Catchy Japanese Funk and Pop Music to Get You Moving
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Looking for some fresh, new music to add to your workout playlist? Check out our latest roundup of catchy Japanese funk and pop tunes that are sure to get you moving!
Japanese Funk and Pop Music
The Origins of Japanese Funk and Pop Music
Japanese funk and pop music have their origins in a number of different styles, including traditional Japanese music, Brazilian music, and disco. The first Japanese funk band to gain popularity was Yellow Magic Orchestra, who combined elements of all these genres to create a unique sound that caught on with audiences both in Japan and abroad.
Other popular Japanese funk and pop bands include P-Model, Towa Tei, and Fantastic Plastic Machine. These groups have continued to experiment with different sounds and styles, keeping Japanese funk and pop music fresh and exciting.
If you’re looking for some catchy Japanese funk and pop tunes to get you moving, check out the videos below. You’re sure to find something you like!
The Characteristics of Japanese Funk and Pop Music
Japanese funk and pop music is characterized by its catchy tunes, upbeat rhythms, and happy-go-lucky lyrics. This type of music is often used in commercials, anime themes, and video games. It is also popular among young people and is often played at clubs and parties.
The Best Japanese Funk and Pop Music
Music has a way of getting us up and moving, no matter what we’re doing. It can make us feel happy, or energetic, or nostalgic. And sometimes, we just need a good jam to get us through the day. When it comes to finding music that does this, there’s nothing quite like Japanese funk and pop.
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five is a legendary Japanese pop band that was formed in the late 1980s. The band’s sound is a mix of synth-pop, bossa nova, and electronic music. The band’s name comes from the Italian word “pizzicato,” which means “plucked.” Pizzicato Five is known for their catchy melodies, fun lyrics, and upbeat music. The band has released many albums and singles over the years, and they continue to be popular in Japan.
The Yellow Magic Orchestra
The Yellow Magic Orchestra is a Japanese electronic music band formed in 1975, consisting of composer/producer Haruomi Hosono, producer/arranger/composer Yukihiro Takahashi, and singer/songwriter Ryuichi Sakamoto. The band also became popular internationally, with their 1978 album release Apollo introducing them to Western audiences. In addition to their work as a band, the members of YMO were involved in solo projects that helped to pioneer electronic genres such as synth-pop and techno.
Shibuya-kei
Shibuya-kei (渋谷系) is a subgenre of J-pop named after Shibuya, Tokyo, one of the fashion centers of Japan. Shibuya-kei artists dress and perform in a style strongly influenced by retro Western popular culture, particularly music and fashion from the 1960s and 1970s. The term “Shibuya-kei” was first used in 1992 by music critic Hidehiko Hoshino (星野英彦) to describe the music of Pizzicato Five.
Shibuya-kei is not limited to a specific musical style; rather, it is defined by its aesthetic. While the genre includes a wide range of styles, including bossa nova, synth-pop, disco, and fusion, most Shibuya-kei artists incorporate elements of pop and club music. The aesthetic values vintage Western popular culture highly, and as such the genre often includes covers or pastiches of songs from that era. In addition to music, fashion and film are also major influences on Shibuya-kei artists.
How to Get Into Japanese Funk and Pop Music
Japanese funk and pop music is some of the catchiest, most fun, and most energizing music out there. It’s perfect for getting you moving, and it’s also great for dancing. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, or if you’re just curious about what all the hype is about, then give Japanese funk and pop music a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Start with Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five is a Japanese funk and pop band that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The band’s music is a mix of pop, bossa nova, disco, and electronic music. The band’s name comes from the Italian word for “plucked,” which is a type of guitar technique.
The band is fronted by vocalist Maki Nomiya and keyboardist Yasuharu Konishi. Nomiya was an important figure in the Shibuya-kei scene, and her style of fashion and music was influential on many Japanese women in the 1990s. Konishi is a well-known record producer, and he has worked with many other Japanese artists.
Pizzicato Five’s most famous song is “Twiggy Twiggy,” which was used in a television commercial for Subaru in Japan. The song topped the charts in Japan, and the video for the song was directed by Wong Kar-wai.
If you’re interested in getting into Japanese funk and pop music, start with Pizzicato Five. Their catchy tunes and unique style will get you hooked on this exciting genre of music.
Listen to The Yellow Magic Orchestra
The Yellow Magic Orchestra was one of the first Japanese bands to find widespread success both in Japan and abroad, and their influence can still be heard in today’s Japanese music scene. They blended traditional Japanese instruments with electronic music to create a unique sound that was both futuristic and rooted in tradition. If you’re looking for a starting point for exploring Japanese funk and pop music, look no further than The Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Discover Shibuya-kei
In the early 1990s, a group of musicians in Tokyo began making an eccentric brand of pop music that would come to be known as Shibuya-kei. Mixing elements of synth-pop, bossa nova, easy listening, and electronic dance music, Shibuya-kei was cute and quirky, and its popularity quickly spread throughout Japan.
The movement gained international acclaim in the late 1990s with the release of Pizzicato Five’s Made in USA album. But by the early 2000s, Shibuya-kei had largely fallen out of favor in Japan.
Today, however, there is a new generation of Japanese musicians who are carrying the torch for Shibuya-kei. If you’re looking for some catchy and fun Japanese music to add to your collection, check out these artists.
