[1980s] Debut Songs and Classics by Japanese All-Girl Bands

Echo of the Emeraldsaboten

Saboten – Emerald Echo (Yamabiko of Emerald)

Cactus, who began their activities around 1981.

This track opens their debut album, Cactus, released in 1982.

Its experimental sound, which makes extensive use of irregular time signatures, is exquisitely combined with a lo-fi performance that carries a certain sense of danger.

Rather than telling a story through lyrics, their approach of expressing a worldview through instrumental timbres and song structure itself must have felt very innovative at the time.

The anecdote that the project began with the idea of performing Erik Satie’s pieces as a band also reveals their artistic sensibilities.

It might be the perfect song when you want to immerse yourself in free-spirited music unconstrained by preconceived notions.

Frustrated Snow Whiteōto shojo dan

The Vomit Virgins – Frustrated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Outo Syojodan) EP – 1988 / Hardcore Punk Japanese

An explosive track that hurls a fairy-tale heroine’s pent-up frustrations into the air atop a ferocious sound.

Contrary to its comical title, the vocalist’s searing screams and the breakneck, hardcore performance hit you square between the eyes.

The song appears on the 7-inch single “Frustrated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” released in January 1988.

Its cries, which shatter the image of a princess who merely waits for her prince, feel like a scathing counterattack against stifling social norms.

When you can’t tolerate the absurdity anymore, why not surrender yourself to this sound?

numbersekiri

Dysentery / Number (with lyrics)

This track packs a huge punch with its punkish sound and razor-sharp lyrics.

Their debut EP, “Shigella,” was released independently in 1985, and the raw sound distills the primal energy of the members, who were still in high school at the time.

It feels like the atmosphere and vibe of Osaka back then have been sealed into it as-is.

It’s rock that hits you square in the skull—a lasting scar on the Japanese band scene.

Love Dance HallCHEESE

CHEESE / Dance Hall of Love (Dance hall)

This power-pop tune epitomizes CHEESE, the girls’ trio that made waves on Tokyo’s indie scene.

Its bittersweet melody and driving 8-beat fill you with excitement just by listening.

You spot someone you like in a lively dancehall, but can’t quite muster the courage to speak—those sweet, frustrating feelings of first love come through on the shimmering guitars and buoyant rhythms.

The track was featured on the classic compilation album “ATTACK OF… MUSHROOM PEOPLE!” released in April 1987, which documented the neo-GS scene of the time.

TAKE MESCHOOL DAZE

SCHOOL DAZE TAKE ME (Ikaten) #Ikaten

A five-member girls’ group that appeared on Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku.

Their selling point is songs rooted in rhythm and blues, performed with a rock ’n’ roll flair.

Featuring twin guitars and the mature allure of vocalist Otani, “TAKE ME” is also one of their signature tracks.

Mirage LoverZELDA

ZELDA/Mirage Lover

ZELDA, who made their major-label debut in 1982, is one of the quintessential girls’ bands of the 1980s.

Released simultaneously with the album “ZELDA,” the single “Mirage Lover” is a track that reveals their allure, suffused with an ennui-laden mood and an air of mystery.

ANGEL ORPHANKurara Sākasu

KLARA CIRCUS – ANGEL ORPHAN/BOKU NO KATAMUKI (1987)

A laid-back, fluffy girls’ group formed by three female classmates from Chiba Prefecture.

While influenced by punk rock, they themselves exude a pastoral, fairytale-like warmth that defines their worldview.

This song also showcases their rich sensibilities, making it a gem whose balance of calmness and hysteria becomes utterly endearing.