With such a busy slate of K-pop releases, I don’t always have a chance to rave about some of my favorite J-pop. This week, I’ll be giving an overview of some of my favorite acts and songs. Hopefully you’ll find a new obsession to add to your playlist!
Why I Love Pretender (and you should too)
When considering the past five years in J-pop, Pretender feels foundational — at least where piano-led, emotional stomper ballads are concerned. And yes, that’s a genre title I just made up! The song’s chart performance would support that theory, shooting Official HIGE DANdism to super stardom as one of Japan’s biggest bands. Yet, I neglected to write about the song during its release in 2019. I’m making up for that now.
This track (and its accompanying album) became a huge pandemic-era hit for me. Its emotional catharsis was a welcome energy during a time of such unease. From the opening riffs to the series of perfectly-formed crescendos, the song construction and delivery already feel like the stuff of legends. Satoshi Fujihara’s vocals are impossibly expressive, effectively conveyed story and nuance even if you don’t understand a lick of Japanese. It all comes to a head during a singalong chorus reminiscent in energy (if not sound) of classic rock tracks like Tiny Dancer.
Pretender unfurls with the sentiment of a power ballad, but it’s too brisk and percussive to be classified that way. It’s such a brilliant blend of elements, crafted to shoot straight to your heart.
I enjoyed this! Where should I go next?
The band has many other popular songs and they’re not difficult to find. Queue up the transcendent Laughter to spur similar feelings as Pretender. For something more upbeat, make sure to check out I Love…, Shukumei or Yesterday. Though not one of their massive singles, Vintage was the first song I ever loved from the band so it also has a special place in my heart.
Hooks 10 Production 10 Longevity 10 Bias 10 RATING 10
