Boy Group Songs and MVs I Enjoyed 2023

2023 has been a mixed bag here in Idolcast world. Some high highs (THE RIZZNESS) and some truly low lows. (Thanks for the rape and murder fantasies sent to my inbox, Armys. Stay classy, as always. Love Yourself.)

The past few years I’ve done a wrap-up of my favorite boy group songs and MVs (2022, 2021, 2020) and I thought I’d continue the tradition.

JAPAN

First the non-boy group songs. The song of the year in Japan by any measure was YOASOBI’s “Idol” and I can’t disagree with the Japanese public on this. It’s fantastic. Some other favorites of mine were millennium parade x Shiina Ringo with “W*RK”, Perfume with “Sumikko Disco”, CHANMINA with “Death Anniversary”, and I’ll be controversial and throw XG in here with their fun run of singles about “slaying” (which according to a young XG fan I know means “when you are really pretty and really cool and magical.”)

Now to boy group world. 2023 saw the complete meltdown of the Agency Formerly Known As (Johnny’s & Associates) who have now rebranded to STARTO (that’s Star + To, as in TO the future). Some talents took the opportunity to leave the agency (Ikuta Toma, Ninomiya Kazunari, Yara Tomoyuki, as well as ⅗ of King & Prince leaving Nagase Ren and Takahashi Kaito as something of a Japanese TVXQ…) and some rumored debuts were squashed. STARTO got frozen out of the annual NHK New Year’s Eve show Kouhaku Utagassen as well as the cancelation of advertising contracts and other appearances for various talents. 

But things aren’t all gloom and doom. Sure, maybe my beloved Kawai Fumito is leaving my ALL TIME FAVORITE GROUP A.B.C-Z but the Agency Now Known As STARTO was still racking up sales and (more importantly) put out some bangers.

Look, did SixTones’ member Kyomoto (allegedly) throw shade at my beloved A.B.C-Z? Yes. But never let it be said that I hold a grudge. For my money, the best Agency Now Known As STARTO music this year was from SixTones. I’m talking 「こっから」, a brass filled, pick-me-up of a song with a fun, just hangin’ out at the local Family-Res in my tracksuit smoking cigarettes, video to accompany it. I’ve probably logged at least 1 million of those 100 million + views of this one. The mix of that particular spoken word J-Pop rap with a shout-along chorus is perfection.

They also crushed it with “ABARERO” (a heavy metal fever dream) and just under the wire with the peppy “Anthem” (which leans heavily into the jock rock genre.) I already have their upcoming album pre-ordered. I am ready. 

SnowMan came through with “slow…” a sexy romp with a truly ridiculous (in a good way) beat drop.

From A.B.C-Z (also known as the best idol group of all time), we get a retro 1980s City Pop feel for “JODEKI!”, Kawai’s last single with the group. I’ll be crying while tapping my toes to the rhythm. The song starts off with a bit of “1 of 1” but quickly steers itself over to City Pop world. 

And of course there were also fun releases from Naniwa Danshi, Kinki Kids, etc. 

For non-STARTO groups, the real winners for me were The Super Fruit and Yogayonara from Tsubasa Danshi Productions.

The truly unhinged energy of 「メダチタガリアン」 is something I didn’t even know I was missing in my life until I heard it. It’s POLYSICS by way of idol pop and I love it.

But you can’t go wrong with any of Yogayonara’s releases. They’ve all got that overcaffeinated too much soda pop energy.

The SUPER FRUIT are Yogayonara’s less unhinged and more peppy cousins. They’re downing pixie sticks, not Mountain Dew Code Red.

「サマー☆★げっちゅー」 is a perfect pop confection. When they go into the なつなつ part, just *chef’s kiss*. But like Yogayonara, you can’t go wrong just dialing up a single.

From LDH come my new faves KID PHENOMENON (from Exile Tribe) with debut song “Wheelie.”

The song is fun and the guys are charming. It’s got that J-Pop idol feel that’s more enthusiasm than polish, which suits my tastes just fine. The FIRST TAKE performance is also a delight. (Wheeeelieeeee! VROOM VROOM!)

Be:First gave us “Boom Boom Back” which isn’t particularly groundbreaking or novel but it is very well done and extremely catchy. (From the East side to the West side!)

Former talents from the Agency Now Known As STARTO, IMP. gave us the delightful debut “Crusin’”, which sounds a lot like a track that could have come from the Agency Now Known As STARTO. I’m not complaining. It’s extremely charming and very J-pop. The follow-ups haven’t been quite as catchy but I’m not giving up on IMP. just yet.

And in bonus AAA crumbs is Sky-Hi X NISSY with “Super Idol.” 

Are we dreaming of you, Nissy? Yes. Yes, we are. The Super Idol! Literal King Shit.

KOREA
Moving onto Korea… There wasn’t a lot that really stood out to me this year. Although apparently, while the NCT 127 pots and pans sound may have its detractors but it seems like it was the on trend sound for boy groups this year—including brother group NCT U with their hooky meme song “Baggy Jeans”.  

My top boy group songs in no particular order—

MCND’s “Odd Venture” is the country music tinged crossover I didn’t know I needed in my life until I heard it. It just sounds so fresh! MCND never disappoint. If you can get to the tour this Spring, I suggest you attend!

EXO with “Hear Me Out” have not been out of my normal listening rotation since the song came out.

It’s very much of the “FxxK IT” genre, which is one of my favorite things on earth. The other EXO single from the album, “Cream Soda”, was also excellent. Say what you want about how messy EXO is but the songs never miss.

My (non-A.B.C-Z) all time favorites SHINee also came through with “Hard” but my favorite from the album was “Juice.” Just that demjointz tag “Incoming….” signals something good ahead. (“I think you like me. I think you like me.”)

And an under-the-wire entry from TVXQ, celebrating 20 years in the industry, with “Down.” Can we call this a power ballad? I say, yes. 

Honorable mention to the Riize debut “Talk Saxy,” which was just… fun. Why a saxophone hook? WHY NOT?! Love it.

Last but definitely not least, my Song of the Year… “THE RIZZNESS” by Taemin.

The entire Guilty EP is excellent, including the title track—which has spawned a popular dance challenge—but I’ve had “The Rizzness” on repeat since it came out and I’m still not tired of it. The choreography with the squad of hot girl dancers is the icing on the cake. The hand movements as the song enters that first chorus of “You know I got the Rizz..” are divine.

Who knows what 2024 will bring but hopefully it’s more Rizzness and fewer (like zero) rape and murder fantasies in my inbox.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s, friends and haters!