City Pop Genres and Subgenres

City Pop, while often discussed as a single genre, encompasses a diverse range of musical styles and influences. This article explores the various genres and subgenres within and adjacent to City Pop, focusing on funk and disco influences, jazz fusion elements, and tropical and Caribbean flavors.

Funk and Disco Influences

Funk and disco played crucial roles in shaping the sound of City Pop, contributing to its rhythmic energy and dance-oriented appeal.

Characteristics of Funk-Infused City Pop Tracks

1. Groovy Basslines: Funk-influenced City Pop often features prominent, syncopated basslines that drive the rhythm of the song. Artists like Tatsuro Yamashita frequently incorporate these elements.
2. Rhythmic Guitar Work: Choppy, percussive guitar parts inspired by funk are common in many City Pop tracks.
3. Horn Sections: Many funk-influenced City Pop songs feature punchy horn arrangements, adding to the genre’s energetic sound.
4. Syncopated Drum Patterns: Drum patterns in these tracks often emphasize offbeats, creating a groove that encourages movement.
5. Extended Instrumental Sections: Like in funk music, City Pop tracks often feature extended instrumental breaks or interludes.

Notable Disco Hits Within the Genre

1. “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi: While not strictly a disco song, this City Pop classic incorporates disco elements in its steady four-on-the-floor beat and string arrangements.
2. “Midnight Driver” by Minako Yoshida: This track exemplifies the fusion of disco and City Pop, with its driving beat and lush orchestration.
3. “Dress Down” by Kaoru Akimoto: Another example of City Pop’s disco influence, featuring a pulsing beat and sweeping strings.
4. “Sweetest Music” by Taeko Ohnuki: This track blends disco rhythms with City Pop’s sophisticated production style.

Jazz Fusion Elements

Jazz fusion played a significant role in City Pop, contributing to its complex harmonies and sophisticated instrumentation.

Integration of Jazz Harmonies and Progressions

1. Complex Chord Progressions: Many City Pop songs feature chord progressions borrowed from jazz, moving beyond simple pop structures.
2. Extended Chords: The use of seventh, ninth, and other extended chords is common in City Pop, adding harmonic richness.
3. Modal Interchange: City Pop often employs chords borrowed from parallel keys, a technique common in jazz.
4. Improvisation: While not as prominent as in pure jazz, many City Pop tracks feature instrumental solos and improvised sections.

Key Artists Known for Jazz Influences

1. Hiroshi Sato: His album “Orient” is a prime example of jazz fusion elements in City Pop, featuring complex harmonies and virtuosic keyboard work.
2. Casiopea: While primarily an instrumental fusion band, Casiopea’s work significantly influenced and overlapped with City Pop.
3. Tatsuro Yamashita: Many of Yamashita’s compositions incorporate sophisticated jazz harmonies and structures.
4. Yurie Kokubu: Her work often blends jazz fusion elements with City Pop’s polished production style.

Tropical and Caribbean Flavors

City Pop often incorporated tropical and Caribbean sounds, reflecting Japan’s fascination with exotic locales and creating a sense of escape.

Exploration of Tropical Sounds in Certain City Pop Tracks

1. Steel Drums: The use of steel drum sounds (often synthesized) is common in tropically-influenced City Pop tracks.
2. Island Rhythms: Many City Pop songs incorporate rhythms inspired by Caribbean music, such as reggae and calypso.
3. Lyrical Themes: Songs often reference tropical locations, beach scenes, and island lifestyles.
4. Breezy Arrangements: Lighter, breezier arrangements with prominent use of acoustic guitars and percussion are characteristic of this style.

Influence from Caribbean Music Styles

1. Reggae Influences: Some City Pop tracks incorporate reggae-style offbeat rhythms and bass patterns.
2. Soca and Calypso Elements: The upbeat, carnival-like feel of soca and calypso music can be heard in certain City Pop tracks.
3. Fusion with Japanese Elements: These Caribbean influences are often blended seamlessly with Japanese melodic sensibilities and City Pop’s polished production.
4. Artists and Tracks:

• Anri’s “Shyness Boy” incorporates Caribbean-inspired rhythms.
• Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Sparkle” features tropical-influenced percussion and arrangements.
• Taeko Ohnuki’s “Tokai” blends City Pop with subtle reggae influences.

Other Notable Subgenres and Related Styles

1. Shibuya-kei: While emerging after City Pop’s peak, Shibuya-kei drew heavily from City Pop’s sophisticated pop sensibilities and international influences.
2. New Music: This genre, which preceded and overlapped with City Pop, emphasized singer-songwriter elements and often featured more acoustic arrangements.
3. AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) Influence: Many City Pop artists were influenced by Western AOR, incorporating its smooth production and emphasis on overall album cohesion.
4. Ambient City Pop: Some artists explored more atmospheric, ambient-influenced versions of City Pop, creating a chilled-out variation of the genre.
5. Electronic City Pop: As synthesizer technology advanced, some artists pushed further into electronic territory, creating a subgenre that bridged City Pop and early Japanese electronic music.

The diversity within City Pop reflects the genre’s nature as a melting pot of musical influences. By incorporating elements from funk, disco, jazz fusion, and tropical music (among others), City Pop created a unique sound that was simultaneously familiar and exotic to Japanese listeners.

This diversity also contributes to City Pop’s enduring appeal and influence. Different aspects of the genre have resonated with various listeners and artists over time, from the funk-influenced rhythms that appeal to dance music fans to the complex jazz harmonies that attract more musically inclined listeners.

Understanding these subgenres and influences not only provides a more comprehensive view of City Pop as a musical movement but also helps explain its wide-ranging impact on contemporary music, from vaporwave and future funk to modern J-pop and Western indie pop. The genre’s ability to seamlessly blend diverse influences created a rich musical tapestry that continues to inspire and delight listeners around the world.