Western classic songs covered by Japanese artists. Hit songs rediscovered through Japanese-language covers.
How many examples can you think of where a Western hit song became a massive success in Japan after being covered with Japanese lyrics? In fact, there are more cases than you might expect where that tune you casually hum is actually a Japanese cover of a song by an overseas artist.
While preserving the original melody’s charm, the Japanese lyrics breathe new life into the music, and many of these works continue to be loved across generations.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of especially famous covers, as well as surprising hits that make you think, “Wait, this was originally a Western song?” Enjoy tracing the roots of the songs you know!
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Western pop classics covered by Japanese artists: Rediscovering hits through Japanese-language covers (51–60)
Stop! In the Name of Loveglobe
It’s a song featured in Sister Act 2.
It reminded me of how I used to love this movie and watched it often when I was little.
It’s a nostalgic track that brought back my childhood feelings, making me think, “Back then, I was so innocent and totally absorbed in the movie.”
Hard Luck WomanNomiya Maki
You know the American rock band KISS, right? The group with the striking face makeup.
Actually, there’s a Japanese artist who covered their classic song “Hard Luck Woman.” It’s Maki Nomiya, known as the vocalist of Pizzicato Five.
The original is hard rock, but the cover has the feel of a pop song.
It’s interesting how the vibe can change so much, isn’t it? Try listening to both the original and the cover and see which one you like more.
STAND BY MEShimizu Shota
This song was released by Ben E.
King in 1961 and has been widely covered by Western artists.
Shota Shimizu did a cover of it.
For some reason, listening to this song in Japanese brings me to tears.
Shota Shimizu’s beautiful voice blends perfectly with the lyrics, and I felt it was a wonderful song.
My HEART WII GO ONItō Yuna
The theme song from the film Titanic, which depicts the love between passengers on a luxury liner that sank in the early 20th century.
With Yuna Ito’s cover, the song’s image has become more contemporary.
It’s arranged a bit more for a younger audience, but listening to it makes you want to watch Titanic with someone special.
Classic Western songs covered by Japanese artists: Hit tracks rediscovered through Japanese-language covers (61–70)
Stay With MeKuris· Haato, Ms.OOJA, Chage
This is a Japanese cover of “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith, the British singer-songwriter who swiftly became a global artist with a miraculous voice known as an “angelic singing voice.” The song is about a one-night relationship; while acknowledging that there is no love there, it conveys the longing for someone to stay by one’s side.
As part of a Japanese cover relay project, three artists—Chris Hart, Ms.OOJA, and Chage—each express the world of this song through their own vocals.
Born SlippyUVERworld
It’s really exciting to see a quintessential, era-defining techno track being covered.
UVERworld is a six-member band from Shiga Prefecture, a popular Japanese rock band that debuted in 2005.
Their cover of “Born Slippy,” the massive hit by Underworld that led the techno scene of the ’90s, brilliantly fuses their signature energetic rock with electronic elements.
The emotionally charged lyrics, vividly reflecting the struggles and joys of youth, are sure to move listeners.
This track, included on their 2014 album “0 CHOIR,” is one you should definitely experience live!
Have You Ever Seen the Rain?Kuwana Masahiro
This is a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 hit.
It’s basically a blues version of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”, and it’s wonderfully cool.
The reason it still sounds so cool even when turned into the blues is thanks to Mr.
Kuwana’s vocal prowess.