Masterpieces in 3/4 Time: That Hit Song Too!? A Curated Selection of Popular Japanese and Western Tracks
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!
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[Masterpieces in 3/4 Time] That hit song too!? A curated selection of popular Japanese and Western tracks (21–30)
Open ArmsJourney
This song is one of the signature tracks by Journey, a rock band from the U.S.
West Coast.
It sings of a generous, open-hearted love: when the woman who left returns, he will accept her unconditionally.
At the time of its release, Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” was a big hit, and this song ended up somewhat overshadowed.
Even so, it remains a timeless, captivating masterpiece—a slow waltz-time ballad whose charm has not faded with the years.
BreakawayKelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson, the singer who came out of the popular American audition show American Idol.
Her song Breakaway is a great example of using 3/4 time effectively in pop music.
In the bluesy acoustic-guitar-driven verse, you can hear the guitar strumming along to the triple meter.
Then, in the chorus, the drums lead with a 3/4 pattern.
What’s interesting is that the song doesn’t heavily emphasize the waltz feel, so you don’t get the typical sense of oddness often associated with 3/4 time.
Masterpieces in 3/4 Time: That hit song too!? A curated selection of popular Japanese and Western tracks (31–40)
Sea and Bouquetkinoko teikoku
“Sea and Bouquet” is a song by the rock band Kinoko Teikoku that makes effective use of 3/4 time.
It starts with a relatively brisk 3/4 from the intro and keeps the triple meter all the way to the end, yet it somehow never feels odd.
The key is how the 3/4 rhythm gives the track a floating, drifting sensation.
Kinoko Teikoku’s poetic lyrics pair perfectly with this feel, making it a textbook example of how to make the most of triple meter.
ImagineAriana Grande
Released in February 2019, this is the opening track of the album Thank U, Next, which earned high praise not only for its commercial success but also for its artistic excellence.
For a pop singer like Ariana Grande, it’s customary to kick off an album with a catchy single as a hook, but many listeners were likely surprised when they heard Imagine.
While employing contemporary trap methodologies, Ariana’s commanding vocals deliver a waltz-time number imbued with a retro, oldies-like atmosphere—an embodiment of her growth as an artist.
Jameel Roberts, one of the song’s co-writers, said he was surprised when he heard Ariana was including it on the album: “You hardly ever see songs in 3/4 these days—especially not in pop.”
when the party’s overBillie Eilish
Billie Eilish shot to fame in 2019 with the hit “bad guy.” Alongside “bad guy,” one of her most famous songs is “when the party’s over,” characterized by its deeply melancholic tone that foregrounds layered choral vocals.
If you listen closely to the piano, you’ll notice the song is in 3/4 time.
When a track is structured in triple meter like this one, it often heightens the sense of sadness and gravity.
Try comparing it with Billie Eilish’s other ballads in 4/4—you might be surprised by the differences you hadn’t noticed before!
In Other WordsKaye Ballard
If you can tell what song it is just from the title, you’re quite the music connoisseur.
The piece titled “In Other Words” is actually the original form of the famous standard “Fly Me to the Moon.” Since those words appear in the chorus, many people will probably find that explanation convincing.
Widely known across generations in Japan as well, thanks in part to its use as the ending theme of the hit anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, “Fly Me to the Moon” is a bossa nova-style song in 4/4 time.
By contrast, the original “In Other Words” is composed in 3/4 time.
A change in meter changes the mood, too, so it’s fun to compare the two versions and hear the difference.
Kiss From A RoseSeal
Kiss From A Rose, included on British soul singer Seal’s second album, Seal, released in 1994, has a sweet yet dreamlike atmosphere.
However, when you look at the lyrics, it seems to be more than just a simple love song, inviting a variety of interpretations.
In interviews, Seal himself has said, in essence, that he is singing about things that cannot be put into words.
It seems likely that he intentionally used a triple meter to express that ineffable, singular worldview.