As the season of pumpkin spice and autumn leaves is just around the corner, we have to bid farewell to summer. But that doesn’t mean we can’t throw together a playlist to celebrate the last weekend of the season! If you’re looking to spice up your end of summer playlist, City Pop is the way to go!
City Pop is loosely defined as Japanese pop music that emerged during the 1970s and 1980s. The sound is heavily based on Western 80s music with their own unique spin. Many City Pop songs have their own unique sound and vibe while providing a feeling of nostalgia. Often times, fans of the genre associate City Pop with summer or rainy days.
Here are the 10 most popular City Pop songs to add to your next summer playlist!
1. ‘plastic love’ – Mariya takeuchi
‘Plastic Love’ has become Mariya Takeuchi’s most popular track. Upon its initial release in 1984, its success was only moderate. In the late 2010s, it resurfaced and stole the hearts of many listeners. The song also received yet another revival on November 11, 2021.
The sound is reminiscent of disco with electronic beats, guitar, and occasional orchestra. This makes the song very catchy and easy to dance to. The title, ‘Plastic Love’, is another name for fake love. The singer has been in an on and off relationship with her significant other. While she cares deeply for this person, she knows that they could never have a real relationship.
2. ‘Telephone number’ – junko ohashi
‘Telephone Number’ has a peppy sound that utilizes a lot of bass, trumpets, and saxophone. These instruments give the impression of a fun love song that listeners can bob their heads to.
The lyrics are about a woman expressing her love and worry for the man she loves. She notices that he spends a lot of time alone, but she can’t work up the courage to confess her feelings. So she repeats her phone number, ‘5-6-7-0-9’, multiples times so he will remember to call her if he needs to talk.
3. ‘ride on time’ – tatsuro yamashita
Tatsuro Yamashita’s ‘Ride On Time’ was released on May 1, 1980. It was his sixth single and his first song to enter the Oricon Singles Chart. Some sources claim that this track kickstarted the City Pop genre.
The song’s sound is exactly what one would think City Pop would sound like. It utilizes the upbeat tone of 80’s-style funk with the nostalgic summer vibe that the artist was aiming for. The lyrics are about following one’s dreams, embracing love, and finding new beginnings. The lyrics paired with the track’s upbeat nature give a sense of adventure and fun for the listener.
4. ‘4:00 am’ – taeko onuki
Upon its initial release in 1978, ‘4:00 AM’ and the artists’ Mignonne album were not very popular. But the single eventually found a modern audience in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
The song starts off slow with a flute paired with synthesizers, drums, trumpets, and electric guitar. This builds up the feeling of loneliness that is prominent throughout the track. The lyrics are about the singer debating over whether or not she should meet up with the person she likes. The title, ‘4:00 AM’ could indicate the time that they were supposed to meet or that the narrator has been awake with these thoughts since 4 AM. She begs god to give her one more chance with the one she loves, but also fears that they will not feel the same way.
5. ‘fly-day chinatown’ – yasuha
‘Fly-day Chinatown’ is based on the artist’s trip to California. Given the title, she was likely exploring Chinatown.
The lyrics lay out everything that she experienced and witnessed during her time there. The locals interact with her in different ways, she sees lots of neon lights, and she buys new clothes. The song utilizes a lot of drums, piano, guitar, and bass with a fast-paced tempo. This gives a vibe of excitement and wonderment, as if the listener is exploring everything with the narrator for the first time.
6. ‘remember summer days’ – anri
‘Remember Summer Days’ is the definition of a nostalgic romantic summer song. It is the final track of Anri’s TIMELY!! album. The narrator reflects on a passionate romance from the previous summer. She desperately tries to relive it, but finds that the person she loves has disappeared without a trace.
The tempo is steady with a perfect blend of drums, synthesizers, bass, and guitar. The bridge includes a saxophone solo to complete this nostalgic masterpiece.
7. ‘stay with me’ – miki matsubara
‘Stay With Me’ is Miki Matsubara’s most beloved track. It also holds the most sentiment, since she passed away from uterine cancer in 2004. Miki was someone who adored her fans and her music. In. an interview, she expressed that she wished to be remembered for her work and for the joy that it brought to people.
The song is about the narrator begging her lover to stay with her. She reminisces about all of the good times that brought her warmth and joy. Many listeners relate this song to the artist’s untimely death because they wish she could have stayed with them longer.
8. ‘midnight pretenders’ – tomoko aran
‘Midnight Pretenders’ was fairly popular when it was released in 1983. In 2022, the song experienced a revival when Canadian singer-songwriter, The Weeknd, sampled the melody and beat for his single, ‘Out Of Time’. This resulted in listeners finding the original track by Tomoko Aran.
This is a slower song that has a sense of longing and melancholy. It utilizes a slow and steady electronic beat paired with synthesizers, bass, guitar, and flute. The narrator sings about a love that she desperately wants, but finds it difficult to obtain. The lyrics depict two people who are in love, but the relationship is very fragile and unpredictable.
9. ‘oh no, oh yes’ – akina nakamori
‘Oh No, Oh Yes’ is the perfect song to slow dance to. It has a steady catchy beat with a unique melody and hauntingly beautiful vocals with an added echo. The song was so popular at the time that Mariya Takeuchi did her own cover in 1987, just one year after Akina Nakamori’s release. You can listen to the cover track here.
The lyrics describe the complexities of a love affair. The narrator gets a rush from the person she is secretly meeting up with. But she knows it is wrong and constantly battles between the passion she feels for the affair and doing what is right by pulling away from it.
10. ‘off shore’ – toshiki kadomatsu
Right off the bat, ‘Offshore’ gives the impression of a light and fun summer 70s song. The melody is heavy with background bass. But it is complemented with a catchy beat, trumpets, steel drums, and background vocals.
The translated lyrics are about the narrator admiring a beautiful woman as she is having fun on the beach. She’s running in the sand and surfing while the setting only accentuates her beauty. This is a great track to dance to and can put just about any listener in a good mood.
Here ar Mic Drop Music, we want to know your thoughts! Are you a fan of City Pop? Are there any songs you would have liked to see on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
