TOP TEN OF AI OTSUKA - Set 2: Ai-chan's rock songs

In this ranking, I'm presenting you ten rockish songs from Ai Otsuka's discography. She's got quite a lot of rock songs, but I chose those which I like the most.

For genre purists out there: some of the songs listed below are pop rather than rock, so you can treat "rock" here as this kind of music which uses more guitar :D

Here we go~

"Happy Days" is Ai's fourth single. I placed it at the bottom of this ranking, because... I don't like it as much as others ;)

This song is one crazy song. It's one of funniest moments on "LOVE LETTER" ;) Even though it's crazy and sometimes kind of annoying, it's still enjoyable and has a hilarious choreography~

"Superman" opens Ai-chan's second album "LOVE JAM". I like it better than "Happy Days" and I always enjoy this "wonderful" Engrish line "I sing love you" :D ("I think I love you", in fact...)

"Pon Pon" is always a fantastic mess during each Ai's concert ;) This song is so heavy and so senseless that it makes it a perfect song for goofing around ;)

This song comes from "LOVE PiECE" album and it's a fun pop-rockish song with a nice flow. It always cheers me up... especially when I see its nonsense Engrish title :D

"Bye Bye" was a re-cut single from "LOVE LETTER" - it was released after the album. I like its catchy melody and its very simple yet pretty PV.

I prefer this version better over "Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 735 Yen". I like such seductive and sensual Ai-chin~

This song was used in Ai-chan's "Tokyo Friends". I think this version is better than "Friends" released as the last track of "LOVE JAM". The rock feeling and stronger guitars just fit the song better. I'm so happy that it was added to "Daisuki dayo" single as the B-side ;)

I simply love "Yumekui"! It's one of my favourite songs from Ai Otsuka. It's just so catchy, easy to sing along to and has awesome the lyrics about pursuing your dreams. What else would you want from a single? Well... A slightly better PV. I admit that the PV is cute, but I'd rather see Ai-chan herself in it... I'm not really digging her animated alter-ego...

I really don't know why this song didn't become an official single. It had so much potential! I bet this is one of the most loved songs by Ai Otsuka. I know it had a PV and was somewhat promoted, but it's not the kind of promotion this song obviously deserves... It's definitely one of the best songs Ai has ever released and I think you'll all agree.

TOP TEN OF AI OTSUKA – Set 1: Less known and underrated

Today I’m starting a new series of articles on Ai Otsuka Love Blog – TOP TEN of Ai Otsuka. We’re starting off with a list of ten less known and therefore underrated songs from Ai-chan’s discography. All of these songs have something very special about them, but for certain reasons they became album tracks or B-side, so they had no chance to be promoted. It’s a pity, because some of them could have become very successful singles...

Let’s go~!

This is a digital single released in 2010, Ai-chan’s last single to date. Despite the endorsement deal with Panasonic, the song didn’t chart well – maybe because of its specific style, more similar to LOVE-chan’s releases than to Ai’s. I love it anyway. I used it as a ringtone in my mobile for a very long time :)

Natsuzora was released in 2005, as a B-side to Ai’s single “Neko ni Fuusen”. For me, it should have been a single instead of “Neko” or at least the second A-side. This song is great – romantic, nostalgic and full of emotions. Its mood reminds me a little of “Kingyo Hanabi”.

This song is the last track on Ai’s debut album “LOVE PUNCH”. It features piano and a small choir! Moreover, you can find there one of the most developed ad-libs Ai has ever done. I like it and this upbeat feeling this song gives me every time I listen to it.

“Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a marvellous single. It’s too bad that despite its finest quality and being the 5-year anniversary single it didn’t sell so well. I loved the music, artwork and the PV. "H2O" is one of B-sides featured in this release. As “Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a rather slow, grand and beautiful ballad, “H2O” goes in a different direction – it has a funky rock vibe, interesting arrangement, awesome vocals and amusing lyrics comparing love to a chemical reaction! :)

This is an intro to Ai-chan’s third studio album “LOVE COOK”. It’s a very unusual composition and truly one of a kind. It starts with a strange mood and gives a really night / dawn feeling. Then the song develops into a powerful rock number in which Ai’s cute voice reveals its hidden power. I love it and I think she really needs to more such songs in the future!

Come to think of it, "360°" is definitely one of the most mature and unconventional songs Ai has created so far. It’s exquisite and refined, aggressive and yet delicate. The message of this songs is conveyed in the way it was arranged. Before reading the lyrics, I felt that it was about some uncertainty and indecisiveness in feelings and emotions. Ai sings: “I love you and I hate you”. The way this song was sung and arranged truly gets the message across. You can almost physically feel the pain Ai is singing about...

This song was included in Ai’s second studio album “LOVE JAM”. It’s somewhat pop-rockish, moody, melancholic and kind of sad. Otsuka sings about being strong and overcoming various obstacles that appear in our life. It’s no surprise that our weaknesses and our endless struggle to improve can make us tired, hopeless and sad. This song reveals that life is not only about happy things, but it also has a darker side that all of us have to face.

I can’t believe that this song didn’t become a single! It’s so damn beautiful! It’s easily one of my favourites... I love the imagery of the lyrics – the winged egg wants to see the sky, the world and experience all flavours of life. Isn’t it similar to a fable or a fairy tale? Also, the feathers falling down from the sky during the performance at LOVE COOK Tour additionally highlight the delicacy and tenderness radiating from this song.  I love it, just love it.

Another highly underrated song. This time it comes from “LOVE PiECE” album which didn’t have many album tracks, because it was composed mostly of singles. Luckily for “Kumuriuta”, it was given a PV which has Ai-chan soaked in rain and diving in a pool (trying to sing underwater, too). It’s another song filled with sadness and overflowing emotions. Ai-chan asks the sky not to cry over her, because her heart is still strong. This is my favourite line which always makes me emotional and gives me hope.

As I said before, “Kurage, Nagareboshi” was a great single, not only because of the wonderful quality of the A-side, visual framework and the PV, but also because of the amazing B-sides. “Ame no Tsubu” is a renditon of Ai-chan’s song titled “LOVE MUSiC” which appeared both in “LOVE COOK” and “AI am BEST”. “LOVE MUSiC” was cute, nice and very Ai-chan, but in this version she took this song and squished it like a lemon to show its true essence. This was one great job, because Ai-chan was able to transform one of her not-bad songs into one of the greatest musical achievements she’s done till now. “Ame no Tsubu” radiates with maturity and refined taste, showing Ai’s artistic development, increased sensitivity and truly musical soul. The song is just too lyrical. Everything about it is lyrical – starting from the text to the strings appearing in the verses, to the quiet recitation to the refreshed chorus. This is a very rainy song. I love to listen to it when it’s raining and I’m feeling romantic :)

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This list is a highly subjective set of songs chosen by me, so you might or you might not agree with this particular choice. You’re welcome to add your types in the comments :)

You can also suggest another sets for TOP TEN! :) Your ideas will be appreciated~