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

Love Sky and the Sound of RainAAA

AAA / “Love Sound and Rainy Sky” Music Video

When it comes to love songs for autumn, those slightly melancholic, bittersweet tunes are the classics, aren’t they? This piece is a gem of a love song packed with the frustrating push-and-pull of romance and those hard-to-express feelings.

You want to say “I love you,” but the fear of what might come keeps the words in your throat.

That delicate feeling of first love overlaps with the gentle scene of autumn rain, and it really tugs at the heart.

This track is a single released by AAA in September 2013 and was also featured in an H.I.S.

commercial, so many of you may find it familiar.

The album it’s included on, Eighth Wonder, became the group’s first to top the weekly charts and won an Excellence Award at the 55th Japan Record Awards.

It’s a song that quietly stays by your side in autumn, when the fun of summer has passed and you start to long for someone.

SUMMER ENDiri

SUMMER END

If you want to savor that unique late-summer wistfulness with a mellow sound, iri’s tracks are just right.

They weave together the frustrating feelings of a summer romance nearing its end and the changing seasons, portraying a heart swaying between the lingering desire not to wake from a sweet dream and the pull of reality.

iri’s signature husky vocals and comfortable groove gently embrace those fleeting emotions.

Released in September 2019 following the album “Shade,” this song also drew attention as the theme for a romance reality show.

On nights when you find yourself reminiscing about summers past, why not immerse yourself in the bittersweet beauty of this piece’s world?

Chasing summer againaratayo

Atarayo – Chasing Summer Again (Music Video)

Atrayor’s summer ballad that stays close to the feeling of longing for the passing summer.

The nostalgic piano melody and Hitomi’s delicate, emotional vocals leave a strong impression.

The entire song exudes a sweet yet bittersweet atmosphere, portraying joyful summer memories with an unforgettable person and the loneliness of their end.

Rather than wishing “let’s meet again next year,” some may relate to the aching desire to chase after the summer that’s already gone.

Released as a single in August 2022, this work follows the album “In the Polar Night, the Moon Remains Silent.” It’s a song that gently wraps you in your sentimental mood—perfect for an end-of-summer drive or a quiet night alone lost in thought.

Late Summer (A Season for One)Arai Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Late Summer (A Season Alone) (Live)

This is a song by Yumi Arai that overlays the changing seasonal scenery with the end of a romance and the beginning of time alone.

The sight of leaves blazing with color and delicate flowers swaying in the wind seems to reflect the protagonist’s loneliness.

The song was included on the album “The 14th Moon,” released under the name Yumi Arai in November 1976, and it also served as the theme song for the NHK dramas “Natsu no Furusato” and “Maboroshi no Budōen.” Its poignant melody—mingling a lingering affection for the summer that has passed with a quiet resolve for the seasons to come—resonates deeply with listeners.

Whether you play it on a drive while reminiscing about summer or during a slightly chilly evening stroll, it will gently keep you company.

July 7, sunnyDREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE “July 7th, Clear Skies”

This song was produced as the theme for the 1996 film “July 7th, Clear Skies,” starring Masato Hagiwara and Alisa Mizuki.

July 7th is Tanabata, the day when Hikoboshi and Orihime are said to be able to meet just once a year.

The lyrics, which connect to that story, tenderly and painfully express the longing to see someone you love.

It’s a song that those in long-distance relationships or with unrequited feelings will surely relate to—and might even be moved to tears by.

That intense, aching feeling of love is something people of any generation can understand, even if they aren’t in a relationship right now.

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Lamp starharuka nakamura + suis from Yorushika

[MV] Akari-boshi (Lamp Star) / haruka nakamura + suis from Yorushika

You’re drawn into its delicate, lyrical sound.

It’s a collaboration between composer haruka nakamura and suis, the vocalist of Yorushika.

The song was written as the theme for the film “Kono Natsu no Hoshi o Miru,” set to be released in July 2025.

suis’s crystalline voice gently accompanies the quiet, beautiful piano melodies woven by haruka nakamura, creating an immersive feeling as if you were inside a planetarium.

The story—tinged with the ache of an irretrievable past and the discovery of a small light of hope in the darkness—perfectly matches the film’s worldview.

Listen, and you’ll find yourself forgetting the daily bustle and quietly looking up at the night sky.

Marigoldaimyon

Marigold

This song captivates with a refreshing yet wistful feel that pairs perfectly with summer memories.

Released by Aimyon in August 2018, it became the first track by a Japanese artist to surpass 100 million streams the following year, making it a favorite across generations.

Its melody, which conjures vivid summer scenes, may stir a gentle sense of nostalgia.

Depicting summertime moments spent with someone special, it’s the kind of music that even elementary school children can enjoy and feel at ease with.

It’s perfect for summer outings or dusk—be sure to give it a listen!