[Hit Songs of 1999] A roundup of timeless tracks that dominated the charts!
1999 was a turning point that brought various changes to Japan’s music scene.
The achievements of female artists in particular were remarkable, and across a wide range of genres—from J-pop to rock to ballads—many classic songs were born.
The numerous hits from 1999, whose appeal remains undiminished even today, continue to have a major influence on contemporary artists.
In this article, we’ll introduce hit songs released in 1999.
Immerse yourself and enjoy the sound where nostalgia and freshness coexist!
- [Heisei Retro] Hit Japanese songs that defined the 1990s. Recommended J-POP classics.
- [1998 Japanese Hit Songs] A roundup of timeless classics that still live on in people’s memories!
- Japanese Music of the 2000s: Revival Included! A J-POP Hit Song Special
- Hit Japanese songs that represent 1997. Recommended masterpieces.
- Heisei-era masterpieces revisited through the hit songs of 2001
- [Hit Songs of 1996] Spotlight on the iconic tracks and popular tunes that colored the Heisei era!
- Iconic ballads of 90s J-pop: nostalgic mega-hits and fan favorites
- 2003 J-Pop hit songs special: the golden age of music when diversity blossomed
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the Heisei era: Let’s look back at iconic songs from the 1990s and 2000s.
- Cool songs of the Heisei era. Hit tracks that energized the times.
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Nostalgic Yet Everlasting: Classic Hits by 1990s Idol Singers
- A coming-of-age song that was a hit in the ’90s. A classic and popular track in Japanese music.
[Hit Songs of 1999] A Roundup of Chart-Topping Classics! (61–70)
Hungry SpiderMakihara Noriyuki
Noriyuki Makihara’s 22nd single was also used as the theme song for the drama “Labyrinth.” Because the drama dealt with very heavy subject matter and the production requested a song that matched that atmosphere, this track ended up with a somewhat mysterious, dark vibe as well.
Be cool !yazaru
This is Be cool!, the 4th single by the music unit Yāen from Tunnels.
Yāen was formed on the TV show Tunnels no Minasan no Okage deshita, with members consisting of Tunnels and the show’s staff—an unlikely lineup at first glance.
Of course, it wasn’t put together haphazardly: the lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto, famous for AKB48 and Onyanko Club.
This song was also a hit that marked their first appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Tunnels have engaged in musical activities multiple times, and even last year, in 2015, Noritake Kinashi appeared on the FNS Music Festival.
Be TogetherSuzuki Ami
This is one of Ami Suzuki’s signature songs.
Isn’t it a track that everyone has heard at least once? Her very fresh, breezy singing voice had the guys of the time utterly smitten and swooning.
The melody and so on are also catchy and feel great.
Eyes On Me featuring in Final Fantasy VIIIFei Won
A song by Faye Wong that served as both the main theme and an insert song for FF VIII.
I often hear people say VII is better, but I’m definitely in the VIII camp.
Squall is so cool.
It was on TV commercials all the time, and I kept wondering who was singing it.
I played the game so much, and I liked the song so much that I kept listening to the CD outside too—so somehow I can still sing the whole thing even now.
Ah, it’s such a beautiful song that really touches the heart.
energy flow (Ura BTTB)Sakamoto Ryuichi
As soon as the commercial for Regain EB tablets aired on TV, it won overwhelming support from all quarters, and this extraordinary song—originally just a 30-second jingle—was even released as a CD.
It was also featured on the album “image,” and remains a quintessential work that helped launch the ongoing trends of Mellow Music and healing music.
If you’re feeling tired and haven’t heard it yet, please give it a listen at least once.