[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 roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks (31–40)
Song of PointillismTenbyou no Uta
This song, with its piano tones and beautiful vocal work, is “Tenbyō no Uta” crafted by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
It was originally released featuring singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue, and later a solo version by Inoue was also released.
Set at the end of summer, the lyrics portray the feelings of a man and woman who think of each other with unflinching sincerity, and many listeners are surely moved by their pure love.
At the same time, reading the lyrics, there are parts that can be interpreted as suggesting their feelings might not come to fruition, or that the two may one day be separated, which lends a sense of poignancy.
It’s a beautiful ballad perfectly suited to the end of summer, so be sure to listen while reading the lyrics.
Immoral SummerNogizaka 46
This is a Nogizaka46 track whose passionate sound evokes the blistering heat of summer, layered with a hint of illicit romantic impulse.
It’s included on their 39th single, “Same numbers,” released in July 2025.
The lyrics, where curiosity about a more mature world intersects with a dangerous pull that seems ready to cross the line of common sense, embody a bold worldview that only an Under track can express.
It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits when you want to break free from the everyday!
Love♡Scream!AiScReam
An irresistibly cute summer tune that compares the feeling of being in love to ice cream! It’s the title track of AiScReam’s debut single “Ai♡Scream!”, a special unit born from the Love Live! series, released in January 2025.
Overflowing feelings for a crush—so sweet and tangy they might just melt—are sung over an electronic dance sound.
Fans are hooked, saying, “It’s so cute I keep replaying it!” The dance video went viral mainly on social media, drawing huge attention.
It’s also perfect as BGM to hype up summer drives and BBQs! Its irresistibly catchy melody might just help create your best summer memories.
cotton candyback number
Back number, who have released numerous classic ballads, wrote Watagashi with the theme of a summer festival.
It’s a highly dramatic song: in the first half, it captures the excitement of a man visiting a summer festival with someone he has feelings for; in the second half, it sings of the frustration of being unable to confess.
Try listening while imagining how the story between the two will end.
Combined with vocalist Iyori Shimizu’s passionate singing, it’s truly heart-wrenching.
Another highlight is the strong sense of seasonality, with many summery words like fireworks woven throughout.
Magic hourRyokushokushakai
This song, which was also selected as an insert track for the drama “Midsummer Cinderella,” is a summer love song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai that overlays fireworks with the feeling of being in love.
It has an atmosphere that evokes the bittersweetness of summer’s end, doesn’t it? In the lyrics, they write with straightforward sincerity: “I’ll accept you in any form, like the water’s surface reflecting fireworks.” There are many other evocative expressions that intertwine love and fireworks, so please take your time listening while reading the lyrics.
[Summer Classics] Speaking of summer, it’s this song! A roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks (41–50)
Fanfaresumika
A refreshing song that carries a powerful message about breaking through the darkness of night to welcome a new morning.
It’s striking how the protagonist, once shut inside their shell, musters the courage to take a step into the outside world.
Many listeners will likely feel encouraged by the resolve to overcome hardship and trials and meet a new self.
Released in August 2018, the track was used as the opening theme for the anime film “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.” It’s also included on the album “AMUSIC” and is known as one of sumika’s signature works.
A perfect song to listen to before heading out for warm-weather activities, and recommended for those moments when you need courage to try something new.
Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu
This is a single by The Magokoro Brothers released in 1995, and in 2013, a cover by Tomohisa Yamashita—who starred in the TV drama “SUMMER NUDE” inspired by the song—also became a hit.
The exhilarating sound blends piano, strings, and horns, and its pop melody is beautiful, evoking a summery sparkle.
It begins with a sweet-and-sour wistfulness that gradually builds into a chorus radiating a peaceful vibe.
It’s a nostalgic, warm summer song that everyone can sing along to.
