Lovely senior life

[For Seniors] Speaking of July, it’s this song! A selection of tunes to enjoy the hot summer

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

In July, when the rainy season ends and hot days continue.

Some facilities may be taking heat countermeasures for older adults who find it difficult to sense heat and seasonal changes.

Why not connect summer-themed songs and music to heatstroke prevention?

In this article, we introduce July songs recommended for older adults.

We’ve gathered nostalgic tunes that help look back on the past and familiar children’s songs.

Singing activities function as music therapy, stimulating the brain and making communication easier.

You can also expand the range of recreation by adding exercises or dances to the songs, or by playing instruments!

Make use of these ideas to enjoy a fun time while feeling the summer.

[For Seniors] Speaking of July, it’s this song! A selection to enjoy the hot summer (41–50)

A Gift of a Summer Daygasshou

[Chorus] A Gift of a Summer Day / With Lyrics [64/200]

A Gift of a Summer Daygasshou

A song that lets you look back on many summer memories, “A Gift of a Summer Day.” The lyrics are by Akiko Takagi, a children’s author and lyricist, and the music is by opera singer Kiyotaka Kaga.

Summer overflows with a bright, lively atmosphere, so perhaps many people feel a certain loneliness as the season passes and gives way to autumn.

As the natural scenery changes and summer drifts farther away, this is a piece that makes you want to give thanks for all the fun memories, even while feeling a touch of wistfulness.

Try singing or listening to it as you reminisce about the happy moments from this summer.

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Tanabata-samaSakushi: Gondō Hanayo, Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Shimōsa Kan’ichi

[For Seniors] “Tanabata-sama” (Star Festival), 1941 (Showa 16), with vocals

Tanabata-samaSakushi: Gondō Hanayo, Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Shimōsa Kan’ichi

Watch “Tanabata-sama Lyrics: Hanayo Gondō, Ryūha Hayashi / Music: Kan’ichi Shimōsa” on YouTube

Tanabata is an event that makes you feel the arrival of summer, and the song that best symbolizes it is surely “Tanabata-sama.” Its relaxed tempo is characteristic, conveying a cool, tranquil mood as if you were gazing up at a starry sky.

The lyrics depict scenes like nearby bamboo leaves and the beautiful stars spreading far into the distance, gently expressing a sense of depth in the landscape.

The tempo makes the words easy to catch, helping listeners fully grasp their meaning and heightening their feelings toward Tanabata.

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Crimson SunMisora Hibari

Crimson Sun

Crimson SunMisora Hibari

The blazing sun and the intensity of its rays are key to truly feeling summer, aren’t they? This is one of Hibari Misora’s signature songs, depicting episodes of summer born under that fiery red sun.

When it comes to places where you can feel the summer sunlight, the sea naturally comes to mind—and the song expresses a love as hot as the sun, born by the sea, in a straightforward way.

Set to a gentle tempo, the passionate love it sings of comes across powerfully, like a feeling of fervor growing larger in one’s heart.

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Summer has comeSakushi: Sasaki Nobutsuna / Sakkyoku: Koyama Sakunosuke

[Music Recreation / With Lyrics] Shoka: Natsu wa Kinu [For Elderly Care Facilities]

Summer has comeSakushi: Sasaki Nobutsuna / Sakkyoku: Koyama Sakunosuke

This is a children’s song selected for the 100 Best Songs of Japan, featuring many natural scenes and motifs that evoke early summer.

At first glance, the title may seem to mean “Summer won’t come,” but in classical Japanese it actually means “Summer has come,” which makes it memorable in a slightly tricky way.

Its bright mood and gentle tempo are also notable features, conjuring images of the mild early-summer air and clear, sunny landscapes.

It might be nice to read the lyrics carefully and use them as a prompt to find summer-like motifs.

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In conclusion

How was it? I bet there were plenty of songs you’d want to listen to in July—nostalgic tunes and tracks from your youth included.

Since summer can be so hot that many older adults find it hard to go out, I hope you can feel the season through the songs introduced in this article.

Children’s songs are widely known and often have a slower tempo, so they’re also great for music therapy.