[Drama Theme Songs] Over 800 Million Plays! A Curated Selection of Unforgettable Classics
Which drama theme song is etched most deeply in your memory?
In this article, we’ve picked popular songs that not only became massive hits alongside their dramas but have also racked up astonishing view counts on platforms like YouTube.
With lyrics that link to the story, sounds that color emotional scenes, and a variety of unique charms, these theme songs transcend time and are loved by audiences across generations.
If you watched the dramas in real time, listen while recalling the iconic scenes; if you haven’t seen them, try listening as you check out the story.
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[Drama Theme Songs] Over 800 Million Plays! A Curated Selection of Unforgettable Classics (71–80)
dreamTHE BLUE HEARTS
A song that could be called the very essence of youth, with straightforward lyrics and a powerful melody that stirs the heart.
Centered on the themes of “dreams” and “aspirations,” it depicts the importance of finding your true dream within the limited time of life and moving toward it.
Re-released in February 2002 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Be Nice to People,” it gained renewed popularity among a new generation.
When you need the courage to chase your dreams, listening to this song—the soulful performance of THE BLUE HEARTS and Hiroto Kōmoto’s powerful vocals—will set your heart ablaze.
meteorKobukuro
Released in November 2010, this is Kobukuro’s 19th single, which opens with a scene of gazing up at the moon on a midwinter beach.
Created with inspiration drawn from the script of the Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Nagareboshi,” for which it served as the theme song, the track generated major buzz as a tie-in, including events held at Enoshima Aquarium in Kanagawa.
With story-like, heartrending imagery and a warm message that hearts remain connected even when far apart, this song is perfect for a winter night—one that makes you want to quietly look up at the night sky while thinking of someone special.
Bittersweetarashi
Arashi’s 42nd single depicts a love story that’s sweet and slightly bittersweet like a dessert.
Released in February 2014, it also drew attention as the theme song for the drama “Heartbroken Chocolatier,” starring Arashi member Jun Matsumoto, which began airing in January of the same year.
This tender, love-filled track sings of feelings for someone who can only be seen in dreams.
For those who have experienced heartbreak or are struggling to confess their feelings to someone special, its gentle, sweet vocals and lyrics will wrap your heart in comfort.
Ring the bell!DREAMS COME TRUE
DREAMS COME TRUE’s 50th single, “Saa Kane o Narase” (“Ring the Bell”), was chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama ER: Doctors on the Front Line (Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji), winning people’s hearts all over again.
Its melody is straightforward and simple, characterized by an almost level melodic line.
Miwa Yoshida’s natural and striking vocals are extraordinarily powerful, yet this song has a relatively narrow range, making it easy to sing casually at karaoke.
However, because the tempo is a bit relaxed, the key is to sing carefully without rushing ahead.
Between the Sky and YouNakajima Miyuki
It’s the theme song from the 1994 TV drama starring Yumi Adachi.
The drama, which included scenes so extreme they’d be unthinkable today, was so popular it even won a Buzzword of the Year Award.
The powerful vocals, as if speaking on behalf of the protagonist, are truly empowering.
Only HumanK
The 2005 drama “1 Litre of Tears,” a big hit adapted from a nonfiction book chronicling the life of a woman suffering from an incurable, unexplained illness.
Its theme song, “Only Human,” performed by the Korean singer K, reached No.
10 on the Oricon Singles Chart and went on to remain on the charts for seven consecutive weeks, becoming a long-running hit.
Blending K’s gentle vocals with the sound of piano and lyrics that mirror the drama’s story, this work is a moving song that’s impossible to listen to without tears.
Be sure to listen while savoring the lyrics carefully.
GLOWidom
Singer-songwriter idom, who is gaining attention as a multi-creator involved not only in music but also in video production, editing, and illustration, has made a major-label debut with the EP whose title track, GLOW, was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama The Guardian of Competition.
Its cool vocals and grand ensemble really linger in your ears.
The lyrics, which evoke moving forward even while feeling regret, may give you the courage to start walking again when you find yourself standing still in life.
It’s a soulful number that showcases idom’s unfathomable expressive power.
