
Plastic Love is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. The song was originally released on Takeuchi's sixth studio album, Variety, in 1984. Variety is considered Takeuchi's comeback album after being on hiatus since 1981 and is the first album entirely written by her. Plastic Love gained popularity internationally in 2017 after a remix was uploaded to YouTube. The song is a love song about a woman who falls deeply in love with a man, only to be betrayed and left. The song has been described as nostalgic and has sparked a revival of interest in the city pop genre, which describes an offshoot of Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s influenced by Western sounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Mariya Takeuchi |
| Album | Variety |
| Year of release | 1984 |
| Record label | Moon Records |
| Genre | City pop |
| Songwriters | Takeuchi Mariya, Yamashita Tatsuro |
| Producers | Yamashita Tatsuro |
| Formats | CD, vinyl, digital |
| Notable tracks | Plastic Love, Honki de Let's Get Married, Aka no Enamel |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Plastic Love' is track 6 on the album 'Variety' by Mariya Takeuchi
- The song was written by Takeuchi and produced by her husband, Tatsuro Yamashita
- Takeuchi wrote the song while on holiday, and it was released when she gave birth to her first child
- The original version of 'Plastic Love' sparked interest and led people to purchase the 'Variety' album
- The song's lyrics depict a woman's devastation after being betrayed by a man she loved

'Plastic Love' is track 6 on the album 'Variety' by Mariya Takeuchi
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. The track first appeared on Takeuchi's sixth studio album, "Variety", which was released on 25 April 1984 through Moon Records. "Plastic Love" is the sixth track on the album, which includes 11 songs in total.
"Variety" is considered Takeuchi's "comeback" album after she took a hiatus from music in 1981. It was her first album that she wrote entirely by herself. The album is also notable for being produced by Takeuchi's husband, Tatsuro Yamashita, who played multiple instruments on the record.
"Plastic Love" has become one of Takeuchi's most famous songs internationally, experiencing a resurgence in popularity in 2017 when a remix was uploaded to YouTube. The song depicts a woman falling deeply in love with a man, only to be betrayed and left. The lyrics explore the introspective turn of love songs and the privatisation of emotion.
The original version of "Plastic Love" on the "Variety" album has sparked interest among listeners, with many seeking out the album to hear this version. A 30th Anniversary Edition of the album was released in 2014, which included a previously unreleased track, "Aka no Enamel", club remixes, and karaoke versions of several songs.
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The song was written by Takeuchi and produced by her husband, Tatsuro Yamashita
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. It was originally released in 1984 as part of her sixth studio album, Variety, which was her comeback album after a hiatus since 1981. The song was written by Takeuchi and produced by her husband, Tatsuro Yamashita, a well-known music artist, writer, and producer in Japan.
Takeuchi wrote the album while on holiday and it was released during the time she gave birth to her first child, a daughter. "Plastic Love" was one of the tracks on the album, and it gained moderate success in Japan when it was released as a single in 1985. The single included an Extended Club Mix and a New Remix, but it was the original version that caught the interest of the public, leading people to purchase the "Variety" album.
"Plastic Love" is a love song about a woman who falls deeply in love with a man, only to be betrayed and left by him. The song explores the woman's realization that true love may not exist and her subsequent inability to fully commit to future relationships. Takeuchi has explained that the song is about the difficulty of finding love in a world that prioritizes monetary exchange over human connection.
While the song initially saw only moderate success in Japan, it experienced a resurgence in popularity internationally in 2017 when a remix was uploaded to YouTube. This led to a renewed interest in the original "Variety" album, which is considered Takeuchi's most successful work, reaching #1 on the 1984 Oricon LP Chart in Japan. The album showcases Takeuchi's talent as a songwriter and composer, and it has become a beloved example of the city pop genre, appealing to fans of Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s.
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Takeuchi wrote the song while on holiday, and it was released when she gave birth to her first child
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. It was first released in 1984 as part of Takeuchi's sixth studio album, Variety, which she wrote and composed herself. The song gained moderate success in Japan but saw a resurgence in international popularity in 2017 when a remix was uploaded to YouTube.
"Plastic Love" was written by Takeuchi while on holiday, and it was released at the same time as she gave birth to her first child. The song is a love song with a nostalgic and introspective tone. It depicts a woman who falls deeply in love with a man, only to be betrayed and left by him. As a result, she learns to play games and can never fully commit to love again, pretending to be in love while knowing that nothing will last forever.
The song is considered part of the city pop genre, which is an offshoot of Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s heavily influenced by Western music. It appealed to those who benefited from Japan's postwar economic miracle and lived with a significant American presence in the country after World War II. The "city pop" genre also gained popularity among those who yearned for an eternal 1980s and a future where Japanese trademarks would dominate the world.
"Plastic Love" was produced by Takeuchi's husband, Tatsuro Yamashita, who also played multiple instruments on the "Variety" album. The album was Takeuchi's comeback after being on hiatus since 1981, and it was her first album entirely written by herself. The original version of "Plastic Love" featured on the "Variety" album, but the single was released with an "Extended Club Mix" and a "New Remix".
The song's release and the birth of her first child marked a significant period in Takeuchi's life, showcasing her creative talents and her ability to balance her personal and professional endeavours.
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The original version of 'Plastic Love' sparked interest and led people to purchase the 'Variety' album
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. The song was originally released on Takeuchi's sixth studio album, "Variety," which came out on April 25, 1984, through Moon Records. The album is considered Takeuchi's "comeback" album after a hiatus since 1981 and is the first album entirely written by her.
"Plastic Love" gained significant attention and sparked interest among music enthusiasts. The original version of the song, featured on the "Variety" album, captivated listeners and drove people to purchase the album. The song's popularity contributed to the success of the "Variety" album, which debuted at #1 on the Oricon Charts in Japan.
The song has a nostalgic and dreamy vibe, with its smooth and catchy melody, becoming a favourite among fans of City Pop, a Japanese music genre originating in the 1980s. The song's lyrics, written by Takeuchi, depict a woman's journey of love, heartbreak, and her subsequent realization about the nature of love and the world around her.
The popularity of "Plastic Love" led to the release of various versions and remixes. The single was released with an Extended Club Mix and a New Remix, offering listeners different interpretations of the original track. The song's resurgence continued with a seven-minute version uploaded to YouTube in 2017, further solidifying its impact and reach.
The "Variety" album holds a special place in Takeuchi's discography, as it marked her return to the music industry after a break. The album showcases her talent as a songwriter and composer, with each track offering a unique style and showcasing her artistic range. The success of "Plastic Love" and the "Variety" album has left a lasting impact on the music industry, with the song gaining a cult following and the album being recognized as a seminal work in Japanese City Pop.
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The song's lyrics depict a woman's devastation after being betrayed by a man she loved
Plastic Love, the beloved City Pop track by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi, is a song that has gained immense popularity and acclaim, not only in Japan but also internationally, with its smooth and dreamy melody capturing the hearts of many. The song was released in 1984 as part of her "Variety" album, which was her fifth studio album.
The lyrics of Plastic Love tell a sorrowful tale of a woman's heartbreak and devastation following a betrayal by her loved one. The song begins with a sense of denial and disbelief as she struggles to accept the reality of the situation, singing, "I can't believe it's true, that you'd really go and leave me." The pain of her broken trust and the realization that her love was not reciprocated cut deep, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed.
As the song progresses, so does the emotional journey of the protagonist. She reminisces about the happy times they shared, the promises made, and the dreams they built together, only to have them shattered in an instant. The chorus, with its catchy and upbeat melody, belies the true sadness of the lyrics as she laments, "Plastic love, it doesn't mean a thing. Can't you see what it's doing to me? Plastic love, it's breaking my heart. Taking you away, tearing us apart."
In the bridge, there's a sense of desperation and longing as she pleads for him to come back and make things right, even though she knows deep down that their relationship may never be the same again. The song concludes with a sense of resignation and acceptance of their fate, as she realizes that sometimes love isn't enough to overcome life's challenges, singing, "Though I'll always love you so, I guess it's time to let you go."
Through Plastic Love, Takeuchi masterfully captures the complex emotions of heartbreak and the journey from denial to acceptance. The song's enduring appeal lies not only in its catchy melody but also in its relatable narrative of love, loss, and the resilience of the human heart. It serves as a timeless reminder that even in the face of betrayal and heartbreak, there is beauty and strength in the process of healing and moving forward.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Love is on the album Variety by Mariya Takeuchi.
Takeuchi wrote the song Plastic Love, and her husband, Tatsuro Yamashita, produced it.
The Variety album was released on 25 April 1984 through Moon Records.
Plastic Love is a Japanese "city pop" song. City pop describes an offshoot of Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s that was heavily influenced by the West.
Plastic Love is a love song about a woman who falls deeply in love with a man, only to be betrayed and left by him. She then learns her tricks and plays her games, never fully committing to love again.






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