1) Sotsugyou
2) OsakaSOUL
3) Sotsugyou ~Gasshou~
4) Sotsugyou (Instrumental)
5) OsakaSOUL (Instrumental)
The duo's last physical CD single release was 2018's Kaze o Mitsumete .
This's Kobukuro's 1st song that has the theme of graduation & the video for Sotsugyou was shot in the classroom , hallway & gymnasium of a school .
2 B-sides are included in Sotsugyou . OsakaSOUL was 1st released digitally last Dec while the 2nd B-side Sotsugyou ~Gasshou~ was 1st released digitally on 12th Feb .
For Sotsugyou ~Gasshou~ , Kobukuro does not sing in the song . Instead a school choir did as so .
After celebrating their 20th anniversary , Kobukuro returns with their 1st single release of 2020 . Sotsugyou is a heartwarming ballad with the theme of graduation .
Even before hearing Sotsugyou it's quite evident on what type of song it will be like & in true classic Kobukuro form , they do not disappoint .
When comes to delivering earnest ballads , Kobukuro couldn't have done it better & Sotsugyou is evident of that .
OsakaSOUL was and is still great & I'm pleased that the song is included in the single as it plays a great contrast against the A-side .
With what's happening right now worldwide , music is 1 of many ways to calm down people's nerves & to keep soldering on despite the circumstances .
Promo wise , Michishirube was used in the ads of fashion brand earth music&ecology .
ayaka created Michishirube when she was pregnant with her 2nd daughter .
On Michishirube , ayaka commented, "Depending on the place you are born , the scene that awaits in your future is completely different . I hope there is light in the place you return to & I hope this will be a light for our children . Michishirube is a song that is filled with those feelings ."
Michishirube is simplicity at its best as it shows that you don't need to use a wide range of different instruments to create a good song .
ayaka vocally is already really good so something like Michishirube allows her to vocally shine and in this scenario , less is more .
Michishirube will not be the only new release from ayaka as her 2nd covers album Yu-on Club ~2nd grade~ will be released on 13th May .
1) A-RA-SHI : Reborn
2) a Day in Our Life : Reborn
3) One Love : Reborn
This latest digital release includes 3 songs , inclusive of A-RA-SHI : Reborn which was 1st released digitally last Dec .
Other than A-RA-SHI : Reborn , Reborn Vol.1 EP includes 2 newly recorded songs of ARASHI's 7th single a Day in Our Life & 22nd single One Love .
All the 3 songs in Reborn Vol.1 EP are still some of ARASHI's best singles in their discography but I think it's fair to say that I'm not a fan of the newly recorded versions as they sound too Westernised to me .
Now that ARASHI has open the door to online streaming , that's 1 way of reaching international fans who're either not familiar with their music or couldn't buy their physical releases .
But at the same time , the downside to me is that based on what ARASHI has released digitally so far , it's quite evident the material is Westernised which I'm not a fan of .
ARASHI should stick to what they do best if not it feels like they're selling out . Some might like it but for me I don't .
And in the case of Reborn Vol.1 EP , sometimes it's best to leave the original material intact as they're .
CD
CD + DVD
1) AS ONE
2) Spreadown
3) AS ONE (instrumental)
This's UVERworld's 1st single release of 2020 & the A-side was chosen to promote the Kamen Byoto movie .
Spreadown serves as the B-side in AS ONE & for this , it's an instrumental no. .
UVERworld's material is long notorious not easy to get into & unfortunately this time round , I'm not really a fan of AS ONE .
I did wrote that UVERworld's previous single ROB THE FRONTIER was something I didn't liked at 1st but the video changed my opinion on it for the better .
This time round , the problem with AS ONE is that it sounds like many of UVERworld's past releases & this shows that sometimes if you decided to do experimental music , if you go overboard with it , that might backfire which I feel this's evident for AS ONE .
For once I would like UVERworld to release a good ballad as their next single . It has been a long time since they last released a really good single ballad ie. 2009's Kanashimi wa Kitto so it's long overdue for a new ballad release .
CD
CD + DVD A
CD + DVD B
This's Hey ! Say ! JUMP's 1st release of 2020 & their last group double A-side single release was 2015's Chau# / Wo I Need You .
Both I am & Muah Muah have videos made .
I am was chosen to be used as the theme song for the TV Tokyo drama Boku wa Doko Kara starring member Nakajima Yuto .
Both exciting & melodious , the passionate rock dance song I am brings a flash of hope in one's struggle to answer the universal question about where we come from .
Muah Muah is described as a sweet love song with a funky urban sound & it was used in the Kose Cosmeport's Fortune ads starring all the members themsleves .
The CD only version of I am / Muah Muah includes 2 B-sides which both CD + DVD versions do not have :
- Kuranmeria
- Tokimeki wa Uso Janai
Cool or sweet? Which JUMP do you prefer? Hey ! Say ! JUMP's latest single release offers the best of both worlds with I am and Muah Muah .
Before hearing both A-sides , I think it's quite evident that I was already gravitating more towards I am and this's 1 of the rare occasions where for once the previews somewhat did justice to the full versions of both songs .
And true enough , I love I am the moment I 1st heard it as it's such a great catchy empowering song .
That obviously didn't happen for Muah Muah but to be fair , I expected Muah Muah to sound a lot more cheesier but that didn't happen .
Let alone , both A-sides contrast each other in a somewhat good way .
B-sides wise , I will not be surprised if Kuranmeria is a leftover album track from PARADE as it would have fit right in the album while Tokimeki wa Uso Janai sounds a bit dated music style wise .
I'm sure this will not be the only new release coming from Hey ! Say ! JUMP this year & hopefully their next single release will also be good .
CD
CD + DVD
CD + DVD Anime Version
Anime version exclusively includes delete -TV Size- , CD tracklist wise
This's SID's 1st new release of 2020 & delete is the group's 1st single release since 2017's Rasen no Yume .
delete was chosen to promote the Nanatsu no Taizai anime as its new opening theme song from Jan onwards .
SID performed delete for the 1st time during the finale of their nationwide tour SID TOUR 2019 -Shounin Yokkyu .
On delete , the members commented , "delete is a message to people who want to delete their past or present as well as a representation of those living strongly."
Just like Rasen no Yume , no B-side/s songs are included in delete .
Credits wise , the A-side was written by vocalist Mao & composed by bassist Aki .
delete is classic SID with an anime music flair . Even if I don't know whether delete is used to promote an anime , it's very evident sound wise when I heard it which's not necessary a bad thing as some of SID's still best known songs in their discography are songs they've contributed to be used for animes over the years .
With delete being SID's 2nd back to back single not to have a B-side , I sure hope this will not start a trend in not having any B-sides in their future single releases .