Yellow Magic Orchestra Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Be a SupermanYellow Magic Orchestra41rank/position

YMO – Be A Superman

It’s a classic track that expresses the modern person’s ambivalent feelings—admiring Superman-like strength yet wanting to do nothing—through a minimal beat.

Released as a single in August 1993, it was included on the album TECHNODON, which reunited the group ten years after their “disbandment.” Due to rights issues at the time, they operated under a name marked with overlapping Xs, but their production style remained intact: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi on the track with Haruomi Hosono adding bass.

Their signature playfulness is also on full display, including a sampled “gomen” (“sorry”) that came from a mistake during recording.

firecrackerYellow Magic Orchestra42rank/position

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Firecracker (1978)

The original song is a track included on Martin Denny’s album Quiet Village.

At first listen it may feel like it unfolds mechanically and matter‑of‑factly, but the subtle human fluctuations in the sound that you catch here and there make it an exceptionally pleasant piece.

Also, be sure to listen for Haruomi Hosono’s marimba.

My pockets are full of rainbows.Yellow Magic Orchestra43rank/position

Pocketful Of Rainbows (Japanese Version)

Among YMO’s tracks—which laid the foundation of Japanese techno—the one I especially recommend is “Pocket Ni Niji Ga Ippai.” As you’d expect from a group with a strong instrumental focus, this piece features many vocal parts yet keeps the vocals themselves very understated.

There are no complex vocal lines, and the range is extremely narrow, making it an exceptionally easy song to sing.

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massYellow Magic Orchestra44rank/position

[HD] MASS (ONE MORE YMO Shinjuku Koma Theater 1981 Live 2005 Remaster) - YMO

A track whose heavy, cold-blooded beat and the curious interplay of English and Russian linger in the ear.

Released in September of the same year as a single cut from the acclaimed album BGM, which came out in March 1981, it stands as a song that symbolizes the band’s decisive shift away from their earlier bright, pop image toward a darker, more experimental new wave direction.

Many fans at the time were likely bewildered by the sudden change, yet found themselves captivated by its avant-garde stance.

multipriseYellow Magic Orchestra45rank/position

Multiplies – YMO

This track makes the most of the ska sound that was becoming a movement at the time.

The opening phrase is striking.

Since it’s driven by live performance rather than programming, it’s an easy listen.

The low-key call-and-response is wonderfully humorous! Once you hear it, it’s addictive.

Chinese womanYellow Magic Orchestra46rank/position

Yellow Magic Orchestra – La femme Chinoise

A track from the B-side of the 1978 album “Yellow Magic Orchestra.” I feel the essence of techno in its sound, which is reminiscent of China yet carries a hint of Europe.

It’s one of their masterpieces, where the driving rhythm pairs perfectly with Yukihiro Takahashi’s tight vocals.

gymnasticsYellow Magic Orchestra47rank/position

YMO gymnastics

The sixth single.

A very minimal track built around the piano.

The shouts scattered throughout the song are exactly what the title says.

During the “Winter Live 1981” concert tour, Ryuichi Sakamoto even performed by giving instructions to the audience through a megaphone.

Thousand KnivesYellow Magic Orchestra48rank/position

1000 Knives – Yellow Magic Orchestra

A track from their fifth album, BGM, released in 1981.

The sharp synthesizer performance seems to express the knife-like edge suggested by the title, making it a very pleasant listen.

Yukihiro Takahashi’s tight drum sound is another highlight.

River of HopeYellow Magic Orchestra49rank/position

[HD] EXPECTING RIVERS – Rivers of Hope – YMO

A hidden late-period YMO gem that layers the motif of a “river” over dreams drifting through a starless night sky and the mingled anxiety and hope of groping through the darkness.

Yukihiro Takahashi’s romantic lyrics and melody interweave exquisitely with Ryuichi Sakamoto’s slightly off-kilter phrases, resulting in a bittersweet yet beautiful technopop track.

Included on the album Naughty Boys, released in May 1983, it also holds a key place in that it was the first song recorded for the sessions.

In September of the same year, it was released as the B-side to Kimi ni Mune Kyun (Ishin Denshin).

Shin Buyō (New Dance)Yellow Magic Orchestra50rank/position

Neue Tanz – YMO

This piece is inspired by Indonesian male-voice chorus “Kecak.” With all excess stripped away, it has a minimal sound; the loops and the Kecak aesthetic feel like they could transport listeners somewhere else, making it a track you could dance to all night.