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Lovely artist

Songs sung by Downtown: classic tracks released as solos or by units

Masatoshi Hamada and Hitoshi Matsumoto of Downtown have left an indelible mark on Japanese television history and continue to captivate many fans to this day.

While the two are strongly associated with their image as comedians, did you know they have also pursued musical activities? Their songs brim with a variety of charms, from tracks filled with humor to ones with heartwarming lyrics.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs released under the Downtown name, each of their solo works, as well as tracks from the units they’ve participated in.

Songs performed by Downtown. Classic tracks released as solos or units (11–20)

Sunset Familydauntaun

This is the landmark debut single released in October 1989 by Downtown, the duo that epitomizes Japan’s comedy scene.

It’s a richly emotive song that evokes images of a nostalgic family dinner table and the glow of the setting sun streaming through a window.

Sung by Masatoshi Hamada and Hitoshi Matsumoto, it conveys the tenderness hidden in everyday life and a touch of bittersweet emotion with even greater depth.

The track was also included on the classic 1991 album “Banriki no Kuni.” It’s a heartwarming number that, when played at the end of the day while spending quiet time with someone special, makes you feel that ordinary days are irreplaceable treasures.

Ojapamendauntaun

It’s a lively song performed by Downtown and the other regular members of the show “Downtown no Gotsu Ee Kanji.” It’s a cover of “Ojebame Iyagi” by the Korean idol group Fire Truck.

Although it sounds like Korean, the lyrics were transcribed into katakana by Yuichi Kimura, a writer for the show, based on how he heard them, which makes it amusing in part because the meaning doesn’t always come through.

Now that K-pop is popular and people have more opportunities to hear Korean, the oddness of the lyrics might be even more fun to appreciate.

In conclusion

The numerous songs infused with Hamada and Matsumoto’s distinctive characters and worldview radiate a charm different from their work as comedians.

Their unique vision continues to resonate with many people even today.

Their musicality, which goes beyond the realm of comedy, may also be one of their appeals.