It's a new year, so let's rank DDR songs that start with the word "New"

Makes sense

Hi, gamer friends! Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s 2025? I barely can.

Here is a completely unscientific, unnecessary, just-for-fun, extremely unserious, totally perfect ranking of current meta Dance Dance Revolution songs that start with the word “New.”

Why? Not sure, no real reason! I thought it would be fun to do, so I did it.

Did I take this seriously? Not really!

Should you take this seriously? I mean, uhh, if you want to. You can totally challenge this list, or, write your own. It’s just a video game, and the opinion of one gal.

DISCLAIMER: This list is purely the opinion of Ambones, and not a reflection of the rest of Team Heron. They may have different rankings, though, obviously Ambones would disagree.

SECOND DISCLAIMER: Ambones doesn’t know shit about music or music critique.

11. 鍋嶋圭, ‘New Generation’

bSP 4 | BSP 7 | DSP 10 | ESP 14 | CSP 17

This song and style of music is Not For Me! Loud, raucous, stressful, noisy. Within 10 seconds of hitting play, I immediately started to tune out. As a tough DDR song, it’s motivating in its intensity while you’re playing it. Still, doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable to listen to.

10. BEMANI Sound Team "Sota F.", ‘New Millennium’

bSP 6 | BSP 12 | DSP 15 | ESP 17 | CSP 18

Mannnn. Okay. I had a high opinion of this song from my arcade experiences, so please know I was stoked to give this a listen.

Turns out, it’s actually a lot of noises. From my notes: “I’m like 40 seconds into this song, and have yet to hear something musically pleasing. There’s odd, weird people sounds? Where’s the song?”

The melodic part later on (after one minute!) is soooo great! But, why doesn't this start earlier? Why do I have to wait so long to hear it? I guess this song seems way better when you actually play it at the arcade, the step patterns fill in some of the oddities of the song itself.

9. NC underground, ‘New York EVOLVED (TYPE A)’

bSP 4 | BSP 9 | DSP 13 | ESP 16 | CSP N/A

In direct contrast to New Millennium, I was a big doubter of the New York series prior to today. It’s fair to say that my opinions have evolved (ha ha ha ha ha ha aha aaaa) –—————

I’ll keep it short!

This song is weird, and I don't feel compelled to listen to it over and over (especially not outside of the arcade). But, I am surprised at how much I enjoy it? There's something weirdly catchy about it that I can't quite articulate. I like this musically way more than I expected. It’s not a style of music I gravitate to, but it is interesting, builds well, and makes for a decent DDR song.

8. Sota F., ‘New Century’

bSP 4 | BSP 9 | DSP 14 | ESP 17 | CSP 18

This is another song where I’ve spent a lot of time hearing it in the arcade environment, and it’s hard to unravel my feelings about the song from the quality and fun of the stepchart itself.

Soooo, it turns out that this song is just a lot of noises. But also like, they're cool noises? There’s not a whole lot that screams catchy music, or a semblance of a melody.

I bet if you were to adjust the pitch of this song you could make it sound a lot like an old-timey car.

7. Sota Fujimori, ‘New Beginning’

bSP 3 | BSP 5 | DSP 9 | ESP 11 | CSP 12

I don't know this song, and haven’t heard it before. I have noooo emotional connection to it.

First, let me say that the RemyWiki notes are very cute!

In 2011, various happy and painful events happened to me. With this in mind, I made a new song with the theme of a "new beginning", as if I was departing to a new journey. It's an up-tempo trance song, but I hope you can feel its melancholy and feel a positive outlook on life. Listen to this song when you want to cheer up♪ Thank you in advance.

I can totally hear and recognize that it’s a Sota song. It's pleasant and sweet. There's nothing about it I dislike, but there's not a big part of me that feels the need to listen to it again. Solid mid-tier song!

6. NC underground, ‘New York EVOLVED (TYPE C)’

bSP 4 | BSP 9 | DSP 13 | ESP 16 | CSP N/A

What is HAPPENING? Do I actually LIKE the New York series?

This version’s ending sounds the most cohesive. It's still not my style, but like, is it good? Why are all these endings good? Help

5. Starving Trancer, ‘New Gravity’

bSP 3 | BSP 6 | DSP 9 | ESP 12 | CSP 14

This song is great! It has such a clear melody and defined progression. I'm not sure I've ever listened to this outside of the arcade before, and I am surprised that it doesn't sound drastically different from the arcade experience (see: New Millennium, New Century).

This is such a fun, happy sounding song. It's good!! It's got some complexity to it! It's interesting! It builds! It's both a good DDR song, and a generally good song, too.

4. NC underground, ‘New York EVOLVED (TYPE B)’

bSP 4 | BSP 9 | DSP 13 | ESP 16 | CSP N/A

HELPPPPP. This is such an unexpected number 4!

My old opinion: The New York series is not a pleasant series.

But no, actually, it’s kind of good?

This one especially. The piano part happens so suddenly, and is so satisfying.

It’s actually really good, right???

3. Sota F., ‘New Decade’

bSP 4 | BSP 11 | DSP 14 | ESP 17 | CSP 18

Me before listening: New Decade rips.

Me while listening: Yeah, it totally does.

Sota, you are a maker of magic. This song is full of good energy. Lots of weird noises, again - but the strange vocal samples are great.

Sota, you’ve done it! You really put these weird noises together well!

2. BEMANI Sound Team "Sota F.", ‘New Era’

bSP 8 | BSP 11 | DSP 15 | ESP 17 | CSP 18

This song has a clear theme. It feels complex, complicated, and complete. There’s such good building of the song and really great layers of sound.

Sota nailed it with all of the details, too – the vocal samples are great, and all the noises (ahh… classic Sota, noise king!) are well placed.

Great song, and even better, great charts.

1. Dua Lipa, ‘New Rules’

bSP 2 | BSP 5 | DSP 7 | ESP 10 | CSP N/A

It's a hit for a reason.

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I hope you had fun reading! No, I will not be taking feedback at this time! Thank you, BYEEEEEE!

Jersey fundraiser updates:

Our jerseys were successfully fully funded, thanks to you and your support! <3 99.5% of donation incentives have been delivered, and we hope you’re loving your jerseys, friendship bracelets, and stickers. We appreciate you, always!

What’s next?

Our team is kicking off 2025 with excitement, grit, and of course, a lot of sweat. We’re preparing for Dance Games Everyday February 2025 and The Big Deal in March. More posts to come soon. <3

💙 Ambones, Team Captain

🪶 Team Heron

Thanks to RemyWiki for jacket image references and song facts!