Get fired up for the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z

Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Summer Shadow” Official Music Video

As the end of summer draws near, a sudden mix of loneliness and a racing heart wells up inside.

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s song gently scoops up those hard-to-put-into-words feelings.

The bittersweetness toward a passing season and the faint summer-infused crush that you almost want to blame on the heat resonate in your chest atop a crystal-clear melody.

This track was selected as the CM song for Kirin’s Gogo-no-Kocha, featuring Ren Meguro from Snow Man.

Released in August 2025 as their 20th digital single, it’s packed with both the sparkle and the wistfulness of summers spent with friends.

Use it as the BGM for a short video compiling your fun summer memories, and it’s sure to instantly heighten the emotional vibe.

Immoral SummerNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 “Immoral Summer” Music Video

This is a Nogizaka46 track whose passionate sound evokes the blistering heat of summer, layered with a hint of illicit romantic impulse.

It’s included on their 39th single, “Same numbers,” released in July 2025.

The lyrics, where curiosity about a more mature world intersects with a dangerous pull that seems ready to cross the line of common sense, embody a bold worldview that only an Under track can express.

It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits when you want to break free from the everyday!

sun-fadedHatsuboshi Gakuen

Hatsuboshi Academy “Sunfaded” Official Music Video (Hatsuboshi Gakuen – Sunfaded)

This piece is sung by Hiro Shinozawa of Hatsuboshi Academy from the mobile game “Gakuen Idolmaster.” Following the previous song “Koukei” (“Scenery”), it was also produced by Hakushi Hasegawa.

Many listeners will likely feel nostalgic at the lyrics that capture the glitter and fragility of youth—the defenselessness of a summer day when you forgot to put on sunscreen, or a fleeting moment when the light looked like a shining ring.

The edgy alternative rock sound paired with her clear, translucent voice is a contrast that really hits home.

Give it a listen as the seasons change, and let your thoughts wander.

Naughty SunORANGE RANGE

ORANGE RANGE – Naughty Sun (Reiwa ver. Music Video)

This is a track by ORANGE RANGE, a rock band from Okinawa, which served as the opening theme for the drama “Hana-Kimi: Ikemen Paradise.” Released in July 2007, it’s also included on the album “PANIC FANCY.” The song centers on the impulse of a dangerous love that can’t be stopped even when you know you shouldn’t—like a blazing sun.

It portrays “two people drawn to each other, forgetting reason,” through the passionate vocals of the group’s three singers and a retro-pop sound.

It’s guaranteed to boost your mood when you listen during summer drives or events! Even after its release, it’s continued to be loved as a cross-generational summer classic, with related videos on TikTok reaching the tens of millions.

Season in the SunTUBE

Tube Season in the sun

It’s an iconic TUBE song that sings about sparkling summer love and the bittersweet feeling as it nears its end.

The moment you hear it, the refreshing melody brings to mind blue seas and bright sunshine, and you can’t help but feel your heart leap.

Released in April 1986 as their third single, it topped the weekly rankings on the music show “The Best Ten” and became the track that changed the band’s destiny.

It has also long been beloved as a commercial song for Kirin Beer and Suntory.

Play it on a summer drive or at the beach with friends, and you’re sure to make unforgettable memories! It’s the perfect number to color a page of your youth, don’t you think?

SUMMER SONGYUI

YUI「SUMMER SONG」

YUI’s summer anthem—so vivid you can almost see the dazzling sun and blue skies—is lighting up TikTok this season.

In summer, you can feel just a bit bolder than usual, like you’re able to get closer to the one you like.

This song captures that sweet-and-sour feeling of first love and the determination to move toward the future on your own, all set to a refreshing melody.

Released as a single in July 2008, it debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Even without a tie-in, it garnered overwhelming support and later became a signature track included on the album “HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN.” Whether you want to fill your heart with anticipation for the summer ahead or reminisce about carefree, youthful days with friends, listening to it will bring those sparkling memories vividly back to life.

fireworksaiko

aiko - “Hanabi” music video

It’s one of Aiko’s signature songs that gently cradles those bittersweet summer-night feelings of love.

A hit on TikTok every summer, this was her third single, released in August 1999, peaking at No.

10 on the Oricon charts, and it’s also included on the classic album “Sakura no Ki no Shita.” It beautifully captures that helpless feeling of thinking about the person you like right up until you fall asleep.

Set against summer constellations and the night sky, it portrays a love that swells in your chest and the frustration of it not coming true—cue the heart flutters.

If you listen to it on a night of unrequited love when your feelings for someone are overflowing, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself relating to every word.