[Summer Classics] When it comes to summer, it’s got to be this song! A roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks.
When you hear “summer songs,” what tracks come to mind? Is it a hit from your youth, a classic you hear somewhere every year once summer arrives, or the latest chart-topper? In this article, we’ll introduce timeless summer-song masterpieces that instantly bring the season to mind.
From tracks that amp up your energy to songs that take you back to a page of your youth, it’s a lineup that captures many shades of “summer.” With your favorite summer tunes, let’s power through the hot season!
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[Summer Classics] When it comes to summer, it’s this song! A comprehensive roundup from timeless staples to the latest hits (61–70)
ASOBONiziU
With a playful spirit, every day becomes more fun—that’s the feeling this NiziU track gives you.
Featuring house music and a Motown-style upbeat rhythm, it’s the kind of song that makes many listeners start moving without even realizing it.
Released in April 2022, it was also used in a Fanta commercial.
Its message, “Let’s enjoy everyday life no matter what,” amplifies that excited summer vacation mood.
It’s perfect for hanging out with friends or as background music for outings, so give it a listen when you want everyone to get hyped!
Nagisaimase
It’s a fresh, danceable track reminiscent of ’80s city pop.
Released in May 2023 and sung by imase, many of you may have heard it as the theme song for the news program ABEMA Prime.
Told from the perspective of a confident woman, the song portrays a romantic storyline, with imase’s switch between chest voice and falsetto expressing the protagonist’s emotional shifts.
Also included on the album Bonsai, it’s perfect for summer outings—be sure to add it to your driving playlist.
Sing when summer comesLittle Glee Monster
This is a song by Little Glee Monster that was selected as the event theme for Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa.
The lyrics were written by Tahi Saihate, and the music was composed by Yoshiki Mizuno of Ikimono-gakari.
It was released in November 2018.
In contrast to its dazzling harmonies, the lyrics portray a poignant sense of sadness for the passing summer.
The song skillfully captures the complex emotions of youth, where joyful memories mix with the melancholy of knowing you can’t go back.
It’s a track best savored once the clamor of summer has faded.
At the mercy of the seaYOASOBI
This is a YOASOBI song created based on a short story by Naoki Prize-winning author Mizuki Tsujimura.
It depicts a fantastical night experienced by a runaway girl at the seaside, expressed through a gentle mid-tempo sound.
The encounter that gently embraces her anxious heart and the sense of emotional release it brings are captivatingly conveyed by Ikura’s clear, translucent vocals.
Released in November 2022, this work is sure to draw you into its tender world when you listen to it at night—different from the lively days of summer—when you’re in the mood for a touch of melancholy.
BoyhoodInoue Yosui
This song, powerfully sung by Yosui Inoue, paints a nostalgic summer landscape.
It’s widely known—partly because it was featured in music textbooks—and is recognized as Inoue’s biggest hit.
Centered on the piano, with strings and acoustic guitar layered in, the sound is gentle and spacious, conveying warmth.
Through both the lyrics and the arrangement, the song clearly evokes the slow act of looking back on summer scenes and the many memories they hold, carrying a tender sense of nostalgia that invites you to surrender your heart to it.
water lily blossomShonan no Kaze
Among Shonan no Kaze’s songs, this one especially captures the feeling of summer, with a thrilling, high-energy appeal.
It starts with a gentle, laid-back sound and builds momentum toward the chorus—a highlight that evokes the rising excitement as summer approaches.
The lyrics, giddy as if intoxicated by the summer heat, are fun and convey the image of friends going all out together.
While the track bursts with a lively vibe, it also carries a sense of cherishing the fleeting time of summer, along with a subtle hint of bittersweet emotion.
Carrying HappinessMrs. GREEN APPLE
A number that makes your heart leap just by listening, wrapping you in an extraordinary sense of bliss! Released by the rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in July 2025, this song was chosen as the theme for Tokyo Disney Resort’s summer event.
It brilliantly captures the concept of an “exceptionally happy summer,” working like magic to energize anyone who hears it.
Its irresistibly bright melody and positive lyrics are sure to make the time you spend with your loved ones even more exciting!