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 Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (51–60)
I want to go back to that dayMatsutōya Yumi51rank/position
This song is one of the signature pieces by Yumi Arai—better known as Yuming—who was a trailblazer among singer-songwriters.
When people think of Showa-era autumn songs, many may recall this very melody.
It portrays a woman’s heartrending longing as she cannot forget a bygone love and wishes to return to her youthful days.
The scenes of piecing together torn photographs and leaving a tear-blurred address tucked in the door convey emotions bordering on obsession.
Released in October 1975, the song was chosen as the theme for the TBS drama “Family Secrets” and reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a number you’ll want to listen to quietly on a melancholic autumn evening, reminiscing about the past.
Surf Paradise, Ski ParadiseMatsutōya Yumi52rank/position
Known by the nickname “Yuming,” singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya has released numerous hit songs, from her own original works to tracks she’s written for others.
Her song “Surf Tengoku, Ski Tengoku,” included on her 10th album SURF & SNOW, was used as the theme song for the film Take Me Out to the Snowland.
Its lyrics, which heighten the anticipation of winter’s snowy landscapes, set hearts dancing alongside an urban ensemble.
Despite never being released as a single, it has become a staple winter song and stands as a representative number of the 1980s.
The Refrain Is ScreamingMatsutōya Yumi53rank/position
A signature song by singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya that sings of the pain of heartbreak and lingering regret.
Included on the album “Delight Sight Light KISS,” released in November 1988, it became widely loved beyond Yuming’s core fans, even topping the cable broadcasting charts.
The lyrics, with their memorable, repeated questions, vividly capture the emptiness and remorse that follow a breakup.
Emotions depicted from both male and female perspectives give the song a universal theme that resonates with many.
It’s a moving classic recommended for anyone who has experienced a parting or is struggling with a relationship with someone important.
My lover is Santa ClausMatsutōya Yumi54rank/position
When it comes to Christmas songs, this is the one! Many people probably think of it first.
Included on Yumi Matsutoya’s 10th original album released in 1980, this track has now become a winter classic.
It has been passed down through performances by popular artists such as Seiko Matsuda and Hitomi Shimatani, and new covers have continued to be released even into the 2020s.
As Christmas approaches, you’re sure to hear Yumi Matsutoya’s voice all around town.
Even as various artists release new Christmas songs every year, its popularity never fades—truly a legendary piece.
Departing AutumnMatsutōya Yumi55rank/position
Above all, it’s astonishing to think this song was written when she was just around twenty.
It’s an early work by Yumi Matsutoya, back when she performed as Yumi Arai, and it’s included on the classic album “MISSLIM,” released in October 1974.
The scene of autumn slipping through the trees and disappearing into the night seems to delicately depict farewells to cherished people and places, as well as the start of a new chapter.
You can picture the protagonist setting off with quiet resolve, even while steeped in sentimentality.
Set against the sophisticated sound crafted by Caramel Mama and others, this hidden gem evokes a gentle, lingering emotion through Yuming’s poetic world and expressive power.
It’s a perfect song for an autumn night when you find yourself at a crossroads in life, lost in thought.
The last spring breakMatsutōya Yumi56rank/position
A beautiful ballad by Yumi Matsutoya that gently embraces the transience of the season when spring arrives and the milestone of graduation.
With tender emotion, it portrays the feelings of saying goodbye to student life while carrying a faint crush and lingering attachment, set against quiet scenes of the school.
Included on the album “OLIVE” and released in July 1979, this piece features Matsutoya’s delicate vocals and soft piano melody that resonate deeply.
It gently depicts moments that evoke nostalgic memories—such as classrooms bathed in spring sunlight and the sound of footsteps along long corridors—and is a song that, when listened to with older adults, can spark lively reminiscences of each person’s youthful days.
If I’m wrapped in kindnessMatsutoya Yumi57rank/position
It’s a song many people know as the ending theme of Studio Ghibli’s film Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Released in April 1974 as the third single by Yumi Matsutoya, who was still using the name Yumi Arai at the time.
Its universal theme—that if we don’t forget the pure feelings we had as children, everything we see turns into a precious message—gently warms the hearts of listeners.
The version included on the album MISSLIM features a country-style arrangement, and its friendly, catchy melody is especially appealing.
If you pair it with gentle reels or stories—like posts that capture everyday scenes or memories with someone special—I think it will make the visuals even more moving.
Across this wide fieldMoriyama Ryoko58rank/position
Ryoko Moriyama, a godlike figure in the world of folk music.
With a guitar in hand, she still sings so coolly—it’s truly wonderful to see.
This song is even included in music textbooks, so I’m sure some younger people know it as well.
I never realized she was someone who could write songs that incredible.
Sugarcane fieldMoriyama Ryoko59rank/position
Known as a classic that colors the Showa-era pop scene, this piece carries lyrics that weave sorrow over war and a wish for peace, resonating with many hearts.
The melody, sung over the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, evokes deep emotion.
First recorded in 1969 on the album “Ryoko Moriyama College Folk Album No.
2,” it has been cherished ever since.
Performed as a solo with guitar, it would surely become a song that deeply touches listeners.
My RevolutionWatanabe Misato60rank/position
This song, imbued with a powerful, forward-looking message, sings of reevaluating oneself and sparking an inner revolution.
It portrays the feelings of a protagonist who, along with a sense of loneliness, discovers a strength that is uniquely their own, appealing to the importance of the strength to chase dreams and to find a way of life that is true to oneself.
Released in January 1986 and reaching No.
1 on the Oricon charts, it is also known as the theme song for the TBS drama “Sailor-fuku Dori.” When you need courage to dive into a new environment, this is a track that will give you a push.
With Misato Watanabe’s powerful vocals, why not take the first step into a new chapter of your life?