Tear-jerking summer classics: recommended popular songs
When you think of summer songs, many people might imagine upbeat, catchy tracks that everyone can sing and dance to together.
However, there are times in summer when you feel like listening to tearjerkers—like bittersweet love ballads or breakup songs.
So in this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of moving, cry-worthy songs with a summer theme, spanning different eras and genres!
We’ve picked not only heartbreak songs, but also tracks that express a variety of emotions and situations.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen closely!
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Tear-jerking summer classics: recommended popular songs (61–70)
fireworkskyanai
This song was created by Kyanai, a singer-songwriter whose roots are in busking.
Fireworks bloom in a flash and disappear, then the next one is launched and blossoms again—beautiful, yet tinged with a certain wistfulness, a hallmark of summer.
The lyrics poignantly overlay the image of fireworks with the people, things, and emotions we hold dear.
Please listen while reflecting on the meetings and partings you’ve experienced amid ever-changing circumstances.
You’ll likely feel a gentle swell of many emotions rising from within.
Sentimental Sorrow Flowerkohanaramu
The bittersweet world evoking the end of summer really tugs at the heart.
Kohanaramu’s expressive vocals and the nostalgic, sentimental melody truly resonate.
Released in August 2024, this song packs its lyrics with the ache of lost love and parting, gripping listeners’ hearts.
With its emo-pop vibe, it’s a perfect fit for that poignant end-of-summer mood.
The music video is also out, so you can enjoy it both visually and aurally.
It’s recommended for when you want to soak in nostalgia or look back on your summer memories.
It will surely stay close to your heart.
sparklergagaga supi
One of GaGaGa SP’s signature songs, it captures the essence of youth punk.
Kozak Maeda’s powerful vocals and the heartrending lyrics really strike a chord.
It expresses the loneliness of late summer and the pain of heartbreak by likening them to sparkler fireworks.
Released in August 2001, the song is still beloved by many fans after all these years.
In 2023, it was performed live on a morning news program and became a hot topic.
It’s great to listen to alone on a summer night, and also perfect for belting out while driving.
It’s the kind of song that brings back memories of your youth.
Foam Maidenmisekai
This song beautifully captures the fleeting nature of summer and the bittersweetness of youth.
Released by Misekai in August 2024, it was reportedly inspired by illustrations from the popular artist Nono Kumagai.
Its nostalgic melody and poignant lyrics blend to create a gently wistful atmosphere.
The lyrics evoke the feel of summer’s end and reflections on time slipping away, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s best enjoyed alone during a summer sunset—you’ll likely find cherished memories resurfacing.
A perfect track for anyone wanting to feel the ache of summer’s transience.
Fireworks of ShoesYorushika
Yorushika is a two-piece rock band known for many poignant ballads.
Their first mini-album, Summer Grass Gets in the Way, features songs all themed around summer.
Every track is a wonderful summer tune, but the one I especially recommend is Track 6, “Kutsu no Hanabi” (“Fireworks in My Shoes”).
It captures the bittersweet feeling of looking back on summer memories while watching fireworks.
If you feel like you’ve forgotten all about your youthful days since becoming an adult, please give it a listen.
It’s sure to bring back some beautiful memories of youth.
Fireworks MagicAnsako
Singer-songwriter Ansako, who enjoys immense support from teens and people in their twenties.
The title track of her major-label debut album is “Hanabi no Mahō” (The Magic of Fireworks).
It portrays the inner conflict of a woman planning to confess her feelings to the man she likes during summer vacation.
Though the song expresses a bittersweet love, its pop sound makes it feel perfect for a drive.
The lyrics also invite you to imagine how the story in the song turns out, so pay attention to that.
When you’re tired of ballads, this could be a great one to slip in between listens!
Sugarcane fieldMoriyama Ryoko
Ryoko Moriyama’s signature song is a masterpiece set against the backdrop of the Battle of Okinawa, depicting family loss and a yearning for peace.
With lyrics set in sugarcane fields that poignantly juxtapose the tragedy of war and the birth of new life, it leaves a deep impression.
It was first performed in 1967 and recorded by Moriyama in 1969.
At the 2005 NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, she performed a much-talked-about duet with her son, Naotaro Moriyama.
Owing to its strong anti-war message, it has been widely sung in the Utagoe movement and at singing cafés.
It’s a song that brings a gentle sense of cool relief to hearts weary from the summer heat.