Cool songs to listen to in summer: a roundup of music to help you cool down
What kind of songs do you feel like listening to when summer comes?
When we think of summer songs, the usual image is bright, heated themes like the blazing sun, the sea, and romance.
But since summer brings a string of hot days, some of you might be thinking, “I want to listen to songs that make me feel even a little cooler…”
So in this article, I’ll introduce songs—based on their sound, lyrics, and overall vibe—that feel refreshing and can cool you down a bit!
I’ve selected a wide range of tracks, so please try listening to a variety of them.
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Cool, refreshing songs for summer: a roundup of music to help you cool down (1–10)
Summer DreamBikkeburanka
An urban, mellow-sounding number that feels wonderfully smooth.
It’s a work by singer-songwriter Vickeblanka, and his signature delicate falsetto accentuates the fragility of summer nights.
The theme is the memory of a fleeting summer romance, and its charm lies in the coexistence of a dreamlike weightlessness and a heart-tightening wistfulness.
This track is one of the double A-side single “Natsu no Yume/WALK,” released in August 2018.
It’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to sink into a slightly sentimental mood at summer’s end.
Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a pop tune that carries the faint signs of summer’s end, leaving a bittersweet yet comforting afterglow.
Created by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, the song was written as the theme for Kirin’s “Gogo no Kocha” commercial featuring Ren Meguro of Snow Man and Ayami Nakajo.
Released as the fifth installment of their five-month release run in 2025, it drew attention for being their first title to bear “summer” in about seven years, since the classic Aoto Natsu (“Blue and Summer”).
Through vivid summer imagery, the lyrics gently touch the tender parts of the heart, capturing inexpressible excitement and a wavering resolve.
It’s an emotional rock ballad perfect for when you want to sink into a sentimental mood.
Summer Dreamin’Hirai Dai
An emotional power-pop tune that rivals the midsummer sun colors the passing season in vivid hues.
It’s a song by Dai Hirai, a popular singer-songwriter known for his comfortable, surf music–influenced sound.
This piece is the title track of a digital EP released in July 2024.
The bittersweet yet uplifting lyrics are like a spell that makes limited time with someone special shine.
Listen to it on a summer drive, and together with the breeze streaming in through the window, it will help create unforgettable memories.
Cool songs to listen to in summer: a roundup of music to help you cool down (11–20)
half moonHirai Dai
A romantic medium-tempo ballad that likens unrequited feelings to a waning moon.
Released by Dai Hirai in May 2025, it’s the fourth installment in a series of four consecutive digital singles produced to coincide with his beach festival, THE BEACH TRIP 2025.
The lyrics were co-written with EIGO, and the composition and arrangement were a collaboration with Haruto Nishi.
It’s a perfect track for a summer night drive.
HY♡SUMMERHY
It’s a refreshing summer song.
It portrays having fun with friends.
You can also feel how quickly summer slips away, which made me think it’s important to enjoy it to the fullest precisely because it’s so short.
It’s the kind of song that makes you look forward to summer.
everything; the whole lot; lock, stock, and barrelKREVA
A healing summer song by KREVA that blends the languid feel of a hot afternoon with a refreshing breeze.
You dream of a resort, yet end up relaxing at home after all.
It conjures up an unpretentious snapshot of summer.
And maybe being with someone special is enough to make you happy, even without anything extraordinary—that’s the kind of love-filled touch KREVA brings to this track.
Released in June 2005, it was also used as a TV show ending theme.
Its comfortable beat and smooth rap make it a perfect number for summer drives or moments of quiet reflection.
MINTSuchmos
A cool number that brings a pleasant breeze to a languid summer afternoon.
This track by the Kanagawa-born band Suchmos is the lead song from their EP “MINT CONDITION,” released in July 2016.
Its airy sound, infused with jazz and soul, is like a sudden shower that cools the heat radiating off the asphalt.
The music video, a collaboration with the jeans brand Levi’s, won Best New Artist Video (Japan) at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2016.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone looking to drift away from the hustle of city life and savor a stylish summer moment.