Hit and popular songs by The Checkers
Let me introduce some songs by The Checkers, a pop band that represented the 80s and 90s.
They’re also well-known for having Fumiya Fujii, who is now active as a solo musician, as their lead vocalist.
Dressed in matching check-patterned outfits and blessed with good looks, they enjoyed idol-level popularity.
However, the origin of their band name didn’t come from the check pattern.
It’s said they chose it because many bands active overseas at the time had names that started with C and ended with S, and the check-patterned outfits were added afterward.
Fumiya Fujii’s vocals are refreshing and wonderful, and the saxophone played by his younger brother, Naoyuki Fujii, is also striking, adding a distinctive accent to their songs.
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The Checkers’ classic and popular songs (41–50)
HE ME TWO (The Forbidden Two)Chekkāzu
This B-side track is one where Tsuruhisa takes the lead vocals, which is unusual.
As expected, when the vocalist changes, it ends up sounding like a different band.
You might think the lyrics are just a normal love song, but apparently it’s actually a song about a gay relationship.
Our Rockabilly NightChekkāzu
The title says rockabilly, but the overall vibe isn’t all that rockabilly.
Sure, it has that bouncy rhythm typical of rockabilly, but the vocal melody and lyrics have a subtle 1970s kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) feel.
It’s like rockabilly and oldies tastefully blended with kayōkyoku.
Sad and JealousChekkāzu
This song is also one of the indispensable, quintessential tracks from The Checkers’ early days.
The minor-key melody unique to kayōkyoku and the plaintive, lamenting lyrics really got stuck in my head back then.
The sax in the intro is simple, yet it exudes remarkable taste.
Weekend AdventureChekkāzu
This is another early Checkers number that was released as a B-side, and it’s got really good taste.
As expected, Naoyuki’s sax is an indispensable sound in Checkers songs.
The lyrics, taken as a whole, are fairly commonplace, but when you listen to certain lines, the unique word choices make you grin without thinking.
Dangerous Love MotionChekkāzu
Back then, it wasn’t released as a single—it was just a B-side track—but it’s a masterpiece.
Among the Checkers’ numbers, it leans pretty heavily toward rock ’n’ roll, maybe even reminiscent of the Hakata Mentai beat.
The snappy eight-beat, the pulsing bass, and the wailing sax are irresistible for rock lovers.
Welcome to the crazy paradiseChekkāzu
For me personally, this is a Checkers song I didn’t know until recently.
I happened to find it on YouTube, and the impact of the title caught my attention, so I gave it a listen.
It has a cute, straightforward melody without any odd quirks, and it feels good to listen to.
The lyrics also bring out just the right amount of cuteness.
The Tale of the GooseChekkāzu
Although this song was included as a B-side, its charming lyrics and melody became a talking point, and it even gained fame after being featured on the children’s program Hirake! Ponkikki.
There’s always the risk that a song like this could fall flat if performed clumsily by an idol group, but I’m impressed by how The Checkers pulled it off so effortlessly and without any trace of awkwardness, showing their remarkable versatility.