Kiyoshiro Imawano’s classic and popular songs

I shall be releasedImawano Kiyoshirō

I shall be released ; RC Succession ①

These are songs preserved in the live recordings from the time when the record company RC Succession was with ordered the album to be withdrawn from sale; they’re parody versions of Bob Dylan songs.

People say that when Bob Dylan is covered in Japanese, it ends up sounding just like Takuro Yoshida, but when Kiyoshiro sings it, it sounds like a Kiyoshiro song.

Sunshine LoveImawano Kiyoshirō

Sunshine Love

A pre-release single from the album “Rainbow Cafe,” which was released in 1998 after moving from Toshiba EMI, where she had been for about 14 years, to Polydor.

She was very active in the media at the time, so this is a song she often performed on television.

SiM

Fuyumi Sakamoto SMI Blow Away Beethoven Rock Concert Live 1990

It’s a parody of Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven.

It’s by a unit called SIM, made up of Fuyumi Sakamoto, Kiyoshiro Imawano, and Shinji Miyake, which later led to HIS.

I think I also watched this on LaserDisc back in the day.

Kiyoshiro’s upbeat vocals are really appealing.

gone to wasterafiitafii

Kiyoshiro Imawano Laffite Taffy: Bubbles

A soulful, mature-flavored love song infused with Kiyoshiro Imawano’s spirit was released under the name “Rafee Taffee” in November 2000.

Its lyrics, which render the pain and emptiness of heartbreak in deep shades of blue, leave a lasting impression as they seep into the listener’s heart.

This work overlays the emotions felt after being left by a loved one with scenes of the city, painting a vivid picture.

Imawano’s distinctive worldview grips fans and won’t let go.

Cherished by many as a song that heals hearts wounded by love, it’s especially recommended for quiet, late-night hours spent alone.

Hide-and-seekImawano Kiyoshirō

Hide and Seek (Kiyoshiro Imawano & Char)

This is a bittersweet love song co-written with guitarist Char.

Interweaving lines from a children’s song, Kiyoshiro Imawano’s uniquely gentle lyrics strike straight to the heart.

Featured on a film soundtrack, the track was released on RC Succession’s 1983 live album “THE KING OF LIVE.” You can almost picture Kiyoshiro Imawano—nicknamed the King of Rock—commanding the stage with overwhelming presence.

Rooted in soul and blues, the rock sound powerfully conveys the feeling of longing for someone dear.

It’s a song I’d recommend not only to those wrestling with love, but also to anyone who has yet to experience Kiyoshiro Imawano’s music.

human scumImawano Kiyoshirō

Kiyoshiro Imawano – Human Scum

This is a song included on an album that was banned from release due to the circumstances of Kiyoshiro’s record label at the time, and was therefore put out independently.

The lyrics likely include some of Kiyoshiro’s real-life experiences and deal with heavy themes, but it’s a unique track wrapped in a bright musical tone and Kiyoshiro’s distinctive humor.

Love and peaceImawano Kiyoshirō

Ai To Heiwa

A song by Kiyoshiro Imawano, who has continued to lead Japan’s rock scene and is hailed as the King of Rock.

Even while tackling the grand theme of a wish for peace, its sprightly rhythm and wordplay are superb, leaving no sense of preachiness whatsoever.

Kiyoshiro Imawano’s warm vocals are striking, resonating directly with the heart before reason can catch up.

Included on the album “GOD,” released in March 2005, this piece was created over the course of more than a year together with his close ally Shinji Miyake at their private studio, the Rock ’n’ Roll Laboratory.

Why not give it a listen when you want to suddenly recall the important things that are so obvious we tend to forget them? Precisely because it’s simple, it hits you hard in the chest—a gem of a rock number.