Hit Japanese songs of 2004: recommended classics and popular tracks
Mr.
Children, Kishidan, Ken Hirai, Ayaka Hirahara, Hikaru Utada, Tokyo Jihen…
From the many classic and popular songs that colored the J-POP hit charts of 2004 (Heisei 16), our studio staff has selected recommended hits.
A playlist that still doesn’t fade with time—one that represents the Heisei era.
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Women Artists (1–10)
CRAVIN’JUJU
This is JUJU’s second single, which has now solidified her popularity.
Unfortunately, it didn’t perform well in sales, but after this song she released another single two years later, which is when her popularity began to rise.
In that sense, this track could be seen as symbolic of her early, hard-working days.
It’s a powerful and danceable number.
Hana-kaze (flower wind)aiko
This is aiko’s 16th single, which was tied in as the image song for baseball broadcasts, and with this song she also made her third appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a very refreshing track with a pleasant feel, where the tempo gradually picks up and the sense of joy steadily builds.
Bridge to TomorrowKuraki Mai
For Mai Kuraki, this is her only single released in 2004 and her 18th single overall.
It’s a beautifully grand ballad with lavish use of strings.
It was used as the theme song for an NHK drama and was also performed at the Kohaku Uta Gassen.
Female Artists (11–20)
When Someone’s Wish Comes TrueUtada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru’s 13th single and her first new release in a year and three months since the previous one.
It was used as the theme song for the film “CASSHERN,” directed by her former husband, Kiriya Kazuaki.
It’s a simple song centered on piano accompaniment and is unusual for Utada as the lyrics were written before the music.
It topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and ranked 14th for the year.
JupiterHirahara Ayaka
It is a song for which Yumi Yoshimoto wrote Japanese lyrics to Gustav Holst’s classical piece “Jupiter,” and it became a long-selling hit, reaching a million sales three years after its release.
To this day, the work has influenced many people, and numerous tie-in and cover versions have been released.
Ultramarine DaysToukyou Jihen
It’s the title track of Tokyo Jihen’s debut single.
The composer is not Ringo Sheena but Mr.
H ZETT M, yet I feel their individual styles match beautifully.
Beyond the outstanding musicianship, the pop, addictive melody and Ringo Sheena’s distinctive lyrics are more than enough to captivate every listener.
distress (at sea/in the mountains); being lost; stranded; a disaster situationToukyou Jihen
The second single, released just one month after the debut song “Gunjou Biyori” as Tokyo Jihen led by Ringo Sheena.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
Remarkably, there are six different versions of the music video, and in some of them it connects to the coupling track “Dynamite.”