Current Events > I'm just getting into "City Pop" and I need recommendations.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm a complete and utter City Pop virgin, so I'm looking for recommendations for songs/albums that are are known to almost everyone into the genre. Basically like if I asked you for a newbie heavy metal recommendation you'd recommend songs like Black Sabbath- Iron Man or Metallica- Enter Sandman.

I have Tatsur Yamashita- For You (1982) album on the way from Japan as we speak and I'm looking to pick up a few more albums right away.

Recommend away and thank you!

https://youtu.be/pqobRu9aR3M?si=ix9v-UxMHv6CUPcL

I don't know anything by name except Plastic Love, but City Pop is such a bop. I know a streamer from Japan who plays only City Pop and I never catch her on, but I know she's still doing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfxMI24HqEU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJWqHmY-g9U

Sayoria posted...

I don't know anything by name except Plastic Love, but City Pop is such a bop. I know a streamer from Japan who plays only City Pop and I never catch her on, but I knoaw she's still doing it.

That album is actually the only other album on my list currently. Mariya Takeuchi-Variety is the album Plastic Love is on. I haven't been able to find a copy for it for a decent price yet. (On vinyl) That songs great though.

Rob_the_Ninja posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfxMI24HqEU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJWqHmY-g9U

Listening now...thanks

Since we talked about it.
https://youtu.be/T_lC2O1oIew?si=0CJzgQaobfI912oK

There are a thousand citypop lofi compilations, they all have 80s anime backgrounds on loop, and they're all good.

https://youtu.be/moR4uw-NWLY?si=nSiZ-n29zlOlxqbQ

I think this counts as city pop yes?

Also, as much as I love this song, it also makes me sad because of the singer Matsubara Miki

Here's another classic for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X7ZvpwBiKA

the song in the OP kind of reminded me of Jamiroquai, but in Japanese

Touch posted...

https://youtu.be/moR4uw-NWLY?si=nSiZ-n29zlOlxqbQ

I think this counts as city pop yes?

Also, as much as I love this song, it also makes me sad because of the singer Matsubara Miki

VideoboysaysCube posted...

Here's another classic for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X7ZvpwBiKA

Thanks guys! Off to make dinner, but I'll check these out as well as whatever else posted while I'm away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIuoSa1zuoU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93pQ1v4b_T0

I like the album super moon by Furihata Ai https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nDI9p143c_AQebQZNfC7g8AnjQ0V3JmAM

Bump

mariya takeuchi's a legend of that genre, she's the plastic love girl. big fan of the song flyday chinatown too. not a massive citypop listener though

I cant remember the title of the track but the singer for the credits of Cowboy Bebop has done a lot as well, her voice is divine.

Great recommendations so far Matsubara Miki and Yasuha are the highlights out of the recent recommendations.

My buddy is really big into it and I kinda dabbled recently after going to a city pop themed event with him.

This album is a favorite of mine so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP4tTn3aTWE

TheLiarParadox posted...

My buddy is really big into it and I kinda dabbled recently after going to a city pop themed event with him.

This album is a favorite of mine so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP4tTn3aTWE

I did a quick preview of that and I'm definitely listening to the whole thing later tonight when I work out. Thanks

I wonder if there's a good book on the history of modern Japanese music (pop, rock, etc.) I just feel so out of touch with it as a whole. It would be interesting to see how their music has evolved from the 50s on. I'd love to have a better understanding of how and when certain genres and movements took place.

Not sure it counts, but I only learned about Yoshiko Sai because the algorithm pushed her with other City Pop stuff.

I can't post it here because the thumbnails are technically against the TOS. But it's on YouTube >_>

trentpac posted...

I wonder if there's a good book on the history of modern Japanese music (pop, rock, etc.) I just feel so out of touch with it as a whole. It would be interesting to see how their music has evolved from the 50s on. I'd love to have a better understanding of how and when certain genres and movements took place.

you can prob find one with stuff like that, although idk if they'd talk about the prevalence of anime songs as marketing in current j-pop or vocaloid culture or stuff like that

speaking of if you're interested in vocaloid stuff you shkuld totally check out R Sound Design, not city pop per se but really similar vibe
https://youtu.be/bUbOc97FpUA

Final bump

TheLiarParadox posted...

My buddy is really big into it and I kinda dabbled recently after going to a city pop themed event with him.

This album is a favorite of mine so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP4tTn3aTWE

I really liked this album. It's high on my to get list. Thanks

You mentioned that you were looking for recommendations that were pretty well known, and since I see you've experienced some Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi already, I think Anri's Timely!! deserves a mention:
https://youtu.be/fp2psphgAK4?si=wx2PIjmaiFb2lXnC

The whole album is a bop, but Windy Summer, I Can't Stop the Loneliness, Shyness Boy, and Remember Summer Days are my personal favorites.

And perhaps slightly less mainstream, but Cindy deserves recognition too. She was Stevie Wonder's protege and Angel Touch needs to be experienced:
https://youtu.be/W0NtiJYGSXU?si=zVEFkWws9tKZzJ7G

Track 7 "Watashitachi o shinjiteite ()" or Believing in Us, is just flat out one of my favorite songs period.

Happy Listening!

Rob_the_Ninja posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfxMI24HqEU

https://youtu.be/PU_GB6cJuZA?si=m8a4Nba4Wmmn14f5

I know the record label Light In The Attic has released a number of city pop compilations. Give them a listen, and any of the artists you enjoy can be explored further.

This was the opening song for Kimagure Orange Road and it also slaps btw

https://youtu.be/Tth7y7dI3CA

Thisguyownsyou posted...

You mentioned that you were looking for recommendations that were pretty well known, and since I see you've experienced some Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi already, I think Anri's Timely!! deserves a mention:
https://youtu.be/fp2psphgAK4?si=wx2PIjmaiFb2lXnC

The whole album is a bop, but Windy Summer, I Can't Stop the Loneliness, Shyness Boy, and Remember Summer Days are my personal favorites.

And perhaps slightly less mainstream, but Cindy deserves recognition too. She was Stevie Wonder's protege and Angel Touch needs to be experienced:
https://youtu.be/W0NtiJYGSXU?si=zVEFkWws9tKZzJ7G

Track 7 "Watashitachi o shinjiteite ()" or Believing in Us, is just flat out one of my favorite songs period.

Happy Listening!

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm really looking forward to checking out Cindy in particular, because I am a big fan of Stevie Wonder. I'll check these out as well as all the other new recommendations in this topic tomorrow.

MTRodaba2468 posted...

I know the record label Light In The Attic has released a number of city pop compilations. Give them a listen, and any of the artists you enjoy can be explored further.

That sounds like that could be really helpful for my journey into city pop. Thank you

City pop is something I never knew I needed until I got it.

I don't remember particular artists/songs (aside from plastic love) but I do have a couple of those compilations saved on my youtube music playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VGkwG5EFd4&list=PLCB901208DBA52DCB&index=129

Thisguyownsyou posted...

You mentioned that you were looking for recommendations that were pretty well known, and since I see you've experienced some Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi already, I think Anri's Timely!! deserves a mention:
https://youtu.be/fp2psphgAK4?si=wx2PIjmaiFb2lXnC

The whole album is a bop, but Windy Summer, I Can't Stop the Loneliness, Shyness Boy, and Remember Summer Days are my personal favorites.

And perhaps slightly less mainstream, but Cindy deserves recognition too. She was Stevie Wonder's protege and Angel Touch needs to be experienced:
https://youtu.be/W0NtiJYGSXU?si=zVEFkWws9tKZzJ7G

Track 7 "Watashitachi o shinjiteite ()" or Believing in Us, is just flat out one of my favorite songs period.

Happy Listening!

Those were great! Thanks.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/156a618f.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c51635bc.jpgOh look what arrived today! Listening to it right now.