Songs for Sunday. Classic and popular Japanese tracks

Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓

Messenger from Sunday – THE HIGH-LOWS (Full)

I thought, “Is this a song I’ve heard somewhere before?” It turns out it was used as the ending theme for Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji in 1995, and later as a song in a HONDA commercial.

In this song, the ‘messenger’ in ‘Nichiyōbi yori no Shisha’ comes across like a Superman-like figure, and it’s said that this messenger might be Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto.

There’s a story that when the songwriter, Hitoshi Kōmoto, was struggling terribly, he was saved by Matsumoto’s comedy; however, this is only a hypothesis, and the facts are uncertain.

A Sigh-filled SundayMr.Children

Mr.Children – Sigh-filled Sunday

An intro that evokes languor—why is it a sigh-filled Sunday? When you listen, you realize it expresses the feelings of a boyfriend in a long-distance relationship.

The two are apart now so he can support her dreams; in his dreams he even loses her.

It’s a song that makes it clear the anxieties of long-distance love aren’t felt by women alone.

Sundayback number

Sunday / back number (cover)

It’s a lovely song that celebrates the simple happiness of an ordinary Sunday close to home.

The song was used as the theme for the drama “Soup Curry.” It was co-composed by Iyori Shimizu and Yuka Kawamura, but since Shimizu writes with guitar and Kawamura with piano, their usable ranges were quite different, and they apparently had to make arrangements in the difficult parts, which took considerable effort.

It’s also a great song for friends to sing at a wedding.

A Lonely SundayIshikawa Seri

Lonely Sunday ♪♪ Seri Ishikawa

This song—Inoue Yosui’s wife’s “Dance wa Umaku Odorenai,” also known as a funky kayō—showcases Seri Ishikawa’s charm to the fullest.

It’s not a breakup song, but it captures a woman’s feelings after being stood up for a Sunday date: her heart sinks no matter what she does, she’s too scared to even look in the mirror, yet everyone around her seems to be having fun—an honest portrait of a woman’s heart.

Rainy SundayKobayashi Akiko

I thought, “Another breakup song?” but it turned out to be a song about a woman living alone in the big city, in autumn, spending a slow Sunday in the rain and questioning the way she just goes with the flow in life.

No matter how old you are, this struggle might exist even if you’re not a woman or don’t live in a city.

Akiko Kobayashi’s breezy singing style is wonderful, too.

Sunday is perfect for a drive.LINDBERG

Sunday is perfect for a drive.

Would it be the best to drive along the coast with this song on? Maybe so.

It was the Sunday I’d been looking forward to, but by the time we got to the beach it was sunset rather than swimming time, and I couldn’t even wear my brand-new swimsuit.

It’s a love song between a woman with a cute, girlish heart and a very pure man, whose feelings don’t quite match the tempo of the song.

Goodbye, Sundaypōtoreitsu

Portraits: Goodbye Sunday

Debuting in 2015, they were described as coming from a rural backwater.

It’s unclear exactly where, but until their debut, although they were making music, from those around them it probably looked like they were living a NEET lifestyle.

Their still-unpolished, amateurish quality might actually be part of their charm.

The high notes feel a bit uncertain, but the song itself is refreshing.