The combination of the now iconic photo, the instantly catchy vibes, and the earworm appeal of TakeuchiРІР‚в„ўs performance continued to propel the viral hit. The now iconic portrait, which was originally for another Takeuchi single, was taken by American photographer Alan Levenson. That is, until a copyright strike over the thumbnail photo caused the track to vanish. As Pitchfork notes, the unofficial upload, posted to a channel called Plastic Lover, racked up over 24 million views. The songРІР‚в„ўs comeback this November isnРІР‚в„ўt the first revival for РІР‚СљPlastic Love.РІР‚Сњ Decades after its original release, seemingly out of nowhere, an extended version of the song went viral on YouTube in 2017. РІР‚СљNo matter how many other guys would pursue her, she couldnРІР‚в„ўt shake the feelings of loneliness that the loss created.РІР‚СњР”В«ut when a 12-inch single was released in Japan in March 1985, it only reached #86 on the Japanese music charts however, the album on which it appeared, Variety, was a number one smash hit. I wanted to write something that had 16 beats and lyrics capturing what life in a city was like.РІР‚Сњ According to Takeuchi, the lyrics are about a woman who lost her true love. РІР‚СљI also wanted to write something danceable, something with a city pop sound. РІР‚СљI wanted to write a rock song, a folk song, a country song,РІР‚Сњ she added. РІР‚СљI was writing songs at the time because it was fun for me.РІР‚Сњ (Full disclosure: I am a columnist at The Japan Times.) РІР‚СљI was pregnant with a child at the time, so it wasnРІР‚в„ўt like I was really able to indulge in the bubble-era excess in the same way as others could,РІР‚Сњ Takeuchi told The Japan Times.

Written and sung by Mariya Takeuchi, РІР‚СљPlastic LoveРІР‚Сњ is pure РІР‚Сљcity pop,РІР‚Сњ a loosely-defined, breezy genre that has been described as РІР‚Сљmusic made by city people, for city people.РІР‚Сњ Few things evoke the heady 1980s bubble era Japan more than city pop tunes. According to Warner Music Japan, its re-issued 12-inch single also broke the countryРІР‚в„ўs top ten sales chart for the first time. This month, well over three decades after its original release, the songРІР‚в„ўs full-length official video was finally uploaded to YouTube. Recorded in 1984, РІР‚СљPlastic LoveРІР‚Сњ is the song that continues to make comeback after comeback. The official music video reminds me of those overwrought karaoke videos that play at Japanese karaoke parlors, which suits the vibe.

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