A roundup of youth-themed songs recommended for high school students
The songs you fall in love with in high school will become vivid memories adorning a page of your youth.
It’s a strange feeling that they never fade and you can still listen to them decades later.
In this article, we’ve put together a selection of tracks we recommend for those of you right in the middle of your youth right now!
We’ll introduce a wide range—from songs that fire you up, to ones that heighten the mood for romance, to heart-wrenching pieces that might make you cry.
Be sure to read to the end.
You just might discover the best music of your life.
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A roundup of youth/coming-of-age songs recommended for high school students (51–60)
Blue BookmarkGalileo Galilei
This work blends the nostalgic timbre of the kalimba with a refined band sound, creating a wistful yet translucent atmosphere.
Released by the rock band Galileo Galilei in June 2011, it is still beloved by many.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, which became a social phenomenon, it harmonizes perfectly with the series’ world and adds depth to its story.
The lyrics portray memories of days gone by and the bonds with cherished friends, evoking nostalgic scenes like turning the pages of a photo album.
PUZZLEShimizu Shota
It’s a gospel-style cheer song that fills your heart with the bonds of friendship and hope for the future.
The fact that Shota Shimizu returned to his hometown of Osaka and created it together with students from his alma mater adds an extra layer of warmth to the piece.
Released in October 2024, it was later included on the album “Pulsatilla cernua.” The choral performance with around 20 students on THE FIRST TAKE is truly overwhelming.
If you’re taking on a challenge with your team or stepping into something new, listening to it will surely give you courage.
Its polished sound also pairs perfectly with a leisurely café time on your day off.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako
This is a piece with a beautiful piano melody, perfect for those summer evenings when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.
Through the lyrics—almost as if a character in a film were speaking directly to you—feelings of nostalgia for irreplaceable days gone by and a deep, unwavering affection for someone precious, unchanged by time, come straight through via Hanako Oku’s clear, translucent voice.
If you’ve ever had those sudden moments when a memory rushes back and your chest tightens, this will really resonate.
The song is included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, and can also be heard on the album “TIME NOTE,” released in March 2007.
It is also known for coloring some of the most moving scenes as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
It’s a work I hope you’ll experience at least once in a summer filled with youthful memories—friendship, first love, and more.
Riding in a Time Machineneguse.
Neguse’s 2023 digital release “Riding a Time Machine” is a song about joyful days with a lover.
It celebrates the many happy memories of the past and wonders what awaits in the future, telling an exciting, heart-fluttering story set to a lively rhythm.
Although it’s a love song, it’s also great to listen to while reminiscing about fun times with friends and imagining what enjoyable things the future might hold.
It would also be a perfect choice for a band performance at events like school festivals.
A roundup of youth songs I want to recommend to high school students (61–70)
GarnetOku Hanako
This is the song chosen as the theme for the animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, which tells the story of a girl who time-leaps.
It’s performed by singer-songwriter Hanako Oku.
Because it was used as the theme song for a film with a high school student as the protagonist, it is popular as a youth anthem.
fake girlJY
This is a song by Jiyoung, a former member of KARA.
It’s included on her first album, Many Faces ~Multiplicity~, released in 2017.
The lyrics express feelings for someone she likes in a very girlish way, and I think it will especially resonate with high school girls.
hurrayYabai T-shatsu Yasan
Youth can be fun, but it’s also a time when worries tend to pile up—about studying, sports, and romance.
That’s why I want you to listen to “hurray.” It’s a song written by Yabai T-Shirts Yasan as an insert track for a morning drama.
Repeating the phrase “hurray” from the title, it’s crafted to cheer on anyone giving their best.
At the same time, it stands out for its detailed portrayal of students’ inner feelings.
I’m sure you’ll relate to it too.
