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

Caribbean BlueEnya

Enya – Caribbean Blue (Official 4K Music Video)

Enya, a singer from Ireland who enjoys worldwide popularity, anchors her music in traditional Celtic roots while fusing elements like digitally crafted sounds using cutting-edge technology, classical, and New Age to create a grand sonic landscape.

Hugely popular in Japan as well for her soothing sound, she also has a celebrated piece in triple meter! The featured track, Shepherd Moons, is included on the Grammy-winning 1991 album of the same name and was released as the album’s lead single.

Guided by a waltz rhythm, its refined, beautiful yet avant-garde sound combined with Enya’s understated vocals is uniquely original; together with a music video that evokes painterly imagery, it has a transportive effect, as if leading you into another world.

This is precisely the kind of music that makes you feel the distinctive power of triple-time rhythm.

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KOH-1

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when the party’s overBillie Eilish

Billie Eilish – when the party’s over

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!

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Yuuki

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In Other WordsKaye Ballard

In Other Words (original) – Kaye Ballard 1954.wmv

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.

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HeartbreakerGrand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad – Heartbreaker

It’s a song released in 1970 by the American band Grand Funk Railroad, and it’s also extremely popular in Japan.

Up until about the latter half of the track, it’s in 3/4 time, played as if keeping its passion restrained, but it gradually heats up; then when it bursts into the later 4/4 section, the way it comes pouring out is really cool.

There’s also a song of the same name released in 1969 by the British band Led Zeppelin, and there’s a story that Grand Funk Railroad opened for them on their U.S.

tour and ended up earning even greater acclaim than Zeppelin.

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Hirata Hiroyasu

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Children’s CrusadeSting

Children’s Crusade

As the bassist and vocalist of The Police, and later as a solo artist after the band went on hiatus, Sting has achieved worldwide acclaim and continues to be active today.

This song is a track from his first solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, released in 1985, the year after The Police suspended their activities.

Its title and lyrics tackle weighty social themes, and the song is set in a heavy, somber 3/4 time.

Over that, Sting’s beautiful voice and a jazzy saxophone solo weave in, lending the piece a poignant, sorrowful resonance.

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Hirata Hiroyasu

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Night of GuernicaBUCK-TICK

BUCK-TICK – Guernica no Yoru – Sing along version

Since their formation in 1987, BUCK-TICK have kept the same unchanging lineup without extended hiatuses, steadily releasing new work and touring energetically; in 2022 they celebrated their 35th anniversary, and are known as one of Japan’s proud, long-lived rock bands—virtually unparalleled worldwide.

While they stay attuned to the sound of the times, they never pander, continuing to create music brimming with originality from a solitary, singular position.

Their 21st album, No.0, released in 2018, includes the masterpiece Night of Guernica, distinguished by its wistful waltz rhythm.

According to vocalist and lyricist Atsushi Sakurai, the lyrics were inspired by a childhood visit to the cinema with his older brother to see a film called The Clock Was Alive.

The song is a straightforward anti-war piece, yet the words Sakurai chooses have a distinctly fable-like quality—that’s a key characteristic.

The dramatic development—especially the build in the latter half—unfolds like a short film, something made possible by the use of 3/4 time.

When they perform this song live, striking sand art visuals by the performance collective SILT-croire- are projected, so I highly recommend experiencing this song at a show!

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Pink + WhiteFrank Ocean

Frank Ocean – Pink + White

Frank Ocean is an American singer-songwriter.

His song “Pink + White” is included on the album Blonde, released in 2016.

In “Pink + White,” a triple meter is used in both the vocal parts and the backing track, and as you listen, it leads you into a slightly surreal, otherworldly space.

If you want to create a track with an unusual feel like this, triple meter is a great choice.

In that respect, this song makes full use of the characteristics of triple meter.

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Yuuki

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