25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #19: Top J-pop Idol 2015

So unlike yesterday's list which was J-pop acts in general, this list is all Japanese idol groups. This year I really found myself digging deeper in the Japanese girl group scene. I had been content for years with just 48G & H!P and a couple other songs here and there, but over the years I've become more and more curious about other groups that are out there. I have to say that the idol scene in Japan is quite overwhelming because of the sheer number of groups that exist. It's also interesting to me how many of these local idol groups have YouTube channels and allow overseas viewers to see videos and such. YouTube has really been an awesome way for me to discover new groups.

For this list, 48G & H!P are excluded like always.

#10: Linda III Sei - Ruby Monogatari

#9: Fairies - Kiss Me Babe

#8: Osaka Syunkasyuto - C'Mon!

#7: X21 - Shoujo X

#6: Ayami Muto - Parallel World

#5: Dianna Sweet - Fire Girl

#4: Yuu Kikkawa - Wild Strawberry

#3: Up Up Girls - Bijo no Yajuu

#2: Cupitron - Battery

#1: Galette - Air Summer

Enjoy! What are your favorite songs from Japanese idols this year?

New Music Thursdays (Sept. 24, 2015)

I think I was right about the past couple weeks being a lull in releases because this week was back to form with lots of new stuff!

Track #1: Demi Lovato - Confident

Unfortunately there's no video of this on YouTube so it's just a Spotify link. Sorry to those of you who don't use Spotify! This is a promo song from Demi's upcoming album of the same name. It is a powerful track with a lot of attitude and very catchy. I personally think it's better than Cool For The Summer. Demi's new album, Confident, releases October 16th.

Track #2: Yuu Kikkawa - Wild Strawberry

When did Kikka get so good? Seriously, the past couple of songs she's put out have been outstanding. This is probably my favorite one yet. It's like the took the good part of Hana and made it into an actual full length song. I hope that the other new songs on her album are as good. Her third album, You the 3rd (Wildflower), releases on October 14th.

Track #3: Tsubaki Factory - Seishun Manmannaka!

This song is finally on YouTube and I'm so happy I could scream. This is Hello! Project's newest group and this is their first indies release, or as I like to call it "the best debut song ever released by anyone in H!P in my completely biased opinion" lol. I do really love this song and it is so sad I can't buy it anywhere. I keep hoping that a copy of the indies single will pop up on ebay or that H!P would be kind and put it on iTunes. I'd even buy it off of E-Lineup & figure out how to use the dang site if they'd put it up, but alas....it hasn't happened yet. I really hope they keep this style. To me it's kind of like an EDM/Nogizaka46 mashup. I love it. Seishun Manmannaka! was released on September 6th in limited venues in Japan.

Enjoy!