I already covered my top artists of the year, and my top songs released in 2019. Now I’ll conclude with my top-played songs that I acquired in 2019 but weren’t released in 2019! (This is using the same metrics to determine the ranking as my previous 2019 top-songs list.) Some good tunes stumbled upon from years past.
10. AKB48 — ギンガムチェック
I don’t know the backstory of how this song and MV came together, but it’s incredible. A silly mash-up of your stereotypical genre movies, a star senbatsu, and a poppy tune with catchy lyrics. ギンガムチェック (GINGAMU CHEKKU / Gingham Check), the title track of AKB’s 2014 Sousenkyo single, is just a fun listen.
9. AKB48 — KONJO
Another 2014 release, KONJO (根性 / Guts) was a B-side on AKB’s 前しか向かねえ (mae shika mukanee / Gotta Face Forward). I’m not sure where the weird unit names for each coupling track came from, but the Talking Chimpanzees perform a fun story MV with a catchy beat.
8. NMB48 — プライオリティー
I think I first heard プライオリティー (PURAIORITII / Priority) played during Yamamoto Sayaka’s graduation concert, which included a couple memorable kisses. It was Kinoshita Momoka’s 2016 solo song (with a few NMB back-dancers), and from what I know if her seems beautifully fitting of her image.
7. あいみょん — マリーゴールド
Maybe not shocking to see Aimyon’s break-out song マリーゴールド (MARIIGOORUDO / Marigold) from last year make my list. It’s been on just about every music show at some point over the last year, and eventually worked its way into my playlist as well.
6. HKT48 — 僕の想いがいつか虹になるまで
One of those that snuck up on me after a few listens. 僕の想いがいつか虹になるまで (boku no omoi ga itsuka niji ni naru made / ‘Till The Day My Feelings Become A Rainbow) from HKT’s only 2018 single, Hayaokuri Calendar. I dig the goofy Sakura-Miku-Hana MV, and despite really liking Hana and checking her centered songs, so far this is the only time I actually enjoy the song she got. Also somehow her squeaky singing fits here.
5. TWICE — BDZ
They performed this 2018 song in one of their Japanese music show appearances this year and it was stuck in my head for a week afterwards. I actually prefer the Korean version for some reason, though. The official video (in Japanese) has English captions, too!
4. Official髭男dism — ノーダウト
This was another Count Down TV success story, though I don’t know if Official髭男dism’s songs from 2018 suddenly surged in popularity, or I had just missed them in the top songs lineup up to that point. ノーダウト (NOU DAUTO / No Doubt) is a nice fun, upbeat pop song.
3. AKB48 — 抱きしめちゃいけない
As part of picking up some of the AKB classics, I probably listened through the previews of the Flying Get B-sides and came across 抱きしめちゃいけない (dakishimecha ikenai / Can’t Embrace You), the 2011 Sousenkyo Unders song. I liked the tune, and then the cute 1-shot MV was good, too. It’s really weird to see Sayanee in the unders, though.
2. OVERGROUND ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND — Broken Glass
Well OAU (formerly OVERGROUND ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND) is technically a Japanese band, even if this 2014 song could have come right out of my childhood. Comforting, sad — just a good song.
1. Official髭男dism — Fire Ground
This one would have been around #5 in my overall 2019 list. Just a really enjoyable pop song from last fall, even if the MV is forgettable. They also have English captions for this MV. Give it a listen!
Honorable Mention
There was again a pretty steep drop-off near the end of the Top 10, with only two edge cases deserving a mention.
AKB48 — カフカとでんでんむChu! (KAFUKA to dendenmu Chu! / Kafka and Dendenmu Chu!)
AKB48 — バレバレ節 (BAREBARE-bushi / The Way of Working Hard)
Both older AKB songs, coincidentally off the same 2015 single, Bokutachi wa Tatakawanai. Kafka is a pretty song, upbeat sounding and dark-looking with a notable senbatsu of I guess cute, little members? Barebare on the other hand is a goofy, sing-song looping catchy sort of ditty with a beautiful power senbatsu.
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