Best Songs and Popular Tracks by Male Singer-Songwriters: 2026 Rankings

Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki57rank/position

HIDEAKI TOKUNAGA – Rainy Blue

Rainy Blue is a song released by Hideaki Tokunaga in 1986 that portrays someone who can’t stop chasing the memory of an unforgettable lover.

Even though they know there’s no going back, the lingering attachment that continues to dominate their heart becomes even more poignant through Tokunaga’s husky vocals.

Yet the song also depicts how those regrets and the happy days alike are washed away by the rain, gradually purifying them.

If you, like in this song, find yourself endlessly searching for a lover you can’t forget, perhaps this track can be the catalyst to bring closure to your feelings.

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SAKI

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EurekaHoshino Gen58rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Eureka [Official Video]

Gen Hoshino offers a heartwarming song about self-renewal and the courage to look forward.

While drawing on jazz and soul, it supports that first step into the unknown with his signature gentle melodies and deeply insightful lyrics.

Embracing the anxieties and doubts we all carry, its warm message resonates by staying close to the small joys and realizations of everyday life.

Released in January 2025, this powerful track was written as the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Madoka, 26, I’m a Resident Doctor!” The music video, directed by photographer Kotori Kawashima, also highlights a relaxed, charming atmosphere with actor Taiga Nakano.

It’s an encouraging anthem that stands by anyone ready to take a new step or in need of courage to live.

Family SongHoshino Gen59rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Family Song (Official Video)

Many of you might strongly associate it with the drama “Overprotected Kahoko,” starring Mitsuki Takahata, since it was the theme song.

It’s Gen Hoshino’s “Family Song.” True to its title, it’s a “song about family” that fits the drama perfectly, but if you listen closely, it’s a deeply moving piece.

It’s a track filled with a big, heartfelt love that resonates not only with family, but with many different people and moments.

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utatane

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SUNHoshino Gen60rank/position

Gen Hoshino – SUN (Official Video)

It’s a masterpiece with a bright, forward-looking melody and a refreshing rhythm that resonates pleasantly.

Released in May 2015 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Kokoro ga Pokitto ne,” Gen Hoshino’s work is a warm track that incorporates elements of ’70s dance classics and disco.

The song also contains an homage to Michael Jackson, weaving a positive message into its joy-filled tone.

The music video, directed by Akira Sekine, features striking dance scenes choreographed by MIKIKO.

It’s the perfect encouragement song for anyone taking their first step in a new environment or hoping to start a new chapter with a bright outlook.

dead endHoshino Gen61rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Dead End [Official Video]

Ikidomari, the theme song for the film A Moon in the Flatlands, by Gen Hoshino.

It’s a quiet love song composed only of piano and vocals.

The lyrics, which depict adult loss and regret—continuing to harbor feelings for someone unforgettable even while standing at a dead end—resonate deeply.

Hoshino has commented that it’s “not a song about myself, but a song that tells the story within the song in the first person,” which shows how faithfully it conveys the film’s worldview.

Please take your time and immerse yourself in its poignant afterglow.

In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen62rank/position

Gen Hoshino – In the Useless (Live at Osaka-jō Hall 2016)

When it comes to heartwarming ballads that depict the everyday life of a couple, “Kudaranai no Naka ni” comes to mind.

It’s a song released in 2011 by singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino.

Its delicate, warm melody, centered on acoustic guitar, is striking.

Even when going through tough or sad times, the song portrays a heartfelt relationship where joking around with the one you love can bring back your smile.

It teaches us that true happiness lies in the everyday.

Let his gentle, conversational singing voice soothe you.

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mutō

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IdeaHoshino Gen63rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Idea (Official Video)

This is a masterpiece by Gen Hoshino that I especially want you to listen to when you’re feeling a bit low.

Released in August 2018, the song was used as the theme for the NHK morning drama series “Half, Blue.” Its structure is captivating, unfolding from a buoyant, marimba-based intro into a gentle first verse.

His warm voice gives you a soft push forward.

The positive worldview—one that seems to turn even the sound of rain into song—will surely lighten your heart, whether on your commute to work or school, or as you stand before an important challenge.