Yellow Magic Orchestra Popular Song Ranking [2026]

SHADOWS ON THE GROUNDYellow Magic Orchestra29rank/position

YMO – shadows on the ground

It’s a sophisticated number that skillfully incorporates elements of mature AOR and bossa nova.

Its distinctive “trompe-l’oeil” rhythmic structure makes it hard to tell where the downbeat is at first listen, revealing a highly advanced musical design.

Co-written by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, it appears on the album “SERVICE,” released in December 1983.

The lyrics delicately depict warmth found amid the bleak scenery of November, along with the interplay of light and shadow.

As a masterpiece that captures the mature atmosphere just before YMO’s breakup, it’s perfect for listening alone on a quiet night, taking it in with full attention.

SOLID STATE SURVIVORYellow Magic Orchestra30rank/position

Solid State Survivor – YMO

A high-octane rock tune that closes out a landmark album that revolutionized the techno scene.

Featuring YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA with blistering guitar by Makoto Ayukawa, this track fuses digital beats with punk’s raw impulse to stunning effect.

Many listeners may feel a thrilling jolt from the lyrical world that portrays the loneliness and madness of humans living in a mechanized society.

Released in September 1979 as the title track of the album SOLID STATE SURVIVOR.

Perfect for boosting your mood or as a driving soundtrack.

camouflageYellow Magic Orchestra31rank/position

Camouflage – Yellow Magic Orchestra

This is a track included on YMO’s fifth single “Mass” and their fifth album “BGM.” Both releases feature the same take, and it’s a song that Haruomi Hosono called the best take on “BGM.” The low-pitched voice throughout the track has a mysteriously eerie quality, and before you know it, you find yourself replaying it over and over.

QueueYellow Magic Orchestra32rank/position

Cue – Yellow Magic Orchestra

The fourth single, released in 1981.

It’s a track with an unforgettable synth phrase and satisfyingly heavy drum sound.

The powerful vocals are another highlight.

At the time, Ryuichi Sakamoto disliked the song and didn’t take part in the recording at all…

Chaos PanicYellow Magic Orchestra33rank/position

Chaos Panic – YMO

A track included as the B-side to YMO’s signature song “Kimi ni, Mune Kyun.” With its catchy melody and sound, it’s the kind of song you’ll find yourself humming after just one listen.

Brimming with euphoria, it’s a tune you’ll want to play with the windows wide open on a sunny Sunday morning.

Computer Game “Circus Theme”Yellow Magic Orchestra34rank/position

Computer Game (Theme From The Circus) – YMO

Computer Game “Theme from The Circus,” which opens YMO’s landmark self-titled debut album released in 1978, is a celebrated track that some regard as a proto–chiptune.

Although it runs under two minutes and functions like an introduction leading into the subsequent classic Firecracker, its innovative recreation of sounds from the then-popular arcade game Circus using synthesizers has been highly praised, and it is even said to have effectively introduced the very concept of video game music to the world.

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Citizens of SilenceYellow Magic Orchestra35rank/position

Citizens Of Science – YMO

A track from their fourth album “X∞Multiplies,” released in 1980.

Overall, it has a strikingly mechanical, sharp sonic image, yet the raw, lifelike tone of the guitar that emerges within it is irresistibly appealing.

The multi-layered vocals create a curious sense of exhilaration in this song.