Masterpieces in 3/4 Time: That Hit Song Too!? A Curated Selection of Popular Japanese and Western Tracks

Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.

When you think of hit songs in triple meter, what kind of tracks come to mind?

Triple meter is known as the waltz rhythm and is popular in classical music; it’s also commonly used in other genres, especially in Western music.

Interestingly, it’s often said that Japanese listeners are not as comfortable with triple meter, so it doesn’t appear much in J-pop hits.

In this article, we’ve selected songs in triple meter from Japanese and Western pop and rock.

From timeless favorites to lesser-known hidden gems, we’ve got a wide-ranging playlist for you!

Masterpieces in Triple Meter: That Hit Song Too!? A Curated Selection of Popular Japanese and Western Tracks (51–60)

SecretThe Pierces

Secret – Official Video by The Pierces

SecretThe Pierces

The Pierces, a duo of sisters Allison and Catherine Pierce, released this as the opening track of their 2007 album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge, and it was also issued as a single.

It was used as the theme song for the American TV drama Pretty Little Liars and as a commercial song for the Australian version of the reality show Big Brother.

It evokes the guilty thrill of a “secret,” the kind of burden so heavy you feel you must carry it to the grave.

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Hirata Hiroyasu

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(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural WomanAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Live at Kennedy Center Honors)

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural WomanAretha Franklin

Also known in Japan by the title “Natural Woman,” this 3/4-time masterpiece is a love song whose truly “natural” beauty, just like the title says, brings tears to your eyes.

Released as a single in 1967 by the world’s most famous and greatest soul singer, Aretha Franklin, this classic—one of her signature songs—has been covered by many artists and continues to be cherished across generations.

The song was written by the formerly married songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and King included a self-cover on her landmark 1971 solo album Tapestry.

The version Aretha performed to honor King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, which we featured in this article, is such an outstanding performance—please be sure to watch it!

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Good nightkyarī pamyu pamyu

oyasumi

Good nightkyarī pamyu pamyu

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a singer who began her career as a reader model in 2009 and has earned support both in Japan and abroad for her distinctive fashion and catchy songs.

“Oyasumi,” a track from her first album Pamyu Pamyu Revolution, is a memorable number featuring a cute vocal and sound.

Its waltz-like triple meter paired with a complex melody evokes, just as the title suggests, the feeling of a day coming to an end.

It’s a heartwarming pop tune perfect for listening to as you drift off to sleep after a fun-filled day.

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Hoshino Takashi

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For youTHE BLUE HEARTS

THE BLUE HEARTS 'For You'

For youTHE BLUE HEARTS

THE BLUE HEARTS’ ‘Kimi no Tame’ is captivating for its simple guitar, bass, and drums paired with straightforward, lyric-driven vocals, creating a passionate song that stirs the emotions.

Despite the intense vocals, doesn’t the track somehow feel nostalgic? A waltz-like 3/4 rhythm is very similar to a heartbeat and is said to instinctively evoke a sense of comfort.

That might be why this song feels so nostalgic!

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Close To The EdgeYES

Yes – Close To The Edge

Close To The EdgeYES

Yes, a British progressive rock band that is extremely popular in Japan.

This track is the title tune from their fifth album, released in 1972, and it’s an epic that runs over 18 minutes.

The album was titled “Kiki” (Crisis) in Japan, and it is often cited as an essential progressive rock work alongside King Crimson’s “In the Court of the Crimson King” and Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” True to prog form, its structure is complex so you don’t always notice it, but the fundamental rhythm of the piece is in triple meter, and when filtered through Yes’s style, it exudes a clever sophistication.

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Hirata Hiroyasu

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