ILLIT
The group ILLIT is already turning heads in Japan’s sales and streaming charts from the moment of its debut in the country.
According to the latest chart released by Oricon on September 3 (issued for September 2), ILLIT’s first Japanese single, “TOKI YO TOMARE,” entered the Daily Single Ranking at #2 immediately upon release. The song had been released digitally on September 1, and it quickly climbed to the top of the “Top Albums” charts on both iTunes Japan and Apple Music Japan.
The title track, also called “Toki yo tomare,” is enjoying tremendous success thanks to its catchy melody and earworm lyrics. It held the #1 spot on the real-time AWA Music chart, one of Japan’s major streaming platforms, for three consecutive days. The music video, with its youthful, film-like visuals, captured global fans’ attention and ranked #5 in YouTube’s Trending Music Videos Worldwide.
Their live performances are also generating buzz. ILLIT showcased the song at their debut showcase and on several Japanese music shows. Their bubbly choreography, syncing with the rhythmic disco-pop sound, highlights the group’s vibrant and adorable charm. Notably, the clock-hand gesture used to illustrate the lyric “Stop time” has become a highlight, or “killing part”, of the choreography.
The members’ growing skill has also been praised. In a behind-the-scenes recording video posted on their YouTube channel on September 2, they left a strong impression with their ability to quickly analyze the song and work on areas that needed improvement. Their enhanced expressiveness and vocal technique earned high praise from the producer.
Meanwhile, ILLIT is continuing a series of fan concerts at Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka through September 4. According to their agency, the initial run of general reserved seat tickets sold out quickly, prompting the addition of limited-visibility seats and standing-room tickets to meet demand.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS ILLIT
