Alexei Volkov
Plastic Love is a song by Japanese pop legend Mariya Takeuchi, released in 1984 on her album Variety. The song is considered a classic example of city pop, a genre of Japanese music influenced by Western genres like soft rock, R&B, funk, and disco. With its upbeat melody and catchy rhythm, Plastic Love has gained widespread popularity, especially on YouTube, where it has been remixed and covered by numerous artists. The song's lyrics, sung in Japanese, tell a melancholy story of a woman coping with heartache and the superficiality of romantic relationships, resonating with audiences around the world and sparking various interpretations and fan art.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Mariya Takeuchi |
| Genre | City Pop, J-Pop |
| Mood | Melancholy, Funky, Boppy, Catchy |
| Lyrics | Regret of superficiality, inauthenticity of a romantic relationship, loneliness |
| Year of Release | 1984 |
| Album | Variety |
| Peak Position on Japanese Music Charts | 86 |
| Language | Japanese |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Plastic Love' is a form of J-Pop or Japanese pop music
- The song is considered a classic example of City Pop, a subgenre of pop music that emerged in Japan in the 1980s
- The song's popularity is linked to its association with Vaporwave, a genre that remixes old songs from the '80s and '90s
- The song's lyrics highlight the inauthenticity of a romantic relationship due to self-centredness and superficiality
- 'Plastic Love' has been remixed, mashed up with other tracks, and gained a cult following online
'Plastic Love' is a form of J-Pop or Japanese pop music
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese pop legend Mariya Takeuchi. It was originally recorded in 1984 and included in her album "Variety", which sold more than 16 million copies. The song only reached number 86 on the Japanese music charts at the time of its release. However, in 2017, an eight-minute fan-made remix of the track was uploaded to YouTube, and it quickly racked up millions of views. This sparked a new wave of popularity for the song, and it eventually broke into the top ten sales chart in Japan in 2021.
"Plastic Love" is considered a classic example of the city pop genre, which emerged in Japan in the early 1980s. City pop is influenced by Western genres such as soft rock, R&B, funk, disco, and gospel, and is known for its bright horn sections and soaring strings. The song has a catchy melody and an upbeat tune, but the lyrics tell a sad story of a woman coping with heartache by indulging in shallow, empty pleasures. The word "plastic" in the title refers to the artificial and imitation nature of the love described in the song.
The song's blend of upbeat music and melancholy lyrics struck a chord with listeners, especially the younger generation, who related to the story of a person trying to fill a void with hedonistic pursuits. The song's popularity led to numerous covers and remixes, with artists such as Friday Night Plans, Enon Kawatani, and 9m88 putting their own spin on the track. "Plastic Love" also inspired fan art, memes, and discussions on global forums, solidifying its impact on pop culture.
In conclusion, "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi is a seminal J-pop or Japanese pop song that has left an enduring legacy on the music industry and pop culture at large. Its unique blend of catchy melodies and poignant lyrics continues to resonate with audiences, even decades after its initial release.
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The song is considered a classic example of City Pop, a subgenre of pop music that emerged in Japan in the 1980s
"Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi is considered a classic example of City Pop, a subgenre of pop music that emerged in Japan in the 1980s. City Pop is known for its upbeat and catchy melodies, often with a nostalgic feel that harkens back to the 1980s. The genre is heavily influenced by Western music styles such as soft rock, R&B, funk, disco, and gospel, resulting in a unique blend of sounds that sets it apart from other types of pop music.
City Pop, including "Plastic Love", has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, especially among millennials and younger generations. This resurgence can be attributed to the rise of internet platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where City Pop songs have gone viral and sparked a new interest in the genre. The appeal of City Pop lies in its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia, even among those who were not alive during the 1980s. The slick and polished production, catchy beats, and relatable lyrics of "Plastic Love" have contributed to its enduring popularity and impact on modern music culture.
The song "Plastic Love" exemplifies the key characteristics of City Pop, with its blend of funky rhythms, breezy horn and string arrangements, and tasteful guitar licks. Takeuchi's vocals seamlessly transition between coy, plaintive, and heartbroken, reflecting the song's theme of a woman coping with heartache through shallow, empty pursuits. The lyrics of the song, although in Japanese, resonate with listeners worldwide due to their universal themes of loneliness and the pursuit of superficial pleasures.
The impact of "Plastic Love" extends beyond its musical appeal, as it has also influenced art, fashion, and aesthetics. The song's cover art has inspired fan art and discussions on global forums, while its nostalgic vibe has sparked interest in retro fashion and cyberpunk aesthetics. Additionally, the song's popularity has led to the discovery and appreciation of other City Pop artists and songs, expanding the reach and influence of the genre.
"Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi has stood the test of time as a defining example of City Pop, a genre that continues to captivate audiences and shape music trends in Japan and beyond. Its unique blend of catchy melodies, relatable themes, and polished production showcases the best of 1980s Japanese pop music, solidifying its place as a classic in the history of J-Pop.
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The song's popularity is linked to its association with Vaporwave, a genre that remixes old songs from the '80s and '90s
"Plastic Love" is a song by Japanese pop legend Mariya Takeuchi, from her 1984 album "Variety". The song is a melancholic, funky, catchy, and hypnotic J-pop tune with an upbeat tune and sad lyrics. The song's popularity can be attributed to its association with Vaporwave, a genre that remixes old songs from the 80s and 90s.
Vaporwave is a genre of music that gained popularity in the 2010s, characterized by remixing older songs, especially from the 80s and 90s. It is heavily influenced by the aesthetics of these decades, such as neon and cyberpunk, as well as Japanese characters and anime. Vaporwave gained a following among younger generations, and its popularity helped bring attention to similar songs like "Plastic Love".
In 2017, an eight-minute fan-made remix of "Plastic Love" was uploaded to YouTube by a user named Plastic Lover. This remix gained significant traction, reaching millions of views before being taken down due to copyright issues. The popularity of this remix sparked a chain reaction, with the song being remixed countless times, mashed up with tracks by various artists, and inspiring fan art and an official music video.
The song's catchy melody and relatable lyrics also contributed to its popularity. "Plastic Love" tells the story of a woman coping with heartache by indulging in shallow relationships and material possessions. Despite being sung in Japanese, the emotions conveyed in the song resonated with listeners worldwide, with many commenting on how the song made them feel.
Additionally, the song's title, "Plastic Love," captures the theme of manufactured and artificial love, which many listeners found relatable in today's fast-paced and hedonistic world. The combination of its catchy melody and thought-provoking lyrics struck a chord with audiences, contributing to its lasting popularity.
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The song's lyrics highlight the inauthenticity of a romantic relationship due to self-centredness and superficiality
"Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi is a song that gained popularity in the late 2010s, decades after its original release in 1984. The song is classified as "city pop", a genre of Japanese music that emerged in the early 1980s, influenced by Western genres like soft rock, R&B, funk, disco, and gospel.
The lyrics of "Plastic Love" highlight the inauthenticity of a romantic relationship due to self-centredness and superficiality. The song is about a woman who, haunted by a breakup, views love as a game and tries to fill her loneliness with shallow indulgences and hollow hookups. The word "plastic" is key to understanding the song's message, suggesting that love can be manufactured, reproduced, and imitated, but is ultimately artificial and not genuine.
Takeuchi sings from the perspective of someone trying to move on from failed relationships through means that do not bring true fulfilment. This is reflected in lyrics such as "Never take loving someone like me serious/Love is just a game, I just want to have fun". The song's upbeat and catchy melody contrasts with the sad and melancholy emotions conveyed through the lyrics, creating a sense of irony and depth.
The song's popularity can be attributed to its relatable themes of heartbreak and loneliness, as well as its catchy and hypnotic groove. "Plastic Love" has resonated with listeners worldwide, sparking numerous remixes, covers, and discussions, and has become a defining example of the city pop genre.
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'Plastic Love' has been remixed, mashed up with other tracks, and gained a cult following online
"Plastic Love" is a city pop song by Japanese singer Mariya Takeuchi from her 1984 album "Variety". The song has an upbeat arrangement and danceable tune, but its lyrics are melancholic and describe a woman embracing a hedonistic lifestyle after being scorned by a lover.
In the late 2010s, an eight-minute fan-made remix of "Plastic Love" went viral on YouTube, receiving over 22 million views by 2019 and over 55 million views by 2021. The remix was created by looping several parts of the original song to extend its length. The video featured a photograph by L.A.-based photographer Alan Levenson, taken during the production of Takeuchi's album. This remix introduced millions of new English-speaking fans to the city pop genre and sparked an international resurgence of interest in it. The song's popularity on YouTube inspired strong emotions in listeners, as evidenced by the hate mail sent to YouTube following the video's removal due to a copyright strike.
"Plastic Love" has also gained a cult following on other online platforms such as Reddit, where users have discussed their obsession with the song's melancholy yet catchy feeling. The song has been described as a gateway to the city pop genre for younger listeners, and its fan-made remixes and mashups with Western songs have circulated "ubiquitously" online. One such mashup is "The Whims of Plastic Love" by Metalik, which combines "Plastic Love" with "The Whims of Fate" from Persona 5.
In addition to remixes and mashups, "Plastic Love" has also inspired covers by artists such as Friday Night Plans, Japanese idol group Juice=Juice, and K-pop singer Yubin. The song's popularity led to a re-issue of Takeuchi's original single on 12-inch vinyl, which peaked at number five on the Oricon Singles Chart in 2021 and became the best-selling analog single of that year in Japan.
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Frequently asked questions
'Plastic Love' is about a woman who is dealing with heartache and views love as a game after a breakup, covering up her loneliness with shallow, empty experiences. The word "plastic" in the title refers to something that is manufactured, reproduced, and imitated, reflecting the artificial nature of the love described in the song.
'Plastic Love' is a city pop song, a genre of Japanese music that emerged in the early '80s and was influenced by Western genres such as soft rock, R&B, funk, disco, and gospel. City pop is known for its bright horn sections and soaring strings.
'Plastic Love' became popular outside of Japan due to a combination of factors, including a viral eight-minute remix uploaded to YouTube in 2017, internet memes, global forum discussions, and remixes of the track. The song's nostalgic feel and relatable lyrics also resonated with audiences worldwide.
