Classic, old-school rock sound! What are The Birthday’s popular songs?
The Birthday is a four-piece rock band formed around Yusuke Chiba, formerly of THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT.
Their old-school rock sound, rooted in garage and blues rock, electrified rock fans across generations.
Although their activities came to an end following the passing of Yusuke Chiba in 2023, their rock spirit continues to be shared by many musicians and listeners.
Here, we present a ranking of The Birthday’s most popular songs—hope you enjoy some good old rock music.
Good old rock sound! The Birthday’s most popular songs (1–10)
LOVE ROCKETSThe Birthday1rank/position
This track captivates with its sharply cutting guitars and bouncy rhythm.
Created by The Birthday, led by Yusuke Chiba, the song condenses the primal energy and driving force of rock ’n’ roll and sings of passionate love.
It was chosen as the opening theme for the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, which premiered in December 2022 to great acclaim, and was included on the EP Tsukiyo no Zankyo ep., released the same month.
It also drew attention when Shohei Ohtani used it as his walk-up song in March 2023, hinting at his personal connection to a work he loves.
If you want to heighten your focus before heading into a high-stakes moment or just let your feelings explode, this is a must-listen.
I want to hug you.The Birthday2rank/position
The Birthday is a rock band that has been active for many years, and their resurgence since the 2020s has been remarkable.
Among their songs, one I especially recommend for men with lower voices is “Dakishimetai” (“I Want to Hold You”).
This track doesn’t just lean heavily on low tones; it also emphasizes a raw, rough edge.
That’s why it’s an excellent choice for people with deep, raspy voices to really showcase their strengths.
Give it a try at a karaoke after-party.
S.P.LThe Birthday3rank/position
The Birthday’s song is a work that fuses the intensity of rock with poetic lyrics.
This piece depicts the power of love, with striking imagery like pink-colored love and the beauty of the world.
It was released in April 2024 as part of the EP “April,” followed by a vinyl edition in July.
The band has also provided music across a wide range of media, including the opening theme for the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.
With its exhilarating pace and energetic lyrics, it’s a perfect BGM choice for a tug-of-war at a school sports day.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to stoke their fighting spirit.
Goodbye, Ultimate WeaponThe Birthday4rank/position
This is a maxi single by The Birthday released in 2012.
It’s an upbeat, refreshing track popular with fans, and it’s also included on their best-of compilation.
Unusually for The Birthday, the lyrics carry a strong message that real, flesh-and-blood human beings are the strongest.
For some reason, todayThe Birthday5rank/position
We tend to think being alone is lonely, but looking at it another way, it also means being free and unrestrained.
The Birthday’s “Naze ka Kyou wa” (“For Some Reason, Today”) captures the refreshing feeling of being by yourself.
It’s like a song for wandering around the city on a day with no plans.
Spending fun times talking with someone is great, but the warped yet captivating world depicted in this song—where fantasy, delusion, ideals, and reality all mix together—might be something you can only see from your own point of view.
sky blueThe Birthday6rank/position
The Birthday is a rock band formed primarily by Yusuke Chiba and Akinobu Imai, members of ROSSO, one of Japan’s leading garage rock and blues rock bands.
Since the 2020s, they’ve been dropping hit songs here and there and have been winning support from younger listeners.
While many recent bands play rock that’s hardly different from J-pop, they sing real rock.
That might make their songs seem difficult, but that’s only if you try to emulate Yusuke Chiba’s vocals.
Even if you can’t reproduce that voice, as long as you bring the vibes, anyone can sing their songs to a decent degree.
Definitely give it a try.
SunflowerThe Birthday7rank/position
This work opens with a scene of a sunflower—symbolic of summer’s end—snapping.
It’s a track where The Birthday’s characteristically energetic rock sound fuses with Yusuke Chiba’s poetic lyrics.
The phrase “I want to know more about the world and the future” conveys a strong spirit of inquiry and hope.
The song is included on the single “Himawari/Music Box,” released in November 2020, and commemorates the band’s 15th anniversary.
Written during the pandemic, when live performances were restricted, it carries a powerful resolve to look toward the future even in darkness.
When the summer heat feels overwhelming, this song might just give you the boost you need.
Original songThe Birthday8rank/position
In the McDonald’s QUARTER POUNDER commercial, two Namie Amuros signal the start of a fight with a headbutt and proceed to battle it out Street Fighter–style.
The rock sound that perfectly matches the combat scene in this ad is The Birthday’s “CATS NEVER EAT BEEF.” The track is included on the album WATCH YOUR BLINDSIDE, but the version on the album is a live recording; the original studio version exists only in the commercial.
The scorching sound, which adds even more fuel to the fierce clash between the two Namie Amuros, is seriously cool!
I’m Just A DogThe Birthday9rank/position
“I’M JUST A DOG” is a track included on The Birthday’s album of the same name, released in 2011.
With crisp, exhilarating sound and a thrilling sense of speed that feels like you’re racing forward, it’s a cool rock number.
Kogarashi No. 6The Birthday10rank/position
A song by The Birthday that uses the wintry, biting cold wind that signals the arrival of winter as its theme, depicting what’s been lost and a nostalgia for the past.
It was released in March 2017 as the B-side to the single “Dakishimetai.” Blending Yusuke Chiba’s distinctive lyrical world with the band’s signature garage rock sound, the track beautifully captures the loneliness and desolation of late autumn into early winter.
A music video was also released, drawing attention as a work that combines footage from past live performances.
It’s the perfect song to listen to on a chilly November night while gazing out the window.