Songs you want to listen to at the end of summer: Late-summer classics to look back on the season
Doesn’t the end of summer make you feel strangely sentimental? It’s the season when the dazzling sunlight softens bit by bit and dusk comes earlier.
You feel like lingering over summer memories or spending unhurried time with someone special, don’t you? And at the farewell of summer, the music you want to hear is somehow wistful and nostalgic.
In this article, we’ll introduce lovely songs that are perfect for the end of summer—gems that seep into the heart as the seasons change.
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Songs to listen to at the end of summer: Late-summer classics to look back on the season (71–80)
HANABIHamasaki Ayumi
Ayumi Hamasaki’s “HANABI” is a song included on the single “H,” released in 2002, and on the album “RAINBOW.” It was used as the image song for Tu-Ka Cellular Tokyo, and both the single and the album topped the Oricon charts and became million-sellers, achieving huge hits.
The lyrics, which overlay the end of fireworks with the end of a romance, are deeply poignant, making it a ballad perfectly suited to the close of summer.
maybe, surely/probably, absolutely/definitelyTakeuchi Anna
Before her major debut, singer-songwriter Anna Takeuchi, whose talent had already been drawing attention—including her participation in the “Japan Nite US tour 2018” across seven U.S.
cities—released a digital-only single on August 23, 2023 titled “Tabun, Kitto, Zettai” (“Maybe, Surely, Definitely”).
The track was created around the theme of “the end of the summer of one’s second year in high school.” Its lyrics, which wish for an unrequited love to be fulfilled, vividly bring back the feelings of youth.
With its airy ensemble and faintly nostalgic atmosphere perfectly suited to a twilight view, it’s a bright, pop-leaning number.
SUMMER ENDiri
It’s a song by singer-songwriter iri that seems to express the feelings that come as summer draws to a close.
The beat’s curious sense of rhythm and the deep timbre of the other instruments give the entire sound an intriguing, floating quality.
The overall sonic image evokes a dream you might have on a humid summer night—unreal and fantastical.
It feels like a piece that conveys both the many memories tinged with the ephemerality of summer’s limited time, and the importance of cherishing and accumulating those memories precisely because that time is fleeting.
tear(s)Marushii
A heartbreaking breakup ballad by Marcy, beloved for their relatable, down-to-earth music.
The structure tells all the radiant memories of a seaside park in the past tense, conveying the bittersweet ache of heartbreak—the way you can’t help but remember, even knowing you can’t go back.
You might recognize that feeling, as if your body still carries the warmth of the other person.
It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone who can’t forget a summer romance that has come to an end.
Cold fireworksKami ga nokoshita yume o kuu.
This song is a heartbreaking breakup ballad that overlays the dazzling burst of fireworks with a love coming to an end.
Though they stand side by side, their hearts no longer connect.
That frustrating relationship is portrayed against the backdrop of a late summer night.
The emotional vocals convey the painfully raw feeling of wanting to cling to memories while knowing there’s no going back.
It resonates deeply with anyone carrying an unforgettable love.
Ephemeral SummerTakeuchi Anna
Released in July 2022 by singer-songwriter Anna Takeuchi, this work is a piece of city pop whose effervescent, fizzy sound feels delightful—like sparkling soda.
At first listen it sounds like a bright summer tune, but it actually portrays the premonition of a love that seems as if it might vanish like bubbles.
While she puts on a brave face saying, “I’m fine without you,” underneath it all lies a heartfelt longing to stay by their side, a bittersweet feeling that resonates deeply.
On a late summer night, this song will surely keep you gentle company.
I remember youYUI
As summer draws to a close, it’s only natural to want to listen to one of YUI’s classic songs.
Released in September 2006, this piece is deeply connected to the film “Midnight Sun” (Taiyo no Uta), in which YUI herself starred.
It was produced during the film’s preview tour and is said to have been written with the image of a character reminiscing about a beloved person.
The unforgettable feelings for someone precious who can no longer be seen are sung with a heartrending melody that truly tightens the chest.
The song is also included on the album “CAN’T BUY MY LOVE,” among others.
How about it for a long autumn night spent basking in memories of summers past, or as a companion for a slightly sentimental drive?