[The Spirit of Japan] A special feature on Southern All Stars’ classic hits. Gemlike songs

TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu

TSUNAMI [2018 Remaster]

It’s a refreshing-sounding ballad that’s perfect for summer.

Combined with the bittersweet lyrics, it stirs something warm in my chest every time I listen.

Thanks to its easy-to-remember melody line, I bet many people picked it for impersonations, too (lol).

TUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu

TSUNAMI by Southern All Stars — Sales: 3 million copies!! Full …so is it OK? ~Full! Karaoke?~ Cover~ TSUNAMI — Southern All Stars

The lyrics are wonderfully bittersweet.

I get an image of feelings for the other person surging like waves.

Not only the lyrics, but the melody also builds slowly, like a tide coming in.

Kuwata’s husky voice, too, feels like it presses right against the heart.

Dapper LocomotionSazan Ōrusutāzu

Snazzy Locomotion / Southern Families Band / Southern Tribute Band

It’s a fairly up-tempo song with a cheerful, rock ’n’ roll vibe that lifts your spirits.

The lyrics mention many American pop artists representative of the 1950s and 1960s, and depict a couple’s story from their first meeting to marriage.

Please, DJSazan Ōrusutāzu

Please, DJ / “Southern Vintages Band,” a group that plays only old Southern (Southern All Stars) songs, at the Fuurin Southern Gathering

An early song by Southern All Stars included on their debut album, “10 Numbers Karat.” Released in April 1979, the track features a bright, catchy melody that also tapped into the disco boom of the time.

The lyrics, which depict enjoying music all through the night, convey admiration for music and DJs, as well as the dreams and hope that music brings.

The repeated phrase “Music music music all night” is especially memorable.

Precisely because it’s from an earlier era, it feels like a quintessential Southern All Stars classic that transports you straight back to 1979 just by listening.

Give it a spin when you’re in the mood for something fun and danceable.

Deceived by a guy like HiroshiSazan Ōrusutāzu

Tricked by Such a Hiroshi (Southern All Stars) cover: numa chan

A timeless classic that has continued to be loved as the eras shift from Showa to Heisei to Reiwa.

Released in July 1983, this work is captivating for Haruko Hara’s soothing vocals.

The song has a Group Sounds flavor, overflowing with an atmosphere that evokes 1980s discothèques and jukeboxes.

With a psychedelic finish, it’s a track that showcases Keisuke Kuwata’s playful side to the fullest.

It was covered in August of the same year by Mizue Takada and Juicy Fruits, and was also performed at the 34th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Highly recommended for those who want to experience the 1980s music scene and the vibe of the time.

Ebb TideSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars “Ebb Tide” cover – guitar and vocal (solo performance)

A moving masterpiece that portrays human relationships drifting away with the changing seasons.

It’s included on the album Killer Street, released in October 2005.

It was the Southern All Stars’ first original album as a five-member lineup.

Keisuke Kuwata’s gentle yet powerful vocals give voice to the sorrow of parting and the courage to take a new step forward.

The delicate timbre of the strings and the shimmer of the celesta beautifully enhance the emotionally rich lyrics.

When you can’t recover from heartbreak or find yourself at a crossroads in life, this song is sure to resonate.

Why not listen to it on a leisurely evening?

aloeSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Aloe [Official Music Video] Short ver.

A song that opens the album “Budou,” released about nine and a half years after the previous work.

The title “Aloe” doesn’t carry any particular meaning; at the demo stage it was “anyway,” and the rap-like interlude featuring food items was added on a whim—making it a characteristically Southern-style track.