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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.

Summer Songs That Hit in the 2000s | A Nostalgic Look at Classic Summer Tunes! (41–50)

CampioneORANGE RANGE

ORANGE RANGE is a five-piece rock band whose songs, built around three MCs with distinct vocal ranges, captivate fans with their wide expressive palette.

Their 13th single, Champion, used as the broadcast theme for NHK’s 2006 FIFA World Cup coverage, was created with the image of the “Tragedy of Doha” that soccer fans will never forget.

Its memorable choral work and pop-tinged rock ensemble deliver a breezy freshness that pairs perfectly with the summer air.

It’s a catchy, high-energy tune that makes you hum along the moment it comes on as background music.

Summer Songs That Hit in the 2000s | Introducing Nostalgic Summer Tunes! (51–60)

All of the YouthFujifaburikku

Fujifabric is a three-piece rock band that made their major debut in 2004 with the album Alamode.

Their song Wakamos no Subete is captivating for its lyrics that poignantly capture the melancholy of summer’s end.

“Gazing at the last fireworks of the year, I find myself recalling those memories no matter how many years go by…”—such beautiful lines leave a lasting impression.

Songs like this, which express what young people feel in everyday life in down-to-earth words, were born in great numbers in the 2000s, which is why they feel so nostalgic.

I’ll be thereKōda Kumi

Kumi Koda / I’ll be there (from the album “SUMMER of LOVE”)
I'll be thereKōda Kumi

Among Kumi Koda’s songs, the one that really captures the refreshing feeling of summer is “I’ll be there.” It was included on the 2006 single “4 hot wave,” which reached No.

2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

The track was also featured on her 2015 summer-themed album “SUMMER of LOVE.” It’s a mid-tempo song that starts with acoustic guitar strums, and the electric piano that comes in partway through adds a very stylish touch.

It’s perfect for a blue-ocean setting, so be sure to give it a listen at the beach!

SMILYOtsuka Ai

Ai Otsuka / SMILY (Short Ver.)
SMILYOtsuka Ai

“SMILY” is Ai Otsuka’s eighth single, released in 2005.

It was featured in Lion’s “Ban Powder Spray” commercial and reached number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.

It’s an upbeat, cheerful happy song that lifts your spirits just by listening.

The music video was filmed in Saipan and is filled with summer vibes, including beaches and watermelon-splitting.

Be sure to give it a listen on your next outing!

Flowers blooming in the night skyMEGARYU

MEGARYU / Flowers Blooming in the Night Sky
Flowers blooming in the night skyMEGARYU

MEGARYU is a reggae duo that went on hiatus in 2014 and whose two members are now active individually.

Their song “Yozora ni Saku Hana,” included on their first album, “Joushou Kiryuu,” is a comfortable number that contrasts a catchy melody with emotional rap.

The lyrics evoke memories of a summer that won’t come back, something many listeners will likely relate to and overlap with their own youth.

It’s a summery tune with a pop sheen tinged with melancholy that makes you want to surrender to its easygoing beat.

Feeling great!!mihimaru GT

mihimaru GT – Feeling Great ↑↑
Feeling great!!mihimaru GT

Data-wise, it’s a song certified as a million-seller in the “chaku-uta” format, and even that term itself feels nostalgic, doesn’t it? Surely no one can listen to mihimaru GT’s massive hit “Kibun Jōjō ↑↑” without feeling the summer vibes! The “↑↑” in the title boosts that summer hype even more.

You hear it whenever summer draws near, so it doesn’t really feel like an old track, right? It’s a total hit at summer clubs and discos, and of course, it’s highly recommended for today’s teens too!

Butterflied flying fishChatto Monchī

Chatmonchy “Flying Fish Butterfly” Music Video
Butterflied flying fishChatto Monchī

“Flying Fish Butterfly,” sung by Chatmonchy, the popular girls’ band formed in 2000, is their fifth single, released in 2007.

It reached No.

9 on the Oricon Singles Chart and was used as a theme song on NHK and TV Kanagawa programs.

The single also includes “Sekai ga Owaru Yoru ni,” which served as the theme song for the film “Show Me the Love of Sorrow.” The sound produced by Chatmonchy’s simple lineup—one of their greatest charms—is straightforward and bright, and it always lifts your spirits when you listen.

Be sure to play “Flying Fish Butterfly” to boost the mood for your summer outings!