Kim Namjoon, aka RM of BTS, once said, “Music transcends language. BTS communicates with our fans by staying true to ourselves and believing in music every day.”
Music Transcends Language.
This new series of Daybreak showcases artists from diverse cultural backgrounds who communicate through their music. Each playlist will highlight a specific language, including songs that will make you dance to songs that will make you cry. Expressing emotions that are universal through melody and rhythm is where the power of music lies!
Music can find a way to you no matter who you are or what language you speak.
Our first language spotlight goes to Japanese! Ongaku, 音楽 (おんがく), or music, originated in China as court music. Many musical forms were then adapted to meet local needs. Japanese pop, aka J-pop, began in the 1960s and gained popularity in the 1990s. Modern J-pop spread its wings to other countries, with artists like Vaundy and Fuji Kaze making their mark in the music industry. In addition, music created for anime has become a recognizable genre to represent Japan. Even K-pop idols gain traction by producing Japanese albums and promoting them in the country.
Vaundy (バウンディ)
Vaundy (バウンディ) is a twenty-two-year-old artist from Tokyo. I chose to highlight him because of his intriguing cover art and unforgettable melodies. I was instantly hooked when I first discovered “Odoriko (踊り子)” on Spotify. My friend (from Japan) and I even made a playlist of our top Vaundy tracks—a fun pastime, in my opinion. “Odoriko (踊り子),” “Mabataki,” and “Kaijuu No Hanauta (怪獣の花唄」の歌詞)” are some of my favorites from his discography. Of course, they are all different, but Vaundy’s style is recognizable and lovable.
Not only is he globally recognized for his rock/J-pop tracks, but his visual production as well. His cover art for singles and music videos shows his creative direction. His IG/Tik Tok famous song, “Odoriko (踊り子),” drew in more international fans. His recent work includes CHAINSAW BLOOD, the ending theme song for episode 1 of the highly anticipated anime Chainsaw Man.
FUjii kaze (藤井 風)
Fujii Kaze (藤井 風) began his music career at twelve by uploading covers on YouTube. With the release of his first debut album, Help Ever Hurt Never, in 2020, he rose to success.
I wanted to spotlight him because his modern style was so musically interesting that it sparked my interest. When “Shinunoga E-Wa (死ぬのがいいわ)” popped up on Spotify, it was my first time hearing a Japanese track that I had played on repeat for weeks. I enjoyed Kaze’s vocal range and stylized beats, which gave off his distinctive style. In addition, he led me to explore other Japanese artists, like Vaundy and so on.
His J-pop/R&B vibe is playful and emotional. One of the tracks on his debut album, “Shinunoga E-Wa (死ぬのがいいわ),” gained the attention of a global audience when it went viral on TikTok. Now, he is headlining tours and releasing more music. Fun fact, he’s vegetarian!
Ok one rock (ワンオクロック)
Love Rock? One Ok Rock (ワンオクロック) is an alternative rock band that formed in 2005. They are based in Tokyo, the center of the young generation. Members Taka, Tory, Ryota, and Tomoya give that teenage angst vibe, with powerful instrumentals paired with emotion-provoking vocals. The energy in their songs are brought to the stage with live performances that can be viewed on YouTube as well. As a globally recognized band, they produce albums in both Japanese and English. They have maintained great success in their home country and have held tours in the US, Europe, South America, and Australia.
This year, the band will be headlining in Japan, Canada, and cities all over the US for their newest album, Luxury Disease.
she her her hers & mei ehara
“She Her Her Hers” and “mei ehara” are two artists whose styles are soft and dreamy with hints of pop. Smooth vocals with gentle melodies and poppy bass make for a timeless beat. Feel the vibes of tracks like “Diagram X” by She Her Her Hers and 不確か (Futashika) by mei ehara.
Music can transcend language and reach the hearts of any individual who listens.
Explore our tokyo nights ◕ ˬ ◕✿ playlist:
rachel liu
As a girl in her twenty-somethings, Rachel enjoys the creative fantasies of writing and listening to music. She began her journey in the digital music space as a writer for blogs under Laura’s playlists and is continuing under Daybreak.
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