Hit and popular songs by Kenji Sawada
Let me introduce the songs of Kenji Sawada, a male singer who represents the Showa era.
Even if you didn’t listen to them in real time, you’ve probably heard several of his songs at least once, such as “Katte ni Shiyagare” and “TOKIO.”
Kenji Sawada began his career in the 1960s, during the heyday of Group Sounds, debuting as the lead vocalist of The Tigers, a central band in the Group Sounds scene.
His nickname is “Julie,” which is said to come from the fact that he was a fan of the actress Julie Andrews.
Now, please enjoy these masterpieces that dominated the Showa-era pop scene.
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Kenji Sawada’s Famous and Popular Songs (1–10)
As time goes bysawada kenji
It was released in 1975 as Kenji Sawada’s 14th single.
Used as an insert song for the TV drama “Akuma no Yona Aitsu,” in which Sawada himself starred, it became a major hit.
With lyrics by Yū Aku, it is one of Kenji Sawada’s signature songs and has been covered by many artists, regardless of gender.
45 minutes to the backsawada kenji
This is a single by Kenji Sawada released in January 1983, which reached No.
20 on the Oricon chart.
The lyrics and composition were handled by Yosui Inoue, and a self-cover version is included on his album “LION & PELICAN,” released the following year.
From Yamato with lovesawada kenji
This was Kenji Sawada’s 24th single, released on August 1, 1978.
It served as the theme song for the hugely popular anime of the time, Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: Warriors of Love.
As of 2022, when this article is being written, I imagine many people in their 50s were captivated by this anime.
It featured an unforgettable ending in which the Yamato, battered and barely holding together after enemy attacks, makes a kamikaze run at the enemy’s super-dreadnought to save Earth.
I think I saw this film in theaters when I was in the fourth grade, and that scene still remains vividly in my memory.
Because this song plays as the Yamato self-destructs, it has become a deeply nostalgic piece for me.
Kenji Sawada’s Masterpieces and Popular Songs (11–20)
Forbidden lovesawada kenji
Released in 1972 as Kenji Sawada’s second single, this song became his first to enter the Oricon Top 10.
It won the Vocal Performance Award at the 14th Japan Record Awards and the Excellence Award at the 5th Japan Cable Awards, and it marked his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Happiness continuessawada kenji
This is a song that was chosen as the image song for the 2002 Nestlé Tsuzuku Shiawase Present campaign.
Kenji Sawada’s powerful yet gentle vocals are deeply moving.
Even after this song’s run ended, the tie-in continued with artists like The Gospellers carrying it on.
Romance of the Galaxysawada kenji
This is an insert song from the 1968 film “The Tigers: The World Is Waiting for Us.” Kaori Kumi, who played the heroine Sylvie in this movie, was thought to have landed the role through an audition and made her debut, but it was later revealed that she had actually been active in show business prior to this.
DABADA at the tavernsawada kenji
It was his 31st single, and for the first time in four releases, Yū Aku returned as lyricist.
The musical style also suggested a revival of the dandyism direction that had been absent since “Casablanca Dandy.” Because it followed such a well-practiced formula, it felt tightly cohesive, but it seems to have struggled to surpass the powerful impact of the previous two releases.