Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
We present a ranking-style list packed with popular tracks, drawing from hit songs and hidden gems by female singer-songwriters of the 2000s.
Many massively popular songs that still frequently appear on TV music programs are ranked as well.
Find your new favorite track!
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Female Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (81–90)
SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru81rank/position
The 11th single by Hikaru Utada, which drew attention as the theme song for the TV drama “First Love.” Released in May 2002, this track paints a poignant yet beautiful story by overlaying the end of a romance with the image of falling cherry blossoms.
It is a gem of a ballad that expresses the pain of heartbreak and the mysterious repetition of love through delicate vocals and an R&B-infused melody.
A song that seeps into the heart, it continues to soothe many listeners, especially in the season when the arrival of spring can be felt.
Wait & See ~Risk~Utada Hikaru82rank/position
Released in April 2000 as Hikaru Utada’s fifth single, this song—issued as her first-ever DVD single and simultaneously with the CD single “For You / Time Limit”—garnered significant attention and became a massive hit, with total shipments exceeding 1.66 million copies.
The lyrics, which quote the Serenity Prayer, convey the composure to accept what cannot be changed and the importance of having the courage to change what can.
Utada’s powerful message encourages young people to fearlessly take risks and forge their own paths.
When Someone’s Wish Comes TrueUtada Hikaru83rank/position
Utada Hikaru’s 13th single and her first new release in a year and three months since the previous one.
It was used as the theme song for the film “CASSHERN,” directed by her former husband, Kiriya Kazuaki.
It’s a simple song centered on piano accompaniment and is unusual for Utada as the lyrics were written before the music.
It topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks and ranked 14th for the year.
Shineieiri reo84rank/position
This song ranked second in the annual cable charts.
Written from the unique perspective of a young woman, it’s sure to become a timeless classic that speaks for its generation and will be listened to for years to come.
She’s a truly accomplished female artist, so I highly recommend her to music lovers.
The summer you gave meieiri reo85rank/position
This is a celebrated song by Leo Ieiri that became a massive hit as the theme for the Monday 9 p.m.
drama Koinaka.
Overlapping with the drama’s heartrending story starring Sota Fukushi and Tsubasa Honda, it’s a song that surely tightens many listeners’ chests.
Released in August 2015 as her 10th single, the track delicately depicts the sweet yet bittersweet emotions—from the pure beginning of a romance, to the frustrating drift of hearts without noticing, and the regret upon realizing there’s no going back.
Leo Ieiri’s clear, powerful vocals highlight the fleeting nature of summer and love.
It’s a beautiful, wistful summer song that makes you suddenly remember someone you loved, someone you may never see again.
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi86rank/position
It was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Love That Makes You Cry,” moving the hearts of many.
It is sung by Aoi Teshima, also known for “Teru’s Song.” Originally included on her 2014 album “Ren’dez-vous,” it was rearranged for the drama and released as a single in February 2016.
The song is structured like a letter addressed to one’s future self, depicting the resolve to keep moving forward amid anxiety and inner conflict.
Listening to this piece may gently encourage those who have left their hometowns to pursue their goals, or those who feel like stopping partway through their dreams.
Aoi Teshima’s tender, penetrating voice seems to warmly embrace even feelings of loneliness.
Always With MeKimura Yumi87rank/position
The theme song of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, which set a record by holding the top spot in Japanese box-office history for 20 years.
It is the debut single by female singer Yumi Kimura, known for her lyre-accompanied performances; her gentle voice and the lyre’s soft timbre make for a soothing number.
Its melody, which offers a sense of relief at the end of a story about a girl overcoming various hardships to return to everyday life, resonates deeply.
It’s a song that truly conveys the film’s happy ending.
Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi88rank/position
A masterwork by Yumi Matsutoya that delicately portrays the longing for spring.
Released in October 1994 as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series, it became a major hit, reaching No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart.
Its emotionally rich melody—woven from nostalgia for days gone by and anticipation of a new season—resonates deeply with listeners.
More than just a seasonal song, it embraces universal themes of renewal and hope, and has been featured in commercials for Suntory’s BOSS Rainbow Mountain Blend and All Nippon Airways.
Cherished by many as a heartwarming number that accompanies life’s milestones and new beginnings in spring, it continues to be beloved today.
Excessive WealthShiina Ringo89rank/position
I want you to pay attention to the lyrics that are so characteristic of Shiina Ringo.
While Shiina Ringo’s songs and voice have unique qualities, the biggest appeal is definitely the lyrics.
Among her songs, these lyrics are very easy to understand and straightforward.
It’s a song that encourages you when you’re feeling down.
Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo90rank/position
A signature song by Shiina Ringo, distinguished by its delicate vocals and bold lyrics.
It is included on her debut album “Muzai Moratorium,” released in February 1999.
The background—that it was created while she was on a homestay in the UK—is intriguing as well.
The multilayered lyrics, interweaving musical terms and place names, spin diverse narratives depending on the listener’s interpretation.
Evoking the image of a young person absorbed in music, this work can be seen as a song that gives a push to those chasing their dreams.