[Hidden Gems] A Collection of Songs About Part-Time Jobs: Music That Resonates with Working People

Part-timerHINTO

Part-timer

HINTO inevitably gets compared to Sparta Locals, but they showcase a different kind of songwriting technique than in their band days.

This track, too, is unusual for him in terms of style, with everyday life strongly reflected in it, and you get swept up in its raw, vivid worldview.

lucykatahira rina

Rina Katahira – lucy Lucy ~guitar cover~ [Y6M4]

A girly song about finding a favorite dress in town on the way home from a part-time job, while daydreaming about a date with the guy who’s been on her mind lately.

The content is just a love song, but thanks to Katahira’s excellent writing skills, it comes across as a professional-level track.

NEW ME NEW ME NEWHAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY　『「NEW ME NEW ME NEW」MUSIC VIDEO』

This song is from the perspective of a girlfriend who ends up taking care of her boyfriend, who not only can’t hold down a part-time job but ultimately becomes a NEET.

The unit gained popularity for the song’s catchiness and their own cuteness, but they sadly disbanded in 2015.

Even now, this track is remembered as a classic on the theme of part-time work.

Tourmen — Can’t take any shifts for my part-time job —uranīno

[Uranino] Top 10 Most Popular Karaoke Songs [And the No. 1 Ranking Is!!]

Despite having ‘bite’ and ‘title’ in its name, it’s not lyrics that face up to that reality; it’s a song like a scene from a movie, depicting someone drifting from town to town like a rootless wanderer.

You could also call it a track that suits a part-timer who basically likes to escape from reality.

A beautiful mom friend who works for the same hourly wageSumairēji

S/mileage “The Beautiful Mom of My Friend Who Works for the Same Hourly Wage” (Part-time Ver.)

It’s a pop song that portrays a somewhat complicated relationship: the protagonist’s romantic rival is their classmate’s mother, who works the same hourly-wage job.

The title serves to explain this setup, so it’s a bit long, but as you’d expect from Tsunku, the song itself is a superb pop number.

daytime cabaret (daytime hostess club)Midorikawa Shobō

“A Person in Ecstasy” by Midorikawa Shobo

It’s a pop song that depicts the fantasies of a guy who keeps suspecting that the girl he’s into has a daytime cabaret job as a side hustle.

How they managed to turn such a mundane yet pervy theme into a song this catchy is beyond me—it’s a quintessential burst of Midorikawa Magic.

Is there?Nakajima Miyuki

Is there?

This is a controversial work by Miyuki Nakajima, in which an unrelated part-time worker ultimately gets caught up in a murder case, leading to a shocking conclusion.

The song vividly reflects the spirit of the Showa era, and I’m in awe of her superb writing skills that elevate it far beyond a mere pop song.