I want to hear more than just the classics! Hidden gems of winter songs
When winter comes, we sometimes feel a little lonely, while other times our hearts leap at festive events and dazzling cityscapes.
In moments like these, winter songs gently stay by our side.
There are so many of them, and while the classic hits are beloved for years, many of you may be thinking, “I want to discover something different!”
So in this article, we’ll introduce some hidden gems among winter songs.
There are plenty of wonderful tracks beyond the usual standards, so take your time and enjoy them as your companions this winter.
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[Beyond the Classics] Hidden Winter Song Gems (51–60)
Zutto (feat. HAN-KUN & TEE)SPICY CHOCOLATE
This song is by SPICY CHOCOLATE and features HAN-KUN from Shonan no Kaze and singer-songwriter TEE as guest vocalists.
Their warm voices gently sink into your heart and can warm you up even in the cold of winter.
The lyrics depict a couple who think of each other even when they’re far apart, and if you listen closely, you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy.
Some of you may know it as it was used in an NTT commercial in 2013.
Diamond DustHimuro Kyosuke
Released in 1999 as the 18th single, it was the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Ice World,” and in 2012 it was also used as the ending theme for Sega’s game “Yakuza 5.” How about listening to this exquisite ballad during the cold season when you long for human warmth? With gentle piano and powerful guitar tones, Kyosuke Himuro’s sultry vocals overflow with the warmth of love and resonate deeply in the heart.
It’s a song that seems to loosen a heart and body stiffened by the cold.
this winterMakihara Noriyuki
When it comes to Noriyuki Makihara’s winter songs, most people would first think of “Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo,” released in 1992.
But if we’re talking about a “hidden gem,” then “Kotoshi no Fuyu” is a perfect fit.
This track is included on Makihara’s fifth album, PHARMACY, released in 1994.
Winter songs often suit the night, the night sky, or snowy evenings, don’t they? In contrast, this one is a gentle, warm love song that pairs beautifully with the morning sun—just the kind of song you’ll want to hear on a winter morning.
snowy kissHamasaki Ayumi
This song is about heartbreak.
When you hear “heartbreak song,” you might imagine a ballad, but this one is fairly up-tempo.
It conveys the sadness of a breakup briskly, with straightforward lyrics.
There are parts where snow is used to express the feeling of heartbreak, so pay attention to the words.
Winter is often called the season of parting, and watching the music video might make its poignancy and sorrow come through even more.
[I Want More Than Just the Classics!] Hidden Gems of Winter Songs (61–70)
It started to snow.SMAP
SMAP, the popular idol group that unfortunately disbanded in 2016.
This song is from their relatively early days, and it’s the piece they performed at their second appearance on the NHK New Year’s Eve music show, Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The lyrics sing of the loneliness left behind when a lover is gone, yet the melody carries both a wistful tone and a hint of brightness—holding two sides at once.
Winter is a season that makes you long for people.
It’s not a bad time to quietly sink into memories of heartbreak.
macaroniPerfume
This song is included on Perfume’s first double A-side single, “Baby cruising Love/Macaroni,” released in 2008.
You might think, “Is ‘Macaroni’ a song about food?” but it’s actually an irresistibly cute love song filled with a kind of gentle, hard-to-describe feeling that becomes a little addictive.
It’s not a track where the emotion of love swells dramatically; rather, it’s a mellow love song that lets you quietly savor the feeling of ‘liking’ someone.
There’s also that warmth you can only feel because it’s cold, isn’t there?
Someday Merry ChristmasB’z
A ballad by B’z that opens with richly seasonal imagery—city streets dressed for Christmas and gifts for a lover.
It’s a highly narrative masterpiece, delicately and meticulously portraying the feelings of a man who chooses a chair as a present and the poignant moment he realizes the relationship is ending.
Included on the mini-album “FRIENDS,” released in December 1992, and featured in Pepsi NEX’s Christmas commercial “Xmas Lover,” the song has become a familiar staple of holiday music heard on street corners.
It’s a track perfect for a moody winter night when you want to look back on memories with a lover, ideal for setting the tone of a grown-up Christmas with a glass in hand.