RADWIMPS' classic and popular songs
Let me introduce some songs by RADWIMPS, a rock band that represents the “Rockin’ On” scene.
Their lyrics are literary with a unique worldview, and their straightforward, catchy tunes—classic J-rock without quirks—are incredibly appealing.
The guitarist-vocalist Yojiro Noda grew up abroad, while the other members studied at music vocational schools or conservatories, making their English-language lyrics and high level of musicianship part of their charm as well.
If you were born in the early ’90s, chances are many of the songs you listened to in high school are included in this playlist.
Give it a listen and let it take you back to your youth.
RADWIMPS’s iconic and popular songs (1–10)
Grand Escape (Movie edit) feat. Toko MiuraRADWIMPS
It’s a grand and beautiful song that makes you want to soar into the sky.
Created by the rock band RADWIMPS and sung by vocalist Toko Miura, it was produced as the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s animated film “Weathering With You” and included on the album “Weathering With You,” released in July 2019.
The lyrics express a strong resolve to break free from the stifling feeling of everyday life and carve out a future together with someone precious.
From its quiet beginning to a chorus that bursts open like a release, the song grips the listener’s heart and doesn’t let go.
If you listen while gazing up at the vast sky, you’ll surely feel courage welling up inside.
Just kidding.RADWIMPS
The intro drums are incredibly cool—just kidding.
On this track, vocalist/guitarist Noda puts down the guitar and only sings, which means there’s more rap, making it a very pleasant listen.
The part where the music stops midway and a spoken line comes in is interesting, too.
BuddhaRADWIMPS
A song with a strong sense of pessimism that sings of human selfishness and arrogance: eliminating harmful creatures while protecting harmless, precious ones—are such selfish humans gods? Who do they think they are? Yet the track itself is sharply crafted, with an arresting riff and a fast, rap-like melody.
greatest common divisorRADWIMPS
Speaking of RAD, this song is probably one of their most famous.
Its atmosphere is quintessentially RAD and truly lovely.
Above all, the lyrics are what make this track great.
Using the theme of the greatest common divisor as its axis, it portrays the relationship between lovers.
It’s a song you can savor while contemplating the meaning of the lyrics.
You, Sheep, and BlueRADWIMPS
With a sound woven with Irish tones and lyrics that are modest yet sweet.
At first glance it may look like a love song, but it was used as the theme for NHK’s soccer broadcasts.
If you treat “you,” “sheep,” and “blue” as radicals and combine them all, you get the word “ultramarine.” That’s the color of the Japan national team’s uniform.
Is that okay?RADWIMPS
This is a love song that makes full use of one of RADWIMPS’ strengths: their uniquely laid-back lyrical tone.
True to the line, “If you were the side dish, I could easily have 50 bowlfuls of rice,” the music video shows many couples munching on rice packed in Tupperware.
Theory of the Mindful HeartRADWIMPS
Contrary to its upbeat, dance-inducing sound, this RADWIMPS song stands out for its deeply meaningful lyrics.
Released as part of a single in July 2006, it was also used as the ending theme for CBC Television and in a commercial for KIRIN Tanrei Green Label.
It conveys Yojiro Noda’s sentiment that “I can’t believe in God, but I can believe in my own heart,” delving deeply into self-dialogue, inner conflict, and love.
While reminiscing about a lost loved one, it explores finding one’s sense of purpose and strength to live through the continued presence of that person in one’s heart.
It’s a recommended track for those seeking a forward-looking way of life.