A masterpiece of an answer song. A song that weaves feelings—a love song.
Answer songs are created as responses to original songs.
This is a unique genre that draws attention as “sequels to songs,” featuring many love songs and narrative-driven tracks that often center on differences in perspective between men and women.
In addition to music’s charm of allowing countless interpretations—one for every listener—one of the joys of answer songs is the new discoveries they offer: realizing, beyond what you felt from the original track, that there were such feelings and stories behind it!
We’ll introduce not only the classics but also relatively new tracks, carefully picked along the way.
You might just get hooked on the worldview that connects artists’ intentions!
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A masterpiece of answer songs. Songs that weave feelings—love songs (21–30)
Ms. Marikosadamasashi
A track included on Masashi Sada’s 1982 album Yume no Wadachi.
It’s said that this “Mariko-san” is the same person who appears in Miyuki Nakajima’s classic song “Akujo,” and the song portrays the loneliness of a woman whose feelings aren’t understood.
“Mariko-san” seeks a moment of happiness in alcohol.
Though she appears strong, it depicts emotions everyone carries in their hearts, and it quietly pierces you.
The gap between the melancholic lyrics and the slightly upbeat sound also leaves you with an indescribable feeling.
With youIshii Tatsuya
The original song is Azumi Inoue’s “Carrying You.” Believe it or not, there was even an answer song to the theme song of the film Castle in the Sky.
It was released as the campaign song for the DVD release of Castle in the Sky, and the lyrics are said to be written from Pazu’s perspective 16 years after the original story.
Crazy CrazyHoshino Gen
In recent years, Gen Hoshino has rapidly risen in popularity, but he says he’s long been encouraged by the music of the Crazy Cats.
He decided to turn a song he wrote while he was ill into a homage to the Crazy Cats—whom he’d listened to for many years—and that’s how “Crazy Crazy” was born.
The lyrics also contain many references that evoke the names of the Crazy Cats members.
Unchanging Feelings with KGYasuda Nao
The original song is KG’s “Kimi Janakya (Duet with Nao Yasuda),” and this track is sung as a duet with the same pairing as the original.
Centered on the chorus, it incorporates the same melody as the original while expressing a forward-looking sentiment that rises above the original’s bittersweet feelings.
To You… Once Again feat. AZUSunya
The original song is AZU’s “To You…”.
Since “To You…” was originally written and composed by Sunya, this could also be called an answer song by the original artist.
Incidentally, “To You… Once Again feat.
AZU” was also written and composed by Sunya.
NobodyAmuro Namie
“Nobody,” written as a sequel to “White Light.” Reading the lyrics, it seems that unfortunately they broke up with the partner they were so in love with.
It pains the heart to see them reminiscing about this time last year, but it’s a bittersweet song that shows those were good memories.
One million “I love you”sOranje
The original song is Rake’s “1,000,000 Times ‘I Love You.’” While incorporating famous lines from the original lyrics—such as its iconic phrases—it creates a distinctly different atmosphere from the original.
In 2011, it was awarded first place in RecoChoku Inc.’s “Answer Song Masterpiece Ranking.”