4 Cool J-POP Songs with Saxophone

In J-POP, there are various artists who have released songs featuring the saxophone.
While there aren’t many bands with saxophonists as main members, supporting musicians often play a key role during tours and recordings.

The saxophone often appears as an obbligato between vocals, or takes solos, standing out in the song and adding a stylish vibe to the overall atmosphere.

In this article, I will introduce four well-known J-POP songs where the saxophone really shines and adds a cool touch to the music.

■ Alto Saxophone’s Powerful Sound – Kenshi Yonezu "Kanden"

Released in July 2020, Kenshi Yonezu's "Kanden" features an alto saxophone in the backup band.
This song was written as the theme song for the TBS drama "MIU."

It’s an upbeat and stylish song, but with Yonezu's unique "sadness" sprinkled throughout, it gave the song a very mature atmosphere.

Since the song was made for a detective drama, Yonezu envisioned a song where wind instruments would take the forefront. The powerful tone of the saxophone is as striking as the trumpet playing the intro.
The sound is tight, sharp, and clear, similar to a trumpet.
Once the vocals come in, the interaction with the organ creates an exquisitely sang froid vibe.

■ Gen Hoshino "Hello Song" Live Version

Gen Hoshino's "Hello Song" was in his album POP VIRUS, which was released in December 2018.
Originally created as a commercial song for an AC ad, the track evokes the image of moving forward positively and brightly toward the future.

In 2020, during Hoshino’s 10th anniversary concert Gratitude, a live version of "Hello Song" featuring a solo soprano saxophone was performed.
The intro melody is played by the soprano saxophone.

I knew the song before, but I hadn’t particularly thought of it as one of my favorites—it was just another track in the album.
However, after hearing this live version with the saxophone arrangement, I completely fell in love with it. The saxophone brings a wonderful new vibe to the track, and it makes you want to naturally move your body while listening.

By the way, in the original album recording, the saxophone part is replaced by strings.
This is a common arrangement in Hoshino’s music, but it’s quite stylish to switch it to a saxophone for the live version.

The soprano saxophone that was played in the performance is one of the types of saxophones. It has a straight, narrow body, somewhat like a clarinet, with no bend in the bell.
It’s smaller in size compared to other saxophones, and it’s known for producing higher-pitched sounds.

In "Hello Song," the soprano saxophone creates a bright and poppy sound, perfectly complementing the positive mood of the track. The tone can even resemble the rounded sound of a clarinet.
The soprano saxophone is capable of producing a variety of sounds, including oboe-like tones, showcasing its wide tonal range.

■ The Power of Three Saxophones! Ringo Sheena "Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri" Live Version

This is also a live version, but Ringo Sheena's "Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri" was released as a single in August 2015.

"Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri" was the theme song for a Coca-Cola summer ad campaign in 2015 and is a duet with Tokyo Jihen’s guitarist, Ukigumo.
The two sing using a mechanical autotune voice (often referred to as the “Kerokero” voice in Japanese), while wind instruments and keyboards intertwine in the background, creating a jazzy session-like vibe.

At Ringo Sheena’s 20th anniversary live concert "(Live) Ringo Hakusho '18," three saxophones—tenor, alto, and baritone—lined up side by side in the backup band.
The three “cool” older gentlemen playing the saxophones deliver an overwhelming performance.

During quieter sections, the saxophones create a smooth, dirty sound, while in more intense moments like the chorus, the rich tones of the three saxophones amplify the song’s energy.
Though the overall mood is characteristic of Ringo Sheena’s music, the sexy tone created by the three saxophonists adds an extra layer of depth to the song.

■ The Shining Saxophone is Captivating! Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Love me, Love you"

"Love me, Love you" is the sixth single by Mrs. GREEN APPLE, released in February 2018. It later became the theme song for the drama Gozōshi Boys.

With its bright and positive vibe, the song features the tenor saxophone alongside trumpet and trombone as part of the backing band, coming in throughout the track.

The saxophone playing under the vocal melody is fantastic, but the highlight comes in the latter half of the song with the tenor solo.
The passionate, intense performance and the bright tone of the saxophone are absolutely mesmerizing, making it hard not to get lost in the music and feel a rush of emotion.

The saxophonist featured in the music video is freelance saxophonist Takeshi Nishida, who graduated from the National University of Music and has been active in various fields.
His cool presence, wearing a black tuxedo and playing the golden tenor saxophone, creates the perfect visual match.

■ Finally

I’ve gathered a variety of saxophone songs with different tonal qualities—how did you find them?
The saxophone is often associated with jazz, classical, and blues, but I hope this has shown that it can also play a prominent part in J-POP.

The songs I’ve mentioned are, to be honest, quite challenging.
However, if you’re eager to give it a try, I recommend starting with the cost-effective PLAYTECH alto saxophone as an entry-level instrument.
It’s highly regarded for its quality despite its affordable price, making it perfect for practice.

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