A classic of Japanese blues. Japanese blues that lets you get drunk on the sound and vocals.
What songs come to mind when you think of the blues?
Originally, it was music born from African peoples who had immigrated to America, beginning with songs that expressed the sorrow and laments of the poor.
Compared to jazz, which is centered on instruments, I think the blues has a special appeal in that you can enjoy it mainly with guitar and vocals.
Japanese blues is very rich in flavor and is perfect for listening to at a relaxed pace!
That groove that makes you drunk on the sound and the singers’ emotive expressiveness—blues moves the heart in every era.
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A classic of Japanese blues. Japanese blues to get lost in the sound and vocals (11–20)
Not-So-Much (Kouta)Urufuruzu
A funky, laid-back number that’s quintessentially Ulfuls.
The interplay between the guitar and harmonica is a joy.
That loose, languid vocal style is irresistible, too! Surprisingly, it’s an ultra-short track under two minutes.
The lyrics are so short you’ll memorize them in no time! It once made it onto the iTunes USA blues chart and held the No.
1 spot for a long time.
It has the easygoing vibe of an old-school rock tune, and it would feel right at home playing in a café or similar spot.
last trainUeda Masaki to Sausu Tu Sausu
It’s a classic whose hot groove and charismatic vocals are truly compelling.
Masaki Ueda’s singing, rising from the depths of his heart, beautifully conveys the blues’ distinctive sense of melancholy.
Included on the 1975 live album “Kono Atsui Tamashii o Tsutaetain ya,” this piece stands out for lyrics that delve deeply into the inner world of someone facing lost love or a turning point in life.
Using a late-night train as its motif, it’s a rich song that overlays the journey of life onto that scene.
Perfect for those troubled by love or standing at a crossroads.
Listen to it alone at night, and it will surely resonate in your heart.
Big City Woman BluesŌki Tōru Burūsu Bando
A signature work by Toru Oki that sings of loneliness and the pains of love against the backdrop of the city’s hustle and bustle.
Its deep vocals and bluesy melancholy resonate with the heart.
Included on the 1979 album “MANHATTAN MIDNIGHT,” it drew a strong response at live shows in New York.
This track fully showcases the abilities of a Japanese artist highly acclaimed in the homeland of the blues, America.
It’s a warm song that offers comfort to those struggling with urban relationships or the complexities of love.
Highly recommended for nighttime drives or quiet moments.
Lonely Heart (Japanese Version)CREATION
Creation, a pioneering presence in Japanese rock bands.
In their early days, they were active as a blues rock band and released numerous classic songs.
From Creation’s catalog, I’d like to introduce “LONELY HEART (Japanese Version).” This song melodically expresses the heartrending feelings of a man after a breakup.
There’s also an English version, so you can enjoy comparing the two.
TrampWest Road Blues Band
A track by West Road Blues Band, a Kansai-born group formed in 1972 that had a major influence as pioneers of Japanese blues.
It opens their 1975 debut album “Blues Power” and is a cover of a song by American blues guitarist T-Bone Walker, often called the father of modern blues guitar.
It’s remarkable that, in Japan’s still-developing music scene at the time, they were delivering blues of such high purity.
If you want to hear gritty blues sung by Japanese musicians, this is the number to choose without hesitation.
