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.
Top 1970s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (21–30)
April Fools in DecemberEPO29rank/position
Released in 1985, this song is a ballad that captures the aching sadness lurking beneath the festive Christmas season.
As the title suggests, the paradox of “April Fool in December” symbolizes a love betrayed.
The lyrics intertwine the pain of discovering that the person believed to be the only one was not, with the loneliness of spending Christmas prioritizing work, vividly reflecting the gap between romantic ideals and reality.
Arranged by Hiroshi Sato, the adult-oriented sound weaves strings with restrained synthesizers.
Included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” and later re-recorded in a self-cover version, it has long been cherished as one of EPO’s signature songs.
Recommended for those entering winter with a broken heart, or anyone who resonates with the less-than-glittering side of Christmas.
Hee, hee, hee, hee,EPO30rank/position
“Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo”—just the title alone makes you smile, doesn’t it? This irresistibly upbeat song radiates excitement.
It’s singer-songwriter EPO’s fifth single.
After gaining attention as a Shiseido cosmetics campaign jingle, it went on to be used in seven other companies’ commercials, and nearly 40 years after its release, it was even featured in a 2022 McDonald’s ad! The song’s enduring popularity as a commercial tune is astounding.
Are you managing to spend your days joyfully, laughing lightly like in this song?
Top 1970s Women Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (31–40)
White Winterfuki no tō31rank/position
Set against the shifting season from late autumn into winter, this work gently sings of the bittersweet ache of a love now past.
Released in September 1974 as Fuki no Tō’s debut single, it reached No.
14 on the Oricon weekly chart and sold approximately 185,000 copies.
Rooted in a simple acoustic guitar arrangement, the interwoven harmonies of the duo’s voices delicately portray the deepening loneliness of autumn and the arrival of a white winter.
Its unadorned, pure folk sound quietly evokes nostalgia for lost time, making it a timeless classic.
Perfect for nights when you reminisce about a former love, or for lingering by the window as the snow falls.
You guys are kiwi, papaya, and mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko32rank/position
“Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane” is a song released by Meiko Nakahara in 1984, and it was also the track that brought her to fame.
The song was created as the theme for Kanebo’s summer cosmetics and is said to evoke the image of women shining beautifully under the sun.
It’s unclear what exactly “kiwi, papaya, mango” is meant to represent, but the mysterious ring of the words paired with the Latin-style rhythm makes it truly memorable, doesn’t it?
Farewell SongNakajima Miyuki33rank/position
This is Miyuki Nakajima’s fifth single, released in 1977.
It’s the song that sparked her breakthrough as a singer, and even now—nearly 40 years after its release—you may feel that you’ve heard it at least once when you listen to it.
As the title suggests, it’s a somewhat heavy song, but the melody is so catchy that you can’t help humming along.
Lullaby of the Thistle MaidenNakajima Miyuki34rank/position
This is Miyuki Nakajima’s debut song, whose lyrical worldview is captivating and quite different from her image as the “queen of heartbreak songs.” Released in 1975, the piece is characterized by a poignant melody set to a waltz in triple time.
The thistle, blooming bravely despite its thorns, might represent someone fragile and easily hurt—or perhaps a projection of her own heart.
Although titled “Lullaby,” some listeners may feel it sounds like a quiet monologue meant to gently comfort oneself on a lonely night.
It’s remarkable how the fully formed storytelling—hard to believe it’s a debut—seamlessly matches the unique lyrical world that draws listeners in.
clownNakajima Miyuki35rank/position
This is a masterpiece by Miyuki Nakajima, whose melancholy waltz melody seeps deep into the heart.
Released in September 1979 as part of the single “Revival,” the song portrays a protagonist bound by unforgettable memories of love, trying to dull the pain with alcohol.
The way they hide their true sorrow and carry themselves with composure makes them seem like a lonely clown.
The piece is also known as a song provided to actor Jinhachi Nezu and has been covered by artists such as Naoko Ken.
It’s a track that quietly stays by the side of a solitary heart on nights when one cannot take a step forward from memories of the past.