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 (41–50)
Sōemonchō Bluesheiwa katsuji to daakuhosu
It’s a hit song by Katsuji Heiwa and Dark Horse.
It was originally produced independently and deposited with cable radio, where it gained a strong reputation.
Then, in December 1972, a major-label version was released.
Thanks to this song’s impact, Sōemonchō’s name recognition reportedly rose nationwide.
Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi
This is a single by Kenichi Mikawa released in April 1966, and along with “Niigata Blues” and “Night in Kushiro,” it is sometimes regarded as one of the three major hits in his local-themed song series.
In 1967, a film based on this song was released.
The Loser’s SongKawatani Takuzō
This is a single released by Takuzo Kawatani in 1976, and the word in the title, “唄,” is read as “Blues.” For fans of the Hissatsu series, it’s a familiar song as the theme for both Hissatsu Karakurinin and Hissatsu Karakurinin: Kippū-hen.
Blues of HTHE BLUE HEARTS
This is a song written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, sung as if pouring out a sense of frustration with the world and a stagnant, heavy heart over a blues groove.
The raspy vocals feel like they speak for those pent-up emotions, and many listeners may find their chests tighten in response.
The track appears on the classic album “BUST WASTE HIP,” released in September 1990.
The album is known for staying on the Oricon charts for 266 weeks and features a sound steeped in bite and depth from a period when the band was “trying to break free from predictable harmony.” It’s a perfect listen for nights when you’re overwhelmed by harsh reality and want to quietly tune in to the voice of your own heart.
Weekday Bluesback number
A coupling track from the single “Watagashi,” it’s a refreshing, fast-paced rock number.
The guitar in the intro really stands out, doesn’t it? Rather than a bluesy vibe, it has a slightly nostalgic feel that gives you energy—one of those songs.
It asks, “What does it mean to be yourself?” and I really want people who are struggling with the present to listen to it.
It sings about the importance of living your best within the circumstances you’re given.
True to its title, “Weekday Blues,” it’s a song that stays close to everyday life, so it’s one I want to keep on heavy rotation.
BOMBER GIRLKondō Fusanosuke & Oda Tetsurō
This is a collaborative single released in 1992 by Fuyunosuke Kondo—also a member of B.B.
Queens, famous for Odoru Pompokolin—and Tetsuro Oda, a melody maker behind numerous hit songs.
Oda’s sultry vibe and Kondo’s funkiness intertwine, and the resulting cool, seasoned sound is incredibly stylish.
They say it was crafted to showcase Kondo’s bluesy qualities to a broader audience.
It’s catchy yet masculine in mood and vocals, letting you fully enjoy its bluesy character.
Adolescent BluesGOING UNDER GROUND
A number that grabs you with its youthful energy and that pure, quintessential GOING UNDER GROUND vibe.
“Shishunki no Blues” is a track from their indie-era second mini-album of the same name, released in 1999.
It’s a song that lays out feelings for someone you like, and it really gives off a coming-of-age vibe.
That final shout is fiery! It’s hefty yet has a comfortable groove that makes your head start bobbing without thinking.
It kind of makes you want to listen while gazing out at nature.
This kind of blues is fun, too.