I’ve been thinking about the songs that have truly influenced my life. It’s been over 40 years since I was just a kid discovering hard rock in the late 1970s, but pop music and mellower songs have always been my favorites. Many songs have stayed in my heart, mind, and soul for decades.
I remember about 15 years ago, sitting in a café with some friends, talking about our favorite songs. We even discussed creating a chart and debating what positions our songs would hold. They had a hard time ranking theirs, but for me, it wasn’t difficult at all. However, after all these years, more songs have become part of my life for two simple reasons: new artists who surprised me with their great music and some older songs I had already listened to at that time.
But as the years go by, those older songs bring more melancholy into my life. Some of them are from the late 1990s, when I went through one of the toughest times of my life, a time when I was about to commit suicide. Because of that, those songs became part of my sadness, and for me, they were the ones that saved me during those dark moments.
Now, I just want to create a list of all those songs that have been part of my life. Some of them are available on YouTube or Spotify, in case you’d like to listen to them.try:
22. BOW WOW WOW – Mile High Club [1982]
One of the most controversial punk rock bands in history, all because of the singer Annabella Lwin, who was just 14 years old and singing sexually explicit songs. Things got complicated after the publication of the album cover featuring an underage Annabella naked. Regardless, this song is one of my favorites because of its hypnotic music and repetitive beats, along with Annabella’s passionate voice that I loved so much, even when I was young in the early 1980s. Of course, I can’t agree with the lyrical content, although it’s hard to ignore, but I still enjoy the song.
Bow Wow Wow – Mile High Club
21. ANABELLA LWIN – Nightmare [1986]
Former Bow Wow Wow singer, she made the transition from hypersexualized punk rock to pop when she was 18. She became part of my 1980s teen pop experience, alongside artists like Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, The Jets, and others.
That song has a great intro with amazing guitar riffs, and her voice starts with a charming melody. It was one of those songs I loved to play over and over. Years later, in the late 1990s, I rediscovered my old cassette tape. One night, I played it, and when that song came on, it brought a wave of melancholy.
Of course, the song is deeply dark and depressive, filled with a haunting fear that corrodes the soul—whether from real demons or those born in our minds.
[No song available somewhere]
21. DELERIUM – Wisdom [1997]
One of my favorites from the Gothic scene, this band is a side project from the industrial group Frontline Assembly. The song is a Dark Ambient masterpiece, featuring dark, ethereal soundscapes and vibes that make it stand out in the genre, especially with Kristy Thirsk’s passionate voice. It has the feeling of a sorrowful farewell, without any clear understanding of why.
This is one of the perfect songs for me to play after midnight in my room—just me, the CD, the lights off, and my eyes closed, completely immersed in the music.
Delerium – Wisdom
20. NECRONOMIDOL – Skolat Syakhl [2015]
Necronomidol is one of the more recent artists from the modern Japanese music scene, particularly known for their ‘satanic girl’ image. They deliver an intriguing blend of Dark Ambient and Atmospheric Black Metal infused with a J-Pop sensibility—a brilliant fusion, typical of Japan’s music scene, where genres like Metal with Pop or Punk Rock with Jazz often come together to create masterpieces.
Necronomidol quickly became one of my favorites, and this song is my top choice. It’s pure Dark Ambient, with soundscapes that evoke the same feelings I get from Delerium’s Wisdom. The song’s haunting, painful vibe casts a spell that seems to pull the soul into darkness, consuming it entirely.
Necronomidol – Skolat Syakl
19. HIRO – As Time Goes By [1999]
Hiroko Shimabukuro, a former member of SPEED, is what I call a ‘survivor artist’—someone I continued to admire even after I lost interest in ‘modern Japanese music’ that wasn’t from the 1980s. That said, there were still many artists I enjoyed besides SPEED, like Hiro, Eriko Imai, Takako Uehara, Every Little Thing, Ayumi Hamasaki, Ryoko Hirosue, and others.
I remember when I got Hiroko’s album. I loved the simple cover photo of her holding headphones. It was late at night when I first played the CD, and when the song As Time Goes By came on, I fell in love with it instantly. I played it repeatedly for years, and even now, I still listen to the CD at night. There’s something about that time of day that feels perfect for an album like this.
(And right now, as I write this, it’s past midnight, and I’m listening to that great song.)
Hiro – As Time Goes By
18. SPEED – Go Go Heaven ! [1997]
A perfect blend of J-Pop and Hip-Hop, this group of preteen girls was hugely popular in the late 1990s. That song was one of my favorites back then, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I added it to my list of top favorites.
It brings back memories of my difficult years and reminds me of how I managed to survive. Even though those memories are bittersweet, the song lifts my spirits with its danceable rhythm. As the lyrics say: ‘I don’t care what’s going wrong in this world, I keep dancing.’
SPEED – Go! Go! Heaven
17. PERFUME – Baby cruising Love [2008]
Back in the 2000s, I thought there were no more great songs left—that everything worthwhile had already come from the 1980s and 1990s. Then, out of nowhere, I heard that song, and it instantly captivated me.
It started with the video I watched: the glowing light bulbs, the girls’ appearance, the slow-motion scenes, and the synth-processed voices with that unforgettable tune. It all brought a wave of melancholy that I absolutely loved. I still remember playing the DVD video over and over again that day—I was completely mesmerized.
PERFUME – Baby cruising Love
16. REZ BAND – Right On Time [1989]
1989 was the year I experienced my first love—the only one I’ve ever had to this day. Around that time, Rez released that amazing song, and I thought the love I felt had come at the perfect moment. However, reality soon hit me with countless reasons why it wasn’t meant to be.
Even now, that song, like so many others, continues to haunt me after all these years.
REZ Band – Right On Time
15. MORNING MUSUME – Morning Coffee [1998]
That song became my unfulfilled wish during the dark times of the late 1990s. It tells the story of youthful excitement—standing at a loved one’s place and sharing ‘the morning coffee.’ I always wished for that moment, but it never happened.
The song’s mellow melody and passionate voices, especially Abe Natsumi’s, deeply moved me. Even after more than 25 years, I absolutely love that song.
MORNING MUSUME – Morning Coffee
14. AIRI SUZUKI – Start Again [2018]
Airi Suzuki has been my top favorite in modern Japanese pop to this day. I’ve been following her for over 20 years, and this song became my favorite the very day its music video was released. The English lyrics, full of hope after the end of a relationship, truly resonated with me.
Airi’s sweet voice has always made her so unique, ever since she was just 9 years old, and she continues to captivate me even now. This song is especially meaningful, and my favorite part is: ‘We’ll start walking again today, to the day we get back those lost feelings.’
AIRI SUZUKI – Start Again
13. 红唇族 – 陪我 (Red Lips – Give me Company) [1987]
I first discovered Red Lips in 1989, thanks to a Chinese friend who recommended them to me. I immediately fell in love with their music, but that song, in particular, touched me deeply. Even though I didn’t understand a word of Chinese, I treated the language as part of the sound. Their voices became music to me, beautifully blended with their distinct folk influences.
RED LIPS – Give Me Company
12. SPANDAU BALLET – True [1982]
One of my favorite bands from the Gothic Rock and New Romantic scenes. I’ll never forget the first time I heard them on a local music video TV show—the sax solo immediately captivated me. At the time, I was a big fan of the rising Glam Metal movement in the early 1980s, but that song stood out and made a huge impact on me.
SPANDAU BALLET – True
11. KISS – Sure Know Something [1979]
Yes, I was just an elementary school kid who loved listening to Kiss. I was fascinated by their theatrical look, their makeup, and the distorted guitar sound in the classic I Was Made For Lovin’ You. When a friend lent me their LP, I was so excited to listen to the songs.
But when Sure Know Something started playing, the bass intro immediately grabbed my attention. It sounded so different to my ears, and Paul Stanley’s passionate voice made me fall in love with the song. Even today, I still love it.
KISS – Sure Know Something
10. REZ BAND “Area 312” [1982]
I discovered that band in 1985, and they were one of my big impression at that time, because was the very first time I learned about the Contemporary Christian Music and never expected to listen Hard Rock or Heavy Metal with Christian topics. I remember when a friend gave a mixtape to me and I played it at my grandparents’ house and that song sounded… such energic voice from Wendy Kaiser, and the sax solo with wild guitars riff, including that phrase that got my whole attention: “Jesus, are you there?.. I heard you really care”. Then I got interested in the CCM besides Asian Music. That song is still part of my whole world’s favorite without any doubt.
REZ BAND – Area 312
09. MASTEDON “People Of This Time” [1990]
Here’s another song from the CCM scene, a project by members of one of my favorite bands, KANSAS, featuring the unique voice of John Elefante. I absolutely loved the sound—the heavy metal rhythm—and even the lyrics, though I disagree with some of their theological perspectives. Despite that, the composition completely blew my mind.
Now, 35 years later, I still play it as often as I can and never get tired of it. Mastedon is definitely a band worth appreciating in my collection.
MASTEDON – People Of This Time
08. AYUMI HAMASAKI “SURREAL” [2000]
That’s one of those songs that immediately captivated me the very first time I heard it. I had already fallen in love with her earlier songs, like Poker Face and Fly High, but when SURREAL was released, it was something else entirely. Just the opening notes of the music and her whispering voice left a lasting impression on me—I loved it from the very first moment.
Now, 25 years later, I still love that song.
AYUMI HAMASAKI – Surreal
07.伊能静/方文琳/裘海正 – 有我有你 Yi Neng Jing, Fang Wen Ling and Donna Chiu – I have you [1987]
The very first time I heard it was in 1989. My Chinese best friend at the time, knowing about my devotion to Akina Nakamori, wanted me to explore something different. She asked me to listen to Yi Neng Jing’s music and lent me three cassettes. As I played them, this particular song completely enchanted me. The sweetness of their voices, the beautiful melody, and the synth sounds made me feel like I was in heaven.
Even though I didn’t understand the Chinese lyrics, I treated their voices as musical notes, and that alone made the song so pleasant and captivating. To this day, it remains one of the most treasured songs in my heart.
Yi Neng Jing – I Have You
06.真鍋ちえみ – ロマンチスト Chiemi Manabe – Romantist [1982]
Yes, back in the early 1980s, during the rise of Synthpop that we Gen Xers used to listen to, artists like Cosmic Invention and Chiemi Manabe were my favorites. This particular song, like so many others that captivated me instantly, stood out because of Manabe’s sweet and tender voice and the mellow melody. It felt so different from the rest of the album, except for the song Good Bye, which has a similar vibe to Romantist.
CHIEMI MANABE – Romantist
05. XYZ – นานแล้วนะ “Been A Long Time” [1987]
This is a 1980s Teen Thai Pop band that I discovered just some 15 years ago, and it was the first one I instantly added to my favorites list. I can’t even explain how it became one of my favorite songs despite being a recent discovery. When I watched the video, it felt as if I had heard the song during my teenage years. It sounded so fresh, and suddenly, so many memories flooded my mind. Every time I listen to it, I still get that same feeling—like the song is a part of my own history. The voice and the piano are truly unique, a perfect reflection of 1980s music that everyone should experience.
XYZ – Been A Long Time
04. SUZANNE VEGA “Luka” [1986]
Another song on my list of those that captured my attention instantly was this one. It started with her music video, filled with blue-toned scenes that evoked sadness, pain, and loneliness, perfectly matched with the heartfelt lyrics. I remember the first time I watched the video—I stood there in front of that old TV in a wooden cabinet, completely mesmerized, unable to move until it ended. I found myself wanting to watch it again immediately, and the song stayed in my mind long after. I truly love that song.
SUZANNE VEGA – Luka
03.TIFFANY “Promises Made” [1986]
Tiffany was one of my biggest obsessions in Teen Pop music at the time. She was my idol, standing out even among other American and Japanese pop stars. Her song didn’t resonate with me lyrically at first, but after experiencing heartbreak in the late 1990s, it hit me deeply. It reminded me of promises made, then broken, and the lasting pain they leave behind. It’s now one of the most painful songs on the eternal playlist of my life
TIFFANY – Promises Made
02.伊能静 – 向爱情说声对不起 YI NENG JING – SAY SORRY TO LOVE [1987]
Yi Neng Jing is one of my all-time favorites in music worldwide. Her unique, childlike voice drove me crazy in the late 1980s and throughout the entire 1990s—and even now. I discovered one of her songs, and it was unlike anything I’d ever heard. It became my second favorite song of all time, holding that spot for over 30 years—and it still does today!
I’ll never forget a day in the early 1990s when I asked my Chinese girlfriend to translate the song’s lyrics. With tears in her eyes, she refused. Years later, I finally understood the meaning: the deep pain of saying sorry to a love that neither person can endure, a love they don’t want to hurt but cannot hold on to.
YI NENG JING – Say Sorry To Love
01.中森明菜 – スローモーション AKINA NAKAMORI – SLOW MOTION [1982]
The first time I heard her music was from a Taiwanese edition compilation featuring carefully selected songs from her first three albums. It included great tracks like Second Love, Shojo A, and others. I have to highlight the song 銀河伝説 (Ginga Densetsu), which was incredibly ahead of its time in terms of sound—a brilliant example of early 1980s synthpop that still sounds complex and unique today.
But when Slow Motion started playing, it completely captivated me—every nerve, every part of me, even my soul. Her voice was overflowing with passion, pain, and a deep melancholic beauty. I’ll never forget the moment the song ended. I was in my bedroom, sitting beside my cassette player, my eyes wandering aimlessly, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, this song has entered my life and will stay with me forever.’
More than 35 years later, no other song has surpassed it. Akina Nakamori remains my absolute favorite. Among all the idols in Japanese music, she is truly a goddess. She gave me a song that will stay with me until my final day.
AKINA NAKAMORI – Slow Motion
The Asian Music Experience 