Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Timeless & Modern]
City pop has been gaining momentum, especially overseas, after Mariya Takeuchi’s “Plastic Love” exploded in views on YouTube.
Originally, it referred to songs from the late 1970s to the 1980s that emphasized a sophisticated, urban vibe, but over time its definition and interpretation have gradually expanded.
Since the 2000s, it’s also been discussed in terms of its stylish, moody image, and perceptions vary from person to person.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of tracks—from classic, beloved city pop that laid the foundations of modern pop music to songs that capture a fresh, contemporary feel.
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- [BGM] Attractive City Pop
- City pop perfect for creating a romantic date atmosphere (Adults Only)
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
- [Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
- [Japanese Music] Masterpieces of 2000s Pop: A roundup of hit songs from 00s J-POP
- From City Pop to Ballads!! Mariya Takeuchi’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- From Japan! Technopop masterpieces and recommended popular tracks
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- Memorable Youth Songs: Looking Back on New Music Masterpieces from the 1970s–80s
- A Classic of Korean City Pop [KOREAN CITY POP]
- Nothing but iconic hits that defined an era! 2000s classics popular on TikTok
Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Timeless & Modern] (71–80)
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda’s classic masterpiece “Akai Sweet Pea,” released in 1982.
It’s fresh and fun to listen to this song through a City Pop lens.
The big factor, of course, is the songwriting team: Takashi Matsumoto, the former drummer of Happy End, and Yumi Matsutoya—aka Kureta Keiko (Yuming).
An emotional, heart-piercing pop song crafted by the progenitors of City Pop and one of Japan’s premier melody-makers—there just might be traces of City Pop in there.
Please see if you can find them!
Purple TownYagami Junko
Junko Yagami’s 9th single, released in July 1980.
It was used for JAL’s New York campaign, and its lyrics—evoking the universally admired image of New York—became popular.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon chart, earned her a spot on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and became one of her signature works.
Total sales reached 564,000 copies.
No Future VacationUesaka Sumire
Anime songs from the ’80s are sometimes said to be the origins of city pop, and they were heavily influenced by New Music as well.
Listening from that perspective, many of them are fascinating and highly satisfying.
And Sumire Uesaka’s 2018 release “No Future Vacances” is a New Music-style track with exactly that ’80s anison vibe.
That crisp rhythm with this bass and guitar! It’s such a superb city pop number it’ll put a little grin on your face.
It’s a sad color, isn’t it?Ueda Masaki
Masaki Ueda’s biggest hit, released in 1982.
I think his true strengths shine more in gritty music like soul and R&B, rather than in what’s typically called city pop.
However, speaking of this song alone, despite being set in Osaka and featuring Kansai-dialect lyrics, it strongly conveys a city-urbanized sensibility, so it’s safe to say this is an exceptional city pop masterpiece.
The Amagi Legend Murder CaseSekiguchi Makoto
Makoto Sekiguchi, a former member of C-C-B known for hits like “Romantic ga Tomaranai,” has also been active as a solo singer since 1988.
“Tenkawa Densetsu Satsujin Jiken” was released in February 1991.
It was used as the theme song for a film of the same title and became his biggest hit.
Around the same time, Akina Nakamori also performed a song titled “Futari Shizuka,” which drew attention.
It peaked at No.
16 on the Oricon charts and sold a total of 171,000 copies.