hook and wonderful melody that is both inspiring and uplifting. This group of five is so talented and “work it out” once again proves how well they work together. The vocal work done here is amazing and the harmonization is great. Honaka’s rap really pulls the song together and the song becomes a recommendation for everyone. 

Check out the “work it out” here along with the music video below!

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“Endless Love (feat. Sota Hanamura)” by Beverly

I discovered this song one night trying to go back to sleep and was quite blown away. I forgot that this was originally a cover of a song from the early ’80s but that honestly doesn’t matter. Beverly just kills it, and Sota keeps up with her vocals which together come together to create this amazing song. Even if you’re a fan of the original, be sure to give the cover a listen. 

Be sure to check out “Endless Love” here along with the music video below!

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“Love so sweet: Reborn” by ARASHI

I know this song is pretty divisive among fans of ARASHI, and I can see why. The original is better, but I have a tendency to enjoy tracks in English being that they are easier for me to sing along to and so I find myself coming back to this version. While “Turning Up” was originally my favorite song by ARASHI, “Love so sweet: Reborn” after multiple listens now tops my #1 spot.

Check out “Love so sweet” Reborn” here along with the lyric video below!

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“Good Bye Baby” by Rude-α

One of my favorite songs of last year, this is the very first track I ever heard by Rude-α and to my joy, put it on his latest album that dropped back in March. I love the beat and melody of this song. There are some amazing tracks on thios album but this is my favorite of his and enjoy hearing it on repeat. 

Check out “Good Bye Baby” here along with the music video below!

King & Prince Gives the Key for Their Heart with Upcoming Release!

Coming off their chart topping hit “Mazy Night”, popular five-member boy group King & Prince announced that their upcoming track “Key of Heart” will be used as the theme song for the upcoming sports-comedy film Yowamushi Pedal releasing on August 14th. Based off the popular manga series, “Key of Heart” was paired to the movie due to the rising tension the listeners get every time they hear the track and with it’s catchy melody it will think of the film. Currently, there are no announcements for a physical release for “Key of Heart” at this time of reporting but you can check out the small preview for the track included with the movie trailer below!

Music Corner Week 52: LUCKY TAPES

LUCKY TAPES is a three-member fusion band that formed back in 2014. Birthed from the five-member band Slow Beach, the band looks to take on the growing trend of bridging the gap of Jazz, Rock and R&B in their own unique twist.  One of things that differentiate them from the pack is their approach towards composition by creating happy go lucky and melancholy works for listeners to enjoy. 

This adds all the great things from Jazz ascetic such as the instruments to the vocal style and highlights it with a rock melody that vocalist and keyboardist Kai Takahashi infuses masterfully. Several examples of this skill lie in the tracks “Lonely Lonely”, “22”, and “Lady Blue” and brings the compositions to the forefront to have the listeners engulfed into the first step of the genre of Japanese fusion. The band on a dime flip the composition on its head by slowing down the pace to have listeners become even more enticed. “Gravity”, “Moon”, “Gun”, and “Ballad” are some of the prime examples of them bringing it down to a mid-low tempo bringing out the best in the band and showing us they are no one trick pony. 

Lucky Tapes currently has three albums under their belt The Show, Cigarette & Alcohol, and dressing in 2015, 2016 and 2018 respectively. They’ve also released five singles “Peace and Magic”, “Touch”, “Moon”, “Actor”, and “Mars” along with three EPS Virtual Gravity, 22, and Live In (Personal) Space. Be sure to check out their official website and Twitter account along with the music video for “Actor” below! 

Luna's Ongaku Go for July 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.

“BANANA” by CREAM

With the release of CREAM’s latest digital single “Go Peaches Remix feat. KOWICHI, Merry Delo”, one of the best summer songs of 2019 is catching me again this year. This tropical tune is the essence of summer with its catchy beat and chorus that makes you want to get up and dance and enjoy the summer. “BANANA” was featured on CREAM’s digital-only album (LOVE + PARTY) that released at the end of 2019 and is the most stand out track on the album. This track shows how CREAM has perfected blending MINAMI’s vocals with Staxx-T’s rap and compositions. This was one of my rare digital music purchases and has been on heavy rotation since it released.

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

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“Joyride (#SorryNotSorry Pt 2)” by BananaLemon

With the release of their dance practice video which I reported back in February, this track stuck with me immediately compared to their newest song “Slayasian”. “Joyride (#SorryNotSorry Pt 2)” draws you in immediately with Nadia starting off with her powerful vocals, followed by each member joining in the track. The chorus, composition, and each member’s voice harmonized together make this an unforgettable track that keeps drawing you back in.

Check out “Joyride (#SorryNotSorry Pt2)” here along with the dance practice video below!

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“puff” by Koda Kumi

This is Koda Kumi’s first song and digital release of 2020 and it was one of the most anticipated for me since it was announcement. “puff” did not disappoint in the least with its positive lyrics, fun summer beat, and Koda Kumi’s deep vocals. This release marks Koda Kumi’s 20th anniversary celebration and shows that she is still going strong. The lyrics bring the positivity of working hard and striving toward your goal, which has been keeping me going throughout the month.

Check out “puff” here along with the dance practice video below!

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“Bye Bye Boy” by KIRA

Earlier this month, I chose KIRA as the Music Corner for our site in celebration of her newest digital single “Lovin’ you”. Upon my daily listen, “Bye Bye Boy” is my go-to track and the first track that I ever listened to by KIRA. This song always pops into my head daily due to its catchy composition and her smoky vocals. “Bye Bye Boy” also has a summer feel to it as the video release in May of 2018 and her album “Naked” released the following month. This is my most recommended song by KIRA as it has an unforgettable melody with great vocal work that will stick with you.

Check out “Bye Bye Boy” here along with the music video below!

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“GRAB THE AIR” by milet

While promoting her debut album “eyes” from April until its release in June, milet released “GRAB THE AIR” on YouTube. This track immediately grabbed me and got me even more excited for “eyes” which was my most anticipated album release of the year. This is one of milet’s more upbeat tracks and compositions, it literally grabs you immediately. Kamikaze Boy from MAN WITH A MISSION worked as a producer and you can hear his influence mixed with milet’s in this track making it a breath of fresh air compared to her usual tracks. “GRAB THE AIR” is a track that shows that milet’s music is always a treat to look forward to.

Check out “GRAB THE AIR” here along with the music video below!