The Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino has written or co-written most songs in his discography, spanning material for five studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), and 22 singles.
Hoshino made his debut as the frontman of the instrumental band Sakerock (2000–2015), playing guitar and marimba.[1][2] Hoshino released the self-produced CD-R disc Baka no Uta in 2005, containing six original tracks and a cover of Crazy Cats.[3]Baka no Uta was adapted into his first solo album under the same title, released through Speedstar Records and Daisyworld on June 16, 2010.[4] In addition to four previously released songs and two vocal covers of Sakerock, Hoshino wrote nine new tracks for the album solo and co-composed one with Haruomi Hosono.[5] Hoshino wrote all 12 tracks on his second album Episode, released September 28, 2011.[6] It was supported by his first single, "Kudaranai no Naka ni".
Moving solely to Speedstar Records, Hoshino released Stranger on May 1, 2013,[7] with 13 songs (one a hidden track).[8] The album was supported by three singles, all released throughout 2012: "Film", "Yume no Soto e", and "Shiranai". After Stranger, Hoshino released his first non-album single "Gag",[9] featuring arrangement from Seiji Kameda–it remains his only single to not be self or co-arranged. Hoshino's fourth album, Yellow Dancer, was released on December 2, 2015. The track listing of 15 songs focused on blending Western genres such as jazz, soul, and R&B, into Hoshino's J-pop style, for a result he described as "yellow music".[10] It was supported by three singles: "Why Don't You Play in Hell?", the double A-side "Crazy Crazy" / "Sakura no Mori", and "Sun". His fifth album, Pop Virus, was released on December 19, 2018, with 14 tracks.[11] It became his most commercially successful album release,[12] certified 2× Platinum[13] and listed at No. 4 on Oricon's year-end chart for 2019.[14] Three songs from Pop Virus were released as singles: "Koi", "Family Song", and "Idea".
In 2019, Hoshino released his first extended play (EP), titled Same Thing, collaborating with British indie pop band Superorganism, Japanese rapper Punpee, English musician Tom Misch, and performing one track alone.[15] As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hoshino began wanting to update his musical style. In lockdown, he found time to practice on digital audio workstations and keyboard. He released the single "Create" in 2021, which he noted was his first song to be completed with the stronger focus on keyboard.[16] In 2023, Hoshino released his second EP Lighthouse, comprising six songs he had written for the Netflix talk show of the same name.[17]
Hoshino has maintained a close relationship with Haruomi Hosono throughout his career. Hoshino covered Hosono's "Rose and Beast" in 2006, Hosono wrote "Tadaima" for Baka no Uta in 2010, and Hoshino wrote the lyrics for Hosono's "Banana Oiwake" in 2011.British indie pop band Superorganism features on "Same Thing" (2019) from the EP of the same name. Alongside three other artists, Hoshino featured on the band's "Into the Sun" (2022).Hoshino co-wrote "Nomad", a song he performed with Korean singer Zion.T for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album (2021).Hoshino has covered Crazy Cats' "Sūdara Bushi [ja]", which was co-written by future Tokyo governor Yukio Aoshima.Hoshino remixed Dua Lipa's "Good in Bed" for her remix album Club Future Nostalgia (2020).Rapper Punpee features on "Sarashi-mono" (2019), a song on Same Thing co-written by Hoshino with Punpee and his collaborator, the German producer Rascal.Hoshino covered Raymond Scott's "Lucky Strike" for Raymond Scott Songbook (2013).
American musicians Louis Cole and Sam Gendel(top and bottom, respectively) feature on the 35-second-long "Mad Hope" from the EP Lighthouse (2023).
Hoshino released a remix of his single "Comedy" with DJ Jazzy Jeff(pictured) and Kaidi Tatham in 2022.
As his alter ego character Akira Nise, Hoshino wrote for Kanjani Eight the song "Ima [ja]", which was arranged by Yoko Kanno(pictured).English producer Tom Misch features on "Ain't Nobody Know" (2019).Hoshino co-wrote "Wuhan no Onna" for Asa-Chang & Junray's 2009 album Kage no Nai Hito.
List of songs by Hoshino from albums or singles (146 total), with credited artists, songwriters, associated releases, and year
Hoshino performed the original song "Ai no Sei" as a duet with Tamio Okuda at a 2014 concert.Voice actor Mamoru Miyano sings as the parody character Mamoru Miyabi on "Real", a song by Hoshino's alter ego Akira Nise.
List of miscellaneous songs by Hoshino (28 total), with songwriters and other notes
Song
Writer(s)
Notes
Ref.
"Henshū-sha no Uta" (編集者のうた, lit.'Song of the Editors')
Hoshino composed this song and film director Suzuki Matsuo lyricized it for a 2006 press event that celebrated Matsuo's birthday.
Hoshino continued to perform this song at select events since 2006, but it remained an "illusive" track in his catalogue.
Prior to a performance of the song during a release event for Hoshino's debut single "Kudaranai no Naka ni" (2011), Fanplus Music writers estimated that it had only been heard by around thirty people.
The re-recorded version is included on In Gratitude, a compilation CD of miscellaneous songs by Hoshino bundled with the box set Gen Hoshino Singles Box: Gratitude (2020).
Since 2010, Hoshino has performed an annual birthday song for the comedian Yūki Himura on the TBS Radio program of his owarai duo Bananaman; this was the inaugural song.
This song was also performed during touring for Baka no Uta in 2010, where "Natsumi-san 24-sai no Uta" (なつみさん24才の歌, lit.'Natsumi's 24th Birthday Song') was added to the end of its title in honor of an audience member.
Birthday songs 38–47 were released on Yellow Disc: Birthday Songs for Yuki Himura — Bananaman and Gen Hoshino 2010–2019 (2020), a bonus CD included with the fourth issue of Hoshino's Yellow Magazine.
"Halfway" and "Tomato", the birthday songs in 2020 and 2021, were released as a single and B-side, respectively, and are part of Hoshino's main catalogue.
Jingle for Rhyme Master Utamaru no Week End Shuffle
Gen Hoshino (as Super Sukebe Time)
Anonymously under the nickname Super Sukebe Time (lit.'Super Pervert Time'), Hoshino submitted this jingle into a 2011 competition to be featured on the radio program Rhyme Master Utamaru no Week End Shuffle, to which it was accepted from a pool of 130 submissions.
Neither the program's staff nor host, rapper Utamaru formerly of the collective Rhymester, knew the jingle was by Hoshino until years later when Hoshino told Utamaru in private.
"Himura Yūki 45-sai Tanjōbi no Uta — Radio" (日村勇紀 45歳 誕生日の歌 — ラジオ, Himura Yūki 45-sai Tanjōbi no Uta — Rajio, lit.'Yūki Himura's 45th Birthday Song — Radio')
Gen Hoshino
This was the birthday song for Himura in 2017.
Hoshino recorded two versions of this song which are included on Yellow Disc: the on-air "O.A. Ver." and the advance-recorded "Jizen Shūroku Ver." (事前収録, lit.'advance recording').
A video documentary is included with the first editions to Pop Virus (2018), which follows Hoshino's alter character Akira Nise and his friends, Mamoru Miyabi (played by Mamoru Miyano) and Usuno Haruo (Hama Okamoto); it culminates with a performance of this original song by all three cast members.
The audio to this song is also included on In Gratitude (2020).
As Nise, Hoshino also performed this song during his 2023 Reassembly tour.
Himura's Bananaman partner, Shitara, also sings on this song.
Two versions are included on Yellow Disc: the "Junk Bananaman no Banana Moon Gold Ver."—performed on Bananaman's radio program—and the "Hoshino Gen no All Night Nippon Ver.", recorded on Hoshino's All Night Nippon show.
Part of this song's melody is reused in the promotional single "Same Thing" (2019) featuring Superorganism.
Hoshino composed this short jingle for the 55th anniversary of All Night Nippon in January 2023; comedian Wakabayashi, under his alias MC. Waka, wrote and raps the lyrics.
^Mabanua is credited with co-arrangement and Sunny Boy is credited with English translation
^Hoshino recorded a Potluck Mix version of "Dancing on the Inside", which was released as a promotional single in 2020. A third rendition, subtitled "(New Year's Eve)" (大晦日, Ōmisoka), featured at the 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and was later released on the B-side to the "Fushigi" / "Create" (2021) single.
^Hoshino's remix of "Good in Bed" was released on the unmixed version of Club Future Nostalgia and on the Japanese bonus edition of Future Nostalgia.[46][47] A mash-up with Zach Witness' remix of the same song is included on the DJ Mix of Club Future Nostalgia.[48]
^A different version of "Ichi Ni San" was recorded by Hoshino as his alter ego character Akira Nise, which is included on the In Gratitude (2020) compilation album.
^ abWhile not credited as an artist or songwriter, Hoshino performs on acoustic guitar.
^"Kazoku Nan Desu" was performed by Hoshino in all episodes of the television drama Jūichinin mo Iru! (2011). The song was available as a chaku-uta (ringtone) on the television music download service Tere Asa Sound, prior to the site's closure.
^A home recording of "Kuse no Uta" subtitled "(House Ver.)" was released on the B-side to the "Kudaranai no Naka ni" (2011) single.
^Hoshino performed and co-wrote a rap version of "Pop Virus" with MC. Waka, which was performed on the radio program All Night Nippon. It has been released via YouTube and as a bonus track on Yellow Disc: Special Radio Show — Hoshino Coffee Shop, a CD bundled with the sixth issue of Hoshino's Yellow Magazine.
^Superorganism is credited with co-production, arrangement, and English translation
^A home recorded version of "Tsugi wa Nani ni Umaremashō ka" subtitled "(House Ver.)" was released on the B-side to the "Film" (2012) single.
Citations
^"星野源" [Gen Hoshino]. Kakubarhythm. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野 源 / ばかのうた" [Gen Hoshino / Baka no Uta]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野源ソロ「ばかのうた」に細野コラボ、SAKEROCKカバー" [Gen Hoshino collaborates with Hosono and covers Sakerock on first solo album Baka no Uta]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). April 27, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野 源 / Stranger" [Gen Hoshino / Stranger]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野源「聖☆おにいさん」主題歌を2曲入りシングルで発売" [Gen Hoshino will release 2-song single featuring Saint Young Men theme song]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野源、2年7カ月ぶり新アルバム「YELLOW DANCER」リリース決定" [Gen Hoshino to release Yellow Dancer, first new album in 2 years and 7 months]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). October 14, 2015. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"星野源の合算アルバム売上TOP11作品" [Gen Hoshino's Top 11 Albums by Combined Sales] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^Hoshino, Gen (September 8, 2023). Takimoto, Daisuke (ed.). "星野源が語る"対話からの創造"と、Netflix「LIGHTHOUSE」で挑んだ新たな曲づくりのかたち" [Gen Hoshino talks about "constructing from dialogue" and his new creation style attempted on Netlix's Lighthouse]. Wired Japan (in Japanese). Interviewed by Hasegawa, Tomoko. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ abcd"くだらないの中に" [Kudaranai no Naka ni] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^"宮崎吐夢 — 宮崎吐夢記念館" [Tom Miyazaki — Miyazaki Tom Kinen-kan] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. n.d. Retrieved October 18, 2024. Click the arrow next to track 6, チン斬り寺
^"星野源「うちで踊ろう」が無料ダウンロード可能に「ご自由にお楽しみください」" [Gen Hoshino releases "Dancing on the Inside" for free download: "Enjoy it to your hearts content."]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
^ abcd"知らない" [Shiranai] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ abc"夢の外へ" [Yume no Soto e] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^Yuri Miyauchi (July 5, 2011). 宮内優里 / 読書 (feat. 星野源) [Yuri Miyauchi / Dokusho (feat. Gen Hoshino)]. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via YouTube.
^"作曲・星野源＆作詞・クドカン、NHK『みいつけた!』に新曲提供" [Gen Hoshino and Kudokan Write New Songs for NHK's Mītsuketa!]. Cinra (in Japanese). February 5, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
^ ab"ニャンでもちゅうでもうたっちゃお ~ニャンちゅうワールド放送局~" [Nyan demo Chū demo Utacchaō (Nyanchū World Hōsō-kyoku)] (in Japanese). Polystar Records. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
^Hyogo, Shinji (December 21, 2009). "編集者のうた" [Song of the Editors]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^"星野 源 新作MVと特典DVD予告編を公開！発売日には幻の曲も..." [Gen Hoshino Releases New Music Video and Trailer for New Single! Performance of Illusive Song to Feature on Release Day]. Fanplus Music (in Japanese). February 24, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^"星野源が歌う「夜のボート」、松尾スズキのR18映画「108」の主題歌に決定!" [Gen Hoshino to Sing Theme Song "Yoru no Boat" for Suzuki Matsuo's New 18-Rated Film 108]. Eiga.com (in Japanese). July 2, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^ abcdefghij"バナナマンが星野源イヤーブックで鼎談、付属CDには日村への「誕生日の歌」10年分" [Bananaman Appears for Three-Way Discussion in Gen Hoshino's Yearbook, CD to Compile Ten Years of Birthday Songs for Himura]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"星野源ソロライブ東京公演でなつみさんの誕生日を祝福" [Gen Hoshino Celebrates the Birthday of Viewer Natsumi During Tokyo Show of Solo Tour]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). July 22, 2010. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^"星野源、バナナマン日村勇紀に捧げた新曲「折り合い」リリースを予告「近いタイミングで…」" [Gen Hoshino Teases Release of Bananaman Yūki Himura Birthday Song "Halfway" for the "Near Future"] (in Japanese). Oricon. May 20, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^Ogiwara, Azuki (June 26, 2021). "星野源『不思議／創造』全曲レビュー：強力なポップソングからパーソナルな世界観まで、シングル作品としての揺るぎなさ" [Gen Hoshino's "Fushigi" / "Create" Review — A Firm Single With Strong Pop Songs and Personal Worldviews]. Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"星野源、シークレットゲストも登場した横浜アリーナ公演をレポート!" [Report of Gen Hoshino Yokohama Arena Show featuring Special Guest] (in Japanese). Oricon. December 19, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"弾き語りも豪華編成も! 星野源の横アリ「ツービート」映像化" [Gen Hoshino Reveals Video Release of Yokohama Arena 'Two Beat' Concert]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"星野源、フジ『ノンストップ!』新テーマ曲を担当「この曲聴き覚えがある?」" [Gen Hoshino Performs New Theme Song to Fuji Television's Non Stop!. If It Sounds Familiar, 'It's Just Your Imagination'] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 30, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^"星野源『オールナイトニッポン』50周年ジングルを制作 ファンクやメタル調も" [Gen Hoshino Composes Funk, Metal, and Variously Styled Jingles for 50th Anniversary of All Night Nippon] (in Japanese). Oricon. January 3, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^"【ライブレポート】星野源がな「居場所」で流した涙" [Live Report — Gen Hoshino Shares Tears of Joy in Reassembly Tour]. Barks (in Japanese). February 1, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
^"星野源、50歳になった日村勇紀にバースデーソング?「あまりに感慨深いので…」 まさかの展開に" [Hoshino's Performance of 50th Birthday Song for Yūki Himura Turns In Unexpected Direction: "It's Quite Emotional..."] (in Japanese). Oricon. May 14, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"星野源×若林正恭『ANN』コラボジングル初披露で反響相次ぐ「しびれる」【リリックあり】" [Gen Hoshino × Masayasu Wakabayashi Debut Collab Jingle to Resounding Response, Lyrics Released] (in Japanese). Oricon. January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
^"星野源、今年も日村への新曲「あります」 かっこいい曲調と歌詞のギャップで魅了" [Gen Hoshino's Reveals This Year's Birthday Song for Himura, Captivated by a Cool Melody and Lyrics] (in Japanese). Oricon. May 13, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
^"JUNK バナナマン「今年も日村の誕生日に星野源が登場！」" [Junk Bananaman: Gen Hoshino Again Appears for Himura's Birthday!] (in Japanese). TBS Radio. May 13, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
^"星野源、あの'山田一郎'が手がけたソロ曲PVを公開" [Gen Hoshino Releases Music Video to Solo Song, Directed by That "Ichirō Yamada"]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). June 11, 2010. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
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