Masterpieces that sing about play. Recommended popular songs.
We’ve put together a collection of songs themed around childhood games like hide-and-seek, marbles, swings, and paper airplanes.
Packed with bittersweet nostalgia for the games everyone has experienced and the tender, aching feelings of childhood, this playlist is full of heart-tugging tracks.
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Classic songs about play/fun. Recommended popular tracks (21–30)
sparklerInoue Sonoko
It’s a song of the same name included on Sonoko Inoue’s first original album, “Senkō Hanabi,” released in 2013.
The lyrics realistically depict the feelings of a current high school girl who feels the loneliness of not being able to see the person she likes once summer vacation begins, and the track conveys the refreshing spirit of youthful summer.
marbleOtsuka Ai
It was released in 2005 as a double A-side single with Ai Otsuka’s eighth single, “SMILY/Biidama.” The song was used in a Lion “Shokubutsu Monogatari Herb Blend” commercial and became her first single to reach No.
1.
The spoken part in the interlude can be understood as Japanese when played in reverse, turning the seemingly nonsensical lyrics into intelligible words.
Marble TelescopeYamazaki Masayoshi
It was released in 2004 as Masayoshi Yamazaki’s 18th single.
The lyrics and music were written by Yamazaki himself, and it was his first single to be released in midsummer.
It reached No.
8 on the Oricon charts and is a refreshing song perfect for summer.
kaleidoscopeIwasaki Hiromi
It was released in 1979 as Hiromi Iwasaki’s 18th single.
The song was used in a commercial for Fuji Heavy Industries’ second-generation Subaru Leone, reached No.
10 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, and won the Gold Prize at the 21st Japan Record Awards.
paper airplaneUemura Kana
It was released in 2006 as Kana Uemura’s fifth single.
This was the first song in which Uemura tackled a theme other than romance, and it was used as the ending theme for Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology.
Centered on the theme of “freedom,” the song was created with the image of a feeling that soars away like a paper airplane.
Red BalloonAsada Miyoko
It was released in 1973 as Miyoko Asada’s debut single.
She was a regular on the TBS home drama “Jikan Desu yo,” and the song was performed in the show.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and won the Newcomer Award at the 15th Japan Record Awards.
Dinner is ready.Yano Akiko
A boy who plays happily and energetically with his friends, comes home, and over dinner excitedly tells his mom and dad, “Listen, listen!” as he reports everything that happened that day, then drifts off to sleep, tired from playing.
It’s a gentle, heartwarming song that brings on a nostalgic feeling that makes you want to go home.