From cute to cool: iconic and recommended songs from uniquely individual girl bands

Dear, boyHump Back

Hump Back – “Dear, Boy” Music Video

The major debut single by Hump Back, a three-piece rock band from Osaka, is a passionate cheer for people who feel anxiety or frustration about chasing their dreams.

The question posed right from the start reminds you of the self who once burned with passion and helps you regain the courage to face reality.

Released in June 2018, the track was used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s Bazurizumu 02 and as a commercial song for Shinken Zemi’s high school course.

Its lyrics, which view detours and failures as nourishment for growth, will give a push to anyone standing at a crossroads in life.

When you want to move forward despite the struggles of youth, the straightforward rock sound of this song is sure to resonate with your heart.

H.A.N.A.B.I ~The Summer You Were There~ZONE

H.A.N.A.B.I ~The Summer You Were There~ – ZONE

A summer rock number that blends a driving sense of speed with a poignant ache, as if awakening the faint stirrings of first love slumbering deep in the heart.

The Hokkaido-born girls’ band ZONE released it in 2003 as their 10th major-label single.

Its lyrics, which capture fleeting yet cherished moments of love against summer scenes—fireworks, sunsets, and shrine stone steps—resonate no matter how old you are.

Issued as a strictly limited-edition run of 100,000 copies with six tracks, including solo arrangements for each member, it reached No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart and was certified Gold.

Though it had no tie-ins, it became a classic on the strength of the song alone, winning over many listeners’ hearts.

It’s a track you’ll want to play when that sudden end-of-summer loneliness hits, or when you feel like remembering who you were back then.

RUNKaneyori Masaru

Kaneyori Masaru [RUN] Music Video

As a live tune that puts a sense of speed and determination front and center, this track released by Kaneyori Masaru in August 2025 stands out.

The lyrics, which sing of the resolve to move forward while living in the present despite the struggle, are striking, and they convey the protagonist’s emotions—where restless urgency and hope intersect—with unfiltered clarity.

The simple yet powerful arrangement, characteristic of a three-piece band, is structured with an eye toward creating a sense of unity at live shows, and it’s also noteworthy that the members themselves were deeply involved in the video production, crafting props and even using their own personal items.

Having been performed at the Kanagawa show that marked the first day of their “roadmap to their first hall one-man” tour, it’s a song you’ll want to hear while envisioning the band’s growth and their sprint toward a new stage.

Highly recommended when you want to fire yourself up or need a push on your back.

The Night Before Goodbyeyayuyo

Yayuyo “The Eve of Goodbye” MV

A love song playing from an earphone with the left side silent, the wavering feelings of a protagonist facing farewell at an evening station.

It’s rare to find a song that captures the bittersweetness residing in such small, everyday moments so vividly.

Written by Riko, the vocalist of Yayuyo, as the first song she ever composed, it was released as a single in December 2019 and was later included on the following year’s mini-album “Yayuyo.” After surpassing one million views on YouTube, this track quickly spread the band’s name far and wide.

While it sketches the premonition of parting over a buoyant rhythm, it also subtly reveals the protagonist’s strength as they try to look ahead.

With its driving guitar-rock energy and approachable melody, it’s a song I especially want those who are hurting from heartbreak yet determined to move forward to hear.

Moonlight ReverseRīgaru Rirī

Legal Lily – “Moonlight Reverse” Music Video

Released in August 2024 as a pre-release track from the album “kirin,” this song marks a major turning point for Regal Lily.

Having handled their own arrangements until now, the band worked for the first time with an external producer—Seiji Kameda—to create this love song.

While the chorus’s repeated, aching sentiments evoke a distance that feels farther than the moon, the straightforward emotions hit you squarely in the chest.

The sound, where fragility and passion coexist, will resonate not only with alternative rock fans but also with those who seek the lyricism of ballads.

In the music video, actress Hana Sugisaki stars, visualizing the heartache that resurfaces when looking at the moon.

Honoka Takahashi has said that the process changed how she engages with words, making this a work that signals the band’s next stage.

donutDrop’s

Drop’s “Donuts” Music Video

A female blues rock band from Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Despite their age, they deliver powerful rock ’n’ roll steeped in gritty, bluesy tones.

This track is filled with a sense of emptiness, kindness, and warmth.

Light In The DarkBRIDEAR

BRIDEAR / Light In The Dark

BRIDEAR is a band from Fukuoka formed in 2011.

They actively perform overseas and their technique is guaranteed.

Their sound, which condenses the appeal of heavy metal—with catchy melodies and death vocals, melodious guitars, and technical drumming—is not to be missed.