Job Discussion Forums

tanuki · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 47

Heya!

I've been doing a search on the board for music related stuff but haven't quite found what I'm looking for.

(I did find a cracker of a thread about cool Japanese songs for karaoke:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=53257&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=pop+songs&start=0

if you're interested!)

But my question is about songs that are/were big hits in Japan. Doesn't matter how old or recent, really. Obviously anything at all by The Beatles or The Carpenters is a winner.

I've also discovered things like "Stand By Me" is a big, big fave here. And things I wouldn't have expected as much like "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence, and "Honesty" by Billy Joel.

Reason I ask is that I bought me a nice old second-hand geeetar a couple of months ago and I've been trying to learn a playlist for performing in cafes and bars, or even just busking.

I've asked friends, but they've mostly offered big hits in England or Australia, NZ or the US and while these are likely to have been hits here too (dunno, maybe not), I'm particularly interested to hear from folks who KNOW that "song xyz" is a big hit here and that people always sing it at enkais or you've heard (Japanese) buskers do it, or heard bands do it live, and so on.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tanuki

P.S. I'm a guy with a vocal range and tone something in the park of Eddie Vedder, Rob Thomas, dude from Del Amitri whose name I don't know and am too lazy to Google, likewise dude from Live, etc. That is, the mostly commercial-FM-friendly rock/pop dudes... they sit easily in my range. Also belt out some Gunners occasionally Wink

But even as a list not just for me to sing, but for folks to make song-lessons around, would be cool!

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

ANYTHING by the Carpenters.... No. Seriously. And Elvis.

YouHadMeAtASL · Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 60

Do they have Led Zeppelin songs at the karaoke bars?

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

mfaulkner · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Salinas, CA

tanuki · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 47

Heya folks

Thanks for the responses.

Markle and JimDunlop are right about the Carpenters, of course. But I had no intention of singing their songs. The Carpenters and and The Beatles were just the first two bands that sprang to mind as being/having been really popular here.

mfaulkner suggests Queen. Yeah, I think so. Certainly "I was born to love you" but ain't no way I can sing that sucker! Chotto takai, ne! Laughing

Same for Led Zeppelin, mostly. Love 'em, but Plant sings/wails a little high for me.

YouHadMeAtASL's idea of checking the Japanese section of karaoke books for the English language songs listed there is a good idea and I'll be sure to do that the next time I'm at the local izakaya. I'll also ask the Masta and the Mama-san what they reckon, now that you've given me that idea. Thank you. I'll also check out that "Kiss Me" song. Don't know it by title, myself.

Markle makes an excellent point about where I'm likely to pick up gigs and the likely crowd... and thus the playlist. Hmmm... very good point. Thanks.

Any big recent(-ish) sing-a-long hits that you can think of? One of the folks I worked with suggested "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter, for example.

(I'm in the inaka so I have to say I'm totally not "with it" in regard to what's popular--unless you'd like an enka review! Wink

And the only song that kids seem to like where I am is "sora fune" by Tokio.)

Anyway, any more thoughts/ideas for bands--or even individual songs--that you think might go over well because they're well known in Japan?

Cheers,
Tanuki

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279