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.
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Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Classics & Contemporary] (31–40)
If I Could See You in My Dreams feat. Tomoyo HaradaDEEN
Eiichi Ohtaki, who handled guitar and vocals for Happy End—the band that brilliantly fused Japanese rhythm with ensemble playing and created masterpieces that left their mark not only on Japanese rock and folk but on music history—was one of the key figures who can be said to have established the genre of city pop.
Among his many classic solo tracks, a quintessential one is Yume de Aetara (If I See You in My Dreams).
Its dreamy melody has been covered and cherished by countless musicians.
It’s a beautiful pop tune Japan can be proud of.
Southern CrossInagaki Junichi
Released in March 1988 as the artist’s 13th single, this song was chosen as the image track for ANA’s Spring Okinawa campaign.
The lyrics are by Yasushi Akimoto, and the music and arrangement are by Tetsuji Hayashi, who, together with Inagaki, has produced numerous hits.
The lyrics layer images of a landscape dissolving into a blue sea with the trembling of the heart, depicting a scene where the desire to escape the city’s clamor and be enveloped by the tropical air intersects with feelings for someone special.
Set to a medium tempo, Inagaki’s gentle vocals bring out an AOR sound that is fresh yet tinged with a certain wistfulness.
It’s a fine city-pop number that blends openness and nostalgia—one you’ll want to hear in the season of departures.
Monochrome VenusIkeda Satoshi
Satoshi Ikeda’s debut single, released in August 1986.
It was featured in a commercial for the Suzuki Alto.
Backed by a strong tie-in with a major automaker during the bubble era, he scored a hit with his debut and became one of the leading figures of late-1980s city pop.
It peaked at No.
9 on the Oricon charts, with total sales of 220,000 copies.
The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka
Kiyotaka Sugiyama, who had been active as the vocalist of Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe since their 1983 debut, went solo in 1986.
In November of that same year, he released “Saigo no Holy Night” as his second single.
This urban-style Christmas song resonated with the times, reaching No.
2 on the Oricon chart and selling a total of 253,000 copies.
Steps of TearsKaoru Sudo
Tears Step, with a nostalgic ’60s pop flavor, is a single released in 1982.
Kaoru Sudo and Masamichi Sugi, who composed this song, once formed a unit and appeared in a joint concert with Yuming.
Sadly, she passed away in 2013 at the young age of her fifties.
Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Classics & Modern] (41–50)
An afternoon when I want to see youInagaki Junichi
Although it was a B-side released in May 1989 in the 8 cm CD format, this track was chosen as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s variety show “Naruhodo! The World.” Written by Yasushi Akimoto, composed by MAYUMI, and arranged by Hiroshi Sakamoto, the song also appears on the album “HEART & SOUL.” As the title suggests, it portrays an afternoon filled with growing feelings for someone you long to see.
Junichi Inagaki’s enveloping vocals blend with a mellow sonic palette, delivering a refined city-pop sound.
Despite peaking at No.
29 on the Oricon charts, the tie-in brought the song to many listeners.
It’s the perfect number for those bittersweet afternoons when, in an unguarded moment, you find yourself thinking of someone dear.
CAT’S EYEAnri
Anri’s 13th single, released in August 1983.
After debuting in 1978 with “Olivia wo Kikinagara” and having no major hits, she handled the theme song for the anime Cat’s Eye, which became a massive success.
An uptempo city-pop track that matched the anime’s urban vibe.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart, with total sales of 820,000 copies.