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

I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki22rank/position

Urimi/masu by Miyuki Nakajima (with lyrics) covered by t. yukimi

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…

wicked womanNakajima Miyuki23rank/position

wicked woman

Still beloved today as a classic from the Showa era, this work features Miyuki Nakajima’s soul-stirring vocals and a poignant love story that resonates deeply.

Released as a single in October 1981, it is known as one of Nakajima’s signature songs.

The lyrics, which portray a woman’s feelings as she sacrifices herself for the one she loves, strike a chord with listeners.

Covered by numerous artists, it has been cherished both in Japan and abroad.

It’s a song recommended for listening alone on a quiet night.

A gem that accompanies those suffering in love or harboring a bittersweet longing.

Equator Girl: Dokki!Yamashita Kumiko24rank/position

Kumiko Yamashita - Equatorial Young Lady: Doki!

This is the sixth single by Kumiko Yamashita, released in 1982.

It became a major hit as the summer campaign image song for Kanebo Cosmetics.

With lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Haruomi Hosono, the song features evocative lyrics that conjure images of blazing sun and tropical romance.

Paired with a buoyant techno-pop rhythm, it captures both the heat of summer and the precarious intensity of love.

Yamashita’s captivating vocals vividly portray a passionate love affair in a southern paradise.

It’s the perfect track for outdoor fun like summer drives or seaside BBQs.

How are you?Shimizu Yukiko25rank/position

Yukiko Shimizu, how are you?

It was released in 1977 as Yukiko Shimizu’s debut single.

It became a hit with what was, at the time, a rare style: on music shows and the like, she sang while gently strumming a folk guitar herself along with the backing band.

The song was created by a star-studded duo, with lyrics by Yū Aku and music and arrangement by Takashi Miki.

I want to go back to that dayArai Yumi26rank/position

Those Were The Days / Anohi Ni Kaeritai (2022 Ｍix)

Yumi Arai’s sixth single, released in October 1975, is a love song that wistfully longs for days gone by.

Chosen as the ending theme for the TBS drama “Kazoku no Himitsu,” it reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart, selling approximately 615,000 copies in total and becoming Yuming’s first number-one hit.

Even knowing it can never come true, the heart drifts back to “that day.” The guilty feeling that recalling a past love might hurt someone in the present, and the irrepressible urge to return to it—this duality is rendered with delicate nuance through a restrained yet uplifting melody and a prose-like narrative voice.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side on nights when old romances come to mind.

A Lonely RoomTakagi Asaya27rank/position

Masaya Takagi album 'TRUE LOVE' ♪♪ A Lonely Room

They participated in the 5th Yamaha Popular Song Contest, won a prize with “Hitoribocchi no Heya,” and made their debut.

The song sold over 400,000 copies and won the Oricon New Artist Award.

Although they suspended musical activities for a long period, they resumed in 2004.

My Pure LadyOzaki Ami28rank/position

My Pure Lady

A hit song from 1977.

I was captivated by its refreshing melody and vocals, but even more so by its use in Shiseido’s lipstick commercial—the sleek beauty of Asami Kobayashi, appearing with a short haircut, made this song feel exceptionally beautiful.