[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’s summer, it’s this song! A comprehensive roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit songs (91–100)
Live the summerRyokushokushakai
This is a song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai that portrays the brilliance of summer and the strength of the people who live within it.
It combines a cider-like freshness with the resilience to stand up even when covered in mud, and it just might give courage to those who listen.
Not only the sparkle of youth, but also the earnest effort and passion behind it, come through on a driving, exhilarating sound.
Released in July 2020, the track is widely known as the theme song for tvk’s “RIDE OF KANAGAWA 2020 High School Baseball.” A special edition centered around this song was also included in the album “SINGALONG,” released in September of the same year.
It’s an uplifting anthem that gives you a strong push forward when you’re taking on a challenge or feeling a bit worn out by the summer heat.
Emo-ish summerLucky Kilimanjaro
An emotional number by Lucky Kilimanjaro that vividly brings summertime scenes to mind.
The shimmering tones of the synthesizer and the breezy rhythm paint a bright picture of the early thrills of romance and the unstoppable swell of emotion.
The lyrics capture a heart swaying in the special atmosphere of summer, wrapping listeners in a feeling that’s a little bittersweet yet warm.
Released as a single in July 2020, the track built anticipation as a follow-up to their major-label first album, “!magination.” Its exposure on NTV’s Sukkiri and as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s Netapare further raised its profile.
It also received extensive radio play, including three consecutive weeks in the TOP 5 on J-WAVE’s TOKIO HOT 100.
It’s a perfect song to listen to while relaxing by the seaside to the sound of waves, or in the sentimental mood of twilight.
Give it a listen in those kinds of moments.
I want to become the wind.THE BOOM
“Summer’s here! It’s samba time!” That’s the kind of phrase that might just burst out when you hear this exhilarating number by THE BOOM.
Driven by Kazufumi Miyazawa’s desire to “create a Japanese samba,” the song’s rich tapestry of percussion instantly sweeps listeners into the joyful whirl of a carnival.
Its lyrics carry a straightforward, heartfelt message: no matter the hardships, happiness can be found as long as you’re with the one you love—and even amid harsh realities, life itself is something to celebrate.
Released in March 1995 as a single from the album Far Eastern Samba, the track was also featured in commercials for DC Card and J-PHONE, adding color to many people’s summers.
Put it on for a drive, outdoor fun, or any summer event, and it’s guaranteed to lift your spirits!
High-Pressure GirlYamashita Tatsuro
Speaking of summer, many people in their 50s probably recall Tatsuro Yamashita’s songs wrapped in those refreshing jackets illustrated by Eizin Suzuki.
One of his tracks became the campaign song for All Nippon Airways in 1983, and among them, this particular song must have left a strong impression.
The arrangement—quintessential Yamashita—opens with a cappella chorus and percussion, and its breezy tone evokes a hot yet dry, crisp kind of summer, perfectly elevating that resort feeling.
Stars swimmakaroni enpitsu
Powerfully voicing summer’s restlessness and a defiance of fate, this track is a true masterpiece of high-velocity summer rock.
Released by Macaroni Empitsu in April 2022, it was written as the opening theme for the TV anime “Summer Time Rendering.” The lyrics depict feelings for a loved one who was lost, the emptiness that follows, and the struggle to stand up against destiny, embedding a profound message centered on a fate that flickers and vanishes like fireworks.
With its muscular rock sound, it conveys both the beginning of a story and a rising sense of elation—an uplifting song that’s guaranteed to get you pumped.