Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]

A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru22rank/position

Hikaru Utada – A Bouquet for You

A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada featuring a strikingly transparent arrangement centered on piano and strings.

Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan,” the track is also included on the album “Fantôme,” released in September 2016.

The beautiful metaphor of entrusting inexpressible feelings to a bouquet is deeply moving.

With lyrics that are simple yet full of profound emotion and Utada’s gently resonant vocals, the song achieves exquisite harmony.

It’s a perfect choice when you want to express gratitude to someone special or to quietly calm your heart.

GibbsShiina Ringo23rank/position

Shiina Ringo – Gibbs

A love song by Sheena Ringo in which possessiveness toward a lover and the fear of losing them pierce the heart painfully.

Released in January 2000, this work was a lead single from the acclaimed album Shōso Strip.

It debuted at No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and received the Excellence Award at the 42nd Japan Record Awards, among other high honors.

Though the protagonist wants to believe in eternity, their sensitivity leads them to see a future lie in the word “forever.” Many listeners may find themselves relating to the depth of love that equates their relationship with that of a legendary couple.

boyfriendaiko24rank/position

aiko - “Boyfriend” music video

Isn’t this the song that screams “summer” for so many people? Among aiko’s works, it’s a number distinguished by its sun-bright, sparkling melody and lyrics that straightforwardly sing about being in love.

It weaves, in words so typical of aiko, the happiness of time spent together and the gratitude of “I’m truly glad I met you.” Released as a single in September 2000, the track reached No.

1 on the Oricon daily chart three times.

It’s perfect not only for summer memories, but also for those moments when you want to feel the tenderness for someone special—listen, and your heart is sure to race!

STARSNakajima Mika25rank/position

Mika Nakashima “STARS” Music Video

With her one-of-a-kind presence and expressive power, singer Mika Nakashima made a striking debut both as an actress and a vocalist.

Released in November 2001, this debut single was used as the theme song for the TV drama “A Love Song Scarred with Wounds.” Nakashima herself appeared in the show as the heroine, and her performances in the drama left a powerful impression on viewers at the time.

With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, the song’s world—blending a strong will to seize one’s dreams with a bittersweet poignancy—combined with her deep, husky voice to stir listeners’ hearts.

Selling over 460,000 copies in total and winning the Best New Artist Award at the 44th Japan Record Awards, it is a gem of a ballad that can be called the very origin of her career.

Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose26rank/position

Chitose Hajime “The Tree of Wadatsumi” Official Music Video

This is the debut single by singer Chitose Hajime, who is also known as a uta-sha—a bearer of the traditional music of the Amami Islands.

With lyrics that tell the story of “a woman who, in loving someone so deeply, becomes a flower,” and an arrangement that strongly reflects the atmosphere of folk music, the song sent shockwaves through the J-pop scene at the time.

Released in February 2002, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon charts about two months after its debut.

The distinctive melodic inflections characteristic of Amami folk music and her mystical voice evoke the timeless melodies passed down in Japan since ancient times.

It is a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece, perfect for immersing yourself in the grandeur of nature and the world of myth.

Teru’s SongTeshima Aoi27rank/position

Aoi Teshima “Teru’s Song (from 10th Anniversary Concert)”

A ballad with a quiet resonance that embodies the film’s world, its lyrics evoking loneliness and the will to live and reaching deep into the heart.

Known as an insert song for Studio Ghibli’s Tales from Earthsea, this debut single by Aoi Teshima was released in June 2006, with lyrics by Goro Miyazaki and music by Hiroko Taniyama.

It features few flashy developments or sudden leaps in pitch, and its nursery rhyme–like melody is distinctive, making it easy to follow calmly even for those concerned about vocal range.

In karaoke, the key is to cherish the lyrics and sing as if speaking to the listener.

Rather than forcing your voice, aim for a breathy, intimate delivery like Aoi Teshima’s to bring out the song’s atmosphere.

Good-bye daysYUI for Amaoto Kaoru28rank/position

Good-bye days

Released under the name Kaoru Amane, the character played by YUI in the 2006 film “A Song to the Sun” (Taiyō no Uta), this song is a classic of youth that portrays a fleeting, heartrending farewell.

Through the love of a girl who cannot be exposed to sunlight, it gently sings of feelings exchanged within limited time and the resolve to face an inevitable parting.

The acoustic guitar and YUI’s clear, transparent vocals vividly revive unforgettable summer memories.

It reached No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and was later included on the album “CAN’T BUY MY LOVE.” It’s a song that offers comfort to anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear.