Lin points out that among the popular songs of the Japanese era, a lot of numbers with romantic themes were very "progressive," incorporating unwed motherhood, freedom of choice in marriage, flirting, and urban night life. Rhythms were mainly waltz, foxtrot, or tango, making the songs very danceable, while the instruments used were a fascinating mix of Western and Chinese.
林太崴指出，日據時代流行歌曲中，許多戀愛主題寫來非常「前衛」，未婚懷孕、婚姻自主、男女調情、都會夜生活等都被寫進去，曲調則融入華爾滋、狐步或探戈的節奏，很適合跳舞；樂器更是中西合璧，往往月琴、嗩吶、簫、小提琴、鋼琴自由混搭，趣味十足。