Classic songs that sing about the past. Recommended popular tracks.
Do you have any “songs that bring back the past” when you listen to them?
Whether the memories are happy or painful, even if they’re not all good, you can never relive those moments exactly the same way again.
I’ve picked out some tracks that make you look back on the past and fill you with nostalgia.
There are love songs that remind you of an old flame, songs that bring back days from childhood or time with family—both old and new, gathered from across the years.
Listen closely, and they might give you that little nudge to reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Classic songs that sing of the past. Recommended popular tracks (1–10)
Secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
Have you ever had a close friend transfer to another school? As an adult, you might be able to go see them right away or stay in touch all the time, but that’s not so easy when you’re a kid.
When you think about a friend you said goodbye to, wondering if you might never see them again, I recommend “Secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~.” It’s a song released by ZONE in 2001, and its sentimental lyrics and melody make it a heartbreakingly moving track.
cherrysupittsu
Spitz’s signature song “Cherry,” released in 1996.
In Japan, it might be harder to find someone who doesn’t know this song than someone who does.
Its abstract lyrics give you a warm feeling, like basking in the sunshine.
There are times when you have to part ways with people you’ve always spent time with—when moving on to a new school, starting a job, and so on.
Even if it’s only temporary, it can feel incredibly lonely.
In moments like that, listening to this song will remind you of the love those people gave you and give you the courage to carry on!
Full of memoriesH₂O
If you have children, you may sometimes find yourself remembering when they were still little.
H2O’s “Omoide ga Ippai” is a song that empathizes with those parental feelings.
Released in 1983, it was used as the theme song for the anime Miyuki, which aired at the time.
Since then, it has also been sung at middle and high school choral competitions and is beloved by a wide range of generations.
When your child reaches major milestones—moving up to a new school, starting a job, getting married and starting a family—listen to this song and take a moment to reminisce.
Youth and a momentmakaroni enpitsu
The song that really makes you feel how quickly youth slips by is “Seishun to Isshun” by Macaroni Empitsu.
Released in 2019 as their first digital-only single, it was written for a McDonald’s commercial.
It’s a cheer song from adults who’ve lived through their youth to the young people living it now.
It reminds us of the importance of things that seem like detours and of time that might feel wasted.
The mid-tempo, laid-back sound also carries a certain sense of nostalgia.
Sometimes, old storiesKatō Tokiko
The ending theme song for the Studio Ghibli film Porco Rosso is Tokiko Kato’s “Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi o” (“Sometimes, Let’s Talk About the Old Days”).
The song was originally released in 1987 and was also included as the B-side to the single “Hyakumambon no Bara” (“A Million Roses”).
The lyrics depict a protagonist who lived through a poor and turbulent era, reminiscing about old friends and memories and telling stories of the past.
Combined with Kato’s conversational, intimate singing voice, it’s a masterpiece that really seeps into your heart as you listen.
Graduation PhotoMatsutōya Yumi
It’s a classic, well-known graduation song.
With a “graduation album” as its motif, the lyrics evoke nostalgia by weaving together past and present timelines—moving even when simply read aloud.
The gentle melody and tender, almost fragile-sounding vocals suit the piece perfectly, making it a song that resonates with listeners of all ages.
Letterback number
Back Number’s “Tegami” is a song about the love one feels from a mother.
Released as a single in 2015, it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart and was featured in NTT Docomo’s commercial “iPhone/iPad: Mother’s Yukata Edition.” The lyrics, which recall a mother caring for her child when they caught a cold, are heartwarming.
The chorus, which expresses a resolve to put feelings of gratitude into words, makes it perfect for weddings, and it’s a popular choice as background music when reading letters to parents.