For me, I think it’s really interesting to look at the top music charts around the world, and I thought that you might find an interest as well! Since this a nerd blog, and since we’re all a little bit otaku here anyhow, let’s take a look at the three singles currently ruling the billboard in Japan. And, considering one of the top three is from a band originating from an anime, this top three is very appropriately nerdy.
Billboard Japan Hot 100 Top 3
#1 – “Kaze ni Fukarete mo” by Keyakizaka46
Only the fifth single released by 欅坂46 or Keyakizaka46, this 21-member girls group has done well for themselves in the last year. Large member builds like this haven’t quite reached the western world’s music industry, but they’re a big thing in Asian countries.
One thing that is interesting about such a large membership in a band is the struggle to snag recognition and solos. This is what makes forefront singer in “Kaze ni Fukarete mo”, member Hirate Yurina, even more interesting, considering this is her sixth solo in a row–that, and she’s only sixteen years old!
The song basically entails the wind-like feeling of love when that person has always been beside you and you’re left thinking, “Why aren’t we together already?”
#2 – “Big City Rodeo” by Generations from Exile Tribe
Also just called Generations, this band has been around since 2012, but didn’t hit #1 on the charts until 2015. Their fifteenth single, “Big City Rodeo”, has only been on the charts for two weeks now and is already at #2, so hopefully there’s another #1 single in the stars for this seven member boy band.
“Big City Rodeo” is basically a club or dance song with features a lot of English phrasing and talks about the adrenaline of a joy ride. Or something like that, this is my rough translating here, but basically it’s just a fun dance song. I mean, just look at all the dancing ladies in the music video, that’s my first indicator, right?
#3 – “Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo” by Aquors
This is probably the nerdiest entry on the list. Aquors is a nine member girl group that is from the anime Love Live! Sunshine!!. The premise of the show is that these girls form a musical group together in order to save their school.
“Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo” (literally “Our Future Selves Known”) is the second two opening for Love Live! Sunshine!!… and it’s #3 on Japan’s top 100 billboard. That’s pretty awesome. It’s very anime-esque, with the girls singing:
The sky and this ocean are both on our side
Shining and saying, “Go do your best!”
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