Resonance of Twilight: Emo Western Songs Echoing at Summer’s End
Don’t you ever feel strangely sentimental at the end of summer? Blue skies and white clouds, the sea at dusk, listening to the sound of the waves… We’ve selected classic Western songs that perfectly match that mood.
From tracks you’ll want to listen to while basking in summer memories to slightly emotional ballads and melodies that resonate especially in this season, you’re sure to find a song that speaks to your sensibilities.
Why not savor the bittersweet feelings of summer’s end together with some wonderful Western music?
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Afterglow of Dusk: Emo Western Songs Echoing at Summer’s End (111–120)
Summer Turns To HighR.E.M.
R.E.M., known for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Their song “Summer Turns To High” is also recommended.
As the title suggests, it portrays the experience of enjoying summer at its peak.
That might make you imagine an up-tempo sound, but this track is crafted as a gentle, subdued ballad.
Because of that, while listening, you may picture not “the liveliness of summer,” but rather “the end of summer.” Give it a listen and let your thoughts wander.
One of Those Summer DaysRhye
Based in Los Angeles, Rhye drew attention from their debut as a mysterious musical duo, earning high praise in the R&B and pop scenes of the 2010s and beyond for their meticulously crafted, beautifully sensual sound and thoroughly conceptual artwork.
Originally a two-piece consisting of Canadian singer Mike Milosh and Danish producer Robin Hannibal, since 2017 the project has continued as a musical collective led by Milosh.
The track introduced here, “One of Those Summer Days,” appears on Rhye’s acclaimed 2013 debut album Woman.
Milosh’s remarkable, gender-defying vocals—evocative of Sade Adu—and the restrained, elegant arrangement are exquisite, beautifully coloring memories of late summer.
Never Dreamed You’d Leave in SummerStevie Wonder
A genius who awakened to his musical talent in childhood and, at the age of 11, signed with the prestigious Motown record label: Stevie Wonder.
Among the many masterpieces Stevie has created, I’d like to introduce the classic that sings squarely about a summer heartbreak, “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer.” Released in 1971 on his 13th studio album, “Where I’m Coming From,” it’s also known in Japan by the title “Natsu ni Kieta Koi” (“Love That Vanished in Summer”).
For Stevie, it has the feel of a fairly straightforward ballad, and the sound—colored by his soaring vocals along with oboe and strings—evokes a nostalgic longing for the summer that has passed.
As an aside, on Common’s 1997 track “Retrospect for Life,” Lauryn Hill, who appears as a guest, quotes the chorus of this song.
You’re So Last SummerTaking Back Sunday
Renowned as a pinnacle of emo rock, this song vividly portrays the pain of heartbreak and the journey of self-growth.
It captures the turmoil following a broken relationship through vulnerable vocals and powerful guitars, resonating deeply with many listeners.
As a signature track by Taking Back Sunday, it was included on their debut album Tell All Your Friends, released in March 2002.
If you’re in a late-summer melancholy or carrying the sting of a breakup, this is a track that truly lets you savor that “emo” feeling—so give it a listen!
All Summer LongThe Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are known as a quintessential surf music band.
Since their debut in 1961, they’ve produced numerous surf music hits and gained worldwide popularity.
In Japan, they’re akin to a band like TUBE.
Their classic “All Summer Long,” a lead single from the 1964 album of the same name, is a track with upbeat lyrics that, while nostalgic about summer’s end, insist that summer isn’t over yet.
