[Beginner’s Guide] Start with this song! Senri Oe’s iconic and popular tracks

[Beginner’s Guide] Start with this song! Senri Oe’s iconic and popular tracks

Last updated:2025/10/1

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

Senri Oe, who brought a fresh sensibility to the music scene in the 1980s as a singer-songwriter, has since expanded his activities as a jazz pianist and continues to pursue new musical challenges.

In this article, we introduce some of Senri Oe’s signature songs, which have captivated many fans with their simple, sophisticated lyrics, memorable melodic lines, and gentle vocals.

If you’re just about to explore Oe’s music, be sure to check these out.

[Beginner Edition] Start with this song! Senri Oe’s classic and popular tracks (1–10)

ShioyaŌe Senri

Shioya

ShioyaŌe Senri

The purely heartrending melody and lyrics make me feel so sad.

I once read in a music magazine that there’s actually a town called Shioya in Kobe City, and that Senri wrote the song based on its scenery.

Listening to this track, it feels like a semi-autobiographical song about when Senri dated a girl—the melody is bittersweet, and I love it.

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To each their own.Ōe Senri

To each their own.

To each their own.Ōe Senri

It’s a classic that shot Chisato’s popularity through the roof after being used in a candy commercial.

It’s a song about a girl who hasn’t even had her first kiss yet, with her heart brimming with excitement.

It gained idol-like popularity among junior high and high school students.

It’s the kind of song you somehow want to listen to when you fall in love.

I realize it’s really stayed with me.

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GLORY DAYSŌe Senri

GLORY DAYS

GLORY DAYSŌe Senri

It’s a love song, but also a pep song for life, and listening to it makes me feel positive.

The lyrics in the second verse especially capture the melancholy of the city, and they make me feel like I can try hard again starting tomorrow.

The digitally driven rhythm feels so good that I can’t stop playing it on repeat.

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STELLA’S COUGHŌe Senri

STELLA’S COUGH

STELLA'S COUGHŌe Senri

A charming pop number with a chic, stylish vibe.

The urbane sound so characteristic of Senri and the buoyant horn section feel delightful, stylishly portraying a slightly grown-up game of love.

Many listeners will likely feel a tug at the heart from the frustrating distance between two people who just can’t be honest with each other.

This gem is included on the album “OLYMPIC,” released in June 1987.

It also drew attention in 2023 when it was self-covered in a jazz piano rendition.

The original’s sparkling arrangement inspires a sense of exhilaration that makes you want to dress up and head out into the city.

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YOUŌe Senri

YOU

YOUŌe Senri

This is a song that really spotlights Chisato’s bashful voice and got the crowd fired up at live shows.

The sight of Chi-chan giving it her all, singing while playing the piano, left a strong impression.

It’s a love song, but the positive lyrics make you feel like you can work hard at both studying and love.

This was the song that helped it gain wider recognition.

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I miss youŌe Senri

I miss you

I miss youŌe Senri

It’s a love song with a simple yet powerful tone.

The melody is classic, and the song is medium tempo.

The “she” who appears in Ms.

Senri’s songs is often a hardworking and wonderful woman, isn’t she? By the way, the chorus is by Misato Watanabe.

Such a beautiful singing voice.

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I want to live with you.Ōe Senri

I want to live with you.

I want to live with you.Ōe Senri

This is the opening track of the album “AVEC.” While Senri said that this album cannot be taken apart piece by piece, if one were to choose just a single song, it would be this one.

With lyrics and a melody that evoke the heroism of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, this song teaches us the preciousness of being in love.

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