CITY POP: We've all heard about it, but no one remembers where...
(Edited)
Japan, from 1950 until the late 1980's had the most gigantic growth in recent history in multiple areas. Economic, cultural, musical, cinematic, demographic, consumer; you name it. No matter when you do your research on this topic, in one way or another, all indicators will lead you to the same logical conclusion: Japan is a worldwide benchmark for all countries in almost every aspect. CITY POP is a sub-genre of Pop that I bring to you today, dear HIVERS, and that will surprise you all....
I can assure you that each and every one of you, the instant you hear a CITY POP song, will feel several curious emotions. The first one, you will most probably feel it intimate and familiar; even without ever having heard it. Let alone having experienced in situ the magic of this powerful genre, extremely influential in most of the lives of those of us who make life in HIVE and above all, who understand the importance of the culture of the 21st century.
"Plastic Love", is the name of one of the flagship songs of this genre. To put it in a more playful and simple way: Madonna's "Material Girl" is to traditional pop what "Plastic Love" is to CITY POP. So why all the fuss about this song or this style of making music in Japan? Well, because I find some tremendously curious links between the influence that animation from the Land of the Rising Sun has had and our way of seeing life here in the West.
Let's remember that already at the end of the 70's and throughout the following decade, Japan became the world's biggest musical. Or, at least it is there, in the top 3 of the market. For more than 30 years, the Japanese copied absolutely everything. Funk, rock, pop, swing, ska, reggae, punk rock, soul, electronic music; absolutely everything. But unlike the Chinese, the Japanese way of making music prevailed in Japan. Import everything but adapt it. In this way, and as a consequence of the mixture and consumption of western music, the new generation of young people who enjoyed the benefits of consumerism and technological development of the time, the genre that brings us here today was born.
A mixture of all the genres I have already explained but with a touch for all audiences. With western musicians, renowned Japanese producers and with a clear destination. Use and throw. I mean, this is the genre that has generated the most instant hits in the music industry and at the same time, it's a fog machine. Each and every one of us, I am sure, has heard a song from this genre at one time or another, but at the same time it is impossible to identify the author of the songs. It was important to find the hit at any cost, not so much to remember who did it...
As I have already told you, this genre is a reflection of its historical time. But it is also a window, like few others, into the purest nostalgia. That adjective is not in the title by mere chance. It has a descriptive use. Why? Thanks to the opening of the anime that we all, I am absolutely sure, have consumed, and that we can remember very well today. If you look closely, the style of music, let's say, the genre, that dominates in a key way in the songs of the most famous anime are from the CITY POP genre.
Sailor Moon, Yu-Yu Hakusho, Inu Yasha, Knights of the Zodiac, etc. are just famous examples that we can all relate to. For this reason, we recognise with a certain ease the sounds and spirit that come from CITY POP. We feel it close, our own; and at the same time we associate it with a somewhat happier and more carefree past time of the here and now, which is so different. .... At heart, CITY POP is not just a style of music, it is a way of understanding a period that was extremely rich and recently booming. This is another curious reality as well.
J-Pop and K-Pop have a lot to thank CITY POP for. They are its direct heirs. Musically, as well as in the matter of creating atmosphere, both genres that so much mark the musical consumption of this 21st century are closely linked to each other. Once again, music is applying the inexorable cycle of recycling. The same principle is used in fashion and design, and we all tend to notice it when we notice the details of a bygone era. Status, culture, Pop music and anime; it all comes with CITY POP.
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Nice song to be precise. It has a good melody
Which one exactly? Thanks for stopping by and for your comment, friend.
The last one
Hope you've enjoyed it. This kind of music is just meaningful. It can create an atmosphere from zero. Thank you for stopping by, love!
Yeah, you are right.. you are welcome dear
That is the J way indeed. Now I was not even aware that this was a genre maybe because I missed out on both Manga and K pop. I do hear very familiar sounds of 80´s and synth music from back in the days and that underlines your story...thanks for opening my eyes to another genre!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, mate!! That's the whole point, I mean, spread music, getting to know all about music, @whywhy
That is what I love to do as well at least once a week on Friday!
It's that so? Well, you should definitely listen to this tomorrow. 🤩