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 (41–50)
SiestaKEYTALK
KEYTALK is a four-piece rock band that has gained popularity for impactful songs featuring key changes woven into a sense of brisk momentum.
“Siesta,” included on their second full-length album OVERTONE, is a track they intentionally crafted with an eye toward stepping away from what’s typically considered the band’s signature style.
The driving ensemble features a waltz-time melody that’s intricate yet catchy.
It’s a pop tune that blends buoyancy with exhilaration, revealing both the core and the depth of KEYTALK as a band.
ProvidenceLUNA SEA
Since their formation in 1989, LUNA SEA not only established the foundational style of the so-called ’90s visual kei, but also set one legend after another that other bands couldn’t achieve, continuing to influence those who followed.
Although they declared an end and went on hiatus in 2000, they fully resumed activity in 2010 and have continued to update their legend with an unchanging lineup.
Among their early songs, Providence—composed by SUGIZO and renowned for its striking violin introduction—is a 3/4-time masterpiece that is almost always performed live.
Even just looking at their ability to perfectly integrate a waltz rhythm like this into their own sonic world, you can sense the extraordinary potential that LUNA SEA possesses as a band.
This is a personal note, but it’s no exaggeration to say that LUNA SEA taught me the greatness of songs in triple meter.
El HombrePat Martino
This is the title track from American jazz guitarist Pat Martino’s debut album, released in 1967.
Pat Martino is a master guitarist who has been active since the 1950s and is highly respected by professional musicians still performing today.
One of the great appeals of jazz is ad-libbing—improvisation—and Martino developed his own unique improvisational theory known as “minor conversion.” There are many approaches to improvisation, but if you ever feel stuck, it might be worth giving this one a try.
Army DreamersKate Bush
Kate Bush is a singer from England known for her distinctive, whisper-like voice.
Her song “Army Dreamers” notably emphasizes a waltz-like 3/4 rhythm on acoustic guitar, and combined with its folk-tinged timbre, it creates a wonderfully dreamlike atmosphere.
The title “Army Dreamers” can be understood in Japanese as “Yumemiru Heishi” (a soldier who dreams), and the song truly draws you into a world that feels like a dream.
The music video is also very compelling—be sure to check it out!
HeartbreakerGrand Funk Railroad
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.
Pink + WhiteFrank Ocean
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.
The Toilet GodUemura Kana
Toire no Kamisama (The Toilet God), based on a true story about Kana Uemura and her grandmother.
Over the course of this ten-minute song, it depicts the memories shared between Kana from third grade through age 23 and her grandmother.
The gentle, soothing melody is set in a triple meter, and that three-beat rhythm warmly and tenderly colors the heartwarming exchanges between the two about the “toilet god.” Even if the lyrics don’t match your own experiences at all, listening to the song makes you feel as if your own memories with your grandmother are coming back.
The story closes with Kana expressing gratitude to the grandmother who taught her that by keeping the toilet clean, you can make yourself clean as well.
