Throwback Thursday: City Pop K-Pop
“City Pop” is a genre popularized in Japan in the 1980s that blends various musical styles together like jazz and funk. The result makes for the perfect dreamy soundtrack to have drifting through your car stereo in a city at night (namely Tokyo). Recent City Pop inspired tracks like Tomorrow x Together’s cover of “Fairy of Shampoo” and SEVENTEEN’s “I Wish” have gained popularity among fans, but truth be told, City Pop has thrived in Korea for years.
“Where Are You” - CLC
“Where Are You” is the title track of CLC’s 2017 mini-album Free’sm. From its smooth saxophone to dreamlike synths, the track has more than enough retro vibes to please any City Pop fan. The girl group also adopted a City Pop concept for the music video, with an old-timey aspect ratio (compared to the typical widescreen one) and a vintage filter, giving the song that extra needed touch.
“Violet Fragrance” - Kang Susie
Originally released in 1990 by Kang Susie on her self-titled album, “Violet Fragrance” sounds just like its Japanese predecessors. The track is a warm, feel-good love song that will leave anyone feeling nostalgic; this made it the perfect fit to be part of the soundtrack of Reply 1988. Aside from its growth in modern-day popularity thanks to the K-Drama, the song has also been covered numerous times, by everyone from MAMAMOO to IU.
“Faded Love” - Wonder Girls
It’s no surprise Korea’s “Queens of Retro” ended up on this list. “Faded Love” is a B-side off of Wonder Girls’ critically acclaimed 2015 album REBOOT, a release in which all the members took part in the production. The album marked Sunmi’s return to the group and she is credited as both lyricist and composer on “Faded Love.” Despite the upbeat tendencies found in most City Pop, the Wonder Girls’ take on the genre is a more solemn one in this track; who knew heartbreak could be so groovy?
“MOOD FOR LOVE” - THE SOLUTIONS
Released as a single in 2018, “MOOD FOR LOVE” is a City Pop inspired track from the indie band THE SOLUTIONS. Though their sound leans toward a Brit Rock influence, the band is about as known for experimenting with their sound as they are known for their penchant for synths—it goes without saying that City Pop fits them like a glove. The band takes the genre in the literal sense with the music video for the track: the video is simply a drive through a cityscape at night.