2026 Feb: Stanley's Music Listicle

Introduction and Links

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pB1P1h0QDzfy1WRV4uVKH?si=6OtF9g7ZR62SyV96MB1yWg

Tidal Playlist: https://tidal.com/playlist/e4e514b7-0171-4ed5-99df-3d3ff55ef501

Youtube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGdExAWayyzL0qqu4kcYhHInV-QAsXT7y&si=GwR7MznfMJb1UCR9

Initial Shortlist: https://tidal.com/playlist/e8b39aa8-9015-4a07-bcc0-9b9566a13f73

A slightly more eclectic list than last time. Apart from song titles. There's two called good boy. I don't know why. Some fo the songs may not actually be new, they may have just been recently uploaded to YouTube.

This list will answer the question "What if Japanese but Irish?"

Phantom Siita - Rose Coloured Moon

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Diqv4GLQ8pS66JhwsTGLl?si=3e6a7352339048db

Video Link: https://youtu.be/wg71amM8LUo

Cats love Phantom Siita. They are all cats. I don't know what they're singing about but I imagine it's about loving someone so much they're going to murder them and keep them preserved in something.

I don't know it's just that vibe.

Meek - Fabulous

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/1LkpaAtSjAx5n4rrTkIQyu?si=9b7c2152d28b45ee

Video Link: https://youtu.be/x-FLnQrUGTc

To be honest it's not that good but I imagine it would be good fun to sing along to when you're half cut. So one for the students.

A wee quote from EDGE Media Network:

"MEEK is described as a self-made artist whose work is informed by working-class experience and personal trauma. She has explicitly stated that her music is intended to resonate with outsiders and marginalized audiences, including LGBTQ+ listeners, centering their experiences and perspectives in her artistic vision. "

AKASAKI - Action

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/1Dp1j8ohcjGTJhswwYWl5u?si=38bf16b078f54e6f

Video Link: https://youtu.be/80sNX81Kags

Earworm. Worms in the ears.

Worms, worms, worms.

Next.

THE SSYNDROME - Good Boy

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/4V38s6GgpCkwXx8vZm4sxw?si=fe630204734147bd

Video Link: https://youtu.be/6QmFwtS_oNU

Look at their profile https://kprofiles.com/the-ssyndrome-members-profile/ they look so edgy.

The song is pretty catchy but I just loved the bit where he says "Don't call me Good Boy" and then a voice whispers "Good boy". It cracks me up. I don't know why. I even had an anime panel all ready to to go with an image of an M boy pretending to be a dog for an S girl.

Then I thought better of it.

Don't Google that.

Not at work.

Then I discovered another song called Good Boy.

Mind blown.

Band and Title

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/7fjGhOyRcSNTYgJRMmpr1f?si=2714cd13674546d7

Video Link: https://youtu.be/7PRzq5gNBSI

4EVE are a Thai girl group that were formed after surviving a reality TV show. https://kprofiles.com/4eve-members-profile/ I imagine it was Battle Royale but with more lip gloss.

Apparently "Girls like me don't play with the boys like you!"

Having looked at them I'm a little relieved as I think they would eat me alive.

Also I'm a cat.

akaikurage - Idea (Donare!!)

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/1z2ZA7ef1OFWAGq0RM9jPp?si=9f9112151ab94ba8

Video Link: https://youtu.be/k8I8rU_xoZU

The YouTube video is about 3 minutes shorter than the actual song.

The Dead Kennedys, but Japanese. That's not quite right.

"A Japanese psychedelic new wave POP art rock band. Natsuki (Gt. Vo) and Matsuna (Ba) met and decided that they wanted to express something together whether it be comedy. dance or whatever. and since they could both play instruments. they decided to make music and that was the beginning of Akai Kurage. In 2019 they met Gell-C (current drummer) and formed the current lineup. Their addictive vocals create a unique worldview and their songs are catchy. During their live performances they ignore the music and start to scream and lament. which intertwines with the audience. The power of the guitars bass and drums is unique to this band and they seem to be able to twist the contemporary music scene."

LANDOKMAI - Fall In Love Too Easily

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/0rVPjrssMtRriOlhqhlno4?si=68d0cef9537f4691

Video Link: https://youtu.be/ipmf-OHEQsc

But Doug^{H^H^H}HStanley you say, remembering that I'm a cat and not his human. There's not been a good romantic song yet (with the possible exception of Rose-coloured Moon, but we're not sure) and Feb is the month of Valentines. The romance not the murdering ...

Don't you have a good romance song?

Why yes, and this is it. There's even a special Valentine's edit of the video. I've not watched it. It might make me feel things.

LANDOKMAI are a Thai pop duo.

Maybe I need something a little depressing.

Indigo la end - Kagura

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/2bjxsWamHhhbNkw3s0ONfW?si=f93206613ea7416a

Video Link: https://youtu.be/TqHFhXwI10k

Hooked me in the first 5 seconds then funked me over so hard it's still living in my head rent free.

From JRock News:

"The new single, Kagura, as usual, features an upbeat rock composition from guitarist and vocalist Enon Kawatami. The dynamic guitar arrangements and catchy vocal melodies, which fans adore, are once again present in Kagura.

Released the following Friday, the action-packed music video for Kagura follows an exciting chase scene from a first-person perspective. In the midst of frantic action scenes, the band can be seen playing their instruments in a moody, dimly lit space."

Saint Agness - Good Boy

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/7jNPucAt0pO6oAJNWVHsj9?si=66a6650213c142fa

Video Link: https://youtu.be/alv7eMqL3pQ

I'm not sure if she is an official Saint?

From Metal Heads Forever:

"Frontperson Kitty A. Austen explains, “‘Good Boy’ was written to be a scathing critique of obedient, subservient men who uphold the capitalist death cult, feed the machine, and call it a virtue. It’s a snarling takedown of the so-called ‘good boys’ who suck corporate dick and wear their complicity like a badge.”"

Kitty!

GENDAI FUFUU - Vessel of Family

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/3lpMwHJZBt5g9w51Tv36g7?si=0c5cf341b0534c33

Video Link: https://youtu.be/9Kh5LIGzmLk

"A band consisting of two married couples. Formed in 2024 by eri-nyo, who is in charge of lyrics, composition, keyboards, and vocals for CUICUI and IIOT. The members are eri-nyo, eri-nyo's husband Yuichi Ishikawa/guitar (ANIMA, IIOT) , miduho/drums (Response,CUICUI) , and her husband Ryosuke/bass (THE FLAMES). By performing songs that incorporate jazz and classical elements with members from rock and pop backgrounds, they have sublimated them into a unique, modern sound."

More worms.

Runner Ups

What If Japanese But Irish? : Backdrop Cinderella - Suudarabushi

Spotify Link: https://tidal.com/track/492831691/u

Video Link: https://youtu.be/TScMdB66h_4

I think this may be a cover version but really have no idea. Listen to it and watch the video. Maybe it's because they are both an island nation? From the JaME site:

"Formed in Ikebukuro in 2006, Backdrop Cinderella play an eccentric, fast-paced brand of punk rock that combines influences from ska, metal, Irish and folk music with some truly ridiculous lyrics. Energetic frontman Dendeke Ayumi dances, jumps and hangs upside down from the ceiling while he sings, and he is backed up by the more soulful voice of afro-hairstyled guitarist Toshima "Perry" Wataru and the high-pitched shouts of bassist Asahi Kyanako, which add an even more eclectic feel to their sound.

After over a decade together, Backdrop Cinderella have never changed members or deviated from their vision, bringing fans more wild and irreverent songs each year. The members have adopted the phrase “unza unza” to describe both their sound and the free and instinctive way that fans dance to it."

Just Watch The Video: NETH PRIERE CAIN - Majestic Aria

Spotify Link : https://open.spotify.com/track/5zW4Ae3cCNtHdLkY9gkFsg?si=4509c017cae64947

Video Link: https://youtu.be/NfVXGnRFYaM?si=g3-bGTz48q520Mks

Visual Kei indeed.

The Chuuni Five Make A Band.

"NETH PRIERE CAIN is an active visual kei band in Nagoya. They are part of the kote kei, shiro kei, and tanbi kei subgenres. They have been active since 2018."

Sure that explains everything.

Wormed Too Late: Genesis Owusu - STAMPEDE

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/track/6gxGg4j7i3Ba7F2x0yi8br?si=3518186dede147bc

Video: Link: https://youtu.be/69nnHQVl40g?si=z2hUt_U96TZ99el-

I presume this is a public information video about the dangers of riding horses and motorbikes without a helmet?

From the Wiki:

"Kofi Owusu-Ansah (born 1998), known by his stage name Genesis Owusu, is a Ghanaian-Australian rapper and singer from Canberra. He is the younger brother of fellow hip hop rapper, Kojo Owusu-Ansah p.k.a. Citizen Kay. Owusu's debut studio album, Smiling with No Teeth (March 2021), reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 30. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards he won four trophies for Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art (latter shared with Bailey Howard). "

Endings

Anything released after today will have to wait until March.

Total songs considered: 263

Shortlist: 45 songs

The view count on these songs varies wildly from under 500 to millions!

Nyaa. Today is Neko Day in Japan.

Stanley.