Songs for an Unwinding Heart in May: From Showa-Era Classics to Recent Hit Singles

NemophilaThe Brow Beat

Nemophila

With actor Ryuji Sato standing at the front as Ryuji and HAKUEI producing, The Brow Beat delivers this work, included on the album “404,” released in April 2022, which also features the theme song for the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS.

Bearing the name of a blue flower that blooms from spring to early summer, Ryuji’s lyrics depict parting as a departure toward the future, offering a warmth that truly resonates.

While it boasts the robust sound characteristic of a rock band, its melodies carry a certain clarity that feels pleasant and, curiously, fills you with courage as you listen.

It’s a recommended track for those moments under May’s clear blue sky when you’re feeling a touch sentimental and want to take a new step forward.

Early summer rainOhtaki Eiichi

Eiichi Ohtaki – Samidare (Early Summer Rain)

As we approach the end of May, the rainy season is just around the corner, and we’re seeing more and more rain.

I’m sure there are people who like rainy days, but I’d say more people probably dislike them.

For those of you who aren’t fond of rain, I recommend listening to Eiichi Ohtaki’s song “Samidare” (“Early Summer Rain”).

I think it will help you feel a bit brighter even on a rainy day.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy

Monster’s Flower Song / Vaundy: MUSIC VIDEO

Vaundy’s upbeat banger that blew up after his performance at the 2022 year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen.

As Vaundy himself said, it’s a live-friendly track designed with call-and-response in mind, and it’s a fan favorite.

The lyrics are very Vaundy too, with lines like “The songs I often heard as a child, those are songs of hope for the future that only children possess,” giving a sense of being teased toward the answer.

It’s a song that instantly lifts your spirits, making it perfect for spring and the start of a new chapter in May!

to clear up (weather)Yorushika

Yorushika – Haru (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

When I close my eyes, feelings for someone dear well up inside me.

The soundscape—melding electronica and rock—built from a translucent singing voice, guitars, and synthesizers is striking.

This is a song Yorushika released in January 2024, depicting the anticipation of a bright future with the arrival of spring.

It was selected as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and was also featured in a collaborative web commercial with Suntory’s gin SUI.

Its poetic world overlays the fluctuations of emotions—joy and pain, hope and despair—onto natural phenomena like rain and sunshine, offering comfort to those who feel lost while sensing the transience of spring.

Samidare Love Songkagura P

[Hatsune Miku] Early-Summer Rain Love Song [Original] (Subtitled)

Samidare Koiuta is a song that fully expresses the aching longing of thinking only of a beloved one amid rainy scenes in May.

It’s a work by Kagura-P, known for releasing many Japanese-style Vocaloid songs and captivating fans with that unique world.

The imagery—that even if rain hides tears, fleeting feelings do not vanish—is beautiful and heart-tugging.

Doesn’t Hatsune Miku’s voice sound as if it’s quietly confiding, laying bare a sincere heart just for this moment? It’s a classic, gently moving Vocaloid masterpiece! You’ll also find yourself captivated by the illustrations created by Ryo Mizukami.

lilacMinami

Minami “Lilac” MV

Here’s a powerful May-appropriate track from Minami—an artist who can sing everything from anime songs to easy-to-hum rock: “Lilac.” The word lilac itself feels so early-summer, doesn’t it? Influenced by Yutaka Ozaki, she began writing lyrics and playing guitar, and her music reflects that.

The lyrics—“Even as I turn my back on a world that won’t let me be free, I keep resisting and moving forward”—are bound to resonate especially with younger listeners.

I hope you’ll savor Minami’s cool, unadorned lyrical world that feels close to her true self.

From the viridian-windowed MayYorushika

Yorushika – In May, From The Emerald Green Window (五月は花緑青の窓辺から) (Lyrics/Kan/Rom/Eng)

May, when the view of fresh greenery from the window blends with the slightly sticky air of early summer.

Vividly capturing that seasonal state of mind is a track by Yorushika, famed for their narrative-driven music.

Set to a breathlessly propulsive band sound, it portrays tears likened to verdigris and reflections on time slipping away, tightening the listener’s chest.

Released in April 2019 as part of the concept album “That’s Why I Gave Up Music,” this piece is a pivotal song that symbolizes the wavering emotions at the turn of the seasons within a masterpiece chronicling the story of a young man who quits music.

Its refreshing yet somehow bittersweet melody is perfect for this time of year, when changing environments can make fatigue surface more easily.