Work songs: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks

Shut up.Ado

[Ado] Shut Up

A song that defined 2021 and catapulted Ado to nationwide fame.

It not only swept major music awards, but also went mega-viral on social media and TikTok, earning the label of a track squarely in the heart of Generation Z.

With bold lyrics that seem to vent the frustrations of young people living under a completely new set of rules, unlike those of the Showa and Heisei eras, it struck a major chord.

“Usseewa” even became a buzzword, and there were rumors that some elementary schools issued an “Usseewa ban.” Ado doesn’t write songs herself but is active strictly as a “singer,” which adds to her air of mystery.

Her stage name “Ado” is derived from “ado,” a supporting role in Kyogen theater.

It’s a song I recommend you listen to when you’re fed up with work.

My boyfriend is a salaryman.SHINE’S

Shines “My Boyfriend Is a Salaryman”

A hit song by SHINE’S, the duo formed by Yosuke Ito and Taro Sugimura.

The name SHINE’S, of course, comes from the plural of “shain” (employees).

They started performing while still working as salaried employees, and there’s even an anecdote that their company banned their showbiz activities, leading them to quit.

The song was crafted with a good old Showa-era vibe, and its fun call-and-response parts made it a favorite as a party tune.

The lyrics are a laugh-out-loud series of workplace stereotypes—poking fun at the high pride of trading-company men, the hollowness of those in apparel, and more.

It’s a surefire crowd-pleaser at karaoke! But from a woman’s perspective, thinking “So this is how salarymen look to us…” is a bit of a wake-up call.

Let’s quit this company.sendamitsuo

Let's quit this company.

For anyone thinking, “That’s it, I’m really quitting this company!!,” this is a laugh-out-loud song that hits the bullseye.

It’s sung by Mitsuo Senda, and the “Naha-naha” gag that Takeshi Kitano sometimes does? The original was actually Mitsuo Senda’s.

Senda was a comedian who defined an era on TV and radio in the 1970s.

True to his style, the lyrics are packed with hilarious salaryman “relatable moments,” like “All the easy work gets scooped up by the boss,” “They preach cost-cutting but entertainment golf is a different story,” and “Even if you butter up the boss, you get shipped off to the sticks.” After listening to this song, you might actually calm down and decide not to quit.

Put it on when you want to soothe your mind.

Glory to the commuting songsDOTAMA

[MV] DOTAMA × USK “Glory to the Commuting Song”

Many people listen to music to distract themselves during gloomy commutes.

If that’s you, try adding DOTAMA’s “Glory to Commuter Songs” to your playlist.

It’s included on the album “Restruction: A Recommendation for Voluntary Resignation,” a collaboration with 8-bit composer USK released in 2012.

The sound is reminiscent of video game background music, and the music video is also styled like a game.

Many listeners will likely find themselves relating to the various scenes depicted in the lyrics—thinking, “That’s exactly me.”

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Worker MKinniku Shoujo Tai

Muscle Girl Band — Worker M (with detailed lyrics)

A sharp-edged number from Kinniku Shōjo-tai, a band that has been at the forefront of Japan’s rock scene since the late 1980s.

The intro, which evokes the opening of a horror film, might be a bit scary to listen to alone at night!? The lyrics by vocalist Kenji Otsuki—who’s also active as a writer and essayist—are truly distinctive.

They fiercely reject every value system and all material wealth, to the point of making you wonder, “Is there any meaning in working?”—yet still manage to slip in moments that make you chuckle.

It’s a track I’d especially like young office workers to hear.

After a period of inactivity, Kinniku Shōjo-tai resumed their activities in 2006.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on what they do next!

Working manUNICORN

Unicorn – Working Man [1992 Live Performance] UNICORN – Hataraku Otoko

Thanks to taking on the theme song for the hugely popular variety show Aiseki Shokudo, hosted by the comedy duo Chidori, Okuda Tamio and guitarist Teshima have become better known among younger generations as well.

As you may know, UNICORN’s hit song Hataraku Otoko is one of those tracks that zooms in on the working man.

UNICORN’s song titles—like Daimēwaku and Hige to Boin—are famously quirky.

That said, even though it’s about a working man, the song’s core is Okuda Tamio’s unique approach to romance, so it doesn’t really feel like a “straight-up labor anthem.” It’s a curious track that feels almost like it’s composed in three movements.

If you haven’t heard it yet, definitely give it a listen!

salarymanImawano Kiyoshirō

Salaryman

Theme song of the drama “Boku no Shūshoku” (My First Job).

Kiyoshiro Imawano himself also appeared in it, and it was also Yutaka Takenouchi’s debut work.

The broadcast coincided with Japan’s employment ice age, and the calmly sung days of a salaryman, along with the final falsetto, strike the heart in a strangely poignant way.