A masterpiece coupling track. Recommended popular songs.
There are countless hidden gems among single coupling tracks and the B-sides of EP records.
Some of them even became more popular than the title track and were later released as singles, and many are still loved to this day.
Here, we’ve gathered a generous selection of popular and underrated coupling songs to introduce them in depth.
You might be surprised how many big hits actually started out as coupling songs.
Be sure to listen to these masterpieces—some hidden, some not so hidden.
And don’t forget to share them with the people around you!
Masterpiece coupling songs. Recommended popular tracks (1–10)
threadNakajima Miyuki
Ito by Miyuki Nakajima is widely known across generations as a wedding song and a song to give to others.
The track is included with her 35th single, “Another Name for Life,” released in 1998.
It was used as the theme song for the drama “Seija no Koshin,” written by Shinji Nojima, which drew a lot of attention, and it has since become known both for numerous tie-ins and for being covered by many prominent artists.
It’s one of those songs you find yourself wanting to listen to when you’re not necessarily feeling down, but are tired from work or the everyday grind.
OrangeSMAP
Released to coincide with SMAP member Takuya Kimura’s marriage, the masterpiece “Lion Heart” is still a hugely popular song you hear often.
Its coupling track “Orange,” included as the B-side of the single, is unusually popular for a B-side and is known for being frequently requested at karaoke.
When SMAP’s breakup was reported in 2016, it ranked high on digital distribution sites.
It’s a very popular number among fans.
MPRINCESS PRINCESS
It was released in 1989 as the B-side to Princess Princess’s seventh single, “Diamonds.” The lyrics, written by member Ms.
Tomita, capture the sorrow of her breakup with a man whose initial is M, and were crafted as a kind of payback.
As a pre-1990s song, it became a massive hit, setting the all-time record for the number of full-track downloads.
It’s a poignant love song cherished by listeners of all ages.
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
Based on a manga by Fumi Saimon, the TV drama Tokyo Love Story exerted a powerful influence on youth culture of the time.
The song that became a full-blown phenomenon as its theme was Kazumasa Oda’s “Love Story wa Totsuzen ni.” Written and composed by Oda, it was paired with “Oh! Yeah!” on the single, but it goes without saying that this track is now far more famous than the A-side.
Released in 1991, it remains a beloved number that continues to be listened to today.
365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB48
365 Nichi no Kamihikouki is a song widely known across generations as the theme for the NHK morning drama series Asadora Asa ga Kita.
Although it was released in 2015 as the B-side to the single Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby, it became a major hit thanks in part to the drama’s popularity.
Comparing life to a paper airplane, the song has been embraced by a broader age group beyond typical AKB fans, and it seems poised to become a standard number in Japanese pop music.
Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo
Sheena Ringo’s single “Queen of Kabukicho,” released in 1998, is one of her signature songs.
Its B-side, “Marunouchi Sadistic,” was originally written in English and later changed to Japanese.
On the single, under the title “Jitsuroku – Shinjuku nite – Marunouchi Sadistic ~ Queen of Kabukicho,” she performs a medley on acoustic guitar.
It’s also a highly popular number among fans.
A Lump of LoveKinKi Kids
A love song sung from a woman’s perspective by KinKi Kids.
It’s a piece that highlights the duo’s exceptional vocal ability and expressive power.
It’s a track that female fans will likely find irresistible.
The A-side, “Hey! Minna Genki Kai?” is their 13th single.
The single was released in 2001, and the album “F album,” which includes “Ai no Katamari (Acoustic Version)” and “Hey! Minna Genki Kai?,” was released the following year.