What is City Pop?
According to Wikipedia, City Pop is “a loosely defined Japanese pop music that emerged in the late 1970s and peaked in popularity during the 1980s”. At first glance, it may be hard to imagine what City Pop actually sounds like. Though, due to its growing popularity, some of you may already be familiar with it. Think funk, disco, R&B, fusion jazz, and soft rock blended into one. That’s City Pop. Listening to it immediately transports you to late-night strolls in the city and long summer drives along the coast, conveying a retro feeling and nostalgia that transcends time.
As mentioned earlier, City Pop’s “growing popularity” has been driven by social media such as TikTok where it went viral after gaining attention on YouTube, and through sampled music. This resurgence, combined with widely accessible streaming platforms, has helped bring Japanese City Pop to audiences worldwide. One example is The Weeknd’s Out of Time which samples Tomoko Aran’s Midnight Pretenders. Another is Miki Matsubara’s Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me). This song went viral on TikTok, featuring in 200,000 videos on the app by 2021, and topped the Spotify Viral Charts. Similarly, a video featuring Mariya Takeuchi’s Plastic Love gained over 55 million views on YouTube.
City Pop Tracks for Your Playlist:
Now that you know a bit more about the City Pop genre, I’d like to share some of my favorite must-listen tracks I think you’ll enjoy. Although they may not be as globally recognized compared to Plastic Love or Ride on Time, these are my picks that I think deserve more love and attention.
中央フリーウェイ / Chuo Freeway – Yumi Arai* (1976)
The first track is Chuo Freeway by Yumi Arai, who is now known as Yumi Matsutoya. This track featured on her album The 14th Moon. Chuo Freeway directly translates to “Central Freeway” and refers to a real freeway that runs through Tokyo. The song beautifully illustrates a couple along the highway late at night, just driving and enjoying the moment together. Using headphones for this song will help you fully immerse yourself in the layered instrumentals. It’s amazing how she turns an ordinary car ride into such an immersive piece of music. Heavier on jazz compared to most City Pop tracks, the addition of soft rock influences gives it a smooth and timeless sound.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0zqwz1o4l4ltQUxgjyU4oa?si=a2fd9f0b11b54b21
君は天然色 / Kimi wa Tennenshoku – Eiichi Ohtaki (1981)
This next track is Kimi wa Tennenshoku by Eiichi Ohtaki, from his album A Long Vacation. The title directly translates to “You Are a Natural Color” and is a vibrant and refreshing song. However, despite its upbeat sound, the lyrics convey a deep sense of loss. The lyricist of this song, Takashi Matsumoto, is one of my favorite lyricists of all time. He wrote this song for his sister who passed away shortly before its release and expresses how his life feels colorless without her. Despite its message, the overall song remains colorful and poetic, especially in one of my favorite lines: “On a dinghy gliding across the bay, your pinky waving goodbye leaves a rainbow illusion, color the sky for me”. This song, a beautiful blend of love and loss, is perfectly fused into the City Pop sound. If you loved this track, I would highly recommend Canaria Shoto Nite (At the Canary Islands) from the same album.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0LyR8MZT3A2tp58dgHeNhB?si=8b13a871640043d3
ルビーの指輪 / Ruby no Yubiwa – Akira Terao (1981)
This final track, and my favorite of the three, is Ruby no Yubiwa, or “Ruby Ring” by Akira Terao. The moment the guitar kicks in, you’re instantly pulled into a unique and enchanting atmosphere. Unlike typical upbeat City Pop tracks, this also has more of a jazzy tone with a smooth baseline. Terao’s deep voice blends incredibly well with the funky, contemporary arrangement. The song is about lost love, symbolized by the ruby ring. Written by Takashi Matsumoto, this piece is also very easy to visualize. With just a few words, he paints a vivid picture. Despite its amazing storytelling, you could enjoy listening to the background music alone. It’s so beautifully layered that the instrumentals alone would feel complete.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0d44Njo4glyy97W6AvvMLT?si=f33bdab844244800
City Pop would make you feel the nostalgia you probably didn’t know existed. Its unique blend of both Western and Japanese styles continues to connect people across the world. From the jazzy feel of Chuo Freeway, the vibrant sound of Kimi wa Tennenshoku, to the smoky ambiance of Ruby no Yubiwa, City Pop proves its timeless brilliance. Whether you are new to the genre or have some favorites already, there will always be something fresh to add to your playlist.
*currently known as Yumi Matsutoya
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