Tag Archives: J-pop

Expressing The Duality of Human Nature: A Look At GCiB’s Suki ni nare! and Aishite

*All images used within this post have been sourced from @gcib_official on Twitter.

Since unveiling their brand new line-up back in June of this year, idol group GCiB have started making waves the social media platform Twitter (otherwise known as X). With a mission to grow their fanbase both nationally and internationally, the group have begun posting in both Japanese and English while also promoting their latest releases, Suki ni nare! and Aishite, both of which have been teased on social media ahead of their release.

Originally making their debut in February 2022, GCiB — originally known as Girls Crying in Bathroom — is a girls’ dance and vocal group that wish to go beyond the mere cuteness we expect from idols and express their strength, fragility and versatility through their music. With a major line-up change in the last quarter of 2023, the group has since returned to the idol scene as a 5-member unit from June of this year.

Comprised of original members Suzuki Nanaka and Suzuki Minami, as well as new members Aicha, Kosaka Momono and Isshiki Hanane, GCiB have now made their re-debut with two new tracks that are sure to entice fans both old and new into their unique worldview.

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13 Songs to Define Houkago Princess

With a thirteen year tenure and 61 songs to date — not including variants of the same song released in different years — there is no denying that Houkago Princess have a pretty decent discography under their belt. Over the years, Houkago Princesses sound has continued to evolve and new tracks have undoubtedly shined over older ones, so it begs the question: which of these tracks truly defines Houkago Princess, and which ones have stood the test of time?

It’s time to take a look at some of the songs in Houkago Princesses repertoire and see which ones currently define the group as a whole.

Back in July of 2011, I was reading my daily dose of Tokyohive when a little article popped up about a new group that would make their debut. With a debut date set for August 7th 2011, Houkago Princess was soon born. Now, 13 years on, the group is still thriving and their music has truly evolved since their humble beginnings in Ikebukuro.

With this milestone in mind, I wanted to create a list of thirteen songs that I feel truly define Houkago Princess, be it in image or sound. With so many songs, it makes sense that some will be performed more than others, so I wanted to challenge myself as a fan of the group and their music to whittle down exactly which ones currently define the group as a means of celebrating their 13th year as a group.

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Idols You Should Know (From The Depths of the Underground)

Article By: Benny / @Codomomentality
Edited by: Kelly-Mae Matt

Hello there! This is Benny / Codomomentality!

Over on twitter, I recently made a post expressing my desire to see the Western fans of Japanese music get into more idol groups. Right now, it seems like a lot of people stick to the same stuff but, once you really dig into the depths of Idol, you will see that there’s so many diverse and amazing groups hidden within it, and that’s what I would like to show the Japanese music fans today.

With that being said, here are 5 groups that I think we should all be talking about more and showing our support for!

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Senpai’s Soundtrack: Songs For The Summer

Now that the weather has finally started to brighten up in dreary ol’ England, I thought it was high-time to update my playlist with a few summer songs; and what better than to fill it than with some incredible Japanese tunes that were released this year?

Though I am more inclined to listen to the cuter side of J-pop – and there’s nothing wrong with that! – I have found a nice variety of tracks to keep me going this early Summer. From upbeat, adorable tracks to more heated tunes, this playlist is filled with the tunes that define ‘Summer’ for me.

Whether you find a song to uplift your spirits or drag you into the heat of an on-coming summer, I hope that you can also find something to enjoy here in my Senpai Soundtrack. Are you ready to tune in and give these songs a go?

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I am Crazy, Crazy, Crazy for The Long Goodbye’s Music

Review by: Kelly

One of the things I like most about Idol music, is that it is varied in its sound, and there is something out there for everyone. Whether it is a pop-rock tune or a smooth groove that hits the sweet spot, Idol music is a mixed basket of delight, and the gift that keeps on giving.

Yet I think we sometimes forget that J-pop is more than the ‘pop’ that its name eludes to. When we look at the word ‘pop’ – myself included – we consider it to be generic in sound, bubblegum to its core and the most sugar-coated tune to ever grace our ears, when it is anything but. Sometimes, we simply have to remind ourselves that J-pop as a genre has layers, much like onions (or an ogre named Shrek).

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Reborn With A Smile: An Interview with LONDON BLUE and Kiyoshi Hayashi

On November 1st, 2021, LONDON BLUE revealed in a surprise announcement that the group would make a return to the stage after a year-long hiatus. What was more surprising was the member reveal, with current member AOBA – also known as Harumi Aoba – being the groups sole successor after the dissolution of her former group, Ever! BE Mayowanaide!! just a day before.

Now AOBA begins her journey with LONDON BLUE, and after holding her first mini one-man live at Ikebukuro MONO on November 13th, she is ready to take on the groups 8 year legacy with the support of her seniors and a never-ending smile.

It is time to celebrate LONDON BLUE’s return to the Idol world, so Beyond Senpai would like to welcome both AOBA and LONDON BLUE’s manager, Kiyoshi Hayashi, to talk about the groups revival, AOBA’s strengths and LONDON BLUE’s future goals.

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Houkago Princess Light Up The Stage In ‘Psyllium no Shoumei’

Release Date: September 15th, 2021

With a decade’s worth of support behind them, Houkago Princess celebrate their 10th anniversary with the release of Psyllium no Shoumei, a release dedicated to the passion and drive of the fans who have supported the Idol industry throughout the years. Whether it is the support of Houkago Princesses various era’s or the trial and error of the other groups that surround them, this is a single that aims to thank all fans far and wide for dedicating themselves to the brilliant and shining world of Idols.

Based around the theme ‘The Idol World’s Princesses’, Psyllium no Shoumei is the third original installment to the groups Princess themed releases, as well as the last to feature the entirety of the current main lineup, as all five Regular members a set to graduate in Spring of 2022.

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