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 Hit in the 2000s | Introducing Nostalgic Summer Tunes! (1–10)
secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
In a girls’ band scene that’s often treated like idol culture, ZONE introduced a new style—neither idol nor band—called a “bandol,” and this is their third single that embodies it.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama Kids War 3 and, having sold 700,000 copies, is widely known as ZONE’s signature number.
Its wistful melody carried by a relaxed shuffle beat and its lyrics with a strong sense of storytelling strike a chord, evoking memories of summer.
summer festivalWhiteberry
Although they disbanded after a relatively short 10 years together, the five-member girls’ band Whiteberry from Hokkaido left a definite mark on the J-pop scene.
This is their third single.
Used as the theme song for the TV drama “Fushigi na Hanashi,” it’s also known as a cover of JITTERIN’JINN’s fourth single released in 1990.
True to its title, the lyrics evoke a summer festival, depicting timeless scenes that resonate regardless of era.
It’s a staple summer song of the 2000s that reminds us that true classics never fade.
White BeachHY
This is one of HY’s signature early tracks, blending a refreshing breeze that evokes Okinawa with a faintly wistful melody that strikes the heart.
The song conjures up vivid images of pristine white beaches while deftly expressing nostalgia for passing seasons and a touch of loneliness.
Released as a single in March 2006—after the band achieved the remarkable feat of topping the Oricon charts for four consecutive weeks in 2003 as an indie act with their classic album Street Story—it went on to be loved by even more listeners.
It’s the perfect number to play at the end of summer on a drive, or when you want to lose yourself in thought amid beautiful scenery.
Summer songs that were hits in the 2000s | Introducing nostalgic summer tunes! (11–20)
King of SummerKinKi Kids
From the rousing shout at the beginning, this cheerful KinKi Kids number instantly sweeps you into summer mode.
It’s bursting with energetic charm that blows away your worries as brightly as the sun.
Built on a Latin pop foundation, the horn section and steel pans carry a tropical breeze and create a comfortable groove.
Released in June 2000, the song captured many hearts as the theme for the drama “Summer Snow” starring Tsuyoshi Domoto.
It drew fresh attention again in 2023 as a McDonald’s commercial song.
It’s the perfect track to crank up that “I want to revel in summer!” feeling to the max.
rainbowFukuyama Masaharu
This is a refreshing pop-rock number by Masaharu Fukuyama that brightens the listener’s mood.
For the first time, he handled the arrangement himself and was meticulous about the performance, channeling the passions of youth and grand dreams for the future into the music.
Feelings he wanted to express but couldn’t put into words, and a strong will to overcome hardships and grasp hope, come through clearly in his soaring vocals and the lively sound.
The song was included on a single released in August 2003 and was loved by many as the theme song for the drama “WATER BOYS.” It’s truly one of the signature masterpieces that symbolize that summer.
BLUE BIRDHamasaki Ayumi
This is the 40th single by singer Ayumi Hamasaki, who became a social phenomenon as a charismatic high school girl in the 1990s and 2000s and dominated the J-POP scene.
The song was used in a commercial for Zespri Gold Kiwifruit, and its dreamy, expansive opening builds a sense of anticipation.
The exhilarating ensemble that bursts open in the chorus instantly evokes a refreshing summer vibe.
It’s a quintessential summer tune of the 2000s that once again highlights the presence of the Heisei-era songstress.
everything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVA
A gem of a song by KREVA that lets that indescribable end-of-summer wistfulness spread through your chest.
As the title “Issai Gassai” (“Everything”) suggests, this piece has a gentle warmth that embraces it all—the joyful moments of a passing summer and those sudden pangs of loneliness.
Released in June 2005, this classic reached No.
11 on the Oricon weekly chart and was included on the album ‘Ai Jibun Haku’ as a track symbolizing “summer.” Why not give it a listen when you’re in the mood to open an album filled with summer memories?