In honor of Kis-My-Ft2’s complete videography being uploaded to YouTube (in edited form, of course…), I can’t resist writing about each single. To put this in context for Bias List readers, Kis-My-Ft2 (or Kisumai, as they’re often known) are my J-pop version of Infinite. That’s how much I love them and their discography.

Yet, I rarely write about them because finding online links to their music was so hard… until now!

Seven Journey (2014)

We’ve made it to Kis-My-Ft2’s third album, which comes packed with two promoted songs. First up is Seven Journey, which has a real autobiographical feel. The track is a slick piece of propulsive dance pop, egged along by an insistent electro beat that feels slightly more sophisticated than much of the group’s music up to this point.

Seven Journey is the kind of dance song that carries the sentiment of a ballad. It’s fast-paced yet definitely not a “hype” track. It’s actually pretty understated – at least where Johnny’s songs are concerned. I really like the melody in the verses. It swerves and dips in ways that give Journey a great sense of movement. Backing vocals lend the chorus a stately heft, even if the beat remains stable throughout the whole track. We do hear the occasional breakdown, but it’s not interruptive or unnecessary. The whole arrangement is just so smooth.

The music video is similarly understated. It’s basically a performance in front of a small group of fans, interspersed with some close-ups and pre-performance acting. It’s not one of the group’s most striking visuals, but it fits the song well.