Original Post on main site: https://www.tokyohive.com/arti…anese-songs-opinion-based
Well, it has been a minute hasn't it! I am back with a new editorial, this time of the best tracks released by Twice in the Japanese language.
First before I start, a couple of ground rules:
- No rereleases of songs, ex. Knock Knock, What is Love or any other song originally released in Korean.
- Subunit stuff from MiSaMo does not count, although I love them, they do not belong on the main list when there is no other Japanese subunit releases yet.
- No solos or collaborations will feature on the list (Sana has done both)
10. Wake Me Up (2018)
We are going to start off rewinding to 2018, which is now 6 years ago! Wake me up is just a sweet feel good song about trying to patch a misunderstanding after a fight. It is the opposite of the usual sad or angry songs about fights and arguments in a relationship, so when it was released it was a nice breeze of fresh air.
9. BRAND NEW GIRL(2018)
Not all the songs here are from 2018 I promise, just the first year of Twice in the Japan market was full of great songs. This is a formulaic candy pop girly pop song that the group was known for the first few years of their careers. However the bridge and random switches in pacing, make it stand out from other tracks.
8. Scorpion (2020)
The drums in the beginning along with the snares and gentle hi-hats cleanly transfer us into the hook of the song, and the over all soothing gentle airy vocals make this a great song for relaxing to.
7. Be OK (2019)
Not going to lie, this song got me through the first part of the pandemic in 2020, the song has a great message about hanging on and pushing through. As in the end everything will be okay, even if sometimes life feels like a nightmare or "bad horror movie".
6. Fanfare (2020)
I could not feasibly make an document listing all of the best Japanese songs by Twice without Fanfare being included. It is by far one of their best overall in my opinion, and the pastel outfits definitely made the MV even more happy feeling. The instrumental is a bit busy but fits the theme of the song and has a good pacing to it. However due to it being very busy and the fact that my fellow ONCE would crucify me if I did not place this song objectively, it ends up here. Even though I am listing my 10 favorite Japanese Twice songs, I am placing them in an objective order.
5. Perfect World (2021)
Let me just say Jihyo scares me in this MV in the best & most glamourous way. The instrumental is very orchestral and mariachi based, which usually you would not expect from a Twice song but it fits well here. This is the perfect song (see what I did there), for telling someone who has harmed you repeatedly, where to take themselves. It also is the song that officially burned down the cutesy image that Twice had, and turned away the people who were fans of the group for some pretty sick non savory reasons.
4. Flow like waves (2022)
I truly am still amazed this song does not have more listens and views on streaming platforms, however I do realize not everyone listens that far back into an album. Lots of people only tune into the singles. The bouncy instrumental, which has pogo stick spring sounds sampled in it, compliments the vocals well. There is not any overpowering or out of place rap verses to be found here, Twice chose to show that they can kill a great song vocally without it.
3. Breakthrough (2019)
This had to be here, there was no way it would not be, it is the song that helped them breakthrough the doubts that some of the music critics had about their ability to be versatile. This song truly paved the road to the Feel Special era which helped them establish their current more sophisticated sound.
2. Good At Love (2021)
We could alternatively title this song, "Deep Voices Galore" and it would also fit. The alto tones were brought out in droves here as well as some high pitches with fast transition. If this song were a chocolate it would be a 75% cocoa dark chocolate bar. It is so smooth. The final bridge helps Mina shine extremely well as a vocalist which is something that was needed around this time when scrutiny was coming in for her live vocals. When she performed this live with the group she shut down a lot of people.
1. Hare Hare (2023)
I will be honest it was hard to decide this, Better almost made it on the list but all the other songs had to be here and Better could only go to the top if this did not, so it got left off. At the end of the day 'Hare Hare' fares better in playability, vocals and being stuck for eternity. This was also rated by many fans as their best Japanese title track. I ended up enjoying this track and it's release so much that I own multiple editions of the physicals from it's multiple releases.
