City Pop, Japan’s 80s Nightlife Soundtrack
/Pop music has a tendency to never fully leave us. Whether it's “Africa” by Toto or “Take On Me” by a-ha, these tracks refuse to be forgotten about, eventually finding their way back into the ears of listeners. Thanks to social media, old pop music continues to resurface for a whole new generation to enjoy. Yet there is one style that has completely taken over, and that is Japanese city pop. This sub-genre is characterised by cool synths, catchy melodies and sharp instrumentation. City pop is often described as incredibly nostalgic, even by those who weren’t around during its prime. The imagery and themes used in the songs are reflections of the social ideals of the time: romance and heartbreak, excitement for the future, glamorous lifestyles and a carefree attitude.
As we saw last year, “Mayonaka no Door / Stay With Me” by Miki Matsubara is one of those songs. Originally released in 1979, it saw a resurgence in popularity 41 years later in 2020 when it began to be used on TikTok. The song features a breezy melody and wistful vocals over a syncopated bass line and lively brass. Even if you can’t understand Japanese, it’s hard to miss the melancholy tone in Matsubara’s voice as she sings about a lost love.
“Mayonaka no Door” is just one of many great city pop hits from the 80s. Here’s a few more to add to your city pop playlist.
Courtesy of Warner Music Japan
1) “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi
Another recently re-popularised tune, “Plastic Love” tells the story of a woman going through a difficult breakup who tries to forget about it by going out and partying. It has a wistful vibe similar to “Mayonaka no Door”, featuring the same low synth and light percussion layered with Takeuchi’s vocals echoing a tone of dreamlike loneliness.
Courtesy of Madison Mead on Unsplash
City pop doesn’t always have to be sad and pensive. Also sung by Mariya Takeuchi, “Shiawase no Monosashi” is a song that has a positive message and uplifting tune, with Takeuchi reminding us to appreciate what we have and that happiness looks and means different things to everyone.
3) “Merry Christmas” by Chieri Ito
Even though it’s a Christmas song, Chieri Ito’s “Merry Christmas” is still a great song to listen to any day of the year. The banging synths throughout and its constantly driving beat make it an extremely cheery tune, perfect for dancing along to.
Courtesy of Last.fm
Thanks to the internet, city pop has found a new home online and is once again being shared for its captivating melodies, rhythmical arrangements and vivid imagery. Hopefully you can appreciate the wonderful genre that is city pop and add a few new songs to your library.
Lily Scutt
Lily is a student at Algonquin College. She enjoys writing and playing video games, and she loves animals.
