Recommended and popular classic rock songs to listen to in spring
When you think of spring, what comes to mind?
Cherry blossoms, a season of meetings and farewells, a new life—there are many images, aren’t there?
And the emotions you feel in each of those moments can vary widely, too.
In this article, I’ll be introducing songs that are perfect for spring, with a focus on Japanese rock.
I’ve picked out many tracks that really resonate with the feelings you experience in spring.
Alongside timeless classics that have been loved for years, there are also songs by up-and-coming bands worth paying attention to in recent years, so please take your time and give them a listen.
Rock masterpieces to listen to in spring: recommended popular songs (1–10)
bookmarkkuriipuhaipe
“Shiori,” a 2018 release by the Japanese guitar rock band CreepHyp.
Centered on the theme of a bookmark placed in a book, it’s an up-tempo rock tune that sings of spring.
While the song has an exhilarating, fast-paced feel, the lyrics—packed with vocalist Sekai-kan Ozaki’s literary essence—are also a highlight.
It sets the springtime of farewells to a driving beat, so even as you nod along, you can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.
A tear-jerking CreepHyp rock tune that’s perfect for spring!
Cherry blossom seasonFujifaburikku
Fujifabric’s 2004 masterpiece “Sakura no Kisetsu.” When it comes to Fujifabric’s early work, their signature is a kind of unconventional, so-called “perverse” rock that refuses to go by the book, and this track is exactly that.
As the title suggests, it’s a song about the cherry blossom season, but it carries a somewhat lukewarm, languid temperature—an unmistakably distinctive groove that sets it apart from other artists and feels great.
In the latter half it grows properly emotional and shifts into a refreshing rush.
A true spring classic that’s pure Fujifabric magic!
deep redMy Hair is Bad
A rock tune I’d love you to listen to at the end of spring: “Makka” by the rock band My Hair is Bad, released in 2015.
From the very first line, you’re drawn into their signature world of realistic lyrics.
The intense vocals over the fierce sound make a striking impression, heightening the song’s story with a bittersweet edge.
I imagine many listeners will find their feelings somehow linked to it.
It’s a rock track that packs in the temperature and emotions of the changing seasons to the fullest.
In the sky of the seasons that have passedTHE ORAL CIGARETTES
When spring gets busy and you feel like you’re losing sight of yourself, I recommend listening to THE ORAL CIGARETTES’ “Toorisugita Kisetsu no Sora de” (“Under the Sky of the Passing Season”).
It’s included on their 2016 album FIXION.
When work and everything else piles up and the voices around you come crashing in, your heart gets exhausted and you start to lose yourself.
This song portrays that painful situation, yet it also carries words of encouragement—messages that can help you find your way back to yourself.
When things are so tough that you don’t even have the time to admire the cherry blossoms, why not take a moment to pause and listen to this track?
Song of Springsupittsu
Spitz has sung masterpieces for every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Among their many classics, this is probably the song that comes to mind when you think of spring.
Released in 2005, “Haru no Uta” (“Spring Song”) is memorable for its heart-wrenching chorus melody, a tune you find yourself humming whenever you feel the spring scenery or weather.
It was also used in a commercial, so many people have likely heard it at least once.
It’s sure to make the warm season that has come back around even more vibrant.
Spring Comes to UsUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
The rock band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s incredibly fresh and pleasant rock track “Haru ga Kite Bokura.” It’s a pop number packed with their charm, brimming with hope for taking a new step forward—a song that makes you feel like you can leap toward a grand, radiant future.
Blue SpringSUPER BEAVER
This song centers on memories from youth and connections between people.
Released in March 2016, it was also featured in a Taisho Pharmaceutical Lipovitan D commercial.
With powerful band arrangements and emotional vocals, it expresses feelings toward someone you long to see and how past experiences shape who you are today.
Included on the album “27,” it reflects the band’s growth and change.
It’s a track that brings back your own youthful days and encourages you to reexamine who you are now, making it especially recommended for those starting a new chapter or stepping into a new environment.
forget-me-notAwesome City Club
This is a moving ballad by Awesome City Club that became a major hit in 2021, portraying a beautiful, straightforward kind of love.
Created as an inspiration song for the film ‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,’ the lyrics are sprinkled with words that echo the movie.
While there are sections featuring programmed beats and synth sounds, the core of the track is richly infused with rock elements.
The fiery guitar solo in the middle of the song is especially a must-hear.
spring breezekururi
As the title suggests, this is a gentle spring song characterized by a relaxed melody that evokes a soft spring breeze.
Created by Quruli, a rock band from Kyoto, it was released in 2000 and featured in an Idemitsu Kosan commercial.
The lyrics look back on one’s youth, but I think the song will also resonate with those who are living through their youth right now.
Try listening while thinking of someone you love or someone who feels nostalgic.
It’s also perfect as BGM for a spring drive.
parabolaOfisharu Higedan Dism
What kind of scenery or music did the title “Parabola” bring to mind when you heard it? Official HIGE DANDism’s 2020 release “Parabola” is a song I especially want you to hear as you begin a new life and a fresh start.
The lyrics are full of nuance and make you think.
Still, it’s undoubtedly a cheer for those moving toward the future with dreams and ideals in their hearts, and it’s a song I hope you’ll interpret in your own way.
When you receive its message, something may take root within you.