1970s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
We’ll be ranking popular songs and hidden gems by female singer-songwriters from the ’70s.
Breakthrough hits by legendary SSWs who are still going strong today will also make an appearance.
It’s a playlist that even younger listeners will find thoroughly satisfying.
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- A roundup of debut songs by Japanese female artists from the 1970s
- Female Singer-Songwriters of the ’60s: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- [Showa Kayō] A roundup of Japanese love songs that hit in the 1970s
- [70s Western Music] Timeless Masterpieces and Popular Songs by Female Singers
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese idols from the 1970s
- Recommended love songs for women in their 70s: A collection of nostalgic love songs
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Popular Oldies and Classic Songs Ranking: 1970s Japanese Music
- [Japanese Music] A Collection of Heart-Touching Hit Folk Songs from the 1970s
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- Commercial songs from the 70s. Nostalgic TV commercial jingles.
1970s Women Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi11rank/position
When you’re feeling sad, you open an album and gaze at the photos, or you spot someone in town but can’t bring yourself to call out… It’s a classic by Yumi Arai filled with the bittersweetness of youth that everyone has felt at least once.
Released in February 1975 as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, it was later included in Yumi Arai’s own album “COBALT HOUR” in June of the same year.
Since then, it has been used as the theme song for the film “Watch with Me” and in the drama “Sotsu Uta,” resonating across generations.
It’s a heartwarming song that gently stays by your side when you want to bask in nostalgia or when you’ve gone through a farewell with someone dear.
spring thunderfuki no tō12rank/position
It’s a lyrical folk song that makes you want to look up at the sky just as Hokkaido’s long winter comes to an end.
Released as a single in February 1979 by Fukinotou, it was also included on the album “Jinsei • Haru • Oudan” and is cherished as one of their signature numbers.
The lyrics, written and composed by Yasuyo Yamaki—said to carry a prayer for his ailing mother—resonate with the unsettled feelings that come with the change of seasons, striking a deep chord.
Ichizo Seo’s arrangement dramatizes both stillness and intensity, powerfully stirring the emotions.
Fans also know that this song marked their first appearance on “Yoru no Hit Studio” in March 1979.
As graduation season blends farewells with new departures, why not listen to it amid the mix of anxiety and anticipation that comes with taking a new step forward?
If I’m wrapped in kindnessArai Yumi13rank/position
The soft, floating melody overflows with a timeless appeal that transcends trends.
Released in the second year of Yumi Arai’s debut, this piece is characterized by orchestration centered on acoustic piano.
Included on the album MISSLIM, released in October 1974, it later gained broad recognition when it was used as the ending theme for Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Its lyrics, which bring to mind gratitude toward someone dear, make it a song you want to hear at life’s milestones.
It’s a track that gently stays by your side when your heart is weary, wrapping you in a feeling of kindness.
I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki14rank/position
This song, sung by Miyuki Nakajima, portrays the deep resentment and sorrow of a woman after a broken heart.
It was included on the album “Is It OK If I’m Alive?” released in 1980.
The weighty melody and Nakajima’s powerful vocals resonate deeply.
This work doesn’t only express the harsh sadness of heartbreak; it also sings of the immense resentment within it, like a voiceless scream.
It’s a song I especially want people to hear if they carry the pain of heartbreak that borders on anger.
On Halloween night, it might be worthwhile to listen to this song and confront the “resentment” within yourself…
You can do it!Nakajima Miyuki15rank/position
This is a song you’ll want to listen to when taking that first step into a new chapter, like starting school.
The powerful message woven by Miyuki Nakajima gives you the courage to face adversity.
Featured on her 1983 album “Premonition,” the track was later used in a 1994 Sumitomo Life commercial.
More recently, it appeared in TV commercials for Calorie Mate, becoming a beloved anthem of encouragement across generations.
It’s especially recommended for those facing difficulties or feeling anxious about a new environment.
Miyuki Nakajima’s warm voice is sure to give you a gentle push forward.
night after nightKurahashi Yoeko16rank/position
Yoeko Kurahashi is known for a style that blends jazz with Japanese popular ballads.
Her song Yonayona Yona portrays her tossing and turning at night, lost in troubling thoughts.
The psychological state is depicted quite realistically, so anyone who’s had similar experiences will likely feel it’s speaking directly to them.
Her uniquely distinctive vocal delivery is also a highlight.
It’s unlike any other singing style, so please give it a listen yourself.
Although the song expresses despair and may initially feel unsettling, it gradually becomes addictive.
4:00 AMOhnuki Taeko17rank/position
This song is themed around the stillness and introspection before dawn.
It delicately captures the quiet atmosphere of 4 a.m., imbued with the protagonist’s inner turmoil and desire for a fresh start.
Included on the album “MIGNONNE,” released in September 1978, it is one of Taeko Onuki’s signature works, beloved by many fans.
The beautiful arrangement by Ryuichi Sakamoto is also a highlight.
It’s perfect for night owls or anyone standing at a crossroads in life.
Use it in your Instagram story late at night to create a calm mood.
Be sure to listen while feeling the quiet of the night.
Flying to IstanbulShōno Mayoyo18rank/position
This is a classic song that portrays the fragility of love, woven from an urbane melody rich with exotic flair and a polished vocal performance.
While symbolically expressing a brief encounter and parting, its exotic atmosphere resonates deeply.
It artfully depicts the feelings of a heartbroken woman through the motif of a journey to a foreign land, with Kyōhei Tsutsumi’s composition and Tetsuya Chiaki’s lyrics in superb harmony.
Released in April 1978 as Mayoyo Shōno’s fifth single, it won the Nakayama Shimpei Award at the 20th Japan Record Awards and also secured a spot in that year’s 29th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
This piece is recommended for those who wish to face the end of love with hope, and for those who cherish the feelings they keep close to their heart.
Message of RougeMatsutoya Yumi19rank/position
This is a song distinguished by its lively rhythm and refreshing melody.
The story of a woman who discovers her boyfriend’s infidelity, leaves a message written in lipstick on the bathroom mirror, and boards a train to visit his mother is bold and humorous, making it especially appealing.
While it carries a cautionary message about cheating, it also presents a positive, strong female figure—one of Yumi Matsutoya’s masterpieces.
Released in February 1975 and included on the album COBALT HOUR, the track features chorus contributions from Tatsuro Yamashita and others, resulting in a vibrant sound.
In 1989, it was chosen as the opening theme for the film Kiki’s Delivery Service, and it has continued to be loved across generations.
With its bright and cheerful tone expressing powerful feelings toward a lover, this song gently encourages women struggling with romance and is highly recommended to many listeners.
Mysterious Peach PieTakeuchi Mariya20rank/position
A spring song brimming with Mariya Takeuchi’s charm, depicting the fresh exhilaration of a budding romance.
The natural brilliance that colors the city further heightens the feelings of that moment you fall in love.
It gently captures the buoyant, fluttery sensation of an unexpected, delightful encounter arriving at just the right time.
Released in February 1980, the song reached No.
3 on the Oricon chart.
Chosen for Shiseido’s spring campaign and enhanced by Mitsuo Hagita’s light, airy arrangement, it caused quite a stir.
A perfect track for those who want to discover a new self with the arrival of spring, or to bask in bittersweet memories of young love.