[Night Drive] Songs recommended for nighttime drives
There are all kinds of driving situations—wanting to be alone with your thoughts, spending a relaxing time with someone special, or having fun with friends! For any of these drives, I think music is essential.
In this article, I’ll introduce songs that are perfect for nighttime drives.
I’ve gathered mellow R&B and slightly laid-back rock and pop tracks.
These are classics that can create a great vibe whether you’re solo or with a group, so be sure to make them your companion for your night drive.
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[Night Drive] Recommended Songs for Night Drives (31–40)
BAD BOYCascada
This track, with its overwhelming speed exceeding 140 BPM and intricately crafted sounds from digital synthesizers, is truly the pinnacle of drive music.
Released as a CD maxi single in November 2004, it was also included on the album “Everytime We Touch” and sold over two million copies worldwide.
The lyrics, portraying an alluring yet dangerous kind of love, along with CASCADA’s vocalist Natalie Horler’s clear, crystalline voice, seize the listener’s heart.
It’s a song that makes the urge to floor it on a late-night highway and the thrill of a city’s nightscape shine even brighter—a work I highly recommend to driving enthusiasts.
Turning Uparashi
This is the first digital single by Arashi, the five-member idol group that went on hiatus in 2020 but continues to draw attention for each member’s activities and the possibility of a comeback.
Released on the 20th anniversary of their CD debut, the track also made headlines as the group’s first streaming single.
Its danceable arrangement with a low-end thump amps up that unique night-drive energy.
An urban, soulful dance tune that pairs perfectly with a city nightscape.
lighthouseHoshino Gen
Singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino, whose talents are drawing attention as he thrives across a wide range of fields beyond music, has released a globally simultaneous digital EP, LIGHTHOUSE.
The track Todai (Lighthouse), included as the opening number, is one of the ending themes written anew for each episode of the Netflix talk variety show LIGHTHOUSE.
Though the lyrics may at first seem to carry a negative message, they are imbued with universal truths that resonate with any life.
It’s an emotional number whose delicate ensemble—featuring only acoustic guitar—colors the night.
SPARKLEYamashita Tatsuro
This is “SPARKLE,” a song by Tatsuro Yamashita, the pioneer who brought funk music to Japan.
In recent years, the pop sounds of the ’70s and ’80s have seen a resurgence under the genre known as City Pop, and you simply can’t talk about it without mentioning Tatsuro Yamashita—so let’s go ahead and add this to the playlist! I’d love to gaze at a white sandy beach while listening to those funky beats and romantic sax.
EverydayPerfume
How about some sparkling, cute four-on-the-floor electronic music? It’s a track by the techno dance unit Perfume, included on their 24th single “If you wanna,” released in 2017.
While many of their songs have a bright and energetic vibe, this one tones that down a bit.
I think it’s perfect for a quiet night drive.
[Night Drive] Recommended Songs for Night Drives (41–50)
more than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
This song by the three-piece rock band Hitsujibungaku was chosen as the ending theme for the anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident.
With its minimal beat, expansive, atmospheric guitar sound, and clear, translucent vocals, it creates a beautifully evocative mood—highly recommended for nighttime listening.
By the way, the lyrics reflect on how to walk one’s own path in life, so if you listen while paying attention to the words, it may resonate with you even more.
tone colorKREVA
A classic J-R&B masterpiece representing KREVA.
The 2019 NEW version was re-recorded with a band arrangement, offering a more relaxed pace and richer tones than the original.
Its comfortable groove will create a wonderful moment that fits the occasion, whether you listen alone or with someone special.
