In honor of Kis-My-Ft2’s complete videography being uploaded to YouTube (in edited form, of course…), I can’t resist writing about each single. To put this in context for Bias List readers, Kis-My-Ft2 (or Kisumai, as they’re often known) are my J-pop version of Infinite. That’s how much I love them and their discography.
Yet, I rarely write about them because finding online links to their music was so hard… until now!
Gravity (2016)
There have already been a few 10/10 rated songs in this feature, and there will be more to come. But, I have to switch things up for Gravity. Not only is it my favorite Kisumai song, but it’s one of my all-time favorite J-pop songs. Together with Sexy Zone’s Run and KAT-TUN’s Rescue, it makes up my holy trinity of Johnny’s tracks. And, it ushers in the strongest era for the group.
To put it in K-pop terms, Gravity is The Chaser’s Japanese brother. I hold it in that high of regard within my own music collection. So rather than try to encapsulate these feelings into one or two paragraphs, I’m going to give Gravity a Bias List breakdown.
00:00-00:31 – Sometimes, a song seals the deal right from its introduction. To put it simply, I lose my shit when Gravity’s beat drops. I will never not lose my shit when the beat drops. I firmly believe that “losing one’s shit” is an undervalued feature of pop music.
You all know I love songs that exist in a constant state of acceleration (hello, The Chaser). The first seventeen seconds of Gravity are like being sucked into a wind tunnel. You can almost feel the air whip through your hair. There’s movement right from the start, and when you assume you’ve already heard the big beat drop, a mammoth sledgehammer hits you seventeen seconds in.
This is euphoria. The elongating vocals are pulled into the orbit of the synth riff, propelled onward with such huge energy. I mean, this song is about one of the universe’s most powerful phenomena! It should sound enormous, and it does.
00:33-01:00 – Though not as gargantuan in scale, the verses are brisk and compelling in their own right. Chanted rap and sung melody trade punches as the instrumental introduces a generous dose of rhythm guitar. Chunky synths swerve in aggressive fashion, but the agile guitar wins the day. It kicks up a frenzy, soon joined by extra percussion as the melody gains focus.
01:00-01:17 – Like most of my favorite songs, Gravity is all about tension and release. For that to work, you need build and payoff.
This build is extraordinary. We’re back in that wind tunnel, with synths so tactile you can practically feel the suction. The percussion climbs as a brighter electronic palette takes prominence. The melody dips here, only to ascend in time with the music. It’s riveting.
01:17-01:32 – And here’s the payoff. What a mammoth chorus this is! Gravity rushes back as the full brunt of its arrangement reemerges. The melody is as anthemic as pop music gets. Kisumai sing in unison. Chanted ad-libs add even more energy. But…
01:32-01:46 – …this is actually a two part chorus! And, the second part is even better! The melody glides here, extended and triumphant and all kinds of exhilarating. Gravity isn’t serving up melodic crumbs. We’re getting the entire feast.
01:46-02:59 – After a brief dubsteppy breakdown, we launch into verse two. The English here is so charming: “Here’s another verse, now get DOWN.” Kind of says it all, right?
This second verse/pre-chorus/chorus is largely a repeat of the first, and a chance to revel in the song’s energy. I love how the synthline from the introduction returns to support the chorus melody.
02:59-03:13 – This mini breakdown is so fun. It feels like a twist on the pre-chorus, building similar energy in a different way.
03:13-03:29 – It’s time for a breather. The song drops out and we hang weightless for a moment. But, even as the soundscape simplifies, the tempo remains intact. There’s not much instrumentation in this segment, but the song maintains the important bits to fuse these transitions together. This is such a cool little interlude, and builds toward…
03:29-03:33 – …the single greatest power note in all of Kisumai’s discography. This is so perfectly placed to bring maximum drama and catharsis right as the instrumental kicks back in. If we’ve been hanging weightless during that last segment, the force of gravity has now shot us into motion once again and we’re soaring. This part always gives me goosebumps.
03:33-03:58 – Epic chorus again. Not much more to add!
03:58-04:17 – And to close out the song, we have an additional refrain. It builds off the chorus melody but brings an extra jolt of intensity to the structure. It’s brief, but powerful, and sends Gravity off on a high.
From start to finish, the song is perfection. It delivers.
| Hooks | 10 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 10 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 10 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This recent series has essentially served as my introduction to Kisumai. But yeah this is pretty great track
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I think The Chaser comparison is given here – this song is basically the more EDM version of it. And, I mean, that’s probably the best thing you could say about a track, right, to be compared to The Chaser…..
Honestly, I actually didn’t like The Chaser at first, I just thought it sounded somewhat like a good anime opening and left it at that. But, over the last four months, it has slowly climbed it way up and now has thoroughly solidified its place in the top ten.
It’s only been five minutes since I listened to this, but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna have a very similar trajectory……..
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This will sound weird coming from me, but although I loved The Chaser from first listen back in 2012, it took another two years before I considered it truly “legendary.” Sometimes delayed recognition is even better than instant love. It proves staying power and timelessness.
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I was the same way ngl. What really kept me coming back to The Chaser and made my love for it grow was that chorus melody. It just lives in my head and sounds better every time i hear it. Even if I’m the one singing it.
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i keep fkn looping this song everytime i feel sad and when i do, i feel happy. this song is perfection
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Nick, thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this. I’ve never heard it before, but this song is just pure pop bliss. It is 100% my shit and I immediately love it.
(But again with the fadeout. C’mon Johnny’s…)
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Yay!! (but booo to the fadeout!)
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anyway since i found out how to download johnnys songs online, i can stop asking you for them
ya know, cause i’m a pirate, yeah yeah, a pirate, yeah yeah
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The fadeouts rarely frustrate me for the YT versions, but he it really does that. Gravity is all about its energetic flow, and the fadeout utterly disrespects what this song is trying to do.
Meanwhile, 2016 Nick, for whatever reason, found the chorus “shy of a total triumph”. Anyway, glad you changed your opinion, this song is fantastic.
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Of everything I’ve written on this site, that initial Gravity review is probably my biggest shame!
What. Was. I. THINKING?!?!?
I must have been in a foul mood or listening through tinny speakers or something! There has to be an explanation for the sheer lack of taste…
(Actually, you can probably disregard a lot of what I wrote during those first few months. I had no idea what I was doing when it came to ratings and stuff!)
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I will follow that advice, except when I agree with 2016 Nick, which happens more often than you’d expect…
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I 100% agree with this. This song deserved to end with a bang.
That said, here’s a link to the MV without the fadeout! https://www.jpopasia.com/kismyft2/videos/57053/gravity/
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Thanks!
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6-7 years ago I discovered this song on a programme called J-Melo. It was only a 12 second clip but immediately I knew I NEEDED to find a full version of this song!!
There was very little on YouTube at the time apart from a heavily edited live version which I played to death and a low quality version on Daily Motion which I had on repeat for months.
In 2019 I went to Japan and there was a long list of CD’s I wanted to purchase and right at the top was IScream. Let me tell you that playing Gravity, this absolute banger in it’s entirety was a euphoric experience and even on the 300+ listening of it, it never lets me down. It feels as fresh as it did on that first listen.
I am obsessed with this song, it’s my first song at the karaoke, I have it blasting out my car for days on end, it’s one of my most played videos and it’s my alert on my stream.
The only other song that has ever hit as hard as this one for me is M.O.V.E – Come Together which I highly recommend. (The 11 minute version)
It’s a damn shame that it’s so difficult to find Johnny’s music. This uber anthem should be blasting out of every club worth its salt. I’m doing my best to get the word out and I’ve received very positive feedback on the song.
I just discovered your website and your reviews are incredible. I wish I had that sort of talent to break down and review the music in such detail. Your review for Gravity brought back some of that same initial excitement I had when I discovered it for the first time. I could relate to every part from the “losing your shit” and the wind tunnel effect to the goosebumps during the final chorus. You put into words beautifully all those same feelings I had.
I am currently discovering Kisumai’s other work and hot damn, they have some insanely catchy tunes. Absolutely love the site Nick and can’t wait to discover more fantastic music.
From another Nick =)
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It’s so nice to hear somebody who loves this song as much as I do! Their discography is one of my favorites, and this is its crowning jewel. If you haven’t already seen it, this is a fun medley of every one of their songs in chronological order. It’s a good sampler (even if their early outfits are sooooo cringey haha)
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Thank you so much. I’d not seen that before. That is a lot of songs to discover!! I’ve watched it through twice and it’s got me even more excited. So many bops.
I bought a greatest hits compilation recently and it comes with 2 blu rays full of their music videos and I cannot stop watching. The songs are so good, so colourful, so upbeat, so full of energy.
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