Have you ever heard of city pop?
City pop is generally a genre of music, stemming from Japanese pop and influenced by American music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The definition is relatively loose as city pop emerged in the 70s and lost most of its appeal and popularity by the early 90s; however, the resurface of city pop came within the past decade. Sometimes city pop was also referred to as “new music” or “urban music for urban people" in the 80s.
The majority of lyrics are sung in Japanese with the occasional use of English. Styles of music often associated with city pop include funk, pop, jazz, groove, disco(pop), boogie, soft rock, Bossa nova, and R&B.
Whether you're familiar with city pop or not, it rocks! The instrumentals, beat, and lyrics combine together to create this groovy and funky vibe! Here, I have compiled a list of 8 city pop songs that make me want to groove whenever I listen to them! There's a chance you'll recognize some of the backtracks as well!
So without further ado, open your eyes to city pop!
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)1 - “Good Bye Boogie Dance” by Anri
Released in 1983, “Good Bye Boogie Dance”, from the album Bi・Ki・Ni, by Anri describes the action and feelings of bidding farewell to dancing (boogie dance) and the memories associated. The (boogie) dance symbolizes the fleeting connections and memories people have, illustrating the desire to hold onto them.
With a tempo of 123 bpm, it can be played in cut time of 62 bpm or double time at 246 bpm! You can find “Good Bye Boogie Dance” on Spotify, YouTube (Music), Amazon Music, Deezer, and more!
If you liked this song, you should check out “DRIVING MY LOVE” and “Remember Summer Days” by Anri!

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2 - “Dress Down” by Kaoru Akimoto
From the album Cologne, “Dress Down” by Kaoru Akimoto was released in 1986. The heavy synth introduces the song, helping connect the bass and Kaoru Akimoto's vocals in a fresh yet fizzy way!
The lyrics are reminiscent of early 2000s pop songs, describing a woman's desire to be noticed by her love interest. “Dress Down” uses phrases to highlight the woman's desire: messy hair, hanging earrings, open-back dress, fragrant perfume, a mysterious look, etc. She hopes the man will be obsessed with her (and her beauty); however, the woman ‘melts' as he gazes at her. Overall, the song is about embracing one's own beauty to attract someone's attention.
You can find “Dress Down” on Spotify and more! If you liked this song, take a listen to “Narcissist” by Kaoru Akimoto!
3 - “Wash” by Miki Matsubara
Typically known for her debut song “Stay With Me” which became a viral song on TikTok, Miki Matsubara released “Wash” in 1982. “Wash” is a B-side from the album 松原みき ベスト・コレクション, where a girl tells her lover to ‘wash’ his heart over and over again, scrubbing away the past memories of his ex, his past lover. A double meaning also comes from the fact that the moments that make us laugh, cry, and smile will all be ‘washed’ away by time, forgotten.
“Wash” is also now featured on the album Matsubara Miki Best Collection. It can be found on Spotify, YouTube (Music), Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and more! If you found this song groovy, take a listen to her debut song, as mentioned above, or “Neat na Gogo 3 Ji”!
4 - “夢の続き” by Mariya Takeuchi
Known for her hit single “Plastic Love”, Mariya Takeuchi released “夢の続き” (Yume No Tsuzuki) in 1987 from the album REQUEST. In English, the song means “the continuation of a dream”.
“夢の続き” features a synthesizer, electric guitar, keyboard, glockenspiel, trumpet, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, and backing vocals. Tatsuro Yamashita handled the synthesizer, electric guitar, keyboard, glockenspiel, and backing vocals! Susumu Kazuhara was featured on the trumpet, and Jake H.
Conception handled the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones! Combined, the result is a cool and danceable beat!
The song's meaning can be interpreted, but it mentions an “unfulfilled promise” regarding not giving up on tomorrow. With thought, it could mean to keep living and counting on your dreams, for tomorrow is always another new day.
“夢の続き” can be found on Spotify, YouTube (Music), and Apple Music.
5 - “飾りじゃないのよ涙は - 30th-anniversary mix” by Akina Nakamori
Akina Nakamori at a 1985 concert

Image credit: Tsuyoshi Inagaki from Wikimedia Commons
“飾りじゃないのよ涙は - 30th-anniversary mix”, or “Tears Are Not Just For Decoration” was released in 1984 as a single and pre-release of an upcoming studio album: BITTER AND SWEET. Originally, the producer, Yuzo Shimada, thought the song was not fit for a pre-release as a single until the composer, Yosui Inoue, sang with the backtrack and orchestra. The musicians thought it was so good they released “飾りじゃないのよ涙は” as a single! The 30th-anniversary mix features Akina Nakamori singing the song with slight adjustments to the instrumentals.
The song's meaning stems from how you should embrace and accept your emotions (one's tears), as the journey and tears are essential in your life and being.
If you liked this song, you should also have a listen to “十戒(1984)” and “OH NO,OH YES!” by Akina Nakamori!
6 - “Just a Joke” by Yurie Kokobu
Released in 1983 under the album Relief 72 Hours, “Just a Joke” explores the themes of lost opportunities and connections. Based on the lyrics, a woman sees her past lover, and the feelings she had for him come back up again. However, the chorus repeats the phrase “it's just a joke” to iterate the fact that her feelings were in the past, for the man now bears a wedding ring. From how often the woman repeats the chorus, it's likely she tries to play her feelings as lighthearted when it is a coping mechanism for her longing in reality.
7 - “Telephone Number” by Junko Ohashi
With a catchy number line, this song is sure to get you singing along!
“Telephone Number” by Junko Ohashi was released in 1981 in the album Tea For Tears. Despite its relatively upbeat melody, it describes a woman's longing for an emotional connection with the man she cares for. She tells the listener to not forget her telephone number, so the man can call her.
The chorus repeats the number “56709”, which represents her telephone number. The song goes on, and the woman is left waiting for the man to call while she expresses her heartbreak at his poor habits.
8 - “4:00 A.M.” by Taeko Onuki
Under the album Mignonne, “4:00 A.M.” by Taeko Onuki was released in 1978. The album name translates to “cute” in French!
It utilizes a bass, drums, flute, guitar, harp, horns, keyboards, percussion, piano, (tenor) saxophone, strings, trombone, and trumpet! A backing choir/chorus supports the lead vocals and helps bring together the song's meaning, referencing a gospel or church choir.
The song depicts a narrator, in the stillness of the early morning, who is conflicted with her feelings of continuing to meet with someone she shouldn't. She pleads with the lord for one more chance, hinting she will give up the person she sees. She even goes as far as to say she would do anything for another chance.
Additional Songs
There's hundreds of city pop songs that could spark your attention, too many to write in a single article. For your indulges, here's a short list of more groovy city pop songs!
- “ビリーヴ” by lyo Matsumoto
- “Flyday Chinatown” by Yasuha
- “黄昏のBAY CITY” by Junko Yagami
- “街のドルフィン” by Kingo Hamada
- “ひと夏のタペストリー” by Tomoko Aran
End Notes
At the end of the day, I hope you were able to groove along to some of these funky songs! Add some to your playlists, and keep searching for others!