[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!
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- 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 the classics that dominated the charts! (21–30)
TOKYOSADS
This is the debut single by SADS, the new band formed by Kiyoharu, who previously performed as the vocalist of Kuroyume.
The lyric line “I’m led astray again today by a broken black dream” feels loaded with emotion.
The track delivers a sense of heavy, powerful energy.
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.
[Hit Songs of 1999] A roundup of classic tracks that dominated the charts! (31–40)
BIRDSCOIL
This is the title track of COIL’s major-label fourth single, released when they were a home-recording unit affiliated with Office Augusta.
It’s a song that showcases their distinctive traits—which set them apart from the more commercially oriented artists of the time—featuring a catchy, easy-to-listen-to melody and a sound and vocals that evoke a certain nostalgia.
Grateful DaysDragon Ash
Dragon Ash’s fifth single.
This release features guest vocals by ZEEBRA (formerly of KGDR/King Giddra) and ACO.
The chord progression of the backing track faithfully follows Pachelbel’s Canon.
Although it stands as a signature song from the period when DA had a strong hip-hop flavor, KGDR’s 2002 track “Public Execution,” which included disses toward Kj, ended up making this piece feel like a work that reflects and surveys the music scene of that time.
SurvivalGLAY
A hugely popular release in the form of a video single.
The music video was created by Koji Morimoto at the direct request of the members, and the work has a unique history—such as simultaneously ranking on Oricon’s single chart and video chart.
VanillaGACKT
This was the first song by Gackt I ever listened to.
I still sing it at karaoke sometimes, and well, it’s Gackt after all—his voice is so sweet.
If I remember correctly, I have an embarrassing memory of about ten boys, including me, belting this out during an overnight elementary school retreat, lol.
But that’s how impactful the song is.
It’s definitely worth a listen.
On the morning when the bell of hope ringsTHE ALFEE
It’s the theme song from Salaryman Kintaro, a drama starring Katsunori Takahashi that I loved, and also a manga I’m a big fan of.
Back then, because of this song and the story, I thought, “As long as you’ve got spirit, a salaryman can handle anything!” But the world doesn’t really work that way, does it… Still, listening to it again after a long time brought back memories and made me feel like I need to give it my best.
It’s one of those songs.