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[For Seniors] Songs to Listen to in June: Also Recommended for Music Therapy and Event BGM
On those June days of endless rainy skies when it’s hard to go outside, why not lift your spirits with nostalgic songs?Showa-era pop songs and children’s songs have a mysterious power—just humming them can gently bring back the scenes and memories of the past.In this article, we introduce songs perfect for June that you can enjoy together with older adults.We’ve gathered a wide range, from tender classics that evoke rainy landscapes to lively melodies that energize even indoors.Incorporate them into music activities or your daily BGM, and enjoy a relaxing time that lets you feel the season.
[For Seniors] Songs to Listen to in June: Also Recommended for Music Therapy and Event BGM (1–10)
Gentle RainNEW!Koizumi Kyoko
Kyoko Koizumi has continued to color Japan’s pop culture since the 1980s.
Her single “Yasashii Ame,” released in February 1993, is a classic that drew major attention as the theme song for a drama in which she herself starred.
In this work, the poignant lyrics penned by Koizumi blend with Shoko Suzuki’s lyrical melody to delicately portray the wavering and hesitation of adult love.
The gently subdued arrangement beautifully evokes scenes of rain, and the song became a major hit, selling about 950,000 copies.
It’s highly recommended as music therapy or background music for quietly spending time indoors during the rainy season.
How about everyone relaxing together and listening to the soft vocals that seem to gently envelop your state of mind?
Hello, baby.NEW!Azusa Michiyo
This work sings, to a gentle melody, of the warm gazes cast upon a newly welcomed life and the joy of looking at tiny hands.
Released as a single in 1963, its B-side features “Itsumo no Komichi de” (“On the Usual Path”).
It was selected as “Song of the Month” for NHK’s TV program “Yume de Aimashou” (“Let’s Meet in a Dream”), becoming beloved by many.
The following year, it was also used as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, a classic that filled Japan with bright hope.
Michiyo Azusa’s clear singing voice vividly brings back memories of that time.
The first Sunday in June is considered Baby Day.
On rainy-season days spent indoors, why not softly hum it together with older adults, savoring family memories and a warm sense of comfort?
Ride a hot air balloon to the ends of the earthNEW!Sakushi: Azuma Tatsuo / Sakkyoku: Hirayoshi Takeyasu
Did you know that June is said to be Hot Air Balloon Month? Even during the rainy season indoors, we’d like to introduce a choral piece that lifts the spirits by letting you imagine a journey through the sky.
It was released in 1974 as the set piece for NHK’s National School Music Competition.
The lyrics were written by Tatsuo Azuma, and the music was composed by Takekuni Hirayoshi.
Set to a bright melody, it paints an exciting scene of soaring beyond the vast sky toward unknown worlds.
The light, comfortable rhythm featuring handclaps partway through is a highlight.
Some older adults may remember hearing it at their children’s choral recitals.
It’s also perfect for music therapy or event background music.
Enjoy clapping along and let your thoughts drift to an adventure in distant skies.
Chain of RosesNEW!Saijō Hideki
The great star Hideki Saijo, who led the Showa-era music scene with passionate performances.
His eighth single, released in February 1974, is a classic that candidly captures the heat of young love over a lively rock ’n’ roll melody.
Not tied to any particular TV drama or film, the song spread widely into households through music shows and stage performances of the time.
His dynamic moves, deftly wielding the mic stand, became a major talking point, and the single was a massive hit, selling about 330,000 copies.
Its passionate worldview—combining sweetness with a hint of danger—reminds listeners of the energetic days of that era.
How about incorporating it as invigorating background music for indoor events or music therapy in June, when continuous rain makes it hard to go out, so that older adults can share in the sense of vitality?
Come, fireflyNEW!warabeuta
This is a representative traditional children’s song that has been passed down across Japan.
It’s associated with nighttime outdoor play and the scene of calling in fireflies that are drawn to light, and it’s characterized by short, repetitive lyrics.
After it was included in elementary school music textbooks in 1951, it spread to classrooms nationwide.
There are lyrical variations by region, offering a glimpse into local ways of life, which is fascinating.
Because it repeats short phrases and has a narrow vocal range, it’s easy for everyone to sing together in recreation at day-service centers.
It’s also fun to sing it in a round, like a musical chase.
It’s a perfect piece as background music for sharing memories of old-time firefly hunts while feeling the early-summer air.
in a blue suitNEW!Fujiyama Ichirō
This is a wonderful song that evokes the charm of Showa-era modernity, portraying both the exhilaration of heading out on the town in stylish contemporary attire and the bittersweet feelings of a secret love.
Sung by Ichiro Fujiyama, the piece was released as a single in 1937 and is often discussed in connection with the film of the same name, which premiered in April 1937 the following month.
Even in later years, it was included in classic compilations such as Ichiro Fujiyama Complete Collection and has continued to be cherished for a long time.
The delicate emotions hidden beneath its bright, festive melody captivate listeners’ hearts.
During the rainy season, why not play it as background music while relaxing indoors and reminisce, at your own pace, about the sweet-and-sour memories of your youth? It’s sure to create a gentle time where older listeners can share stories and let their memories blossom.
Ginza Kan-kan GirlNEW!Takamine Hideko
Ginza Kankan Musume,” sung by Hideko Takamine, was released to the world as the theme song for the film of the same name, which premiered in August 1949.
Set in postwar, recovering Ginza, its springy rhythm and friendly melody lift the spirits.
Ryoichi Hattori’s urbane, light-footed sound pairs perfectly with Takao Saeki’s catchy, wordplay-like lyrics.
In the film, Shizuko Kasagi and Katsuhiko Haida also perform the song, and its showy, entertainment-film flair helped make it a major hit.
During the rainy season, if you play it while spending time indoors, it will conjure the lively atmosphere of the era’s streets and instantly brighten your mood.
It’s also perfect as background music for recreational activities.