Top 5 Pop Artists (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–64 … My Adventures in Japan)

This is what pop music would sound like in an ideal universe.

These 5 bands / artists were all impressive in their own way.  

Chisato Moritaka 

Chisato Moritaka is a well-educated and accomplished musician who started her career as a cute pop star. She was good at pop, but proved even better and more talented at creating music that transcended the boundaries of pop.

She even did acceptable covers of both the old classic “The Locomotion” and the lesser-known Beatles’ song “Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey.”    _{(Image source)}

Shonen Knife 

Shonen Knife comprises 3 women who had been working as “office ladies.”  One day, they picked up instruments and put the band together, hoping to play one gig.

After playing that first time, they've continued playing for years. They have even toured the US, Canada, and beyond, where they have a large following and still garner critical acclaim from the underground and alternative rock circles.  

They’ve been playing together for well over 30 years now. They even have a side project called The Osaka Ramones, which performs Ramones covers.

Beats working as a Japanese office lady, I’m sure.     _{(Image source)}

Fishmans 

Fishmans also started out as a pop band, albeit one with a higher calling.

I first heard them when they released their signature EP “Long Season,” which remains one of the most entrancing and surreal albums in my collection.    

I went to a few of their concerts, and was surrounded by kids a decade or two younger than I was. That simple fact gives you an idea of how otherworldly Japan’s culture is, at least in certain respects.

And for a brief, glorious moment in time, Fishmans epitomized that culture.

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 5 Pop Songs

Top 4 Over-Sung, Over-Rated, and Over-Rotated (in Japan) '70s Pop Songs

Top 3 Enka Songs (Japanese Blues)

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)
Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}