1970s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya64rank/position

September

This song is etched deeply in many people’s hearts as a classic that colors the long nights of autumn.

Mariya Takeuchi’s clear, translucent voice delicately captures the shift from summer to fall.

Set in September—the month that symbolizes parting—the lyrics portray the end of a romance and the changes of the heart, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in 1979, this track has long been cherished as one of Takeuchi’s signature works.

It appears on multiple releases, including the album “LOVE SONGS,” attesting to its enduring popularity.

It’s a perfect listen when you begin to feel autumn’s arrival and find yourself in a contemplative mood.

This is a song that will let you feel the autumn breeze in your heart.

Cheer up!Takeuchi Mariya65rank/position

Mariya Takeuchi – Cheer Up (Official Music Video)

Released in 1984.

It’s well-known as a song provided to Hiroko Yakushimaru, and Mariya Takeuchi’s own self-cover is also popular.

The overall melody is simple and centered in the mid-range, making it a relatively accessible key for most people to sing.

Since the song starts on the “na” sound, it can be hard to come in casually, so preparing your voice is very important! Hum along from the intro as if you’re already singing, and then, the moment the melody begins, project your voice with a quick burst of energy.

If the opening note comes out cleanly, you can keep singing with that momentum.

In general, singing with stronger accents might suit the mood of the song well.

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Come back—my timeTakeuchi Mariya66rank/position

Come back—my time

Crafted by the star-studded duo of lyricist Kazumi Yasui and composer Kazuhiko Kato, this song marks Mariya Takeuchi’s memorable debut single.

Long beloved as the theme for an Isetan commercial, its urban, stylish sound feels like the dawn of city pop.

Delivered in Takeuchi’s youthful, translucent voice, the message of “Come back—this is my time” gently resonates with those of us who tend to push ourselves too hard.

When we’re busy living each day to the fullest, it’s easy to forget to make time for ourselves—but listening to this track might just lift your spirits and make you think, “That’s right, I’m going to reclaim my time.”

December RainArai Yumi67rank/position

December Rain / Jyunigatsu No Ame

This song, which captures the loneliness of winter and the bittersweet longing for a love that has passed, is a gem that represents the early work of Yumi Arai.

Released in October 1974 and included on the album MISSLIM, it features a restrained band performance as its foundation, while the beautiful choral work by Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki leaves a strong impression.

There is even an anecdote that Yamashita agreed to join the recording on the condition that he handle the chorus arrangement.

Set against a winter scene of December rain, a quiet nostalgia for days that will never return rises to the surface.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to softly by a window streaked with cold rain, when you feel like immersing yourself in memories of the past.

contrailArai Yumi68rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Vapor Trail (Yumi Arai The Concert with Old Friends)

The story of a boy drawn on a white slope reflects Yumi Arai’s inner landscape from her youth.

With a clear, crystalline voice and beautiful piano lines, she gently sings of a longing for the heavens and a parting from the earthly world.

Inspired by feelings for a classmate from her elementary school days, the piece takes flight on a fragile yet refreshing melody, brimming with the radiance of life and hope for liberation.

Released in November 1973 as the title track of the album “Hikōki Gumo,” it drew renewed attention in 2013 as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s “The Wind Rises.” It is a gem of a song that tenderly supports those who have experienced the loss of someone dear, as well as young people standing at a crossroads in life.

No reply needed.Arai Yumi69rank/position

No Need To Reply / Henji Wa Iranai

This is the memorable debut single by Yumi Arai, known as Yuming, who would go on to lead the later J-POP scene.

Produced by Hiroshi Kamayatsu, with illustrious musicians like Yukihiro Takahashi participating, it’s an astonishingly polished track for a debut.

Its light, American rock-style sound pairs perfectly with her urbane, slightly cool vocals.

The lyrics, in which she senses the end of a romance and draws the curtain herself by saying “I don’t need an answer,” also feel like a brave front masking held-back loneliness.

That precocious sensibility may well have been the glimmer of the talent that would later give rise to countless masterpieces.

Late Summer (A Season for One)Arai Yumi70rank/position

Late Summer 2021 Yumi Arai

This is a song by Yumi Arai that overlays the changing seasonal scenery with the end of a romance and the beginning of time alone.

The sight of leaves blazing with color and delicate flowers swaying in the wind seems to reflect the protagonist’s loneliness.

The song was included on the album “The 14th Moon,” released under the name Yumi Arai in November 1976, and it also served as the theme song for the NHK dramas “Natsu no Furusato” and “Maboroshi no Budōen.” Its poignant melody—mingling a lingering affection for the summer that has passed with a quiet resolve for the seasons to come—resonates deeply with listeners.

Whether you play it on a drive while reminiscing about summer or during a slightly chilly evening stroll, it will gently keep you company.