The heat has eased, and it’s becoming a more comfortable season.
September is a somewhat contemplative time, where the lingering traces of summer intersect with the beginning of autumn.
I’d like to introduce some songs that are perfect for September.
From memories of summer and bittersweet love songs to tracks that capture the changing seasons, each one resonates deeply with the heart.
For an end-of-summer drive or a leisurely walk, you’re sure to find the perfect song for you.
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[Songs to Listen to in September] Popular J‑Pop Tracks That Evoke Late Summer and Early Autumn (1–10)
Ms. SeptemberRADWIMPS
As the title suggests, this early masterpiece by RADWIMPS was created with September in mind—the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
The autumnal loneliness conveyed in the song matches perfectly with vocalist Yojiro Noda’s clear, translucent voice.
Both the chord progression and the song’s development subtly evoke the feeling of fall, and although it’s a sad song, the arrangement of the chorus is superb in a way that still makes you feel optimistic.
Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi
This is Kenshi Yonezu’s 2017 track, where a restrained, tight arrangement brings out the best in his vocals, delivered with a softly intimate tone.
The second verse is sung by actor Masaki Suda, and the contrast between their voices adds a dramatic dimension to the song.
The explosive power of the chorus is also compelling, evoking a beauty that feels as if the world suddenly springs into motion—a lonely yet powerful piece.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
This is a classic song by Fujifabric that you suddenly feel like listening to in the season where summer ends and autumn begins.
The longing for the passing summer and the brilliance of youth that will never return are layered over the image of the “last fireworks,” and its bittersweet melody sinks deep into the heart.
Released as a single in November 2007, the track later stayed with many listeners as an insert song in the drama SUMMER NUDE.
There’s also a lovely anecdote that in the composer’s hometown, the song was played as the evening chime for three days in December 2012.
On nights when you want to bask in summer memories, or on a sentimental walk home, why not give it a quiet listen?
Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE
A Mrs.
GREEN APPLE song that expresses various feelings about the finiteness of time.
Used as an insert song in the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi,” it conveys the emotions of two characters in the story.
The warm, grand sound centered on the piano is striking, and as it builds toward the chorus, the momentum of the music increases as if mirroring the swell of emotion.
While cherishing the memories piled up within limited time, the song voices—almost like a cry—the wish for this relationship to continue if at all possible.
It powerfully communicates the desire for summer not to end, and for the relationship not to end.
NatsuneYuuri
Even after summer ends and the seasons turn, I want to be with you forever…
That gentle kind of love is what Yuuri’s song “Natsune” is all about.
Released in 2021, the track was created for episode 1 of the Hulu drama “Dry Flower: The July Room.” The lyrics paint the days when, alongside the many sounds that color summer, the two grew to know each other more and more.
How about listening to it with someone you want to stay with from now on, too?
Ephemeral FireworksKamisama wa saikoro o furanai
The rock ballad by God Doesn’t Roll Dice gently accompanies that faintly wistful feeling of bidding farewell to summer.
This work likens a blazing summer romance and its end to lights blooming and vanishing in the night sky.
Told from a female perspective, the lyrics conjure scenes like the mismatched footprints the two leave along the water’s edge, calling summer memories back to life.
Released in July 2020, the song was later included on the EP Cultural Singularity and the acclaimed album Event Horizon.
It’s the perfect number for late summer nights, when you want to be alone with your thoughts and sink into the ache of a bittersweet love.
fragrant olivemosao.
Mosasao’s “Kinmokusei” is a passionate love song about wanting to fall deeper and deeper for the one you love.
Released in 2023, it was used as the ending theme for the drama “My Beautiful Man Season 2” and as the theme song for the film “My Beautiful Man: eternal.” Despite its poppy, cute melody, the lyrics strikingly depict a love so fervent it feels like the height of summer.
The way it portrays loving someone with your whole life—embracing both their good and bad sides—sets your heart racing.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone who wants to hear a fiery love story that swallows up September’s breeziness.