My Top 5 Songs of the Year -2025-

There is only one week left in 2025.
I've had quite a lot happen this year as well.
I'll write about that in another article, but here I want to record the 5 songs I personally got hooked on in 2025.

JISOO "earthquake"

A solo song by BLACKPINK's Jisoo.
As a Japanese person, the title gave me a momentary jolt (it was released before spring), but apparently, it compares the shock of the moment you fall in love to an earthquake.
As for what I got hooked on, it's a mysterious melody that I find myself listening to over and over again. I have the impression that BLACKPINK is a group of people who are good at singing, but among them, Jisoo has a sense of approachability. I also like her alto vocal quality. Voices with distinctive mid-range tones, like TWICE's Jihyo, aespa's Karina, and Red Velvet's Seulgi, seem to really resonate with me. The choreography is also relatively simple. That's why it's easy to imitate, and I remember watching a lot of challenge videos. And simply put, Jisoo is beautiful, isn't she?

TWICE "THIS IS FOR"

The artist I listened to the most this year, continuing from last year, was TWICE.

TWICE must have been so busy, it feels like they were on a live tour the whole time. They released the mini-album "Strategy" at the end of last year, and this year they announced the full album "THIS IS FOR" and "TEN: The Story Goes On." In Japan, they also released the full album "ENEMY." There were also MISAMO unit activities and Chaeyoung's solo debut. There was also the Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung track "TAKEDOWN."

This album, "THIS IS FOR," gives a sense of maturity as adults. In particular, "HEARBREAK AVENUE" has a taste like a drink that is a little bitter amidst the sweetness.

The title track, "THIS IS FOR," is a song that makes the most of each of the nine TWICE members' individual strengths within parts that switch dizzyingly. The stability of Nayeon and Jihyo, Jeongyeon's high notes, and the coolness of the song starting and ending with Chaeyoung. What was surprising was the use of Mina in a rap-like style. Since SIGNAL? This is fresh and brings a new breeze.

Watching the depth of the bond between the nine of them is cleansing to the soul. It also comes across that they respect each other. I want TWICE to continue forever, but I also want to be close to their own feelings.

ITZY "TUNNEL VISION"

I started getting into ITZY last year with "Imaginary Friend." And this year, I got hooked on YEJI's solo "Air." After that, with ITZY's comeback "Girls Will Be Girls," and then the comeback for this song, I became more and more interested every time they released something. Perhaps it's unique to JYP, but the good personalities of the five members come across well through behind-the-scenes and challenge videos. My personal favorite is Ryujin (am I the only one who associates her with the Dragon God?). I fell for her cool, no-nonsense attitude when she passed by her close friend Karina of aespa at the airport, I fell for her slightly husky voice, and I fell for her thrilling facial expressions. They have become a group I can't take my eyes off of, wondering what side they will show me next.

Mai Kuraki "Relax ~What a wonderful world~"

I slept, a lot.
I have a habit of playing music when I go to sleep, but if the melody is intense or the song has a strong message, I end up listening intently and can't fall asleep. That's when I encountered this song. In a good way, it's a song with little message. Mai Kuraki's whisper voice gently invites me to drift off to sleep. And thankfully, this song has several remix versions, all of which are filled with relaxed sounds that seem to say, "please go to sleep now."
I'll probably continue to rely on this song in the future. Wow, it's really well-made.

B'z "FMP"

FMP stands for "Follow My Passion." It's the commercial song for Asahi Super Dry. It's the song that symbolizes B'z this year and is the de facto title track of the album. I was blown away that two people over 60 could create such a profound and driving sound. While being blown away, I realized that Inaba-san's high notes were within a range that wasn't too strenuous (though there is still a sense of speed and intensity), and that this must be a sound that only the current, mature B'z can create. Personally, the bass at the beginning is wriggly and irresistible.
The jacket for the album "FYOP" that it's included on is also wonderful. A boombox burning in a blue and orange sunset sky feels almost solemn. How cool can they be...

There are still more songs I got hooked on this year

• SEULGI "Baby, Not Baby"
  Red Velvet Seulgi's solo. The devilish, dark melody matched my mood.

• (G)I-DLE "ARISE"
  The bumpy melody is absolutely my favorite.

• aespa "Dark Arts"
  This year, aespa had many songs that fit when I was in a dark mood.

• Kenshi Yonezu & Hikaru Utada "JANE DOE"
  This song reignited my Utada fever.

• IVE "REVEL HEART", "ATTITUDE", "XOXZ"
  IVE had many songs this year that I wanted to listen to on repeat. "I AM" is great, but "REVEL HEART" is also excellent.

• HEART2HEARTS "FOCUS"
  I love the way the bassline grooves.

That's about it.
I listened to K-POP this year, but it also felt like a year where I started listening to more of the J-POP I love, starting with B'z. I wonder what kind of songs will color my time next year. I'm looking forward to it.