[2026] Classic Western songs to listen to on Tanabata: love songs about stars and the Milky Way

LevitatingDua Lipa

Dua Lipa – Levitating (Official Animated Music Video)

“Levitating” is a landmark song in Dua Lipa’s career.

Brimming with space- and star-inspired imagery, it captures the floating sensation of a new romance and the joy and freedom felt when spending time with someone you love.

Its upbeat melody, infused with disco and funk elements, is irresistibly catchy—perfect for singing along while dancing with your partner.

Released in 2020 as a lead single from the album “Future Nostalgia,” it cemented Lipa’s sound as retro yet fresh.

It’s a romantic number you’ll want to listen to hand in hand with someone special under the starry sky.

MILKY WAYBap Kennedy

MILKY WAY by Bap Kennedy (1962-2016)

As a song themed around starry skies and the Milky Way, the work crafted by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy radiates a special presence.

Featured on his 2005 album The Big Picture, this piece is also noteworthy for being a collaboration with Irish music legend Van Morrison.

Blending elements of country, folk rock, Americana, and Celtic soul, the sound exemplifies Kennedy’s musical versatility and builds a richly layered world befitting the grand theme of the Milky Way.

With contributions from renowned musicians—including pedal steel guitar virtuoso B.

J.

Cole—the track boasts a lush musical texture.

It’s a perfect choice for a Tanabata night, when you want to gaze up at the stars and slowly immerse yourself in the music.

Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)Train

Train – Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me) (Official 4K Video)

Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me) by the American rock band Train is a moving song that portrays longing for a lost loved one.

Frontman Pat Monahan wrote the track after his mother’s death, seeking a connection with her as if she had traveled through the cosmos.

The poetic phrase “drops of Jupiter” conveys Monahan’s bittersweet feelings as he imagines his mother in heaven.

Released in March 2001, the song quickly swept the U.S.

charts, became a hit in Australia and the U.K., and earned two Grammy Awards, receiving high acclaim.

It’s a superb love song you’ll want to listen to under the starry sky while thinking of someone dear.

Megumi The Milkyway AboveConnan Mockasin

Connan Mockasin – Megumi The Milkyway Above [PHLP01]

Conan Mockasin, a New Zealand-born artist who continues to captivate music fans around the world with his dreamy psychedelic music.

This track, which opens his 2011 debut album “Forever Dolphin Love,” features the word “Milky Way” in its title, making it a perfect song for a Tanabata night.

The sound woven from gentle guitar arpeggios, rhythmic percussion, and his distinctive high-pitched vocals is filled with a floating sensation, as if you’re gazing at constellations glittering in the night sky.

Coupled with the children’s voices inserted at the beginning, it invites listeners into a phantasmagoric world.

Steamtrains To The Milky WayDanny Wilson

Steamtrains To The Milky Way

A hidden gem that lets you immerse yourself in the dreamy world crafted by Danny Wilson, the sophisti-pop band from Dundee, Scotland.

As the title suggests, this song paints a fanciful image of a steam train to the Milky Way, a beautiful ballad that weaves a delicate melody with longing for the starry sky and a desire to escape reality.

Featured on their 1987 debut album “Meet Danny Wilson,” it boasts a refined arrangement highlighted by Roddy Lorimer’s trumpet, evoking the elegant atmosphere of Burt Bacharach.

It’s the perfect track for those moments when you want to gaze up at the night sky and spend some quiet time, away from the bustle of everyday life.