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 songs to listen to in summer: a roundup of music to help you cool down (11–20)
The Long and Short FestivalShiina Ringo
I want to sink into a slightly mature, stylish mood that suits a summer night.
For times like that, I recommend this song by Ringo Sheena.
It conveys a strong sentiment: “A woman’s most dazzling, glamorous moment is as fleeting and brief as a scorching summer festival, and that’s exactly why we should savor the present with all our might.” Riding a passionate, samba-like rhythm, she trades sultry lines in a duet with Tokyo Jihen’s guitarist Ukigumo, creating an unforgettable, addictive track after just one listen.
Released in August 2015 as the title track of the double A-side single ‘Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri / Kamisama, Hotokesama,’ it was also used in Coca-Cola’s summer campaign commercial.
It’s a number that coolly sets the mood for a muggy summer night drive.
graceFuji Kaze
A grand and beautiful ballad perfect for listening under the dazzling summer sun.
This piece was released in October 2022 by Fujii Kaze, a singer-songwriter also known for his exceptional piano performances.
Many of you may recognize it as it was featured in an NTT Docomo project commercial.
As evidenced by the instrumental version sometimes performed at dome shows as “summer grace,” its sound matches summer scenery perfectly.
When worries and anxieties keep you from taking a step forward, it will gently embrace your heart and give you a supportive push.
sparklermoon drop
This song is themed around fireworks launched into the summer night sky.
It’s a bittersweet summer tune that depicts fleeting memories of youth and feelings that couldn’t be put into words.
Its emotional, melodious tone brings back memories of summers gone by.
Released in June 2024, the track showcases moon drop’s musical maturity.
The lyrics are sprinkled with nostalgic scenes—summer twilights, sandy beaches, memories of yukata.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on summer night drives, or when you’re carrying the ache of a tender, unspoken love.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
This is a classic song by Fujifabric that you suddenly feel like listening to in the season where summer ends and autumn begins.
The longing for the passing summer and the brilliance of youth that will never return are layered over the image of the “last fireworks,” and its bittersweet melody sinks deep into the heart.
Released as a single in November 2007, the track later stayed with many listeners as an insert song in the drama SUMMER NUDE.
There’s also a lovely anecdote that in the composer’s hometown, the song was played as the evening chime for three days in December 2012.
On nights when you want to bask in summer memories, or on a sentimental walk home, why not give it a quiet listen?
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.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
A sparkling, youth-infused song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, written as the theme for the film “Blue Summer: 30 Days of Love.” With a driving sound that emphasizes the guitar tones, it conveys the momentum of youth.
The lyrics, which line up quintessential summertime moments, are also striking, directly expressing the joy of summer.
It’s a bright, refreshing track that evokes the image of sprinting full speed through the fleeting season so there are no regrets.
Cool songs to listen to in summer: a roundup of music to help you cool down (21–30)
Your refreshing feelingsZARD
This is one of ZARD’s songs that evokes summer, and they were consistently active from the 1990s through the 2000s.
It was also used in the “8×4” commercial featuring Aya Ueto, so many people have probably heard it.
As the title suggests, the song has a fresh, breezy feel.