The year is now coming to an end and it’s been yet another year of new releases and finding new amazing music. As someone who loves exploring the world of Japanese music – I’ll be here to talk about the songs I’ve considered the best for this year.
f5ve – Underground
We’re starting off with this gem – which YouTube considered my most played song this year – which could be correct. The catchy beat first caught my attention on TikTok when the teasers got around, and it stuck with me for a while like an earworm. And when it got released I was hooked.
The MV, the music and the dance I could seriously watch it on repeat without getting tired. It’s just something about it that scratches a certain spot in my brain, not to mention I’m a big fan of the lyrics as well. It’s real and relatable.
Let’s forget about the stress of reality and go underground instead!
MAXIMUM THE HORMONE feat. Atarashii Gakko! – SHIMI
The most unexpected collab I’ve seen this year, and honestly I think I consider this my number 1 song from this year! Yes, SHIMI isn’t a new song – but re-doing it together with the amazing Atarashii Gakko feels like it’s brand new and just a new amount of hype!
I’m a big fan of both groups so when this popped into my YouTube notifications – it felt like I ascended (laughs). The MV is fun, everyone gets their own unique spotlight – and the addition of the rap gives it a fresh touch. It’s hard not to move along with it!
Ae! group – 《A》BEGINNING
Now we’re jumping to my favorite debut of this year – which is none other than Ae! group! I’ve been following these boys since pre-debut thanks to a certain someone, and seeing them debut with this song was just.. perfect. There was a certain feeling of pride and hype inside of my chest!
I’d consider this the perfect debut song, it’s catchy and just the right amount of hype! And the members are getting their time to shine and showcase their talents in the song too, which makes it quite eye-catching for those who might’ve not known about them until recently! I’ll be repeating this even during 2025 and forward.
Creepy Nuts – BLING BANG BANG BORN
Now, it was hard to choose between this one and Otonoke – but after a bit of thinking and listening to the two of them – I decided to put Bling-Bang-Bang-Born here. Otonoke is amazing, but BBBB topped my streaming charts on 3 different apps, and the one that will never leave my brain alone.
The lyrics and rhythm are fun, and the flow of the rap scratches all kinds of good inside of my head. It’s hard to not sing along with the ”who the best? I’m the best!” part – and it’s been proven during the time I performed it on an open live this year. Also the squeaking noise in the song, it’s just too good.
It’s a really unique song, I truly love it! Creepy Nuts never fails to deliver with a banger.
Phantom Siita – Just Wanna xxxx With You
Another debut from this year! One that I’m fond of, and it’s Ado’s own little idol group Phantom Siita! Now the girls have released quite a lot of songs during 2024, but I think this one is the one that stands out the most to me in terms of song, lyrics, MV, and just in general style. It’s something about it that makes me think back to those old horror rpgs that look very innocent – only to not be that at all.
I love the dance and the way the girls are singing with so much raw energy – like they’re crazy! Which fits the general theme.
Also the ”chi-chi-chi” part when it looks like they’re stabbing is so addicting! And their expressions.. they know how to perform. I’d easily say this song is the best one they have at the moment, and one of my favorites in general from this year!
Kocchi no Kento – Hai Yorokonde
Ah this one, is so real! The lyrics.. I really relate to it (laughs). I’m a big fan of serious topics being put into a fun and catchy song, and Hai Yorokonde does it perfectly.
And this song really popped off too this year! Trending on TikTok and having alot of traction on Youtube through different people. And I understand why, it even got a dance that got viral on TikTok!
Mixed with the MV the song really feels old-school, in a good way of course. It’s a bit hard to explain but it feels like a song that would be played and adored back in the 80’s or 90’s and forward. The MV is stunning and fun – the old school anime style just makes it so much better. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it. Kocchi no Kento really knows how to make you addicted to his music and voice.
BAE – Bigger Bigger BaNG!!!
This year have in reality been my Paradox Live year, they’ve pumped out so much content that made me yet again interested on a hyperfixated level! But out of all the songs that got released this year – BAE’s Bigger Bigger BaNG!!! just did it for me as my favorite song from this music project.
It’s fun! It’s hype! It perfectly showcases BAE and how they are as a group!
I also really love Anne’s voice in this song (VA: 96Neko), especially in the chorus. It just makes me really happy – this whole song is just amazing!
Sakanaction – Kaiju
This song here – is the years hidden gem. There’s no full version yet of this song, nor an MV. So this live video will have to do – but if you want a studio version of the song then I’d recommend you to look up the anime OP it’s made for:
Orb on the Movement of the Earth.
This song is really carefully written and just in general beautiful, it fits the anime it’s chosen for – perfectly. It’s something magical about the song as well, at first I seriously thought it was nothing for me.. until about 3 listens. Then I found myself singing along the parts that already stuck with me.
Just a beautiful song. Beautiful vocals. I’m really looking forward the full song, it’s truly a hidden gem that deserves to be heard!
STARKIDS – PARAPULL
Yes – this song and MV is from November 2023 – but I first discovered this song and group early 2024! And since they were my artist of the year on my wrapped’s it feels illegal to not include them and the song that have been on my mind for the past months.
This wasn’t normally a genre that I chase after or yearn to listen to – until I found STARKIDS and this song. I’ve listened to all of their songs at this point and it just makes me happy! But PARAPULL really does it for me, it’s fun and catchy and the MV is just in general really fun as it catches the nightlife vibe pretty good.
Take a listen to STARKIDS, I beg of you.
MAD JAMIE – BEROBEROBAR!
Of course, we’ll end this with our precious MAD JAMIE aka. Akubi! This song was an instant repeat at home when it got released, and seeing it live just made the song so much better! The energy that Akubi delivers in this song is contagious and you just want to dance and shout together with her – truly one of my favorite songs from her. Even if her whole discography is basically perfect in my own opinion.
BEROBEROBAR’s MV is also really fun and shows what I’d say is MAD JAMIE. Akubi never dissappoints with her music, her style or her energy. And while I wish I could take all of the songs into this – I’d say BEROBEROBAR takes it home for me for this year!
That is all I have, 10 songs out of MANY that I’ve considered the best from 2024! This is all based on my own opinion and how they charted in my streaming wrapped for the year, all coming pretty high up. Please, take a listen if you can to all these artists! They all deserve the world!