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 | Introducing nostalgic summer tunes! (11–20)
Please! SeñoritaORANGE RANGE
This is a summer-soaked track created by ORANGE RANGE, the rock band from Okinawa.
It vividly portrays a burning, uncontainable passion directed at a single señorita, and the rising heat of heart and body as they dance together.
Released in June 2005 as their 11th single, the song is also included on the album “ИATURAL,” and it became well-known as the CM song for Otsuka Beverage’s MATCH.
It was also the last single to feature early member KATCHAN.
For many, it’s the first song that comes to mind when they want to boost the mood on a summer drive.
NatsuneGLAY
It’s a heart-stirring ballad where summer scenery intertwines with a past love.
The lyrics convey the narrator’s helpless feelings as every touch of the beautiful summer landscape brings back memories of an unforgettable lover.
This beautiful melody was released as a single in September 2006 and became widely beloved as the theme song for TBS’s “Koisuru Hanikami!” It debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon chart, marking the remarkable achievement of GLAY’s tenth consecutive year with a No.
1 single.
It’s the perfect song for those moments when you want to reminisce about a summer love that has slipped away.
HOTEL PACIFICSazan Ōrusutāzu
This number perfectly fuses passionate Latin rhythms with the familiar melodies of Japanese pop, conjuring images of a blazing sun and an endless blue sea.
It was written for a large-scale outdoor concert held in the summer of 2000 in Chigasaki, the hometown of Southern All Stars.
Released in July 2000 as their 45th single, it also brightened living rooms across Japan as the theme song for WOWOW’s “Summer Campaign” commercials.
It’s the perfect track to lift your spirits even higher when you’re heading out for a seaside drive or a barbecue with friends.
HANABIHamasaki Ayumi
This is a song whose bittersweet yet beautiful melody seeps into the heart, as if announcing the end of summer.
Ayumi Hamasaki expresses the fleeting beauty that vanishes in an instant, and the yearning for rebirth that arises from it, all conveyed through a deeply emotive vocal performance.
This track is included on the EP “H,” released in July 2002 and certified a million-seller.
Many of you may also remember it as a commercial jingle.
It’s a classic you’ll want to listen to on nights when you want to linger over the passing season and lose yourself in a beautiful melody.
sunflowerFukuyama Masaharu
A richly emotive piece by Masaharu Fukuyama, where the sound of the piano gently resonates in the heart.
Like a large flower blooming toward the sun, it weaves memories of a beautiful summer with a lover who gave a dazzling smile, expressed in a melody that is both aching and warm.
The song was included on the triple A-side single “Niji / Himawari / Sore ga Subete sa,” released in August 2003, which held the No.
1 spot on the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks.
Originally written for Kiyoshi Maekawa, the track was later performed by Fukuyama himself with a new arrangement.
When you find yourself longing for summers gone by, this song may quietly stay by your side.
Haneuma RiderPorunogurafiti
A smash hit by Porno Graffitti that makes everyone’s heart dance the moment they hear it! From the instant the intro guitar rings out, you’re wrapped in a refreshing feeling, as if sprinting under a clear blue sky.
Created around the theme of “rebirth,” this song feels like it’s cheering on our own fresh starts.
Released in June 2006, it reached many ears as the CM song for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Pocari Sweat.
Perfect for summer activities—and whenever you want to refresh your mood—listening to it will surely fill you with energy and a smile!
Summer songs that hit in the 2000s | Introducing nostalgic summer tunes! (21–30)
The Sound of WavesImai Miki
Released by Miki Imai in August 2001, this piece is a gem of a ballad that depicts summer memories and a bittersweet love.
Her clear, translucent voice beautifully conveys a gentle longing for a love that has passed.
Memories revived by the sound of the surf and scenes on the beach at dusk are sung with delicate nuance, resonating deeply with listeners.
It was also chosen as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “The! Sekai Gyoten News,” capturing the hearts of many.
A perfect song for quietly reflecting on the past at summer’s end.