Release Date: December 2, 2020
Track Listing
- Step and a step
- Joyful
- Sweet Bomb!
- Make You Happy
Review
In June of 2020, NiziU released their pre-debut single Make You Happy to much success. The song debuted at the top of the Oricon weekly digital albums chart and weekly albums chart. These early accolades signalled big things on the horizon for the group.
Five months later, they make their official debut with Step and a step, a catchy up-tempo pop song with uplifting lyrics about believing in yourself and creating your future as you see it. Is it a worthy official debut, or does it not live up to the hype that surrounds NiziU?
It takes a few listens to get into Step and a step as it doesn’t exactly pack the same immediate punch that Make You Happy did. After a few spins, it does leave a positive impression and is something that would lift the spirits of those who are facing some adversity.
The b-sides are similar to those on NiziU’s pre-debut, taking the group into other music styles. Joyful is an excellent follow-up to Step and a step as it embodies the same type of elevating feeling as the a-side, both musically and lyrically.
There is a slight retro-pop swing on Joyful, and this is probably the closest you will get to NizU taking you to church since the song’s mood is rather celebratory.
Sweet Bomb! is much like Boom Boom Boom and Niji no Mukou e from their pre-debut release. If you enjoyed that kind of high-energy music, then Sweet Bomb! will satisfy your cravings for NiziU ramping up their intensity.
As an overall package Step and a step is a strong debut that further establishes the identity of NiziU as a group. How they follow this up should something to watch. Will they stick with the happy-go-lucky type of pop mixed with intense dance workouts? Or will they deviate from what is working to change things up?
