[Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter
As winter approaches, we start hearing winter songs in all kinds of settings more and more often! From timeless classics we hear every year to newer winter songs that have taken root in recent years.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Japan’s beloved winter tracks all at once, starting with popular hits and spanning many iconic songs of the season! We’ve picked out everything from songs that paint wintry landscapes to bittersweet love songs and winter tracks by buzzworthy bands, so you’re sure to find something that fits your listening situation perfectly! Be sure to listen to your favorites and feel the season of winter.
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[Winter Songs] Masterpieces to Listen to in Winter & Best Popular Winter Songs (41–50)
Christmas songback number
back number’s “Christmas Song,” which brings tears from the very first notes, is another must for any winter playlist! The protagonist is a man with an unrequited crush, and it’s so easy to empathize with his straightforward feelings for the woman he likes.
The song delicately portrays the loneliness of spending Christmas alone while watching happy couples celebrate, and many will see their own emotions reflected in it.
The shimmering, citylike sound is beautiful yet only amplifies the emptiness—but it’s precisely the song you’ll want to listen to on a lonely night.
Trace OrionUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
When winter comes and the air turns crisp and clear, it’s the season when the stars are especially visible—and perhaps the constellation that most evokes that winter sky is Orion.
This song, written as the opening theme for the anime TIGER & BUNNY, is one of the works that helped bring UNISON SQUARE GARDEN into the spotlight.
Its driving sound, which meshes with the tone of the vocals, is striking, conveying a positive feeling of moving forward toward the future.
It also seems to express a warm emotion—one that, through human connection, blows away the winter chill and dashes ahead.
Winter, againGLAY
This song was used as the campaign track for JR SKI SKI and is also known as GLAY’s biggest hit.
From the intro to the chorus, the entire piece carries an atmosphere that evokes snowy landscapes, as if you can see composer TAKURO’s imagery just as it is.
It’s a classic winter song etched into both GLAY’s history and the history of J-POP.
orionYonezu Kenshi
A song by Kenshi Yonezu with Orion, a winter constellation, in its title.
It was used as the ending theme for the anime March Comes in Like a Lion.
Every time Yonezu releases a track, it racks up staggering view counts on video sites like YouTube; this song, too, smoothly surpassed 100 million views.
It’s said to have been written from the perspective of Rei Kiriyama, a character in the anime, with the Orion constellation shining in the crisp winter air as a key motif.
Just like Orion, which connects to many stars, the song carries the wish to never be separated from the people and things that are dear to us.
*~Asterisk~*ORANGE RANGE
A song that became the theme for the TV anime BLEACH.
As one of ORANGE RANGE’s signature tracks that was a massive hit among young people in the 2000s, it has continued to be loved for many years.
The music video—where they perform on a frigid midwinter night—is also a must-see.
Snow SmileBUMP OF CHICKEN
Snow Smile conjures images of lovers walking through a pure white winter landscape.
Beloved across generations, BUMP OF CHICKEN released it in 2002.
Its acoustic guitar, featuring arpeggios, leaves a strong impression.
Along with a gently unfolding melody line, it conveys a world that is both heartrending and heartwarming.
The lyrics, which depict the sound of stepping on snow and the feelings when holding hands, also evoke the bittersweetness of young love.
It’s a winter ballad that portrays the stirring of the heart as one recalls a landscape filled with memories of a beloved person.
somedayyuzu
When you think of Yuzu, I bet many people think of “Itsuka.” It’s such a classic that you could say it’s the song that made them famous.
Their signature two-person harmony is so wonderfully done that no matter how many times you listen, you’ll want to play it—even when it’s not winter.