UlasanAnime.com – Over the past twelve months, I’ve found myself repeatedly listening to numerous songs from IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE. However, after the third-anniversary live event, my focus has narrowed down to a select few. I feel it’s worth sharing this curated list, even if it’s just a snapshot of my current listening habits.
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Even after significant pruning, the list remains quite extensive. To present a more concise selection, I’ve divided it into two tiers: the top 10, followed by approximately the next 20. The tier placement primarily reflects my sentimental attachment rather than any strict ranking. Within each tier, there are no specific ranks. For perspective, as of this writing, there are around 152 vocal songs in the Million Live series.
YouTube and other links are provided where available.
First tier:
- G?F ? The accompanying image captures the essence of this song perfectly. It’s a full-blown, corny cartoon depiction of girls being coy about puppy love! The title, “Girlfriend,” is meant to be pronounced out loud, and the playful typography fully embodies the song’s inherent cheesiness. Despite its silliness, the song is undeniably catchy.
- ???- Airu ? I already have an appreciation for nano.RIPE (unironically), the producers of this track. My fondness for ML and Machico’s singing voice is well-established. “Airu” combines these elements with additional context drawn from the ML manga. The ML3rd live performance, however, elevated this song even further.
- ????? ? Praline ? This song showcases Julia and nano.RIPE at their absolute best. It’s incredibly cool and sophisticated. Thanks to her work on Bang Dream, Aimin’s guitar skills have notably improved, as demonstrated in her performance of this song. For comparison, here’s Kimiko’s cover. It’s evident that the band plays the backing track live.
- Blue Symphony ? With its accessible dance choreography, smooth movements, simple yet striking rhythmic depiction of long notes, and a talented ensemble of singers, this song quickly became an early favorite. It wasn’t just a personal preference; it was a widely appreciated track.
- Big?????? – Big Balloon ? While not a song I frequently loop, hearing it during the Nagoya live event brought me to tears, much like cutting onions. It unexpectedly struck me with a powerful wave of emotion, a sentiment echoed in its lyrics.
- U?N?M?E?I ???? ? UNMEI Live ? This song is simple and direct, yet it encapsulates the core philosophy of the Lantis Million Live initiative. It’s fun, lighthearted, filled with call-and-response opportunities, provides ample room for catchy dance moves, and even allows for ad-libs in the bridge.
- ????????に火??つ?て ? Jireru heart ni hi o tsukete ? The song itself might not be exceptional, particularly in how Lantis presented it. However, its live performance is incredibly energetic. Both the ML2nd and ML3rd events did an excellent job of choreographing the dance teams for this song, maximizing the impact of the performance.
- Rebellion ? For many, this serves as their introduction to ML songs, and its appeal is immediately apparent. The Chokaigi rendition performed by Nunu was considered the best available.
- Eternal Harmony ? Unlike “Jireru,” I believe this song is quantitatively superior. Despite having only a few duets so far, it features excellent choreography. It’s possible Mingos might perform it during a future anniversary live event.
- ???????? ?? ? Kokoro ga kaeru basho ? This song was a defining moment for me on the 10th day of the second event, and its emotional impact remains as strong today.
Second tier:
- Sentimental Venus ? Widely regarded as a top-tier ML song, largely thanks to the ML2nd live. If you witnessed this performance on Day 1 at SSA, it would undoubtedly be etched into your memory. In a sense, this song acts as a guardian angel for IM@S lives, reassuring us that everything will be alright even if something unexpected occurs during the performance, making the memory even more sentimental in retrospect.
- Welcome!! ? The second group song from ML, this one is particularly special due to its incredibly fun live performance, which I personally prefer over “Dreaming!!”. It also features those engaging secondary DD calls.
- ?に輝く??座の???に ? Yoru ni Kagayaku Seiza no You ni ? This song evokes the quality of an early 2010s SHAFT anime opening. While the two idols singing it might not be the most vocally compatible, their characters are perfectly suited for it. It possesses an old-school catchiness while remaining fresh enough for a 2016 party atmosphere.
- Growing Storm! ? As the theme song for Otome Storm, this track is surprisingly catchy. While I found the LTH group themes to be somewhat inconsistent, this one stands well above average, even if it’s not among my absolute favorites.
- Decided ? This is one of the few Matsuri songs on my list. The reason is that whenever I hear “Illumination,” I tend to go into call practice mode, which isn’t particularly fun for this song, although it does lend itself to classic Matsuri calls. Regardless, the live performance of this song is hilarious, especially seeing Miina and Suwachan perform the furi, creating a comical contrast with the song’s serious tone. It’s also a rather cool song. I also appreciate how “Decided” incorporates references to a Matsuri song (“Festa Illumination”) and a Konomin song (“Suichuu Candy”).
- ??????????? ? Alive Factor ? This powerful duet is incredibly impactful when experienced live. Now that I have that context, it’s even more engaging for casual listening. In some ways, this song could have achieved even greater power if it had been arranged and presented outside of its idol context.
- 夢??????- Yumeiro Train ? The song’s theme is a train, complete with Mocho acting as a conductor speaking English, which is almost as entertaining as riding the actual JR. While you’re not supposed to MIX to this song, you certainly can.
- Day After ?Yesterday? ? Another reassuring tune that addresses self-doubt, coupled with an uplifting message. It’s hard not to like it.
- WOW! I NEED!! ?????????? ???? -WOW! I NEED！！ ?Singing Monkey Kashou Ken? ? The ridiculously long title complements a Mami song about the battles of love. It’s incredibly catchy and builds up nicely, with good calls if you’re a fan of Bruce Lee.
- ?????の???? ? Apple March ? Regardless of your opinion of Marble, the magic of Kikuchi’s music remains present.
- Super Lover ? For me, this song will always be remembered for Yuiton’s attempt to portray a sexy Nao, which humorously falls short because Nao herself struggles with sexiness. The song is catchy and cool, and the current calls, including the claps, are a nice addition.
- ???????? ~Summer trip~ ? Summer Trip ? This song is indeed about a summer trip. The redundantly “kira??kira” name might reflect Reika’s airheadedness, but it’s catchy in a similar way to “GF.” It’s also a pleasant tune that holds up well to repeated listening.
- 絵?- Ehon ? While we joke about Shiho’s “erohon,” the song itself is a moving ballad that suits Tenchan’s vocals better than the faux-cool style she prefers to project.
- Catch my dream ? I had difficulty placing this song in the second tier, as I consider it a first-tier song for myself. Combined with Koroazu’s vocals, this song is an emotional powerhouse. I wouldn’t be surprised if it moves back up to the top tier the next time I compile this list.
- ?In The Name of. ?LOVE? ? Initially, this song felt too gimmicky for regular enjoyment. However, after watching it from Miliraji Party 02, it convinced me that it’s a much better song than I had initially perceived. It has now become an earworm, an earworm imbued with emotion.
- Happy Darling ? “Happyda” is the type of song that feels like a fitting upbeat image song for a character with a bipolar personality who “lights up” on stage. However, it was significantly enhanced during the live performance with the full calls and the interaction between Nansu and the audience. I’m glad I had the chance to experience it.
- Nageki no Fraction ? Chiaking continues to demonstrate her exceptional vocal talent. Her singing ability is truly on par with the best in the industry.
- ????????Show???????ch@ng! ? Chou Genki Show Idolch@ng! ? This song is incredibly hype, both in live performance and on record. You really have to see it to understand. A.R.I.S.A!!! Furthermore, this is the quintessential Rieshon song.
- PRETTY DREAMER ? If you were to ask me to name the first ML song that comes to mind, and I had to answer 100 times on 100 different days, “Pretty Dreamer” would likely be the most frequent response. Perhaps this is a testament to how memorable a show can be if the song’s title is repeated within the lyrics. This song does, in fact, repeat many phrases.
- ?? ? Koibana ? This is likely my gateway song into ML, being the first one I heard and enjoyed. In relation to Hara Yumi’s performance, “Koibana” felt like an upgrade to “Kazahana” for her style.
- Dear? ? This song reminds me of the time I used to loop Utada Hikaru’s music.
Bonus: ?? VS ??????????? ? Motomu vs My Future ? This wrestling idol song truly came alive during ML3rd. It’s something you’ll definitely want to see when it’s released on Blu-ray.
