espressOH! is nothing but OH!Pressors casually writing about random stuff. Sometimes we want to s*** on stuff, some times we want to be laid-back too. Well, whatever it is, have fun reading, or not~
If you’re not fan of the Spring weather, this article is not for you but if you are, you’ve come to the right place! Many times, Spring goes by way too fast that you can’t enjoy the nice warm weather before Summer comes around. When it comes to seasons, I think Japan does a great job capturing its essence including when it comes to music. Seeing that we’re close to Winter ending, why not talk all the great J-pop music videos that will get you in the Spring mood! Below, I’ve listed a few examples of my Spring themed music videos/songs by my favorite J-pop groups and artists.
Flower – Blue Sky Blue
When it comes to Flower, visually stunning music videos are a given. Blue Sky Blue is a lighthearted track that features a lot of high notes from both Kyoka and Reina. The violin paired the piano and possibly a xylophone really brought this track to life. Now for the music video, the color scheme is really simple. There’s a lot of blue and beige which gives the visuals a lighter feel. What I love about the music video is that it showcases all the members just having fun and relaxing in the great weather. This was the last single that Kyoka was in before leaving the group in 2015.
AAA – Sayonara no Mae ni
AAA is probably J-pop’s most popular co-ed group and is a group full of vocally talented members. Sayonara no Mae ni gives off a fairy tale vibe, especially in the instrumentals. The instrumentals also features the xylophone (possibly a musical triangle as well) along with a string instrument. The music video is set in a forest that is full of different types of flowers. Looks like something out of the Alice in Wonderland film.
Kana Nishino – Sakura, I Love You?
This is a throwback to any Kana Nishino fan, back to when Kana did more Pop-R&B music. One of my favorite tracks from Kana, “Sakura, I Love You” showcases her strong vocals and portrays her emotions the best! The music video is plastered with cherry blossom trees and petals. The set is split into two themes, a bubbly pink room and a more darker room which makes the cherry blossoms outside the window pop out more. Kana Nishino has been on an indefinite hiatus since February of this year, hopefully when she returns, she’ll make more tracks similar to her earlier releases.
Morning Musume – The Sunset After the Rain
Morning Musume is one of the first idol groups I discovered when getting into J-pop, they do an amazing job mixing classical instruments with EDM/dubstep. This is one of Morning Musume’s lighter tracks with a more pop-ballad feel. This is one of Morning Musume’s more simpler music video, the cherry blossom tree is the center of attention in rather empty space. Also paired along with ballet-like choreography. This was the single where Kanon was out sick and so Karin of Juice=Juice (sister group to Morning Musume) covered for her.
DISH// – Sakuraboshi
Many may know DISH// from all the theme songs they’ve provided for Naruto Shippuden but they also have hidden gems as well. Since they’re a rock band, it’s nice to see them try out a pop ballad. They were able to nicely pair the strings with the drums, and the guitar gives a nice touch. The music video is set outside with all the cherry blossoms in bloom, it gives the vibe of school graduations/new beginnings.