Original Song Rankings of VTubers

In the realm of VTuber activities, many individuals post so-called “singing videos” where they cover songs. However, there are also many who create and perform their own original songs. These original VTuber songs are frequently used as background music on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and they are now gaining popularity as a distinct music genre.
In this article, let’s explore which original VTuber songs are popular on platforms like YouTube and in Japanese karaoke.

Top 5 Original VTuber Songs for Karaoke (First Half of 2024)

Let’s explore the karaoke ranking of original VTuber songs, starting from the 5th place.
(Source: DAM / VTuber Song Rankings for the First Half of 2024 (January 1 – June 30))

5th Place: “Aipai Dance Hall” by HIMEHINA

HIMEHINA is a virtual unit consisting of Tanaka Hime, known for her high-pitched, emotionally charged singing, and Suzuki Hina, who creates beautiful harmonies with her gentle voice. Their song “Aipai Dance Hall” has secured the 5th place. Not only are HIMEHINA skilled singers, but they are also talented dancers, as showcased in the official music video for this track. The dance has garnered significant attention, leading various Japanese VTubers and dancers from different dimensions to post dance cover videos, transcending agency boundaries. This surge in popularity resulted in the music video surpassing 30 million views in just about six months after its release.

4th Place: “Stellar Stellar” by Suisei Hoshimachi

In 4th place is “Stellar Stellar,” a song for which Suisei Hoshimachi herself wrote the lyrics. Suisei Hoshimachi is a 0th generation member of Hololive, a major VTuber agency, and is particularly focused on music activities within Hololive. With her outstanding vocal ability, she appeared on the YouTube channel “THE FIRST TAKE,” where artists perform live, one-take recordings, with this song. Her appearance was not only the first for a VTuber but also set a record for the highest simultaneous viewership on “THE FIRST TAKE” channel, with approximately 160,000 viewers. Suisei’s appearance and influence on this channel significantly changed the social positioning of the then-unfamiliar concept of “VTuber,” and “Stellar Stellar,” released in 2021 (Reiwa 3), has now become one of her signature songs.

3rd Place: “Bibideba” by Hoshimachi Suisei

Following her 4th place ranking, Hoshimachi Suisei’s “Bibideba” has also made it onto the list. This song, released relatively recently in March 2024, has gained popularity not only for its musical quality but also for the “Bibideba Dance,” which features Suisei herself dancing in the official music video. Similar to the 5th place “Aitsutsumi Dance Hall,” this dance has become popular among young people, leading to numerous “dance cover” videos being posted in addition to “singing cover” videos. Perhaps due to this influence, the official music video on YouTube surpassed 10 million views in approximately 15 days, the fastest for a VTuber. Despite being a VTuber, the innovative composition of the music video, where Suisei seamlessly blends into the three-dimensional world, also seems to be a factor in its popularity.

Rank 2: “Innocent Pretty Girl♡Pirates” by Houshou Marine

Once again, a song by Houshou Marine, a member of the Japanese VTuber group Hololive’s third generation, takes the second spot. Marine, the self-proclaimed 17-year-old captain of the Houshou Pirates, often shares stories from her time as a company employee during her streams. Due to her choice of songs and topics, fans frequently speculate that she might be in her 30s. This song, filled with interactions with her fans and embodying Marine’s unique charm, might be familiar to many from television. The opening lines spoken by Captain Marine and the choreography of the chorus have gained popularity. The music video for this song, posted on YouTube, surpassed 10 million views in approximately 39 days, temporarily setting a new record for the fastest views in VTuber history.

Rank 1: “Shukusei!! Loli God Requiem☆” by Shigure Ui

Securing the top spot is this song with its sensational title. Shigure Ui, an independent VTuber, is actually a professional illustrator by trade. She is well-known as the “mama” of VTubers, having illustrated for Japanese VTuber agency Hololive’s Subaru Ozora and VSPO!’s Yuuhi Chitose. This song, with its shocking title and lyrics, features 16-year-old Ui singing as 9-year-old Ui-chan. The music video was posted in September 2023, and as of October 2024, it has surpassed 100 million views. It also proudly holds the number one position in the 2024 karaoke rankings. Incidentally, the record for the fastest 10 million views, previously held by the second-ranked “Bishoujo Muzai♡Pirates” at approximately 39 days, was later surpassed by the third-ranked “Bibideba,” but this song broke the record in about 16 days. In addition to the impactful title and lyrics, the dance of 9-year-old Ui-chan, animated from illustrations created by Ui herself, has also garnered significant attention.

Top 10 Original Songs by VTubers: MV View Count Edition

So far, we’ve explored the karaoke information for 2024, but aren’t you also curious about the total view counts? We’ve touched on this topic already, but let’s take another look at the top 10 music videos posted on YouTube, ranked by view count. Please note that the view counts are as of October 2024.

10th Place: “Requiem” by Kanaria × Hoshimachi Suisei (28.33 million views)

Kanaria: A composer known for hit Vocaloid songs such as “KING” and “Yoiyoi Dore Shirazu.”
　　　　　Debuted as a VTuber in August 2024. In this song, Kanaria wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and performed alongside Hoshimachi Suisei.

9th Place: “Q” Calliope Mori × Gawr Gura (29.43 million views)

Calliope Mori: A member of Hololive English’s Myth, and the first apprentice of the Grim Reaper.
　　　　　　　　　　　　 　Currently has 2.46 million subscribers on her YouTube channel.

Gawr Gura: A member of Hololive English’s Myth, and a descendant of Atlantis.
　　　　　　　　　　　 　　Currently has 4.52 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, ranking first among VTubers.

8th Place: “III” by Houshou Marine & Kobo Kanaeru (30.38 million views)

Kobo Kanaeru: A member of Hololive Indonesia, she is a girl with the bloodline of a rain shaman.
　　　　　　　　Currently, her YouTube channel has 2.58 million subscribers, ranking 5th among VTubers.

Rank 7: “Aipao Dance Hall” by HIMEHINA (31.88 million views)

Ranked 6th: “Excuse Me, But RIP♡” by Calliope Mori (41.05 million views)

Rank 5: “Stellar Stellar” by Suisei Hoshimachi (42.45 million views)

4th Place: “I’m Your Treasure Box *You Found Captain Marine in the Treasure Box.” by Houshou Marine (50.34 million views)

3rd Place: “Innocent Pretty Girl♡Pirates” by Houshou Marine (51.16 million views)

2nd Place: “ビビデバ” by Suisei Hoshimachi (94 million views)

1st Place: “Shukusei!! Loli God Requiem☆” by Shigure Ui (110 million views)

In this view count ranking, many original songs by overseas artists appeared, which were not included in the karaoke ranking. Many VTubers affiliated with Hololive engage in idol activities, and those who focus on music had several songs ranked. Additionally, as seen in this ranking, collaborations between VTubers are increasing. We can look forward to new songs in the future.

Summary: The Key to a VTuber’s Original Song Hit Isn’t Just Vocal Skills!?

This time, we looked into karaoke and MV (music video) view counts. Were there any songs you recognized?
When it comes to the reasons behind the success of a VTuber’s original song, it’s not just the quality of the music or the VTuber’s vocal skills. The catchy dance performed by the VTuber themselves also plays a significant role. It seems that songs are becoming something to enjoy not only by listening and singing but also by dancing along.