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.
- [Old Love Songs] Love songs that recall a love that has ended
- [For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories
- A nostalgic song—a timeless classic that somehow feels familiar and touches the heart.
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Classic songs that sing of the past. Recommended popular tracks (1–10)
SO YOUNGTHE YELLOW MONKEY
The Yellow Monkey’s “SO YOUNG” is a song about the love of two people who were too young.
Released as a single in 1999, it reached No.
5 on the Oricon Singles Chart and was used as the theme song for the film “trancemission.” Composed in London during an overseas tour and recorded in New York, it’s said to be a particularly special track for Kazuya Yoshii, who wrote the lyrics and music and serves as the vocalist.
The lyrics remind us that “the present exists thanks to the past,” and the melancholic, wistful sound leaves a strong impression.
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.
Letter: Dear 15-year-old meAnjura Aki
Many of you have probably sung it at events like choir competitions.
“Tegami: Haikei Jūgo no Kimi e” (Letter: Dear 15-year-old Me) was released by singer-songwriter Angela Aki on September 17, 2008.
It’s a striking song, with Angela Aki passionately singing while playing the piano.
The theme of the song is “a letter to your future self.” The inspiration came when, on her 30th birthday, Angela Aki’s mother sent her a letter that her 15-year-old self had written to the person she would become.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you want to revisit your teenage years.
Classic songs that sing about the past. Recommended popular tracks (11–20)
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.
You are the seaMy Hair is Bad
Kimi ga Umi by the three-piece rock band My Hair is Bad is a song about a fleeting summer romance in one’s youth.
Released in 2019 as the opening track on the album boys, it reached No.
5 on the Oricon album chart.
The lyrics portray a fate where two students, despite caring deeply for each other, must part ways, and they leave listeners with a bittersweet feeling.
Whether it’s due to attending different schools or preparing for entrance exams isn’t clear, but many will find it relatable.
Its driving rock sound is also perfect for looking back on seishun—those youthful days.
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko
When it comes to Seiko Matsuda’s most popular songs, “SWEET MEMORIES” is indispensable, always vying for the top spot.
It was released in 1983 as the B-side to the single “Glass no Ringo” (Glass Apple), but after being featured in a Suntory commercial, its popularity exploded.
It even prompted an urgent re-release as a double A-side.
The lyrics are captivating, depicting the bittersweet, poignant feelings of unexpectedly running into a former lover and having memories from that time flood back in an instant.
It’s such a classic that it was even included in music textbooks in 1996.
First LoveUtada Hikaru
In the music industry, Hikaru Utada has established an unrivaled position.
Since debuting at 15, she has continued to evolve as an artist.
A song that can be called her starting point is “First Love.” It sings about memories of an “unforgettable love.” Even after a romance has ended, the person remains in one’s heart as someone eternally special—this is the meaning embedded in the song.
It’s a recommended track for times when you want to think back on your first love or someone you sadly had to say goodbye to.