[Shogo Hamada’s Masterpieces] Carefully Selected Hit Songs and Fan Favorites Loved Across Generations!

Days of DeceptionHamada Shogo

Days of Deception (Sand Castle/1983) / Shogo Hamada

This song was written during a period when Shogo Hamada was struggling with lyric writing, and it features weighty, profound lyrics and a worldview characteristic of Hamada.

It’s a classic that continues to be performed live, and the message of “Itsuwari no Hibi” conveys a search for life’s emptiness and truth.

The melody line has an easy-to-follow structure, though it might be a bit on the high side.

If you project your voice with clear enunciation right from the first note, the flow of the melody becomes very smooth.

Also, since you use breath even in the lower range, where and when you inhale is crucial.

Once you’ve inhaled, exhale decisively and completely without hesitation!

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Kubota Mami

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When you are in the time of your life…Hamada Shogo

When You're in the Prime of Your Life Shogo Hamada

This is an early signature work that became a turning point as Shogo Hamada’s first album for which he wrote all the lyrics himself, and it’s packed with fun days spent touring various places with the band! The tempo is very relaxed, so you can sing carefully, and the pitch is easy to follow.

Also, the structure raises the range gradually toward the chorus, so if you build momentum little by little as you sing, your voice will come out smoothly without catching in your throat.

Basically, the place where you produce the voice is the vocal cords, so place a finger in the dip between your collarbones, bring your other hand in front of the vocal cords, and sing as if you’re letting your voice hit your hand in time with the rhythm.

As the pitch gets higher, move your hand farther away—away from the vocal cords—and project your voice toward it.

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Kubota Mami

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To my belovedHamada Shogo

To my beloved (Sand Castle/1983) / Shogo Hamada

Unusually for a Shogo Hamada song, this is a straightforward, easy-to-understand love ballad brimming with gentleness.

It’s said that “To My Beloved” was a song that came about naturally.

The tempo is relaxed, and the melody line feels calm.

It’s the kind of song you listen to quietly, so it’s recommended for those who want to sing a ballad with emotion.

Make sure you can smoothly hit the high notes at the start of the chorus.

When singing the “i” vowel, be conscious of sending the pitch upward—try raising your hand above your head for support while releasing your voice at the same time.

Relaxation is essential, so using big gestures helps you release tension and makes it easier to sing.

This approach is also great when you want clear enunciation.

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Kubota Mami

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Season of Light and ShadowHamada Shogo

Season of Light and Shadow [Re-edit 2008] (ON THE ROAD 2005-2007 “My First Love”)

Released on April 13, 2005 as the 35th single.

It was selected as the official theme song for the 2007 Autumn Koshien.

This rock song sings about the thoughts that have always been on one’s mind while journeying around the world—through deserts, foreign towns, horizons, seas, snowy fields, great metropolises, canyons, and travelers’ lodgings.

The Emperor’s New ClothesHamada Shogo

Naked Kings (ON THE ROAD 2011 “The Last Weekend”)

This is a soul-stirring song by Shogo Hamada that sharply interrogates the contradictions of society and the egos of humankind.

Who has the right to judge sinners and condemn others? When such a fundamental question is thrust at us over a dynamic rock sound, you can’t help but stop and think deeply.

The track was included on the album “Sono Eien no Ichibyo ni ~The Moment Of The Moment~,” released in September 1993, and later featured on the best-of compilation “The Best of Shogo Hamada vol.3 The Last Weekend.” Born against the backdrop of a turbulent global situation, its lyrics pierce our hearts even today, transcending time to speak powerfully to those of us living in the present.

The two of us since thenHamada Shogo

The Two of Us Since Then (ON THE ROAD 2011 “The Last Weekend”)

This song portrays two people who choose to walk separate paths, conveying feelings of wistfulness and regret.

The finely detailed depictions of their memories strongly evoke both the happiness they once had and the pain of having lost it.

It is a song about a mature romance, depicting the two reunited, touching one another gently as if to console each other while carrying their lost love and broken dreams.

Falling in love despite being prepared to be hurt or to lose is expressed as a form of mature love, and the seamless unity of lyrics and melody, along with the realistic sense of nostalgia, has been highly praised.

It’s a track admired for its earthy rawness and its expressions of love that put the other person’s feelings first.

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Generation without TomorrowHamada Shogo

Generation Without Tomorrow (Welcome Back to the 80’s / Short Version)

Set to a driving rock sound, this is a song by Shogo Hamada that powerfully voices the pains of youth and a spirit of rebellion against society.

The lyrics are said to reflect the inner conflict born from the intense social upheaval he witnessed in the summer of 1969, when he was a high school student.

Released in July 1980 as his tenth single, the song also appears in a different version on the acclaimed album Home Bound.

Even while struggling against an unreasonable reality, you can’t quite give up hope for tomorrow.

When you’re carrying that kind of pent-up frustration, listening to this track might just give voice to the cry in your heart.