Song of the Day 3/29: Tatsuro Yamashita, “Sparkle”

Guest post by Nathan Arizona

You’ll be hearing a lot about the K-pop group BTS, international superstars back on stage after completing compulsory service in the South Korean army. But a much more interesting Asian-pop style has been sparking interest in young listeners, thanks partly to a YouTube algorithm that captured their attention.

They call it city pop. The Japanese style has been around since the economic boom years of the ‘70s and ‘80s, when musicians there started paying attention to the soft rock and soul sounds crossing the ocean from California and elsewhere in America. The current American city pop band known as Ginger Root calls its version “aggressive elevator soul.”

City pop can get you ready for the approaching summer. In its heyday the Japanese sometimes called it resort rock. The popular city pop musician Tatsuro Yamashita was known as Summer Rock Guy. This 2023 video of his 1982 hit “Sparkle” combines the original music with an ocean-vibe design that evokes the era. The dancer seems to be from now, and Wes Anderson would find much to appreciate.

The 1985 Japanese hit “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi was the first song the algorithms touted to Gen Z. One listener imagined the original singer telling her audience, “40 years [from now] your kids are gonna love it.” Another wrote, “My non-existent memories from my time living in Japan in the mid ’80s are kicking [in] again.” This video was made in 2019 with the original music, using actors for the new visuals. I’m hearing some of Boz Scaggs’ smooth pop-soul from his “Lowdown” era.

Ginger Root is one of the contemporary bands putting their own spin on the classic city pop style.