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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- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Classic and hit J-pop songs from the nostalgic ’90s
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- [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 [Classics & Modern] (41–50)
Shadow DancerIkeda Masanori
Masanori Ikeda, who is still active as an actor, debuted as a singer in 1986.
“Shadow Dancer” was his second single, released in March of the following year, and it was used in a DyDo Coffee commercial.
It peaked at No.
18 on the Oricon charts, with total sales of 84,000 copies.
Morning of the PegasusIgarashi Hiroaki
Hiroaki Igarashi is a singer-songwriter who debuted in 1980 after an audition with a record company, and “Pegasus no Asa” (Pegasus Morning) was his third single, released in November 1980.
Chosen as a theme song for a Meiji Chocolate commercial, the track is unreservedly bright and refreshing.
It peaked at No.
3 on the Oricon charts and sold a total of 429,000 copies.
No more tears are neededSuzuki Masayuki
Masayuki Suzuki, who served as the vocalist for Rats & Star, made his solo debut in 1986 with the single “Natsu That Vanished Behind the Glass.” He gained popularity singing sophisticated city pop for adults.
Released in May 1992, “Mou Namida wa Iranai” became his biggest hit thanks to its impactful chorus, peaking at No.
8 on the Oricon charts and selling a total of 560,000 copies.
Summer HornsInagaki Junichi
It’s a masterpiece that leaves an especially strong impression not only within the city pop of the 1980s but also among Junichi Inagaki’s works.
I’m struck by its assured descriptive power that lets you slip effortlessly into the world of the song.
When summer draws to a close, you’re bound to hear it playing from somewhere; it’s a track you want to listen to in late summer.
You’re My Only Shinin’ StarKadamatsu Toshiki
A famous song provided to Miho Nakayama in 1988.
In 1991, it was self-covered in English on the best-of album “TEARS BALLAD,” and then covered again in Japanese on the 2000 self-cover album.
While Toshiki Kadomatsu is often noted for his work as a songwriter, he has also released many sophisticated, adult-tinged pop songs as a singer, and his albums are well worth listening to.
Dance at Nightfurenzu
Friends, a super danceable and upbeat band in high demand at live houses and music festivals.
Their moody dance track “Yoru ni Dance” captures that vibe perfectly.
It’s a song you can really move to, yet it has a mature feel—pure city pop through and through.
The bass and drum groove feels amazing, and the male-female twin vocals add a dramatic touch.
The catchy melody is another draw, making it a killer tune that gets the crowd swaying at Friends’ shows.
Make up shadowInoue Yosui
A pioneering figure of city pop who was active as a singer-songwriter from the 1970s through the 1980s, Yosui Inoue released the single “Make up shadow” in July 1993, which served as the theme song for the TV drama “Subarashiki Kana Jinsei” (What a Wonderful Life).
Among his songs spanning various genres, this track stands out for its particularly urban vibe.
Boosted by the drama’s popularity, it peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon charts and sold a total of 817,000 copies.