Even that overseas musician!? Popular cover versions of 'Itoshi no Ellie'
Southern All Stars’ classic ballad, “Itoshi no Ellie.” Keisuke Kuwata’s husky voice pairs beautifully with the gentle, soothing melody—truly a masterpiece among masterpieces! It’s a signature song of the J-pop scene, but it’s also remarkably popular overseas.
Believe it or not, it’s been covered by Ray Charles and The Ventures! Of course, many top-tier musicians in Japan have covered it as well, and the versions introduced in this article are all outstanding.
Be sure to listen through to the end.
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- [Songs That Make You Popular] Sing these to be a hit! Women’s karaoke songs
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- [Covers of Japanese Songs] A selection of classic hits where both the original and the arranged versions are popular
- A cover of the genre-defying classic “Konya wa Boogie-Back.”
That overseas musician too!? Popular cover versions of “Itoshi no Ellie” (1–10)
My Dear EllieKoyanagi Rumiko
This is the version included on Rumiko Koyanagi’s live album “Yasashisa To Iu Koto…” released in 1979.
It feels a bit unexpected for Koyanagi to sing this song, but it’s amazing how anything she sings becomes her own.
Her supple, graceful voice is captivating.
Ellie My LoveThe Ventures
Known as Japanophiles and hugely influential in the Japanese music scene, The Ventures here take on “Itoshi no Ellie.” Even without vocals, the guitar-driven version of this song is really cool, isn’t it? The Ventures’ sound will continue to shine forever, no matter how many decades pass.
My Dear EllieYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro is a renowned female enka singer—there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know her.
In her rendition of “Itoshi no Ellie,” she infuses the song with her signature Aki Yashiro style while conveying its overflowing love.
It’s a track that showcases the breadth of her repertoire.
You can feel the expressive power characteristic of an enka singer even in this kind of pop song.
That overseas musician too!? Popular cover versions of “Itoshi no Ellie” (11–20)
My Dear EllieFukuyama Masaharu
Masaharu Fukuyama is an actor and artist who sometimes also works as a producer for singers.
He is one of Japan’s leading vocalists and a regular on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Fukuyama’s cover of “Itoshi no Ellie” is very powerful—less a gentle kind of love and more a passionate one.
Listening to this song makes it clear how he captivates women’s hearts and never lets go.
My Dear EllieHirai Ken
Ken Hirai possesses a voice that shines in ballads.
It’s no exaggeration to say that singing ballads is his destiny—he has a magnetic pull that lets him make one leisurely song after another entirely his own.
“Itoshi no Ellie” is one such song.
It seems to bring out even more poignancy than the original, with feelings for a beloved lover gradually welling up.
My Dear EllieIshii Tatsuya
Here’s the version performed on the TV show “Music Space Ammonite,” hosted by Tatsuya Ishii, which aired in 1997.
Don’t you think the stylish arrangement and Ishii’s silky voice bring out a different charm in this song? The show itself was really entertaining, too.
My Dear EllieRickie-G
Here’s a version sung by Rickie-G, a noteworthy singer of Japanese reggae with an acoustic foundation.
His expansive, transparent voice and the warmly relaxed performance are very appealing, and the reggae-arranged groove fits the original song perfectly, doesn’t it?