Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)

Midsummer StrangerTHE ALFEE

Midsummer Stranger

This song vividly depicts a summer romance and can be considered one of THE ALFEE’s signature tracks.

Released in August 1983, it became the band’s first hit.

Centered on ways of spending time in a seaside resort town and the theme of summer’s fleeting dreams, it features an emotive, memorable melody.

With its refined 8-beat rhythm and beautiful harmonies, it brought a fresh impression to the music scene of the time.

The narrative revolves around memories of love colored by the heat of summer, as the protagonist reflects on feelings toward a past romance.

Amid the interplay of summer light and passion, it conveys the poignancy that follows a love that burned brightly and then came to an end.

Ah, summer vacation.TUBE

TUBE “Ah, Summer Vacation @ Yokohama Stadium (2012) LIVE”

One of their signature songs that could be called “This is TUBE!!,” released in 1990.

Looking back, it was probably quite groundbreaking to use a word like a drawn-out exclamation—“Ahh”—as the song title.

There’s even an anecdote that at the time of production the title was “Oh! Summer Holiday,” so either way it was all about summer vacation.

It also has the fun of wordplay, with bits of rhyme sprinkled throughout.

TUBE kept taking on new summer songs every summer—this is one we’ll want to hear again this summer, too!

Season in the SunTUBE

TUBE 'Season in the Sun @ Yokohama Stadium (2013) LIVE'

TUBE is a band that could be called the embodiment of summer, and among their many summer-themed songs, this track is often cited as one of their signature pieces.

Its refreshing sound evokes images of a calm summer sea and a clear blue sky, making you picture someone feeling the summer breeze with their whole body.

Layered over the gentle instrumentation, the soaring, resonant vocals are another highlight, conveying the excitement of summer and the joy of savoring it.

It’s a song filled with positive emotion, expressing the idea of enjoying the limited time of summer to the fullest and spreading that sense of fun to everyone around.

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fireworksaiko

aiko - “Hanabi” music video

This song portrays a fleeting yet beautiful feeling of love, like fireworks coloring the summer night sky.

Aiko’s delicate vocals and the light, buoyant rhythm capture the bittersweetness of summer.

Released in August 1999 as her third single, it was later included on the album “Under the Cherry Tree,” released in March of the following year.

It’s striking how the song expresses an unspoken love and a romance that shines only within memories, through images of summer constellations and fireworks.

It’s perfect for those who find themselves thinking of someone on a summer night, or carrying a bittersweet love.

Also recommended for a drive with the car stereo playing.

Nagisa’s ‘…..’ushiroyubi-sasaregumi

Nagisa's '.....'

This song has an impressive, refreshing vibe that evokes a summer seaside.

Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi’s vocals convey the sparkle of youth.

It was released in March 1987 and used as the opening theme for the anime High School! Kimengumi.

With its bright, catchy melody, it surely captured the hearts of young people at the time.

It’s a perfect track for summer memories—great for a drive, too.

And if you’re relaxing by the ocean, listening to this song will surely put you in a wonderful mood.

Summer MemoriesKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi - Summer Memories

A grown-up summer song by Ketsumeishi, released in 2003, the year Roppongi Hills made its grand, glamorous debut.

It was also used in commercials for Vodafone Japan, now SoftBank.

The restrained, dialed-back beat—eschewing hyped-up, in-your-face rhythms—summons refined, adult memories.

The lyrics, with lines like “Every summer holds memories.

The summer I spent with you has grown distant,” evoke a mature love that avoids blunt declarations of like or dislike.

A seamless blend of pop and rap, it’s a track you’ll want to play when summer comes—and share with someone else.

Nagisasupittsu

Spitz / Nagisa

A song by Spitz that evokes a floating sensation as if dazed by the summer heat, with a mysterious worldview.

It’s said that Masamune Kusano created it while experimenting with programming, and the mechanically repeating tones—through which that backstory can be felt—produce a unique sense of weightlessness.

The gradual entrance and assertion of instruments is another highlight, conveying a rising anticipation for summer.

The lyrics focus on words that depict scenery, giving the impression of gentle landscapes that evoke the freshness of summer, along with the accompanying shifts in emotion.

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