In 2017, a Japanese song released 40 years ago suddenly gained attention on YouTube, and in an instant, many cover videos and mashup videos began to be uploaded from all over the world. That song was “Plastic Love” by TAKEUCHI Mariya released in 1984.
Lyrics & Music: TAKEUCHI Mariya, Arrangement: YAMASHITA Tatsuro
Thus, “CITY POP”, which was popular in Japan around the 1980s, began to attract the attention of music fans outside of Japan. (Like other music genres, CITY POP also has no clear definition.)
The next song that became popular after “Plastic Love” was MATSUBARA Miki's song “真夜中のドア / Stay With Me” released in 1979. In December 2020, this song ranked No.1 on Spotify's ‘Global Viral Chart’ for 18 consecutive days, and reached No.1 on Apple Music's ‘J-Pop Ranking’ in 50 countries.
Lyrics: MIURA Yoshiko, Music & Arrangement: HAYASHI Tetsuji
CITY POP continues to be highly popular among some music fans in Japan. However, Japan's leading CITY POP singers, such as YAMASHITA Tatsuro and KADOMATSU Toshiki, do not allow their songs to be distributed on music streaming services. Because of this, we have no choice but to purchase CDs and used records in order to enjoy their songs. Due to these circumstances, the number of overseas music fans visiting Japan to buy used records has increased rapidly. And the prices of especially popular used records soared.
For me, City Pop really reminds me of my youth. There are many other great songs besides the two I introduced this time, so if you'd like, please listen to the playlist I created on Spotify.
I added a paid plan to this publication in April 2024, the first anniversary of its launch. But don't worry. All articles are still available for free. If you pay me, you won't get any benefits, but I promise to use it to keep this work going.
Nice memories of long gone days—I arrived in Japan in 1982. The Tatsuro Yamashita sound will forever remind me of summer. Yamashita's music and Yuming's reigned the radio in those days.
Enjoyed this. I don’t know much about Japanese music at all.