An Intro to CITY POP 

I'd argue that Timely by Anri is one of the best city pop albums. It is energetic, bubbly, funky, and just a joy to listen to. I by chance picked it up on vinyl when looking for new city pop albums to listen to, and it ended up being one of, if not my favorite city pop album. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys city pop, or good music in general.

Junko Yagami is underappreciated. Her communication album was pretty good imo

Tatsuro is my man! I just barely got into City Pop and seriously love this genre, and I love how it's taking off. I would have never guessed it either. I love oldies, and it's awesome to watch people seeing the light. Nice video!

Ryuchi Sakamoto - "Yeah, he was a big deal back in the day" Hahaha, what a massive understatement. He's ones of the most important Japanese musicians of the last 50 years and still producing popular albums now. I look forward to a video on him though.

For me Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe are the epitome of city pop and are so talented... And still perform live together. There's not one meh song in their discography. Another Summer id probably their best...Mayonaka No Screen Board is my fave track of theirs.

I really recommend album Pocket Park by Miki Matsubara. This album started my journey with City Pop and I just love Miki's smooth voice.

Junko Ohashi's "MAGICAL" exists, you know?

Since those way too famous I would like to propose "The Lesser Known Top 5" 5. Shambara- Shambara (feat. Kaoru Akimoto and Yurie Kokubu) 4. Yuko Imai- DO AWAY 3. Keiko Kimura- Style 2. Kenjiro Sakiya- DIFFERENCE 1. Narumin & Etsu (aka Hiroshi Narumi and Etsuko Yamakawa)- THRU TRAFFIC Some of the tracks, especially Kenjiro's "difference in time", sound incredibly contemporary and catchy. The more you dive into this time relic, the more gems you find.

There's some Magical about City Pop Genre that really has more and more people seeking them out.

Angel Touch by Cindy is very underrated aswell.

Finally, an awesome list to get started to city pop. I would love to recommend some as well: Yurie Kokubu - Relief 72 Hours, Tomoko Aran ‎- Fuyü-Kükan, Junko Ohashi ‎- Magical, Junko Yagami ‎- Full Moon, Momoko Kikuchi ‎- Adventure. Subscribed!

Damn man I love your channel! I feel a lot of people sleep on Japanese music in general I think Japanese modern music can blow up only if they were more open with their artist. But then again they may loose their originality if that happens.

My all time favorite is Tomoko Aran's Last Goodbye

Love Trip is probably one of my favorite albums of all time

I would maybe add Tomoko Aran's album Fuyu Kukan, it has one of the goldest city-pop pieces like I'm in love and Midnight Pretenders, and there are some more experimental tracks like Hannaya, and of course the cover of the album is like definition of city-pop art.

Toshiki Kadomatsu.....After 5 Clash.....opened the whole Genre up for me.... just an incredible musician... The Groove on "Step into the Light", the bass on "Never Touch Again"....the album is a masterpiece. The horn section and instrumentation throughout... guy is still making new music. The real deal.

My favorite albums are "After 5th clash" and "Ride on time". CITY POP FOREVER

I want (some of) the songs from these albums to be featured on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony the way British pop music was featured in the 2012 ceremony.

I love me some Tatsuro Yamashita! His voice is heavenly 😍 ❤ His album FOR YOU is fucking amazing 👏

Yurie Kokubu Relief 72 Hours is IMO one of the best City Pop albums of all time. Loved your selection btw.

I first stumbled upon the genre back in 2011 when I accidentally downloaded Anri's 1990 album Mind Cruisin' was totally hooked on that music. Then begun to explore Tatsuro Yamashita (whose songs I have heard and liked before) and Toshiki Kadomatsu from the same source of download, Didn't know the genre was called but listened to the songs sporadically over the years . . . until early last year when I finally fully absorbed into CITY POP. Life has never been the same.

another great vid on city pop! thanks my dude

Hello!. I discovered city pop a few months ago and it amazes me. For me the best is Junko Ohashi and Miki Matsubara, they are just wonderful. Greetings from Spain!. Nice video.

Momoko Kikuchi's Adventure is pretty good too.

KIKUCHI MOMOKO "ADVENTURE" ALBUM😻😻😻✨✨✨🔆🔆🔆

I'd argue the king of city pop records would be Toshiki Kadomatsu's Sea Is A Lady. It has a strong jazz fusion influence, but the fact it doesn't have a lot of vocals makes it more accessible to an international audience. Plus he's just a godlike guitarist in general.

I would be fine with either of Toshiki Kadomatsu’s albums , After 5 Clash or Sea is a Lady .... two different spectrums of City Pop , both awesome

I'd recommend Kaoru Akimoto's only LP, "Cologne".

Your channel is just great, thanks a lot !

momoko kikuchi is one of my all time favs. Minako Yoshida is also one of my favorite artists

I love your videos!!! Your voice is so soothing & analysis are on point. Keep it up, man👍

thanks for linking my video! absolutely love taeko ohnuki. great video too!

Instant subscribe. Looking forward for more videos like this!

i am here from 2021.. and city pop has still not broken any playlist charts.. but one can hope.

Yay! I love seeing videos about City Pop, and I enjoyed hearing your enthusiasm for the genre! Great album choices too. Also, if you like City Pop, try New Music, which was the '70s predecessor to the genre. It's got kind of an AM Pop/singer-songwriter/fusion sound, but it's pretty diverse too. It kind of folded/evolved into City Pop, and it's really slept on, I feel. A lot of the big names in CP started out there. (Sugar Babe, for example, is considered New Music, and Taeko Ohnuki's first 3 albums have a combination of City Pop and New Music tracks. Minako Yoshida has some great New Music as well, but Yumi Arai/Matsutoya and Seri Ishikawa are my personal favorite artists in the genre.)

The only song i like of minako yoshida its "i'll teach you all about love" but i try to discovery more her songs and my favorite album i like and i understand its big wave tatsuro yamashita !! and now i want to lisent this songs you mention, really good video:) !! (i wish talk more of albums i lisent but my english it's so bad)

1986 omega tribe - crystal night

My top 5 city pop albums are: 1. Toshiki Kadomastu - After 5 Clash 2. Anri - Timely!! 3. The Jaedos - Free Drink 4. Tatsuro Yamashita - For You 5. Yoshino Fujimal - Romantic Guys *Honorable mentions: Tomoko Aran - Imitation Lonely And literally ALL of the AB'S albums.

I’m already in too deep

I really like "Chinese restaurant" Takako's voice is so beautiful on that track BTW Casiopea "mint jams" is not citypop it's fusion jazz.

I really like this new casual style of yours

Love trip is seriously amazing! One of my favourite albums🤗❤️ Also big wave, for you and the sea is a lady are all up there too!

You do what you believe in. As someone trying to do the same; respect. Keep it up!

1:44 It's "Sunshower" you dip

Okay, but have you heard of Yasuha? Her first album Transit is a favorite of mine for tracks like Bye Bye Lover (where she sings doubling the guitar solo) and Flyday Chinatown.

Great video here! Loving your work :) thumbs up from D.J.P :)

My super fav city pop singer is Mai yamane She's got that cool vibes around her especially her voice

Where is Anri?

Chakra all the way. Satekoso is their strongest album. Don't know if it technically counts as City Pop but it's around the same era/style. Anyway. Genius stuff.

I'd either say 'Cupid' by Miki Matsubara, 'Twilight Zone' by Minako Yoshida, 'Adventure' by Momoko Kikuchi, or 'Sunshower' by Taeko Ohnuki would be my top city pop album.

yes, i came because i saw takako mamiya's love trip, such a gem!

Good vid. Ｇｏｏｄ ｖｉｄｅｏ．

Awesome vid! Glad to see some on the list some of the records I started to listen at random. Btw, you've got any more recommendations within the genre that have that Diamond Dogs / Berlin trilogy Bowie sound, like that Tatsuro Yamashita track you mention (Or Tomoko Aran's HANNYA, from 'Fuyukukan'; it has that krautrock feel, as well)?

5 year I into an kpop 3 years ago into to city pop

I remmeber a lilbit ago some japanese guy was trying to convice me that city pop inspired Michael jackson, prince, etc. He was getting angry at me but I was just explaining that if you look at original air dates new wave and 70-80s rnb came first.

Can you please do more vids on RU-vid recommend music? It's very fascinating and fun to explain the music recommend on RU-vid that we all encounter and need more context on to fully appreciate.

QUE VIVA EL CITY POP ✨🔥🎷

you should definitely check out Piper Summer Breeze album.

Kadomatsu's "After 5 Clash" !!!

For a more modern take on City Pop coming from Japan check out Orange Pekoe ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W3OTmgWqxGI.html They are usually labelled Jazz, but they definitely have strong city pop influences. In my opinion, their debut Album is the best one. I'm sure someone will sample their intro track from their debut album - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--rF6sE34q0M.html

I love this genre

I love your channel bro!!

yoshino fujimal - yoshino fujimal great album

My favorite album I listen to everyday is Takako Mamiya - Love Trip

Yo. Not sure if you've noticed this yet... but in Love Trip... Love trip (the first track) and What a broken heart can do (last song), these are not the same song... nor is the latter a translation. They're pretty much opposites. Love trip is about falling in love and the latter is about the end of love, what a broken can do...

Love talkin definitely have one of the best groove i ever heard!

After 5 clash is amazing

ride on time by tatsuro yamashita is a masterpiece. I get all my city pop songs on soundcloud when I type up city pop its the bestttttest

This needs more than just verbal audio, holy shit, please edit this video about music and include clips. I literally listened to this entire thing to learn about music and never heard a bit of it. Who is this for - people who know the songs already!!

Tomoko Aran is sooooooo good 👌👌👌 If you haven't listen to her, you should do it! Greetings from México

Holy Shit, didnt know about the Ryuichi Sakamoto partnership. I love his album "Sweet Revenge", and he is an awesome musician. Must listen to their album together.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanti_(Hitomi_Shimatani_album) This is a classic, and she is truly fantastic as an artist in the era of similar vibes, and style of the past City Pop I think you'll agree :)

Which prefer day pop or night pop?

Please make a video about Mr. Sakamoto. That would be so awesome!

I wanted to do my own research on these albums and on Japanese City Pop. Do you happen to have any sources to all of your information or at least some of it?

Please DO make a video and about Ryuichi Sakamoto! I love that man!

Did you have information about Takako Mamiya ? I am looking for picture of her but I found only those from Love Trip. We do not even know his age...

Sunshower by Radko ohnuki is my favorite album

Ride on Time Tatsuro Yamashita

citypop rules

*@**#Stevem* Not related but when i first saw this redhead guy i thought he was smoldering hot-so i made 3 anime characters based from his looks, albeit more sexualized versions (of course) ala *_#seancody_**_, _**_#ragingstallion_* and *_#britLads_**_._* I named one of them *Zdevem,* . . . just kidding (that's bad). Another one has his trademark vocal tone as if he has perpetual colds. Sounds sexy though, coupled with his somewhat vague, quirky sense of humor. PS. Loved *#citypop* since first hearing the ED theme of *#G_Gundam**.* So jazzy!

Yukiko Okada got some great tracks, Mariya Takeuchi wrote the lyrics of some of her songs, like her first single First Date wich i find Brilliant. Her story is tragic tho, if you wiki her you'll get a kick in the stomach, it took me some time before being able to dive in her discography (4 albums) but i'm glad i did. She won the biggest talent contest in Japan in 1984 wich gave her access to excellent production, for exemple the man who produced the soundtrack for The Last Emperor and got an Oscar for it also produced Yukiko's last album the year before. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2d3daj-xsvU.html 流れ星!!!!

After 5 clash is underrated album

would it be better to have songs along with?

J‐POPのルーツはHappy‐end（はっぴいえんど）から始まったといっても過言ではない。Haruomi Hosono, Eichi Otaki, Shigeru Suzuki, Takashi Matsumoto のメンバー4人は解散後も日本音楽界に重要な役割を担うことになる。 例えばHaruomi HosonoがいなければYMOは存在しなかったし、Eichi OtakiがいなければTatsuro Yamashitaも世に出てこなかったかもしれない。Takashi Matsumotoは日本音楽界で最も多く作詞を手掛けた作詞家として記録保持者でもある。そしてHappy-endの活動期間は短かったが日本の多くのアーティストに影響を与えた。 1970年代の日本のロック界はイギリスロック（UKｰrock）に影響を受けたハードロック志向（hardrock）と、アメリカのfunkやsoul, R&Bに強い影響を受けたソフトロック志向（softrock）とに明確に枝分かれした時期だけれど、当時の日本の若者には刺激が強いハードロックが圧倒的に支持された。 その中で人気を誇ったのがYazawa Eikichiが在籍したCarolだった。ところが同時期に活動したsoftrockは高い音楽性はあったもののセールス的には殆ど成功しなかった。実際にTatsuro YamashitaのSugarbabeのライブでは客が殆ど入らず、あるライブの時には客から「帰れ！（Get out !!!）」と罵られたこともあった。 これは何もSugarbabeだけの話ではなく、同時代のバンドであるOffcourseなども実力はあるのにセールスには反映されなかった。ちなみに代表曲の1つである1975年発表のnemurenu yoruはその後に何回か他の歌手によってカバーされた名曲だが、オリジナルであるOffcourseにしてみればヒット曲とは言えなかった。 softrockにとってそんな不遇の1970年代ではあったが、softrockがようやく世間から脚光を浴びるようになったのはハードロック熱が冷め始めた1970年代の終わり頃で、才能に溢れる若きCASIOPEAやYMOといった1970年代後半のfusionブームやTechno‐popのようなnewwaveの台頭と共にTatsuro Yamashitaの快進撃が始まった。そしてこのsoftrockこそがCITY POPの原点となった。 Tatsuro Yamashitaは1979年に1st single cut『Let's Dance Baby』を発表し、翌年、1980年発表の4th album『RIDE ON TIME』が大ヒットする。Let's Dance BabyはもともとThe King Tonesのために作曲した曲だった。 とにかく、Happy‐end（はっぴいえんど）を抜きにして日本の音楽史は語れない！

What about meiko nakahara?

Best contemporary city pop album you did not include, imo is Hitomoi's City Dive (一十三十一). The best 80's city pop album not covered here probably one of Nakahara Meiko's like Moods or something. I did not realize there was such a large community of City Pop lovers... I'm guessing most are here via Vaporwave and are not actual comprehensive fans of "Showa era" pop music and can differentiate between all the sounds that were going on at the time. The 80's truly was one of the best times in Japanese Music. The thing that sucks is the internet wasn't around in the 80's and most contemporary Japanese people would rather forget about this "Bubble-Era" style of music or view it as old musics... Its not really that well documented and its hard to research it... For people wanting to get into the genre, check out the Wikipedia page (ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%86%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9D%E3%83%83%E3%83%97) and Discogs.com to find the personnel for the older albums.

I think one of my favorite albums is Mint Jams by Casiopia

MIKI IMAI ALBUM "MOCHA UNDER A FULL MOON"/SONG: "BOOGIE WOOGIE LONESOME HIGH HEEL"👠💔

🌸 GOOD🎵 NICE Video🌸👌ど

Yaaassssss

Freaking love Ohnuki

Tsugutoshi Goto - The Power Look, please help the RU-vid algorythm and yourself.

In all this City Pop renaissance of late, I haven't heard anyone talk about Ryo Kawasaki ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cSZS6nkVHlY.html ... it can be more fusion jazz, but dang! some of his melodies and basslines are the shizz. Also check out Raisens from him.

LovethisCHANNEL

Tomoko Aran - More Relax is great

Why I never see anybody talking about Kiyotaka Sugiyama? I really like his songs too

Thank youuuu

Kind of disappointed that Thanks Giving by ラ•ム (RaMu) is not on this list. It has a very unique sound I haven't found on other albums. "愛は心の仕事です" (Ai wa kokoro no shigoto desu/Love is the Heart's Work) is a great example of their music.

Have you try Lucky tape