Summer Songs That Hit in the 2000s | A Look Back at Nostalgic Summer Tunes!
Summer might just be the most exciting season of the year! When you think of summer, you think of outdoor fun like music festivals, the beach, fireworks, barbecues, and road trips.
For students, there’s also the long summer break—there’s no shortage of fun.
And no summer memories are complete without music to lift your spirits even higher.
In this article, we’re focusing on summer songs released in the 2000s and introducing a selection of hit tracks.
Whether you remember those days or aren’t very familiar with music from the 2000s, we hope you enjoy these sparkling summer tunes.
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Summer songs that were hits in the 2000s | A look back at nostalgic summer tunes! (81–90)
Mileage of LoveRAG FAIR
A smash hit for RAG FAIR, and one of their biggest, which debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
The lyrics—“I want to confess my feelings to my crush, but I just can’t… and yet, that’s okay with me”—have a bittersweetness that perfectly suits a summer romance.
The members’ joyful expressions when they sing this song are so delightful to watch.
By the way, when this song was No.
1, No.
2 was ‘She Side Story,’ a single released simultaneously by the same group.
Looking back, the summer of 2002 really was RAG FAIR’s summer!
SHAMROCKUVERworld
This is the fifth single by UVERworld, the rock band known as the “band that makes men cry” for their moving, passionate messages and powerful stage presence.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama Dandori: Dance☆Drill, its robust guitar sound and brisk beat will get your energy up.
The refreshing melody is perfect for music on summer outings.
It’s a summer tune that lets you enjoy both the heat and exhilaration of the season, with flashes of UVERworld’s signature loud arrangement shining through amid the breezy vibe.
summer festivalyuzu
Yuzu is a folk duo that made their major debut in 1998 with the mini-album “YUZUMAN.” They’ve had many summer-themed hits like “Natsuiro” and “NATSUMONOGATARI.” Among them, “Natsumatsuri,” included on their 2004 album “1 ~ONE~,” is a hidden summer gem.
Its especially nostalgic lyrics are captivating, and listening to the song may bring back memories of childhood.
Under the same skyayaka
Ayaka’s “Minna Sora no Shita” showcases her phenomenal vocal prowess and enjoys broad popularity across generations.
No matter what hardships you face, it’s a song that reassures you: “I’m not alone—everything’s okay because we’re all under the same sky!” It’s a very gentle and beautiful song that evokes a clear summer night filled with countless stars.
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
One of the quintessential rock bands you can’t leave out when talking about summer in Japan’s rock scene, Southern All Stars’ 44th single.
It has been tied in with countless outlets—variety shows, the entrance march for high school baseball, TV drama insert songs, and commercials—and it has sold over three million CDs.
Keisuke Kuwata’s distinctive voice, his trademark, and the high-quality melodies that evoke summer even within a laid-back tempo are truly soothing.
It’s the most famous summer song in the J-pop scene, heralding the start of the 2000s.
OCEANB’z
Some of you might strongly associate it with the TV drama “UMIZARU EVOLUTION,” since it was the theme song.
It’s a track that truly embodies a refreshing, passionate summer—a quintessential summer song! B’z’s bold, masculine vocals are stirring, and it’s the kind of number that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced some quintessential summer songs from the 2000s.
Depending on your age, some of you may have felt nostalgic while others found them fresh, but with a playlist full of classics, I’m sure each of you discovered a new favorite.
Let’s turn up the heat with summer tunes, boost the summer mood, and power through the hottest days!