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Though it's had it's share of disappointing/sad moments (berryz hiatus announcement, Sayumi's graduation, ANGERME....???) 2014 has been an over all really great year for hello project. Though i've only been in this fandom a short time 2014 was the year my love for hello! project really kicked off. So with 2014 coming to an end I decided to rank some of my favorite h!p releases of this year!
10
A Mystery Night- S/mileage/ANGERME
OK don't hate me but S/mileage or should I say ANGERME, has been the one h!p group I have never been very interested in. They just don't stand out to me as far as musical style and overall image, but maybe that's just because I haven't been around since their debut. So that being said I haven't gotten around to listening to a lot of their music.
Despite all this I can't deny that they have some great vocal talent so I didn't completely ignore their music. Mystery Night stuck out to me as the most compelling release from them this year. Though I do question the slightly racy nature of this song and MV I like the vocals and intensity this song brings. It's a good song and if there's any song from them this year I'll keep listening to, it's this one.
9
Date ja nai no uchi no jinsei wa- Juice=juice
I think most of us can agree this was a kind of disappointing year for Juice=juice. I was loving everything they were releasing and then after hadakano kiss everything became really boring and lack luster. This single as a whole was not great, I actually didn't like this song very much and I really don't like Senobi a whole lot either. But after giving it several Listens this song really really grew on me. I also learned the dance choreography for this song which made me love it more. It's really an upbeat and jazzy song and though it's in no way my favorite juice=juice song it has been the song I've played the most in the passed couple months.
8
Love take it all- C-ute
It might just be me but I've loved every single c-ute has released this year (yes even the power). So it was hard to choose my favorites. There's something about c-ute style over the last couple years that is so fabulous, sexy and catchy. I feel like they're in their prime right now like damn these girls are strutting their stuff. I just love the energy and drive this song has. It's just an overall fabulous and glamorous song and it just works so well with c-ute image.
7
Toki wo Koe sora wo koe- Morning Musume' 14
I'm surprised I didn't put this song higher on my list but there are several songs that beat it. I'm one of those people who has really been feeling the EDM since i'm someone who loves electro. So when this single came out I was more drawn to password is 0. But about a month later after I was over password is 0 I started listening to this song more and I was just like wow. This song is such a breath of fresh air amidst the crazy EDM spree. Also the freaking lyrics are so beautiful like damn that is some deep stuff right there. Even though this song still has that electronic feel to it it's a beautiful ballad that actually has some meaning to it. I like the fact that this song is mostly unison not to mention the HARMONIES HOLY CRAP. I wish they were more prevalent in the recording then they are. I love harmony...anyways amazing song I hope we hear more ballads like this in the future.
6
The future- C-ute
Speaking of the future...THIS SONG. It's very similar to love take it all and maybe that's why I like it? But damn Im just loving these upbeat, sexy funs songs. I think most people probably liked "I miss you" more from this single but the fast paced theme of "the future" has had it stuck in my head for the last couple weeks. C-ute is amazing ENOUGH SAID.
5
kodachi wo nukeru kaze no you ni- Odatomo
So we're down to the top 5! Now Im usually someone who hates really slow ballads but this song has just stuck with me ever since it came out. Sakura and Tomoko are in my top 5 favorite h!p voices and dang their voices just work sooooo well together. Sakura did an amazing job blending with Kanatomo's lower husky voice as a softer complement. I just love the flow of this song, it's gentle yet compelling. I'm praying to Tsunku that he gives this duo more singles.
4
romance wo katatte- Berryz koubou
Berry'z last single was a solid and memorable one. I like this song for it's simplicity and elegance. I love the bells in the beginning, it had a very christmasy feeling to it. The vocal performance in this song is really top notch and I'm happy to see the girls really giving it their all for their last couple months. This song really yells elegance and classic berryz all in one. I actually spent money in itunes on this single rather than just downloading it.
3
kirari to hikaru hoshi- Morning Musume'14
2014 is the year I fell harder and harder for Sayashi Riho and Oda Sakura. Also the year Riho's voice improved by leaps and bounds (thats just my opinion of course) I also just really love this album. This song does a great job show casing both girls vocal strength and endurance and it's powerful and sassy. I'm waiting to see some lives of this song. I've always liked Riho and Sakura duets so of course I love love love this song!!!
2
Futsuu, Idol 10nen yatterannai desho!? - Berryz koubou
It was a solid final year for Berryz Koubou. And this song was by far my favorite. I don't know but I just really love that banjo country feel during the chorus. This song is just really catchy, not to mention it's a great celebration of Berryz. I think it's nice that they released a song that explained to fans why they're all ready to move on from the group. It also prepared most of us for their eventual "hiatus" announcement. And I can't talk about this song without mentioning the freaking horse neighing throughout the song. It's so random but I love it hahaha
1
Mikaeri Bijin- Morning Musume' 14
It was hard for every one of us to stay good bye to Sayumi and this song just added to the bitter sweet feeling of it all. When I said Toki wo koe was a breath of fresh air that was nothing compared to the gust of wind this song brought me (idk what that even means i'm writing this late at night ok). I'm so glad h!p has decided to bring in some new song producers, not that I don't love Tsunku but he needs a break and h!p needs something fresh. Fresh is what this song is. Fresh, a beautiful tribute to Sayumi, and well performed by the girls. I really like them singing in unison because it brings a strength to the group as a whole. This song was just an icing on the cake for the amazing year that was Morning Musume' 14 and I'm just so so proud of the girls and I can't wait to see what they do in 2015.
Thank you for reading. What were your top 10 h!p songs from this year? Let me know in the comments.
