Mixed-gender group Genic have been one of my favorite J-pop acts for the past few years, and last year’s N_G album only cemented that. Unfortunately, since then I haven’t connected with any of their singles in the same way, making me worried for their upcoming album If. However, the splashy It’s Showtime gets us right back on track with a sound that compliments the group’s considerable talents.
Two of the biggest reasons I became a Genic fan were their uniformly excellent vocal talent and their ability to compose great pop songs. The members haven’t been composing their most recent material (sticking with lyric-writing instead), which probably explains why it hasn’t sat with me in the same way. It’s Showtime continues this approach. However, this time they’ve handed the reigns over to the incredible Takuya Watanabe, known on my playlist for writing epics like Sexy Zone’s Run, M!LK’s Winding Road and Bullet Train’s Yell. He has a gift for anthemic melody and that quality takes a funky turn for It’s Showtime.
This song lets Genic sing passionately over a rhythmically bright and engaging track. In other words, it lets them do what they do best. The chorus is incredibly sticky, delivering a flashy hook over a bounding instrumental. And at nearly four minutes in length, the song makes way for an extended dance break and a fully fleshed-out structure. This is something J-pop has always done so well: delivering an entire musical buffet regardless of what outside musical trends may dictate. This results in music that feels classic and enduring. It’s Showtime will likely sound as great five years from now as it does today.
Hooks
9
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
9