Recommended Summer Songs for People in Their 70s: A Collection of Nostalgic Summer Tunes [2026]

The sun is crying.ishida ayumi

The sun is crying.

A heartbreaking love song that seeps into the listener’s heart.

Ayumi Ishida’s voice rings out beautifully in this nostalgic track.

Its lyrics vividly revive memories of youthful romance, inviting listeners to recall loves that have passed and sink into a gentle longing.

With a melody that superbly captures the feeling of the sun dimming and a heart steeped in sorrow, the song makes the sense of romantic loss feel strikingly real.

Released in June 1968 as her 24th single, it’s a classic that has been covered by many artists, including Judy Ongg and Keisuke Kuwata.

Brimming with the loneliness that comes with the end of summer, this song is perfect for spending a long, wistful night when you find yourself yearning for someone.

Seaside BoundZa Taigāsu

Seaside Bound

“Seaside Bound” is an iconic song that embodies the passionate summers of youth.

With a catchy, rhythmic melody, it conjures images of a couple in love singing and dancing against a backdrop of blue ocean.

The lyrics, which cast the sun as a goddess of love and the sea as a friend, evoke the unique sense of freedom and excitement found only on the summer shore.

Released as The Tigers’ second single less than three months after the band formed, it became a massive hit, selling 400,000 copies.

As a song that symbolizes youth culture of the late 1960s, it continues to be beloved by many.

It’s an eternal summer anthem, highly recommended for couples driving to the seaside and for anyone wishing to bask in summer memories.

Love VacationZa Pīnattsu

Love Vacation

“Love Vacation” is a classic song perfect for summer, released in 1963, that exudes nostalgia and a sweet, dreamy mood.

Composed by Yasushi Miyagawa, it reflects an era when leisure and vacations were becoming more accessible.

The lyrics depict the romantic, dreamy moments of two people in love—whispered promises, passionate kisses, sun-kissed skin—and they’re sure to capture listeners’ hearts.

Just listening to it brings back memories of youth and fills you with tender feelings.

It’s a number you’ll want to play while spending time with someone special under the summer sun.

For those in their seventies, it will surely revive bittersweet memories.

Scarred KaruizawaBureddo & Batā

Scarred Karuizawa

Bread & Butter’s debut single, released in 1969 and considered one of their signature songs.

Set on a summer night in Karuizawa, it portrays the poignancy of a fleeting romance.

The Iwasawa brothers’ beautiful harmonies bring to life the image of a lover clad in a black lace gown.

As the end of summer approaches and you feel like reminiscing, listening to this song may bring back fond memories.

Summer GirlMinami Kōsetsu

Summer Girl (Single Version)

A classic imbued with bittersweet feelings tied to the end of summer.

With its gentle melody and lyrics that resonate deeply, it stands as one of Kōsetsu Minami’s signature works.

“Natsu no Shōjo” (Summer Girl) portrays a heartfelt farewell to a girl who departs with the changing seasons.

The image of her crying at summer’s end and the passing of the season through a burning heart are rendered through Minami’s delicate sensibilities.

Released as a single in June 1977, it reached No.

32 on the Oricon charts and was also included on the album “Ima Kokoro no Mama ni,” released the same year.

It’s a song recommended for adults who, feeling the loneliness of summer’s fading scenery, keep bygone memories tucked away in their hearts.

Mr. Summertimesaakasu

Mr. Summertime – Circus

A circus mega-hit with a lively rhythm and catchy melody that feels great.

The lyrics are striking as they look back on a past where giving in to temptation led to the loss of a precious love, and they bask in memories of summer days.

Released in March 1978, it sold over one million copies right out of the gate, topped the Oricon charts, and earned a spot in the 29th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s the perfect track to listen to on a hot summer day while reminiscing about your youth.

Give it a listen when you’re in the mood for a touch of nostalgia.

Sugarcane fieldSakushi sakkyoku: Terashima Naohiko

Sugarcane Field (♪ zawawa zawawa~) by Himawari ×9 [Chorus] Full Version with Lyrics | 8/15 End of War Memorial Day

This is an anti-war song imbued with a deep wish for peace, overlaying memories of the Battle of Okinawa with the sound of sugarcane swaying in the wind.

It was conceived when Naohiko Terashima visited Okinawa in 1964 and was told about the remains of the war dead at Mabuni Hill.

Premiered in 1967, it became widely beloved after Naomi Chiaki sang it on NHK’s music program “Minna no Uta” in 1975.

Told from the perspective of a girl who lost her father in the war, the song features the symbolic sound “zawawa” repeated 66 times, resonating deeply with listeners.

It’s a recommended piece for those who have experienced war or for moments when you want to reflect on peace.