Classic nostalgic summer hits from the ’80s. A roundup of summer songs.

hurricaneShaneruzu

Shanels Hurricane

The fourth single by Chanels, later known as Rats & Star.

Released in 1981, it became a big hit, reaching No.

2 on The Best Ten.

It’s a pop chorus number that evokes the American ’50s sound.

At the time, their style—painting their faces black and singing with four vocalists, like foreign Black R&B and doo-wop chorus groups—felt fresh.

light blue wagonhaifaisetto

light blue wagon

A Hi-Fi Set song that feels like vivid memories overflowing from a single car you spot on a summer highway.

Its urbane, sophisticated sound is soothing, and it paints a scene where a license plate matching your hometown—glimpsed on the way to the sea—overlaps with days gone by.

Personal memories—like the sweet-and-sour taste of first love, the slightly bittersweet view of a graduation ceremony, and a wedding invitation from a friend—stir back to life in each listener’s heart.

Junko Yamamoto’s clear soprano deepens the nostalgia even further.

The album Pasadena Park, which opened with this track on side A, was released in February 1984 and peaked at No.

7 on the Oricon LP chart.

It was also released as a single in May of the same year.

It’s the perfect number for a summer drive, as if you could meet a slightly younger version of yourself.

Summer BeachOkada Yukiko

Yukiko Okada “Summer Beach” Official Lyric Video

Written and composed by Ami Ozaki and arranged by Masataka Matsutoya, this quintessential summer-themed masterpiece was released in April 1985 as Yukiko Okada’s fifth single.

Its crystal-clear melody and lyrics that capture the flutter of a girl in love blend beautifully with Okada’s warm low-to-mid vocal tones, instantly transporting listeners to a sparkling seaside scene.

The song was also used in a Glico “Cafe Jelly” commercial and as background music for the anime Touch, and it reached No.

5 on the Oricon weekly charts.

It’s perfect for moments when you want to feel a refreshing summer breeze or bask in the sweetness of a youthful crush.

The season of bare feetMatsuda Seiko

The season of bare feet

Isn’t this the very song that launched Seiko’s brilliant career brimming with a fresh charm that instantly captivates the listener? In the lyrics, scenes like a white yacht drawing near as if heralding the arrival of summer, and the flutter of first love, are depicted so vividly you can almost see them unfolding before your eyes.

Released in April 1980 as her debut single, the track also became widely known as the theme for Shiseido’s “Ekubo” commercial.

There’s even the story that, although she failed the audition because she couldn’t make dimples, she still won the commercial song thanks to her singing—a testament to her talent, without a doubt.

It’s also included on her first album, “SQUALL.” Give it a listen when you want to feel the refreshing breeze of summer or to rekindle the sweet, bittersweet memories of youth.

Morning of the PegasusIgarashi Hiroaki

"Pegasus no Asa" Hiroaki Igarashi

Pegasus no Asa (Morning of the Pegasus) was a major hit in 1981 and was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial.

It’s a song by singer-songwriter Hiroaki Igarashi.

The protagonist is a man still hung up on a summer heartbreak, and the lyrics liken the swiftly passing time to a pegasus.

Words that evoke summer—like “heat haze”—are woven in, giving it a strong seasonal feel.

It’s an uplifting song, so it seems perfect to listen to when you’re feeling down.

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