Love songs by girl bands: recommended classics and popular hits

summer festivalWhiteberry

summer festival

A summer festival night spent with the person you like, dressed in a yukata.

You enjoyed goldfish scooping and cotton candy, yet felt the frustration of not being able to confess your feelings as you watched sparklers burn out.

Depicting a bittersweet youth anyone can relate to, this work is the third single by Whiteberry, released in August 2000.

Their reinterpretation of JITTERIN’JINN’s classic became a cover hit, reaching No.

3 on the Oricon charts and achieving an astonishing 630,000 sales.

It was also used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Fushigi na Hanashi” and earned them an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s a quintessential summer number that touches the heart—perfect for dusk as summer draws to a close, or for reminiscing about your youth with friends.

It’ll get stained.Chatto Monchī

Chatmonchy “I’ll Be Dyed” Music Video

A mid-tempo number where the loneliness that drifts through the night city intersects with thoughts of someone special.

Wandering down an unfamiliar street, narrowing their eyes through cigarette smoke, the protagonist’s wavering emotions are vividly captured in lyrics by Akiko Fukuoka.

Eriko Hashimoto’s soaring vocals deliver a stinging blend of bitterness and wistfulness—a song that conveys the complexities of a woman’s heart.

Released as a single in November 2008, it was written as the theme song for the late-night NTV drama “Tonsura.” It also drew attention for being the first time Seiji Kameda served as producer, and it broke into the top 10 on the Oricon charts.

It has become a signature track, repeatedly included on releases such as the album “Kokuhaku” and various best-of compilations.

A song that stays by your side on nights when love leaves you swaying and you want to cherish your time alone.

NOW ON AIRakai kouen

Akai Koen – NOW ON AIR

As you’d expect from a song created with the concept of “an anthem cheering on all troubled girls,” it’s a refreshing yet glamorous track whose piano sound will especially lift women’s spirits.

The music video features many women and employs unique filming techniques, making it a memorable and entertaining watch.

CircusHump Back

Hump Back – Circus [Official Video]

The lineup has changed many times, but vocalist Momoko Hayashi is the only original member, and she writes all the songs and lyrics by herself.

Many of the lyrics use complex expressions, but most of them are about love and life.

If you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll find them really interesting!

Long-distance romance bombardment missiletankobuchin

"Long-Distance Love Bombing Missile" / Tancobuchin (Music Video) [Official]

It’s a girls’ band formed when the members were in sixth grade.

The band name was apparently chosen by the leader, who was a sixth grader at the time.

Five of their songs were used as insert tracks in the film “Second Summer, Never See You Again.” The catchy phrase “Long-Distance Love Bombing Missile” gets stuck in your head and won’t go away.

DESTINYnegoto

Negoto – DESTINY [Official Music Video]

This is a song that was also used as an ending theme for the popular anime Gintama.

Its Chinese-style intro is unique, and the music video is fun as well, so I recommend enjoying it together with the visuals.

Negoto is a band from Chiba that made their major debut in 2010, and their songs are still frequently featured in commercials.

tropical nightSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Tropical Night”

It’s a single released in 2015.

The music video was directed by Masakazu Fukatsu.

The song carries a mature, calm vibe and expresses feelings for him.

It’s a love song that sings about a girl’s heart completely absorbed in her boyfriend.