Ballads to Listen to in Summer | Exquisite Summer Songs That Embrace Bittersweet Longing

Summer loverSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO 'Summer Lover'

Among the songs by SHISHAMO, one of the quintessential all-female bands, there are several that sing about summer, but when it comes to summer ballads, this one is unmissable.

Asako Miyazaki’s vocals here aren’t her usual high-energy style; instead, they have a calm, supple quality that perfectly suits the song’s relaxed tempo.

Coupled with the poignant lyrics about choosing to end a fleeting summer romance, you’ll feel a gentle tremor in your heart as you listen.

The whole track sinks in deeply, but the a cappella part Miyazaki sings in the latter half is especially unmissable.

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Hane Keisuke

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At the end of summerT-BOLAN

At the end of summer

T-BOLAN’s contributions are indispensable when discussing the J-POP scene of the ’90s.

While their hallmark is passionate rock ballads, they also have masterpieces that quietly seep into the heart.

This work sets the loneliness that creeps in at summer’s end and the helpless feelings toward a love that has passed onto an acoustic soundscape.

Rather than belting it out, the restrained vocals make each word stand out, all the more highlighting the protagonist’s bittersweet emotions.

This track is included on the band’s first acoustic release, the album “Natsu no Owari ni ~Acoustic Version~,” released in September 1992.

It’s a gem of a ballad—perhaps a little different from the songs you’d belt out at karaoke—that you’ll want to listen to intently while lost in thought on a summer evening.

Summer EndKoresawa

Koresawa “Summer End” Official Audio

The end of summer somehow feels a little lonely and makes you long for someone, doesn’t it? That’s when Koresawa’s track gently stays by your side.

You can almost see the scenes where the fleeting summer is overlapped with the “you” who’s no longer here.

It’s a mellow ballad that tenderly captures that helpless, aching feeling of a summer, a love, and a dream that never came true, carried by her smooth, wistful vocals.

This song is included on the mini-album “Summer Love,” released in August 2022, closing out an album packed with summer memories.

Listen to it on a late-summer drive or on your solitary walk home lost in thought, and you’ll feel a surge of affection for the season that has slipped away.

tear(s)Marushii

Marcy – Tears (Official Music Video)

A heartbreaking breakup ballad by Marcy, beloved for their relatable, down-to-earth music.

The structure tells all the radiant memories of a seaside park in the past tense, conveying the bittersweet ache of heartbreak—the way you can’t help but remember, even knowing you can’t go back.

You might recognize that feeling, as if your body still carries the warmth of the other person.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone who can’t forget a summer romance that has come to an end.

silver vineSato Chiaki

Chiaki Sato – Matatabi (Lyric Video)

Chiaki Sato—known as the former vocalist of Kinoko Teikoku and a multitalented solo artist—released Matatabi in July 2024, the theme song for the film Bake Neko Anzu-chan.

Set to warm, country- and folk-tinged guitar tones, the song gently sings of summer days gone by.

Images like festival sounds and lukewarm ramune soda are sure to stir listeners’ unforgettable memories of summer.

It’s a gem of a track to revisit cherished memories with, especially as the days begin to grow shorter.

summer vacationwacci

wacci 'Summer Vacation MV (Short Version) + TV Spot'

Wacci’s “Natsuyasumi” is a masterpiece that paints scenes from summer festivals, a hallmark of the season.

Its childlike, nostalgic lyrics gently resonate with listeners.

Filled with the fresh emotions of summer, the song evokes the scents of the season and the lively bustle of the festivities.

Hashiguchi’s vocals beautifully convey the feelings of summer days.

It’s the perfect track for those moments when you want to forget the noise of everyday life and revisit a page of your youth.

remainingYoshizawa Kayoko

Kayoko Yoshizawa 'Left Behind' MUSIC VIDEO

Singer-songwriter Kayoko Yoshizawa’s 2017 release “Nokotteru” (“What Remains”).

This song captures the transition from summer to autumn; its wistful melody evokes the early-morning air, and Yoshizawa’s slightly languid yet gentle voice matches it perfectly, seeping warmly into your heart as you listen.

The lyrics also convey the feelings of a woman who “doesn’t want to forget the love she found in summer,” making it a track I especially recommend to anyone in love or with someone special in mind.

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sasashina

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