C-POP Classics and Popular Songs: Recommended Tracks and Hit Songs from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
In this article, we’ll introduce many classic C-pop songs that have been growing in popularity year by year!
C-pop is widely loved.
As an umbrella term for music from the Chinese-speaking world—centered around Mandarin-based Mandopop, along with music originating from Taiwan and Hong Kong’s Cantopop—you’ll find yourself captivated by its many styles.
You’ll surely be drawn in by the high level of musicality and the powerful, skillful vocals.
There are popular theme songs as well as singers and bands who have collaborated with Japanese artists, so keep an eye on those connections too, and be sure to check them out.
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[C-POP Classics & Popular Songs] Recommended Tracks and Hit Songs from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan (21–30)
Desan (emerging from the mountain)Hanagayu & Ō Shōnan
A hit song in China that became controversial due to copies and other issues.
It’s sung from a child’s perspective about a mother’s wish for her child to “get married,” expressing her love.
Leaving the mountains symbolizes leaving one’s parents’ home.
The singer, Huagou (Flower Porridge), is an independent musician born on July 21, 1993, in Ürümqi, Xinjiang.
She is not signed to any label and graduated from Central South University of Forestry and Technology.
I will wait.Shōkan
Here is the song “Wo Hui Deng” (“I’ll Wait”), which has been streamed over 18 million times on Spotify in roughly the six months since its release in February 2023.
It’s by Sun Hwan, a noteworthy Chinese American singer who began releasing music in 2022.
This masterpiece highlights his beautiful, wistful voice and a classic, straight-down-the-line ballad style reminiscent of vintage J-pop.
The title translates to “I’ll wait” in English, but the lyrics never explicitly state what situation the beloved person—whom the protagonist keeps waiting for—is in now.
The lyrics are also superb, intertwining seasonal changes with poignant inner landscapes, so be sure to check them out using translation features and the like.
A Little LuckHebe Tien
Hebe Tien, a member of the idol group S.H.E and a highly popular solo singer known for her expressive ability to master a wide range of genres.
Little Happiness was released in 2015 and became an enduring C-pop classic after being chosen as the theme song for the Taiwanese film Our Times.
Its gentle melody and Hebe Tien’s vocals wrap you in a bittersweet yet warm emotion.
It’s a love song about realizing the importance of someone only after losing them, while wishing for their happiness at the same time.
It’s a tear-jerker.
The wind has risen.Wu Qingfeng
A hit song by Wu Qing-Feng, a Taiwanese singer born on August 30, 1982, known for his translucent falsetto.
He gained popularity as the lead vocalist of the rock band Sodagreen before launching a solo career.
In particular, the song “Qi Feng Le” (The Wind Rises) is a grand ballad that showcases his greatest weapon—his voice—captivating many fans.
The necessity of old-fashioned datingMC Ansonbean
MC Chung Ting-Fu, a singer who also thrives as an actor.
His 2022 release, “The Necessity of Old-School Dating,” unfolds a dramatic story that depicts the beginning of a romance between a man and a woman.
The sound features beautiful strings that match lyrics singing of pure love.
It paints scenes of dates with someone you have feelings for, including moments where words of love are whispered.
This is C-pop where his cool vocals resonate over a gently heartwarming melody.
Why not listen to it together with the music video that portrays the couple’s love story?
JuiceKris Wu
He is a former EXO member who has been active in China as a solo artist since leaving the group.
In China, he is better known as an actor than as a singer.
The film he starred in, “Sweet Sixteen” (original title: 夏有乔木 雅望天堂), won an award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Footage from “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage,” in which he also appeared, is used in this music video.
fairy taleHikari Ryo
The promotional video, which tells the story of a loved one falling ill and being supported through song, is deeply moving.
The occasional Japanese lines that appear in the video are noteworthy, but the most attention should be on Guang Liang’s clear, translucent singing voice.