The origins of city pop, depicting a Parisian night dream through sound
A soundtrack to a night in 1978, where French exotica, bossa nova, and synth pop intersect.
Yukihiro Takahashi's solo debut, "Saravah!", was released in 1978, just before the formation of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). As the title, derived from the name of a French label, suggests, the album incorporates a variety of musical styles, such as French exotica, bossa nova, and synth pop, evoking the Parisian nightlife of the time. With arrangements by Ryuichi Sakamoto and featuring artists such as Haruomi Hosono and Tatsuro Yamashita, the album is also considered a pioneer of city pop. Tracks such as "Elastic Dummy" and "Back Street Midnight Queen" in particular incorporated elements of disco funk and smooth jazz, laying the foundation for the musical style that would later become YMO. The album exudes an urban, sophisticated atmosphere, breathing new life into the Japanese music scene at the time.
