K-Pop Tracks with City Pop Influence
The music genre city pop is a melting pot of various styles of music in Japanese pop that reflect the urban life in Japan between the 1970s and 1980s; however, this is a very loose category in describing J-Pop during those decades. This style of music gave the aesthetic and retro sound that can be found in songs from Japanese artists like Mariya Takeuchi, Miki Matsubara, Kaoru Akimoto, and many more. As time went on, it came to influence artists all over the world to create songs inspired by city pop, especially in K-Pop.
The influence of city pop in K-Pop is shown through the aesthetic, colors, or even just the unique retro sound alone. It’s a dreamy style that fits for a nighttime drive in the city. Here’s a few tracks from the women in K-Pop that feature influences of the city pop style. You can also find more songs and playlists that have the city pop sound on YouTube and Spotify!
YUKIKA - “SOUL LADY”
As stated in a previous Ladies Corner article, YUKIKA is a Japanese artist and entertainment star that made her debut as a solo artist in Korea in 2019. She stands out from other artists of our generation with her dreamy vocals and city pop-inspired discography. In “SOUL LADY,” we see bright lights, glittery outfits, and small effects in the video that complete the modern day city pop aesthetic. YUKIKA recently released her fourth digital single and music video “여자이고 싶은걸 (loving you),” so go check it out!
Wonder Girls - “Rewind”
As their third and final studio album, Wonder Girls released REBOOT, filled with an ‘80s-inspired retro sound, including the track “Rewind.” This song is very calming and, at first impression, can make your mind visualize a night out in the city. The entire album could easily fit under the categories of city pop and synth pop.
Bronze feat. LUNA - “Melody”
In his second full-length album, singer-songwriter Bronze dropped Aquarium featuring the vocals of various well-known names in the industry, including f(x)'s LUNA! While technically this was written by Bronze, LUNA's vocals are showcased throughout the entirety of the song. As the song starts, it gives off a nostalgic summer-like vibe that transports you to a different time. The entire album has several city pop-inspired tracks aside from “Melody,” so check it out for other memorable tracks!
Yubin - “Lady (淑女)”
When thinking about city pop, this is one of the first songs that comes to mind and should definitely be a favorite from the list! A former member of Wonder Girls, Yubin released “Lady (淑女)” in 2018, showcasing her talents as a solo artist with a city pop-inspired music video and track. The video has bright lights and colors, as well as old-fashioned outfits that give a timeless look in this era. You can see the influences and appreciation for the style of city pop in this video alone.
TWICE - “SAY SOMETHING”
In their fifth anniversary special live WITH, JYP Entertainment's girl group TWICE performed the bouncy track “SAY SOMETHING” from their second full album Eyes wide open. Whether it's the album version or live, TWICE’s soft vocals pair well with the city pop sound in this song. Their vocals give a romantic sound that really fits the mood overall.
CLC - “어디야? (Where are you?)”
In 2017, CLC released their sixth mini-album FREE’SM, featuring the nostalgic and dreamlike track “어디야? (Where are you?).” The music video has a timeless look of a retro filter and is honestly very visually pleasing. The track is about a girl worried about losing her love, fearing he may have left, which gives a more melancholic vibe to the retro sound.
f(x) - “All Night”
Featured in f(x)’s third album Red Light is this gem of a track titled “All Night.” First of all, if you love the music of K-Pop artists from the second generation, it’s definitely a track you’ll appreciate. Even though this was released in 2014, it could easily be a popular city pop-inspired track today. Their vocals shine undeniably in this slow and vibrant track, giving it such an addictive sound that makes you want more.
Brave Girls - “We Ride (운전만해)”
From beginning to end, Brave Girls’s music video for “We Ride (운전만해)” has so much influence from city pop, from the nighttime city animation and neon lights to their outfits with reflective glitter that pop against the backgrounds as they dance. The 2020 single fits well with their nostalgic vocals, and almost makes you wish there were more songs just like this from them.
Red Velvet - “Ladies Night”
Fans online always mention Red Velvet’s “Ladies Night” when looking for city pop-inspired recommendations in K-Pop, and it's obvious why. From their 2019 EP ‘The ReVe Festival’ Day 2, this song has the dreamy vocals and instrumentation that create a retro and somewhat jazzy sound. It’s a B-side that has now become a personal favorite, and is featured in many playlists online from fans that enjoy this ethereal style of music.