Classic nostalgic summer hits from the ’80s. A roundup of summer songs.
80s songs—nostalgic for those who lived through the era in real time, and increasingly popular among younger listeners as a fresh sound.
Many people have become captivated by their vividness that triggers instant flashbacks and their glittering production, haven’t they?
In this article, we’re focusing on “summer songs” from the 80s!
We’ve gathered popular tracks with rich soundscapes that are loved across generations.
Enjoy a wonderful summer with timeless classics that never lose their shine, no matter how times change!
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Classic nostalgic summer hits from the ’80s. Summer song roundup (21–30)
High-Pressure GirlYamashita Tatsuro
Included on the 1983 album “MELODIES,” it was also released earlier as a single.
In 1983 it was used for ANA’s summer campaign, and it went on to be featured several times as a commercial song in the 2000s.
With its soothing soprano sax and lyrics filled with beautiful words that evoke a positive summer, it’s a summer tune that feels like a condensation of all the season’s best qualities.
Summer HornsInagaki Junichi
This is the fifth single by singer-songwriter Junichi Inagaki, known for hits like “Kurisumasu Kyaroru no Koro ni” (“When Christmas Carols Are Sung”).
In contrast to Christmas, this song takes summer as its theme, creating a Hawaiian vibe from the intro with slide guitar.
Inagaki’s distinctive, enveloping vocals match the atmosphere of the track perfectly.
It’s a number that evokes a faintly lonely feeling of summer’s end and conjures images of a love that is coming to a close.
Summer-colored Unrequited LoveKikuchi Momoko
Released in May 1986 as Momoko Kikuchi’s eighth single, this song was also used in a commercial for Hitachi’s Mastax Hi-Fi video and as the theme song for TBS’s Wednesday Drama Special “Wandering.” Kikuchi’s clear, translucent vocals blend beautifully with the refreshing melody.
The lyrics, which depict the feelings of a summer romance, resonated with many and sent the song to No.
1 on the Oricon chart.
If you’ve ever felt the bittersweet ache of first love or the complicated emotions of being unable to confess, this will surely strike a chord.
Why not listen to it alongside your summer memories and reminisce about your youth?
SUMMER DREAMTUBE
Released in May 1987, “SUMMER DREAM” is a charming summer song whose refreshing melody and ocean-evoking lyrics lift your spirits just by listening.
With a richly 1980s sound that blends synth-pop, disco, and arena rock, it has won the hearts of many.
Featured on numerous best-of compilations as one of TUBE’s signature tracks, it stands as an important song in the band’s career.
It’s the perfect tune for making summer memories or cruising along the seaside—any time you want to fully feel the summer vibe.
I can’t stop this sadnessAnri
This is Anri’s 14th single, released in 1983.
Along with “Olivia o Kikinagara” (“Listening to Olivia”), it is one of her signature hit numbers.
Despite its theme depicting a messy love triangle in which a friend steals the protagonist’s lover, the song features a fast, catchy melody that evokes summer.
Its relatable lyrics and stylish sound earned strong support from younger audiences.
Two People’s Love IslandIshikawa Yuko & Chage
One of the duet songs that represents the Showa era is “Futari no Airando” by Yuko Ishikawa and Chage.
Released as a single in 1984, it reached No.
3 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It was used in a JAL commercial, and both the lyrics and the musical style were created with Okinawa in mind.
Although “coconuts” appear in the lyrics, there were actually no coconuts in Okinawa; there’s even an anecdote that they got around this by making a pun, linking “kokonattsu” (coconuts) with “koko wa natsu” (it’s summer here).
Your heart is marine blue.Sugiyama Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
This is a classic by Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe whose urban, sophisticated sound instantly transports you to a summer in the ’80s.
Listen to it and you’ll feel a tender love—a man gently embracing a wounded woman and trying to reclaim a lost love—sung over a shimmering arrangement.
The protagonist’s pure wish to return to those radiant summer days is deeply moving.
Released in January 1984 as their third single, the song also brightened living rooms as the theme for the TBS drama “Toshigoro Kazoku.” Its peak at No.
12 on the Oricon weekly chart speaks to how popular it was at the time.
It’s perfect not only for fans of ’80s city pop, but also for anyone who wants to sink into a slightly bittersweet mood on a summer drive.