How Guuurls Love City Pop a Lot
Imagine the genre of music that taste like sipping on a piña colada while your hair blows in the wind like you’re the main character in a 1980s anime.
Hey, Pop Princesses! Let’s talk about something that’s been literally saving my life lately: CITY POP.
You know, that genre of music that feels like a sunset drive in a convertible, sipping on a piña colada, while your hair blows in the wind like you’re the main character in a 1980s anime? Yeah, THAT.
What Even IS City Pop?
Okay, so imagine this: it’s the 1980s in Japan. You’re a stylish, career-savvy girlie in Tokyo. You just got off work, your heels clicking on the pavement, heading to a rooftop bar with your besties. The air smells like possibilities (and maybe a bit of Chanel No.5). That’s City Pop.
It’s a genre that mix of jazz, funk, R&B, and disco. It’s smooth, it’s groovy, and it’s so nostalgic, even if you weren’t alive in the ‘80s (like, same). City Pop is like the ultimate soundtrack to being young, ambitious, and just a little bit lovesick.
For me, City Pop is genre that equivalent of a glittery, pink cocktail—sweet, bubbly, and just a little bit intoxicating. It’s the sound of summer nights, first crushes, and that feeling you get when you’re dancing in your room at 2 a.m. in your cutest pajamas. It’s effortlessly cool, and honestly, isn’t that what we all aspire to be?
When we listen to City Pop, we’re not just hearing songs, we’re hearing our own stories. It’s the sound of our hearts breaking, healing, and hoping. It’s the soundtrack to our late-night drives, our solo dance parties, and our quiet moments of reflection. It’s the music that reminds us we’re not alone in our feelings.
At least, Pop Princesses 🪩 you all should watch this first:
"Mayonaka no Door / Stay With Me" by Miki Matsubara— This song is basically the City Pop initiation track. It’s all about love slipping through your fingers at midnight. You know that feeling when you check your phone, and there’s no text from him? This song is that moment. The moment that first synth hits, you know you're about to be in your feelings. It’s about love slipping through your fingers at midnight, and if you’ve ever checked your phone with a hopeful heart only to see zero notifications, babe, this song gets you.
恋と愛とは 違うものだよと They say love and affection are two different things 昨夜言われた そんな気もするわ You told me last night 二度目の冬が来て Sometimes I think so too 離れていった貴方の心 Winter comes again and your heart has gone away ふり返ればいつも If I look back I see そこに 貴方を感じていたの That I could always feel you by my side
The lyrics capture that specific kind of heartbreak, the one where you know you should move on, but your heart is still stuck in the past, waiting at the door, hoping for something that may never come. It’s the soundtrack to every girly who’s ever stared out of a rain-soaked window, wondering, What if?
Let’s be honest—women love a good fantasy. We romanticize everything. AND City Pop isn’t just music—it’s a feeling. It captures the complexity of being a girl in a world that expects us to have it all together. It’s about the highs and lows, the dreams and disappointments, and the beauty of being unapologetically yourself.
Let’s break down a few iconic City Pop tracks (my faves) and why they’re so relatable.
*Click the captions below the pictures to watch the music video!
"I Can’t Stop the Loneliness" – Anri
Guuurl, this song is like crying in a club but in the chicest way possible. I can’t stop the loneliness, why? Tell me why?—we’ve all been there, staring at our screens, wondering why love has to be so cruel. Anri’s voice is smooth and sophisticated, but the pain in her delivery? So real.
The song captures that moment when you finally admit to yourself that you’re not just fine, that the loneliness is creeping in despite all the cute outfits and brunch dates. It’s for the girl who puts on a brave face but secretly wishes someone would chase after her. And the way the soft, jazzy instrumentals contrast with the sadness(?) It’s giving "I'm doing great, but I could cry any second," kinda vibe.
"Telephone Number" – Junko Ohashi
This one is for the playful, flirty girlies. It’s giving waiting by the phone with curlers in your hair, it’s giving, "I might call him, but only if he deserves it." like the lyrics in it,
“56709— Don't forget my telephone number, When you're in trouble, I want you to dial it anytime.”
"Midnight Pretender" – Tomoko Aran
This song is luxury heartbreak. It’s giving late-night taxi rides home, staring out at the city lights, knowing you should be over him, but ugh, you’re not. It was even sampled in Out of Time by The Weeknd, proving that City Pop is forever THAT genre. The dreamy, slow groove makes you feel like you’re floating in a heartbreak haze.
"Purple Dream" – Emi Aramaki
This one is for the hopeless romantics. The synthy magic and airy vocals make it feel like a dream where you’re dancing under neon lights, hoping love finds you again. It’s that perfect blend of nostalgia and longing, like a love story that never quite ended.
Babes, City Pop is SO us. It’s all about longing, daydreaming, and being a little too in your feelings, but in a glamorous way. The lyrics? Poetic but relatable. The instrumentals? Sexy and sophisticated. The vibe? Effortless yet high maintenance (just like us on a good hair day).
We love it because it lets us romanticize life. Every train ride feels like a movie montage, every rainy window turns into a poetic moment, and suddenly, texting your crush back too fast is a crisis worthy of its own theme song.
City pop songs are emotional. They’re about love, heartbreak, longing, and self-discovery—basically, all the things we’re constantly overthinking. Whether you’re crushing hard, healing from a breakup, or just vibing with your own independence, there’s a city pop song for every mood.
So, the next time you’re feeling all the feels, put on some city pop, pour yourself a drink, and let yourself feel. Because, darling, you’re the main character, and this is your soundtrack.
XOXO,
Your Pop Princess 💋🪩
Girlllll, sameeeeeeeeeee
Adding some of these to my playlist immediately!
City pop is a way of life ^^