Hit and popular songs by Kenji Sawada

St-r-i-p-p-e-rsawada kenji

stripper

The 34th single.

Contrary to its shocking title, the song itself is a classic “Julie” style.

The outfit is flamboyant in a way typical of Julie, but on the other hand, the conventional displays of “masculinity”—embodying innocence, bravado, and stoic endurance—are fading into the background.

Winner of the Gold Prize at the 23rd Japan Record Awards.

Reminiscencesawada kenji

[Chinese translation of lyrics] Kenji Sawada – Reminiscence (1974) Kenji Sawada “Nina”

The tenth single and the second song to reach No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

It can be said to be the first work in which the world of classic foreign films—later often used as a motif—appeared, and it also became a catalyst for turning their gaze overseas.

Winner of the 16th Japan Record Award.

An incorrigible good-for-nothing you just can’t hatesawada kenji

Kenji Sawada - The Good-for-Nothing I Can't Bring Myself to Hate

21st single.

Since the previous release, “MEMORIES,” was a work with English lyrics aimed at overseas markets, this is effectively the successor to “Katteni Shiyagare,” and it further pursued the Julie-world—its music, costumes, and choreography—that drew great acclaim with that song.

In fact, it was a piece Katsuo Ōno had prepared as an alternative to “Katteni Shiyagare.” While it undeniably feels derivative, it still managed to become a respectable hit.

TOKIOsawada kenji

Their 29th single.

It was the first composition by Kunihiko Kase in four years since the 16th single “Wink de Sayonara,” and the lyrics by Shigesato Itoi—who was then a wildly popular copywriter—left a striking impression.

Matching the power of the song, the flamboyant costumes featuring illuminated, military-style outfits and a massive parachute on the back became a hot topic.

It’s a song that has often been covered, notably becoming a hit later as “O-Edo” by Kabuki Rocks.

With this track, the Inoue Takayuki Band, which had long served as the backing band, disbanded.

The Sixth De-pre-ss-ionsawada kenji

The Sixth De-pre-ss-ion

37th single.

In recent releases, the songs have tended to emphasize a rock band feel over performance, and this work is part of that series.

It became only the third in history to achieve 30 songs in the Oricon weekly Top 10.

In addition, its total sales surpassed Momoe Yamaguchi—who had retired two years earlier—to take the number one spot, a position it maintained for the following nine years.

Long Good-byesawada kenji

Kenji Sawada “Long Good-by” & lyrics (in the description)

A message song sent to drummer Minoru Hitomi, with whom contact had been lost since The Tigers disbanded on January 24, 1971.

In 2008, after Sawada performed it on NHK’s “SONGS” to mark his 60th birthday, Hitomi returned three years later and The Tigers reunited.

The lyrics are a continuous appeal to Hitomi, interwoven with real events, and there’s an anecdote that Hitomi, having heard about the program by word of mouth, was so moved that he began to consider returning.

Beautiful personsawada kenji

Reijin (Kenji Sawada) covered by MarryBorns

The 35th single, released in 1982.

Julie composed the music himself, with lyrics by Yū Aku.

The cover art features a design that blends Taisho-era romanticism with pop culture, reminiscent of artists like Tadanori Yokoo and Suehiro Maruo.

It was a smash hit, selling 200,000 copies.