Songs with satisfying key changes: classic J-POP and Japanese tracks where the mood and impression shift naturally
There’s a technique called “modulation” that’s used when you want to dramatically change a song’s scene or mood partway through.
If we were to explain modulation in depth, it would be enough to fill an entire music theory book, so I’ll skip the details here.
The most common pattern is raising the key for the final chorus to heighten the excitement.
There are also songs that, for example, modulate only in the pre-chorus to catch the listener off guard, as well as songs that skillfully modulate repeatedly while still sounding natural, using subtle modulation techniques.
This time, I’ve picked out a few songs where the modulations feel particularly pleasing or are especially well crafted.
If this article sparks your interest in modulation, please explore further by searching online.
Understanding how songs are put together will surely open up a whole new way to enjoy music!
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Songs with satisfying key changes: Classic J-POP and Japanese hits where the mood and impression shift naturally (21–30)
Crackers on the back of my mindzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
This is the second digital single by the Japanese music unit Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni.
(hereafter Zutomayo), released in October 2018.
The key change in this song is that only the chorus goes up by a whole tone (Cm → Dm).
While it’s a rather forceful modulation, Zutomayo’s charming and stylish arrangement ties it all together beautifully.
The seamless scene change that startles the listener without feeling out of place is nothing short of masterful.
Cry BabyOfisharu Higedan Dism
Official HIGE DANDism, the monster band that boasts overwhelming buzz, released this hit song in 2021.
It also gained popularity as the theme song for the TV anime Tokyo Revengers.
They’re known for frequent key changes across many of their songs, but this track is especially notable for its intense modulations.
The key shifts in the verse, the pre-chorus, the chorus—everywhere—more than ten times in total! Many listeners were likely shocked on their first listen.
The dramatic ups and downs feel like a roller coaster, mirroring the image of stumbling yet pushing forward again and again.
The powerful cries delivered while riding the ebb and flow of the rhythm stir a fighting spirit within.
Nameless PoemMr.Children
This is Mr.Children’s (hereafter, Mr.
Chil) 10th single, released in February 1996.
This song also lets you enjoy some pretty intriguing key changes.
After the guitar-solo interlude, there’s a rapid-fire phrase, then the B melody is sung an octave higher to build excitement, and after that it modulates.
What’s more, the opening phrase of the chorus is repeated twice, further amplifying the lift toward the ending.
This is exactly the kind of touch you’d expect from hitmakers like Mr.
Children—an absolutely brilliant technique.
And the fact that none of it feels forced is just remarkable.
It’s a track where you can really savor the delights of modulation.
instinctShiina Ringo
I bet a lot of people first fell in love with her through this song—one of singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena’s signature tracks, “Honnō.” Released in 1999 as her fourth single, it became a huge hit.
The impactful music video, where Sheena in a nurse’s outfit smashes glass, was also the talk of the town at the time.
In the final chorus, the key changes as her voice surges upward.
It’s an incredibly cool track even today, blending power and sophisticated allure to perfection.
Rain and CappuccinoYorushika
Included on Yorushika’s second full album, Elma, which was released on August 28, 2019, the song “Ame to Cappuccino” was made available earlier as a digital pre-release.
Yorushika is known for their stylish sound, and this track, too, feels brimming with sophistication just by listening to it.
A major factor in that impression is the chord arrangement, which skillfully employs key changes.
While I won’t go into the technical details of the chord arrangement here, this song uses a slightly unusual modulation technique that gives it a distinctive atmosphere.
Another hallmark of the track is its highly effective use of dissonance.
SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism
Official HIGE DANDism has been releasing hit songs one after another.
The piece they wrote specifically as the theme song for the drama “silent” is “Subtitle.” It’s a mid-tempo ballad that sings about affection that doesn’t easily get through to the other person, and the wish that it could be displayed and conveyed like subtitles.
The modulations are particularly striking, placed at each point where the song swells.
In particular, the section near the end where the tempo slows uses modulation to further emphasize the song’s message.
As I love you selfishly, I won’t hurt anyone but you.B’z
B’z, one of Japan’s premier rock duos, still enjoys incredible popularity and maintains solid support even among younger generations.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend for its satisfying key changes is “Ai no mama ni Wagama ma ni Boku wa Kimi dake wo Kizutsukenai.” Rather than full-on modulation, this track leans more toward temporary modulation through borrowed chords, which makes it sound far more natural than a typical key change.
The song is also superbly crafted overall, so be sure to give it a listen.
