What should I listen to? Could the key to understanding music be hidden in the all-time sales rankings!?
Hello to the 100 million musicians across Japan.
As I teach drum lessons, I often meet people who say, “I want to discover more kinds of music, but I don’t know what to listen to.”
So this time, I’ve come up with the simplest way to get to know music.
I want to discover more kinds of music, but what should I listen to...?
A way to learn about music—its name is, “The idea that you can pretty much understand music by listening to the top artists in total sales rankings.It is.”
In other words,The greater the total number of units sold across all past data, the more it has moved the hearts of many people across countries, cultures, and eras.Is that what you mean?
It's a bit pushy, though (lol).
If you look into it again, you might discover music you’ve never encountered before.
So this time, from WikipediaIntroducing data with total sales of over 200 million unitsI will do it.
Why over 200 million?
Because it would be a lot of characters and a hassle (lol).
If I get the chance, I’ll introduce the next artists as well.
How many artists have you listened to?
However, since there were eras before sales data was systematically compiled and because of factors like recent illegal downloading, the number of units sold should be treated only as a rough indicator.
By the way, the order of introduction is not a ranking.
over 300 million copies
The Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrcYPTRcSX0
As expected, the artist who influenced all musicians—not just in pop and rock—would beThe BeatlesI suppose so.
Estimated sales are said to be as many as 600 million or even over 1 billion copies.Even if you combine the sales of Japan’s artists ranked 1st to 10th, it’s not even half of the Beatles'.
There may never be another artist who surpasses The Beatles in record sales.
I hope it comes out someday.
Elvis Presley
PresleyIsn't it the case that quite a few musicians surprisingly haven't listened to it?
They popularized rock music—originally Black music—among the general white public,KING OF ROCK AND ROLLPresley, who was affectionately known by that nickname.
Saying you like rock but not knowing Presley is like a soccer fan not knowing King Kazu, right?
If it’s tropical fish, then guppies…? If it’s gyoza, then Ohsho…? Is that enough? Pardon me!
Michael Jackson
This is the KING OF POP'sMichael。
His debut song at the time, 'I Want You Back,' reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts when he was 10 years old.
Meanwhile, 10-year-old me was just watching Dragon Ball Z (lol).
For the video introduction, I'm deliberately going with this classic.
From the best-selling album in human history: “Thriller”!
Madonna
best-selling as a female artistMadonna。
It looks like we’ll still be able to see them in good health.
Elton John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTa8U0Wa0q8
Surprisingly, among people who are in bandsElton JohnI get the impression that not many people listen to it.
As a singer-songwriter, isn't it about time we made them the representative of Earth?
Led Zeppelin
Although we’re a rock band, we love all musicians, including jazz musicians.naZeppelin(Personal statistics).
Maybe it’s like a caramel Frappuccino that everyone loves—even people who prefer less sweetness (lol).
A. R. Rahman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muyKd4HD3nc
As a composer for works such as Slumdog Millionaire,The highest sales figures for an Asian person！
India is one of the world’s leading countries for cinema, so it might be good for Japanese people to learn more about it!
But I don't really know much... sorry (lol).
Nana Mouskouri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvXpgLtTwY
Greek singer Nana Mouskouri.
This, too, isn’t exactly well-known in Japan...
Tino Rossi
Even Tino Rossi doesn’t have a Japanese Wikipedia page…
There are artists who haven’t even sold 300 million records but are on Wikipedia… (lol).
He is a famous French chanson singer.
Personally, I also like chanson.
Please listen once.
Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias, who is also almost unknown among today’s young people.
「Begin The BeguineSome of you may have heard of it.
Over 200 million copies
Pink Floyd
For some reason, a high school girlPink FloydHigh probability of people wearing that T-shirt.
The smash hit “Madness” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 741 consecutive weeks,In other words, it set a Guinness record as a long-selling title by staying ranked for nearly 15 years.A historic album.
It’s an album I want you to listen to all the way through.
Cliff Richard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU6HIaF9K-0
Cliff Richard, who is also not very well-known in Japan.
After all, are media-driven hits predominant in Japan?
Maybe something like Adele these days.
Bob Marley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n24rutWUGUA
There’s probably no one who doesn’t know this!
God of reggae,Bob Marley。
Lyrics with a strong message may not exist in today’s pop music.
Alla Pugacheva
A Russian female singer.
It is said to have sold 250 million copies, and in Japan, Tokiko Kato’s “The original singer of the cover of “One Million Roses”is known as
Mariah Carey
Quite popular even in JapanMariah Carey。
I hear the concert tickets sell out immediately, but maybe the musicians themselves actually don’t listen that much?
Even from a performer’s perspective, a lot of R&B musicians are incredibly cool.
Bee Gees
The number-one artist you hear a lot at Hard Rock Cafe (just my very personal opinion, for what it’s worth).
Hard to believe this came from a scruffy trio of guys (sorry to the fans).Beautiful vocals and danceable music。
Even on Glee, at first he was dismissed as lame by the students.
But cool—today is like that.Bee Gees。
Herbert von Karajan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywvoFeHSuRA
Karajan, the only one ranked from the classical world。
Some of you might have heard the name before.
He was also Seiji Ozawa’s mentor and is a superstar in that world.
AC/DC
An Australian rock band,AC/DC。
Once again, the T-shirt rate among high school girls is high.
Commonly referred to as a “Kintaro-ame band,”A band whose songs all have that AC/DC vibe。
Personally, what really gets me is drummer Phil Rudd playing as if it were just a rehearsal—cigarette in his mouth—even in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
I got kicked out of the band for hiring a hitman to commit murder.
Celine Dion
with overwhelming vocal abilityCeline Dion。
『Beauty and the Beast” and “TitanicThey’re also well known for singing the song from “”.
I think they’re an artist who truly embodies what it means to be a singer—combining both exceptional talent and popularity.
The Rolling Stones
Unexpectedly hereThe Rolling Stones。
Approximately 200 million copies sold.
And,It placed near the top in rankings of band T-shirts worn by high school girls.！
The Velo logo is well-known.
Those Rolling Stones,An active band that has never disbanded since the 1960s and is still performing liveThat's what it is.
Vocalist Mick Jagger was born in 1943, believe it or not!
Antonio InokiHarataira, famous for scoring 3000 pointsis a classmate.
With grandpas this energetic, we might even see a 100th-birthday live show with the entire group!
Whitney Houston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USSoxPHI6Kk
Sadly, they passed away in 2012.Whitney Houston。
A signature song that is also a cover: “I will al.”
If you haven't seen the movie The Bodyguard, please make sure to watch it at least once.
It’s said that Sanma Akashiya likes Kevin Costner from “The Bodyguard” and may or may not be imitating his hairstyle.
Queen
A British rock band,Queen。
Unfortunately, Freddie Mercury, the vocalist, has already passed away, but they did perform as Queen with Adam Lambert.
The surviving members still made their presence felt with their performance at the London Olympics.
Ava
Sweden's legendary group,Ava。
「Dancing Queen」It’s a huge hit with a beautiful melody that evokes the same era as the Carpenters.
Those late-night TV commercials for hit-song compilation CDs for adults almost always include ABBA tracks—maybe even 100% of the time!
And then, an unexpected reunion in 2018!!
Amazingly, a new song has been released for the first time in 35 years!
The sequel to Mamma Mia!, packed with ABBA songs, will also be released in Japan!
In conclusion
That’s all. How was it?
Not just rock and pop—there are classical, R&B, and chanson as well, with representative artists from various countries, so I think you can listen to a pretty wide range.
If we go beyond 50 million copies, genres that didn’t appear this time—alternative rock, punk rock, jazz, Latin, hip-hop—as well as Japanese artists will also show up.
Precisely because it’s so easy to enjoy music online nowadays, try the idea that “you can pretty much understand music by listening to the top artists by total sales” when you’re stuck as a player or when you want to discover music you don’t know.
I think it will also deepen your understanding of music—its origins, the flow of the times, and its history.
I would be happier than anything if you could find music that makes your life better.
Please be sure to try listening to a variety of music and enjoy it.