What kind of music do you play when you go for a drive?
Some people listen to classic driving songs, their personal favorites, or whatever’s playing on the radio.
In this article, we’re introducing driving songs recommended for people in their 50s!
We’ve gathered tracks that will spark nostalgia for people in their 50s—songs you spent your youth with, or the ones you listened to when you first started driving as a working adult.
Put on those nostalgic tunes and you’ll find yourself singing along in the car before you know it!
Above all, drive safely and enjoy a fun driving time with great music.
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For people in their 50s: Songs that make you want to sing! Recommended tracks for driving (1–10)
At all times.Makihara Noriyuki
This is the third single by singer-songwriter Noriyuki Makihara, who has released numerous hit songs, from his own original tracks to songs provided to other artists.
Chosen as the theme song for the film “No Abnormalities in the Job-Hunting Front,” it became a million-selling hit known as one of Makihara’s signature early works.
Its positive, encouraging lyrics and an ensemble featuring a driving piano add even more comfort and exhilaration to the refreshing experience of a drive.
For those in their 50s—the generation that grew up with it—it’s a pop tune emblematic of the 1990s J-POP scene that you can’t help but sing along to.
You are 1000%.1986 omega toraibu
This was the debut single by the rock band 1986 Omega Tribe, formed mainly by members of Omega Tribe and Pineapple Company, with Japanese-Brazilian singer Carlos Toshiki joining the lineup.
Used as the theme song for the TV drama “Shin Netchu Jidai Sengen,” it’s one of 1986 Omega Tribe’s signature tracks, featuring a pleasantly transparent ensemble.
Its urbane, AOR-inspired arrangement adds a refreshing touch to that in-between space of everyday life and the extraordinary that you feel on a drive.
It’s a number that captures the atmosphere of classic J-pop, and one that people in their 50s—the generation of the time—will definitely want to add to their playlists.
Get WildTM NETWORK
The tenth single by TM NETWORK, a three-member music unit sometimes described as a rock unit or a digital band for their ever-evolving, diverse musicality with each release.
The song was created on the premise that it would be used as the ending theme for the TV anime City Hunter, and for those in their 50s—the generation that grew up with it—it’s likely a number that brings back youthful memories together with the anime.
Its urban, fast-paced arrangement and the catchy melodies characteristic of keyboardist Tetsuya Komuro will energize any car ride headed somewhere far away.
It’s a sing-along anthem loved across generations.
Season in the SunTUBE
The third single by TUBE, a four-piece rock band still synonymous with summer today.
Chosen as the commercial song for Kirin’s “Kirin Bin-Nama,” this exhilarating number comes with an anecdote that its composer, singer-songwriter Tetsurō Oda, created it with the spiteful wish, “Let all the extroverts hype it up on the beach in summer to this song.” Its melody and arrangement capture the openness and heat unique to summer, making it perfect BGM for feeling the wind on a drive.
Even as times change, it remains a beloved anthem of summer—an immortal summer song that anyone in their 50s can’t help but hum along to.
A Tale of Two in Summer: Never-Ending SummerSugiyama Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
This was the band’s biggest hit, used as the commercial song for Japan Airlines’ “JALPAK ’85,” and the fifth single by Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe.
The intro, featuring a transparent synth sound and brisk guitar, seems like it alone could freshen up the atmosphere of a drive.
Its urban arrangement and cool vocals might stir up the youthful memories of those in their 50s who likely heard it in real time.
With a sense of speed and a pop ensemble that creates an extraordinary mood, it’s a perfect number for background music.
TouchIwasaki Yoshimi
This is the 20th single by singer Yoshimi Iwasaki, who also made headlines by announcing that she would study business administration by enrolling in the master’s program at J.
F.
Oberlin University as she approached her 60th birthday.
The song was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Touch and is a well-known track even among those who aren’t familiar with the series.
Its catchy melody—woven from a buoyant, driving beat that features a springy rhythmic pattern and her soft vocals—not only amps up any drive, but for those in their 50s may evoke a sense of nostalgia for their youth.
Loved across generations, it’s a number that lifts your spirits regardless of age.
Close your eyes and come here.BARBEE BOYS
This is the 11th single by BARBEE BOYS, a five-member co-ed rock band that disbanded in 1992 and, after several reunions, announced a full-fledged restart in 2018.
The track was used in a commercial for Shiseido’s men’s hair product TREND·Y.
The distinctive contrast of the male–female twin vocals and a guitar riff with an equally commanding presence really catch the ear.
The whirlwind, ever-shifting melody—made possible by the twin vocals—is guaranteed to boost your energy while driving.
It’s a powerful rock tune that’s sure to bring back memories of youth for those in their 50s.