J-POP Love Songs You'll Want to Hear in Jazz Style: A Selection of Timeless Classics

1. The "Freshness" of New Songs and Songs Passed Down Through Generations

I put a lot of thought into the song selection for this work.

Many new hit songs generate a lot of buzz right after their release, but after a year or two, they can feel like "last year's hit" or "a bit old," and some gradually fade from memory.

However, songs that are still listened to 10 or 20 years later often possess an enduring charm that transcends time, with some being cherished across generations, from parents to children and beyond.

For the song selection in this work, "J-POP Love Songs to Listen to in Jazz," I focused on songs that possess such timeless appeal, covering famous and popular songs from a wide range of eras, including the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

For example, many songs by artists like DREAMS COME TRUE (Dorikamu), Tatsuro Yamashita, and Mariya Takeuchi are loved across generations and are still sung at karaoke today.

Even younger generations who didn't hear these songs in real-time when they were released often have opportunities to encounter these masterpieces through TV, social media, and covers by young artists, and as a result, they don't feel "old."

2. The History of J-POP and Standard Numbers – From Kayokyoku to J-POP

Japanese music evolved from kayokyoku, coexisting with Western music influences that led to the folk movement from the 1960s and the new music movement from the 1970s. It then incorporated Western elements while developing into J-POP with its own unique Japanese sound. Throughout this history, countless masterpieces have been born and passed down through generations.

"Standard numbers" are songs that remain in the hearts of many people, unaffected by era or trends, and gradually permeate new generations through various means, eventually earning that title organically.

For this work, we consciously selected songs that are already considered "standard numbers" and those that have the potential to become "standard numbers" that will continue to be listened to in the future. We aimed to maximize the universal appeal of the songs so that the entire work can be passed down through time.

3. The Focus of Jazz Arrangement – Valuing the Song's Melody

For this work, Moonlight Jazz Blue and JAZZ PARADISE participated in the recording, resulting in a luxurious album where you can enjoy performances by different pianists.

While one of the charms of jazz is the freedom for performers to express their unique individuality, in the arrangements for this work, we placed importance on "not over-deconstructing" the songs.

When creating new jazz versions with such production concepts, we, as the directors, sometimes clearly communicate the overall vision of the album to the artists performing, encouraging them to approach the recording in a way that better unifies the entire work.

While respecting the improvisational nature unique to jazz and the individuality of the artists, we have carefully balanced the arrangements to ensure that the original song's charm, especially the chorus and A-melody, remains firmly in the listener's ear, avoiding a situation where one wouldn't recognize the song "the moment it starts."

This approach is based on the belief that preserving the essential melodies of the songs is crucial, allowing listeners to easily enjoy them, much like background music in a cafe, while connecting with the image of the original song in their memory.

I hope that listeners who enjoy these efforts in this work will cultivate songs loved across generations into "standard numbers." I would be delighted if such a wonderful cycle of music emerges from this work.

Masterpieces that transcend time, with the sound of jazz.

J-POP masterpieces loved across generations have been reborn with new arrangements.
Please enjoy a special musical experience that never fades, no matter the era.

『JAZZで聴きたい J-POPラブソング』

 Product page is here 

◆Artist
Moonlight Jazz Blue & JAZZ PARADISE

◆Tracklist
#. Song Title / Original Artist

01. Sayonara Mata Itsuka! / Kenshi Yonezu
02. Hana / Fujii Kaze
03. Ai ni Iku no ni / Aimyon
04. Ikuoku Kounen / Omoinotake
05. Jun'ai Rhapsody / Mariya Takeuchi
06. Subtitle / Official Hige Dandism
07. Boku no Koto / Mrs. GREEN APPLE
08. Zutto Issho Sa / Tatsuro Yamashita
09. First Love / Hikaru Utada
10. Love Story wa Totsuzen ni / Kazumasa Oda
11. Saboten no Hana / TULIP Kazuo Zaitsu
12. LOVE LOVE LOVE / DREAMS COME TRUE
13. 366 Nichi / HY
14. Sign / Mr.Children
15. I LOVE YOU / Yutaka Ozaki
16. Kimi ga Iru Dake de / Kome Kome CLUB
17. 1 2 3 ~Koi ga Hajimaru~ / Ikimonogakari
18. Mikazuki / Ayaka
19. Hitomi o Tojite / Ken Hirai

◆Product Number: QOCD-1792
◆Price: ¥1,980 (tax in.)

■The latest in the popular series covers classic and new J-POP love songs on piano.

■We've gathered familiar songs, from drama and movie theme songs to commercial jingles!

From J-POP love songs, both old and new, that took the world by storm, we deliver songs perfect for autumn and early winter, primarily arranged in cafe-jazz style on piano, adding color to your relaxing moments.

Featuring generational hits from legendary artists, plus trending artists of today!

*This work is an instrumental piece featuring piano, with no vocals.