Teenage rebellion never dies; songs capturing adolescent angst will always be a staple of youth. It’s still rare that those defiant little bops become mainstream hits, though.
The debut track from teenage singer Ado, “Usseewa” managed to do just that, and has emerged as the biggest Japanese hit of the year so far. Delivered in snarls and screams, it’s a broadside against modern corporate culture: daily commutes, soulless corporate jobs and even the rules of drinking with co-workers. This is music that was made to make your parents worry, magnified on a national scale.
“I reminisced on the times I had the same kind of anger conveyed in ‘Usseewa,’” Ado tells The Japan Times over Zoom. “I tried to think of times when I was pressured by my family and other people I know. But I also drew from the anger I have toward myself. That’s what I thought of when singing the song.”