Keyakizaka46 will always be close to my JPop Music forefront as it was the first group in AKB Groups (46/48) I started listening to and following the members. Having said that there will always be a disagreement on the choice of Center Position (C) the group chose to employ while releasing their Singles!
Hirate Yurina was outrightly favoured and picked blindly over other members to center in all 8 major singles Keyakizaka46 released (you can ignore 9th & last single) for which some criticized the Seed & Flower Management.
However, at the end of the day things turned out surprisingly well as all 8 singles topped the Oricon Charts and became a Commercial Success for Sony MUSIC Japan.
Keeping that aside, any of the Keyakizaka46 members could have centered the group in my view and achieved the same level of success given the songs, lyrics, music and choreography was of such high quality.
Here is my pick for Keyakizaka46 Center Position for Singles 1-8:
Keyakizaka46 have released their last ever album, their best music spanning across 9 singles and some new stuff on October 7th 2020.
The Best Album "Eien yori nagai isshun - Anokoro, tashikani sonzai shita watashitachi -" has reportedly topped the Oricon Daily Album Charts with sales of 86,118 copies. Little disappointing as Hinatazaka46 managed to cross the 100k barrier with their second album released a couple of weeks ago.
The Best Album is available in 3 variants:
Type A - 2 CD + Blu-ray
Type B - 2 CD + Blu-ray
Regular/Normal Edition
The new songs included in the line up frankly nothing good to write home about. My rating for this album is 3 out of 5 Stars. Sad end to Keyakizaka46. Let's see what Sakurazaka46 brings.
"Dare ga Sono Kane wo Narasu no ka?" (誰がその鐘を鳴らすのか?; Who Will Ring the Bell?) is the ninth single released by Keyakizaka46 on 2020.08.21 under Sony Music Label.
It has been released as digital only limited single and is the final release as Keyakizaka46.
Pre-release Special Performance
from “Live online but with YOU” (July 2020) - English Subs
Song Review: The song sounds Ok... The tune composed is very true to Keyakizaka46 signature 2nd string composition (not the top notch one's). The song has a happy mood and singing is both rhythmic and fast paced. It has been well conducted and performed. Another thing which I feel could have been left out is Kobayashi Yui's murmuring at the beginning and in the middle of the song. Just should have been kept plain and simple. I am happy for the group because I really like it and it finally marks the end of Keyakizaka46 music that I have really loved and feel grateful to all the member who have contributed towards the groups overwhelming success and recognition as a leading Idol Unit in Japan.
The song draws resemblance from to the similar tune and high pounding beats from Otona wa Shinjite Kurenai (大人は信じてくれない). And that was not even in a Single... It was released in the album - Masshiro na Mono wa Yogoshitaku naru... A shocker cause it would have made a fine title song.
Big Minus: And Aki-p is again very notorious for using a single English word.. this time "Oh" multiple time. This guy really needs a break!! Sigh! Always keeps throwing spanner in his own works! Off late he has been ripping off his own material. Not only for Sakamichi Groups but also the 48 gang as well.
The single is available for Download on popular Music Platforms:
The song has received positive response after its release and is #1 in all popular Online Music and Streaming platforms such as iTunes, Line Music and mora.
Finally.. Keyakizaka46 (欅坂46) - Top 25 Songs
Ranking the best 25 songs across last 8 Singles/1 Album.
The group has always delivered quality music ever since its debut single "Silent Majority" and every subsequent single kept dishing out hit after hit after hit.... The following are the 8 singles released between 2016-2019 under Sony Music Japan label. Average single consists of 6-7 songs with lyrics from group's producer Yasushi Akimoto.
Single #1 "Silent Majority"
(サイレントマジョリティー) 2016 - My Rating: 4.1/5 (4 hits)
Single #2 "Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai"
(世界には愛しかない) 2016 - My Rating: 4.5/5 (6 hits)
Single #3 "Futari Saison"
(二人セゾン) 2016 - My Rating - 4.1/5 (5 hits)
Single #4 "Fukyōwaon"
(不協和音) 2017 - My Rating - 4.3/5 (4 hits)
Single #5 "Kaze ni Fukarete mo"
(風に吹かれても) 2017 - My Rating - 4.8/5 (3 hits)
Single #6 "Glass wo Ware!"
(ガラスを割れ!) 2018 - My Rating - 4.3/5 (3 hits)
Single #7 "Ambivalent"
(アンビバレント) 2018 - My Rating - 4.2/5 (3 hits)
Single #8 "Kuroi Hitsuji"
(黒い羊) 2019 - My Rating - 4/5 (1 hit)
Album: Masshirona Mono wa Yogoshitaku Naru (My Rating - 4/5)
TheTop 25Songs are..............................
Rank
Song
1
Silent Majority
2
Kaze ni Fukarete mo
3
Futari Saison
4
Aozora ga Chigau
5
Ambivalent
6
Getsuyoubi no Asa,
Skirt wo Kirareta Ka
7
Glass wo Ware!
8
Student Dance
9
Fukyouwaon
10
Shibuya Kara PARCO ga Kieta Hi
11
100nen Metteba
12
Mata Atte Kudasai
13
Kataru Nara Mirai wo
14
Sekai ni wa Ai Shika Nai
15
Otona wa
Shinjitekurenai
16
Abunakkashii Keikaku
17
Shibuyagawa
18
Taiyou wa Miageru
Hito wo Erabanai
19
Mou Mori e Kaerou ka
20
Kuroi Hitsuji
21
302
Goushitsu
22
Tuning
23
Tokyo Tower wa Doko
Kara Mieru
24
Bokutachi no Sensou
25
Yuuhi 1/3
*Ratings based on Average Rating of only featured hits and not the entire songs in the single..
*Ratings also feature songs from Hiragana Keyaki (but not included in Top 25 hits in this video)
For full discography of their best single and hits visit:
The group has picked Excellent Work Awards at the 59th, 60th and 61st Japan Record Awards for their 5th, 7th and 8th Singles. They have also won MTV Video Music Awards Japan, 2 Yahoo Search Grand Prix Award, 1 Japan Gold Disc and Japan Cable Award respectively. The group made Fuji-Q Highland their home for outdoor performance branded as Keyaki Republic and gave 3 memorable performances in 2017, 2018 & 2019. Also noteworthy are their Birthday Live, Rock in Japan Festival, Performances on Various TV Channels and the ground breaking Arena Tour which concluded at Tokyo Dome in September 2019.
The group was good at Variety TV as well. They are the stars of Keyakitte, Kakenai? (欅って、書けない?) on TV Tokyo and and also had 4 seasons of KeyaBingo!
Even though the group's music has been superlative the group itself has succumbed to its own success. At times the members were overworked at events and concerts leading to sever exhaustion. Plagued with constant Member shenanigans, absenteeism due to illness/injuries, personal issues. academic commitments and off late few alarming scandals and member withdrawals all adding up to it. Worse thing is the management too didn't have a clue on how to manage them, ultimately leading to the plug being pulled on the group itself. It's a real shame because the 2nd generation members never got explore their full potential when it comes to going mainstream.
And then the final nail in Keyaki's coffin was hit in July 2020 with the announcement that Keyakizaka46 to release final single (in Digital platform) in August and disband for good during an online no crowd concert “Live online but with YOU”. The single is titled "Dare ga Sono Kane wo Narasu no ka?" (featured above) and the first release since February 2019, almost 18 months. But wait, there are plans to have the group continue under a new name. The social media was sent into frenzy with this announcement and a debate began as to what could be the group's new name, how well will they be managed, will the senior members stay on or graduate, what is the fate of current members etc.
Keyakizaka46 will hold a one-man live as the last on-stage performance on October 12th and 13th at Yoyogi National Stadium No. 1 Gymnasium.
Official website release states:
“Keyakizaka 46 Last Live”
Date: October 12th (Mon), 13th (Tue)
Venue: Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 1 Gymnasium
* Number of seats in line with national guidelines (2020/8/17 currently, 50% of the number of venues seat, or the upper limit of 5,000 seats, held in one of the small number of seats) and the venue management was taken to thorough the ※ new coronavirus infectious disease control, public measures manual to mind more than Details such as storage and ticket sales will be announced in early September 2020. ---> Sayonara Keyaki San!
Only time will tell how this shapes out... But as for Keyakizaka46's music, it will live forever and its style, music and message driven lyrics will echo through the generations to come!
Opening Military March/Dance 00. OVERTURE 01. Abunakkashii Keikaku / Kanji Keyakizaka46 02. Silent Majority / Kanji Keyakizaka46 03. Sekai ni wa Ai Shika nai/ Kanji Keyakizaka46 MC 04. Aozora ga Chigau / Sugai Yuka, Moriya Akane, Watanabe Rika, Watanabe Risa 05. Bathroom Travel / Ozeki Rika, Koike Minami, Nagahama Neru 06. Bokutachi no Sensou / Kanji Keyakizaka46 07. Seifuku to Taiyou / Kanji Keyakizaka46 08. Ballet no Shounen / Uemura Rina, Ozeki Rika, Koike Minami, Nagasawa Nanako, Yonetani Nanami 09. 100nen Matteba / Nagahama Neru 10. Taiyou wa Miageru Hito wo Erabanai / Kanji Keyakizaka46 & Hiragana Keyakizaka46 MC Kanji ---> Hiragana 11. Kitai Shite Inai Jibun / Kanji Keyakizaka46 12. Dare Yori mo Takaku Tobe! / 1st Gen Hiragana Keyakizaka46 13. NO WAR in the future / Hiragana Keyakizaka46 14. Tokyo Tower wa Doko Kara Mieru? / Kanji Keyakizaka46 15. Eccentric / Kanji Keyakizaka46 16. AM 1: 27 / Kanji Keyakizaka46 17. Katarunara Mirai o… / Kanji Keyakizaka46 18. Kaze ni Fukarete mo/ Kanji Keyakizaka46 ---- E N C O R E ---- EN1. Futari Saison / Kanji Keyakizaka46 EN2. Kimi ga Inai / Kanji Keyakizaka46 EN3. Mou Mori e Kaerou ka? / Kanji Keyakizaka46 EN4. Glass wo Ware! / Kanji Keyakizaka46 ---- D O U B L E E N C O R E ---- WEN1. Ambivalent / Kanji Keyakizaka46
Gallery:
Feature Gallery:
Special Gallery:
DVD/Blu-Ray Case:
Video Collage:
Keyakizaka46 (欅坂46) - Top Singles/Albums
Ranking the best 25 songs across last 8 Singles/1 Album.
