[1995 Hit Songs] Masterpieces of Japanese music that colored the Heisei 7 (1995) music scene
When you think of hit songs from 1995, what tracks come to mind? It was a landmark year when the release of Windows 95 had all of Japan buzzing, and the music scene saw a wave of great songs across diverse genres.
In this article, we’ll introduce the hit songs of 1995—nostalgic for those who spent their youth in that era, and fresh-sounding for those born after.
Even if you didn’t hear them in real time, there are plenty you’ve probably encountered somewhere! Enjoy to the very end.
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[1995 Hit Songs] Japanese Classics That Colored the Music Scene of Heisei 7 (31–40)
suddenlyFIELD OF VIEW
This is a song by the band FIELD OF VIEW, which disbanded in 2002.
It’s a masterpiece with poignant lyrics that really sink in.
The gentle vocals are truly memorable, and it’s easy to see why it was so popular.
I heard it was used as a Pocari Sweat commercial song at the time—does anyone remember that?
Let’s set a love trap.FUNK THE PEANUTS
Funk the Peanuts, a mysterious female vocal unit, is actually Miwa Yoshida from DREAMS COME TRUE and vocalist Rinko Urashima.
They debuted under the production of Miwa Yoshida and Masato Nakamura.
With catchy lyrics and a bright tone, it’s a very easy-listening track.
GOING GOING HOMEH Jungle with T
Although it tends to be overshadowed because the previous song, WOW WAR TONIGHT, was such a massive hit, this one also sold over 1.2 million copies.
It’s the second single from H Jungle with T, the unit formed by Downtown’s Masatoshi Hamada and Tetsuya Komuro.
The song features a relaxed tempo and lyrics that evoke an easygoing time by the seaside.
WOW WAR TONIGHT ~ Sometimes Start a MovementH Jungle with T
A single that was shocking at the time, featuring a collaboration between Downtown’s Masatoshi Hamada and Tetsuya Komuro.
As a song performed by a comedian, it has achieved the highest sales in history.
They even appeared on the NHK New Year’s Red and White Song Contest when it was released, and there was such a flood of inquiries that the initial shipment quantity was unusually more than doubled.
We have a tomorrowSMAP
This is SMAP’s 19th single, which was also used as the theme song for the TV drama “Jinsei wa Jōjō da” starring Takuya Kimura and Masatoshi Hamada.
The song has a very relaxed tempo and a calm atmosphere, and the lyrics convey a sense of hope for tomorrow.
[1995 Hit Songs] Masterpieces of Japanese music that colored the Heisei 7 (1995) music scene (41–50)
Rumored KissTOKIO
TOKIO’s 3rd single.
A lot of people probably remember it since it was also the ending theme for Kiteretsu Daihyakka.
You don’t see it much nowadays, but this song features twin vocals by vocalist Nagase and bassist Yamaguchi.
It made me realize that, without even noticing it, I’ve really loved TOKIO’s songs since back then.
I’ve just gotta polish my heartTOKIO
Personally, this was the first TOKIO single—their fourth—that I was able to sing all the way through.
I remember it vividly because, as a child at the time, it was the theme song for the NHK anime ‘Fly! Isami.’ Maybe thanks to its lively tune and easy-to-remember lyrics, I recall myself always humming it.