Japanese Synth Duo Tops Google's 2023 List of Most Searched Trending Songs
Yoasobi, the sensational Japanese synth duo, has taken the music world by storm Their irresistible blend of catchy synth tracks, electrifying live performances, and infusion of anime culture has spearheaded a remarkable J-pop revival
In 2023, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé embarked on world tours, Olivia Rodrigo made a splash with her "GUTS," and Jason Aldean found himself amidst culture war controversies in the country music genre. However, according to Google's annual Year in Search roundup, it was a Japanese synth duo that captured the curiosity of global music lovers.
As K-pop continues to dominate Asia's musical exports, Yoasobi is revitalizing J-pop with their blend of catchy synth tracks, electrifying live performances, and anime references. Their song "Idol (ã¢ã‚¤ãƒ‰ãƒ«)" was prominently featured in the popular anime series "Oshi no Ko" and sparked a viral dance trend on Japanese TikTok, propelling it to the top of Google's annual global song list.
The songs included in the list may not be the "most searched" on Google, but they do reveal search queries that experienced significant spikes in traffic over an extended period compared to the previous year, giving insight into the trending topics of the time.
For the second consecutive year, an artist from Asia has claimed the top spot on the global list, with Indonesian singer Keisya Levronka leading the 2022 song category.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Yoasobi was created as a studio project with vocalist Ikura and producer Ayase at the forefront. The group is recognized for crafting songs that are inspired by short stories. Their first single, "Yoru ni Kakeru", is based on the original short story "Thanatos no yuuwaku" (Temptation of Thanatos) by Mayo Hoshino, which tells the tale of a young man who becomes infatuated with a woman who frequently tries to take her own life.
"Yoru ni Kakeru" reached the top of Billboard Japan's Hot 100 chart for a total of six non-consecutive weeks. It also made history as the first song to be awarded a diamond streaming certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, recognizing that the song had been streamed at least 500 million times. Their live performances, accompanied by a live band, are known for their dynamic use of laser effects and captivating digital projections.
Two more acts from Asia have been included in Google's top 10 list for global song trends. Alongside Yoasobi, K-pop girl group Fifty-Fifty also made the list with their bubblegum Korean-English debut "Cupid," ranking as the fifth most searched song.
The song gained worldwide attention partly due to its English "Twin" version. Fifty-Fifty, a K-pop group that debuted just last year, made history as the fastest group to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with their song "Cupid."
Additionally, former BTS member Jung Kook's solo track "Seven," featuring US rapper Latto, also made it to the list at No. 10, further representing Asian artists.
Following the announcement that the highly popular Korean boy band would be pursuing individual projects, "Seven" was released and quickly rose to the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200 charts. The song made history by reaching 1 billion streams on Spotify at record speed. The inclusion of more sexually explicit lyrics in a version of the song was uncommon in the typically conservative realm of K-pop, contributing to the track's shock value and widespread internet appeal.
Yoasobi's "Idol" claimed the top spot globally, followed by Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" and "BZRP Music Sessions #53," Shakira's viral diss track directed at her ex Gerard Piqué. Also making waves in 2023 were "Rich Men North of Richmond" at No. 8, an expression of Oliver Anthony's frustration with the political elite and a testament to the working class. This marked the first time an artist with no chart history reached No. 1 on Billboard.
