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.

Playlist

Best City Pop Classics: Recommended Popular Songs [Timeless & Modern]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya		Mariya Takeuchi’s “Plastic Love” is gaining attention overseas.
2	Midnight Door ~Stay With Me~Matsubara Miki		An artist’s signature works, jazzy music, and their charm
3	SPARKLEYamashita Tatsuro		Tatsuro Yamashita's “SPARKLE,” a classic song from the 1980s
4	You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi		Eiichi Ohtaki’s classic song “You Are Natural Color”
5	Like an angel.rikon densetsu		A city pop song that portrays summer romance
6	Pink ShadowBureddo & Batā		A heartwarming classic woven from love and music
7	Chuo FreewayMatsutōya Yumi		City pop, the representative music of Yumi Arai
8	Night lights on my cheeksYoshida Minako		A masterpiece by Minako Yoshida that paints a nightscape
9	You are the queen.punipuni denki		Puni Puni Denki’s music: the cutting edge of city pop
10	DOWN TOWNShugā Beibu		The legendary music of Sugar Babe
11	Believe in Loveburū pepāzu		A romantic song in 80s-style city pop
12	SHADOW CITYTerao Akira		A sophisticated urban love song for adults
13	SUMMER SUSPICIONSugiyama Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe		City pop classic by Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe
14	Monroe WalkMinami Yoshitaka		City pop is 80s new music.
15	Dramatic RainInagaki Junichi		A city pop classic that depicts urban romance
16	Orphanscero		Songs by cero that contributed to the city pop revival
17	meditationOzaki Ami		A meditative track brimming with the charm of city pop
18	Friday ChinatownYasuha		A city pop classic, Night’s Brilliance
19	SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya		A classic song portraying the end of a romance from summer to autumn
20	WINDY SUMMERAnri		A city pop classic, a refreshing summer song
21	city; urban areaOhnuki Taeko		The charm of Taeko Onuki, whose songs epitomize urbane city pop
22	Tokyo TowerKadamatsu Toshiki		A single that depicts the night in a big city
23	kissORIGINAL LOVE		The five-member band “Kiss” has a signature song that was used as a TV drama theme song.
24	AliensKirinji		A signature song by Kirinji—listless and distinctive.
25	RIDE ON TIMEYamashita Tatsuro		Tatsuro Yamashita's city pop classic
26	Two Red Starskinmokusei		A city pop band famous for their signature songs
27	There’s no show as wonderful as love.Iwasaki Yoshimi		Yoshimi Iwasaki’s city pop masterpiece
28	Twilight AvenueStardust Revue		A classic by Starebi that expresses a woman's feelings in love.
29	4:00A.M.Ohnuki Taeko		The stillness before dawn, Taeko Ohnuki’s singing voice
30	SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya		Representative female artists of city pop
31	246:3AMInagaki Junichi		Junichi Inagaki’s 3 A.M. on Route 246, an elegy of the city night
32	The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka		Kiyotaka Sugiyama's Christmas song becomes a big hit
33	Fade-out (in a wavering heart)Inagaki Junichi		City pop that portrays adult romance and pain
34	Midnight PretendersAran Tomoko		A city pop classic, the feelings of the urban night
35	Wind like musicEPO		EPO, the sophisticated city pop masterpiece
36	Monochrome VenusIkeda Satoshi		A hit song from the bubble era, popularized by a car commercial.
37	In the Canary IslandsOhtaki Eiichi		Eiichi Ohtaki’s classic song “A LONG VACATION”
38	You’re My Only Shinin’ StarKadamatsu Toshiki		Toshiki Kadomatsu’s classic song dedicated to Miho Nakayama
39	Morning of the PegasusIgarashi Hiroaki		A refreshing hit song by a singer-songwriter
40	If I Could See You in My Dreams feat. Tomoyo HaradaDEEN		The classic song by Happy End’s Eiichi Ohtaki
41	A Happy EndingOhtaki Eiichi		Eiichi Ohtaki scores a major hit with Love Generation
42	Stop the night once moreSakiya Kenjirō		From artist to singer: the birth of a hit song
43	Steps of TearsKaoru Sudo		1960s-style single “Tears Step” and Kaoru Sudo
44	Spirit Of LoveSing Like Talking		A popular band that fuses jazz and soul
45	Shadow DancerIkeda Masanori		Masanori Ikeda’s second single, a song from a coffee commercial.
46	Just like back thenBureddo & Batā		A classic youth anthem created by Yuming and her staff
47	To the City of RainbowsTakano Hiroshi		A song that was a big hit during the ski boom era
48	Summer HornsInagaki Junichi		Junichi Inagaki’s summer classic, coloring the late summer
49	Goodbye DayKisugi Takao		Takao Kisugi’s classic song “Goodbye Day” becomes a hit.
50	CAT’S EYEAnri		Anri scored a hit with 'Cat's Eye'.
51	SOMEDAYSano Motoharu		Moto Haru Sano's classic song featured on a popular album
52	Make up shadowInoue Yosui		The pioneer of city pop, Yosui Inoue’s classic song
53	And then I’m at a lossŌsawa Yoshiyuki		Yoshiyuki Osawa’s soul-stirring masterpiece, a timeless charm
54	No more tears are neededSuzuki Masayuki		Masayuki Suzuki’s signature city pop songs
55	Goodbye OceanSugiyama Kiyotaka		Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s classic song “Sayonara no Ocean”
56	You are 1000%.1986OMEGATRIBE		Omega Tribe’s representative works from the 1980s
57	Dance at Nightfurenzu		A danceable, mature summer dance track
58	Hold on MeKohiruimaki Kahoru		Kahoru Kohiruimaki, theme song for “Marriage Story”
59	Circus NightNanao Tabito		Tavito Nanao’s famous song—mellow, beautiful music.
60	The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi		Yasushi Nakanishi becomes a hit singer with 'Saigo no Ame'
61	The Amagi Legend Murder CaseSekiguchi Makoto		Makoto Sekiguchi of C-C-B, solo hit song
62	My Pure LadyOzaki Ami		Ami Ozaki’s classic song became a huge hit through a cosmetics commercial.
63	Southern CrossInagaki Junichi		Okinawa campaign song depicting the ambiance of a tropical paradise
64	An afternoon when I want to see youInagaki Junichi		Junichi Inagaki’s city pop song, a bittersweet feeling in the afternoon
65	ODD TAXIsukaato to PUNPEE		A lo-fi beat track depicting a city nightscape
66	Wednesday MoonTokunaga Hideaki		Hideaki Tokunaga's hit song “Wednesday Moon”
67	Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko		The city pop classic “Akai Sweet Pea”
68	Rainy summerYudai Suzuki		Yudai Suzuki was popular in the ’80s for “Rainy Summer.”
69	You were mineKubota Toshinobu		An R&B-style theme song for a Monday 9 p.m. drama—an urban, city-chic track.
70	Sorrowful Diamond RingInagaki Junichi		A sophisticated love song that colors the city night
71	GRAVITATIONSInoue Akira		An 80s fusion song with a striking intro
72	You And INakanishi Keizō		Keizo Nakanishi, popular for 1990s commercial hit songs
73	No Future VacationUesaka Sumire		A song with the charm and atmosphere of 80s anime music
74	Simple LoveOhashi Junko		Impressive songs by the singer Junko Ohashi
75	Purple TownYagami Junko		Junko Yagami’s New York campaign song is a big hit
76	Dancin’ With Your LiesSing Like Talking		The charm of Chikuzen Sato’s singing voice and music
77	It’s a sad color, isn’t it?Ueda Masaki		Masaki Ueda’s classic Osaka city pop song
78	life hackVaundy		A pop song that expresses feelings of love
79	I want to be honest. Don’t you tell him?haifaisetto		Mari Sugiyama’s 80s-style pop love song
80	COBALT HOURArai Yumi		Lively fusion music with cobalt
81	Colorful CityOhnuki Taeko		Taeko Onuki’s airy song covered by Tomoyo Harada
82	Excited Watchingitō ginji		Ginji Ito, a musician who represents city pop
83	Thrilling Uplifting StreetOzawa Kenji		Representative song by Kenji Ozawa, an icon of Shibuya-kei music.
84	808Suchmos		A disco-funk style song. A warning to the modern age.
85	Even if I callMurata Kazuhito		Kazuhito Murata’s West Coast-style classic
86	High LineToki Asako		Asako Toki’s city pop–style song “High Line”
87	Calling YouAbe Yasuhiro		A classic AOR masterpiece Japan is proud of
88	Give me a slow boogieMinami Yoshitaka		Yoshitaka Minami’s classic song “Slow na Boogie” is a popular track.