Ballads to Listen to in Summer | Exquisite Summer Songs That Embrace Bittersweet Longing
Going to the pool or the beach, having barbecues, heading to music festivals… summer is full of fun things, isn’t it? Precisely because it’s such an open, joyful season, there are moments when you suddenly feel lonely or a touch of wistfulness.
In this article, we introduce mellow ballads that will stay close to those bittersweet summer feelings.
From songs that capture the sadness of summer’s end to tracks themed around love and heartbreak, these warm tunes will wrap you up whenever a sentimental mood unexpectedly arrives.
Give them a listen!
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Ballads to Listen to in Summer | Exquisite Summer Songs That Embrace Heartache (41–50)
Dawn and Firefliesnabuna
This song, with its striking acoustic guitar accompaniment, is a track released by n-buna—now active as a member of Yorushika—during his days as a Vocaloid producer.
The lyrics, written as if laying bare inward, negative emotions, are rich in metaphor, inviting each listener to find their own personal interpretation.
Even so, a sense of wistfulness and transience spills out from every corner of the piece, and each of those feelings stands out all the more in contrast to the dazzling season of summer.
The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children
Composed by Sakurai, this song has been around since the days when Mr.Children were still indie! Summer often takes us to places different from our everyday life—like the grandparents’ house where we always spent our summers, or a seaside shop where we worked just for the season—and those settings bring encounters we wouldn’t normally have.
This song poignantly depicts the sorrow of parting from someone you can only meet in summer.
Haven’t you had your own special summertime moments, too? It’s a ballad perfect for when you want to bask in summer memories.
Voice of the Seaurashima tarou
This song was produced for the mobile carrier au’s “Santaro Series” commercials, in which Kenta Kiritani appears as Urashima Taro, and it became familiar through the ads.
It went beyond the realm of a mere commercial jingle to become a hit, and is now beloved as a staple ocean/summer song.
It also drew attention because the composition was handled by BEGIN’s Masaru Shimabukuro.
In the commercials, it’s a love song that expresses Urara-chan—Urashima Taro’s—feelings for Otohime, portrayed in a comical way.
It’s a ballad that makes you feel gentle and sincere, and brings to mind someone special.
tropical nightSHISHAMO
Released in 2015, SHISHAMO’s “Nettaiya” (Tropical Night) is a ballad about longing to see that special someone on a summer night.
There are times when you don’t want to trouble the person you like, but you still can’t help wanting to see them, right? Nights can make you feel a bit lonely, and you might end up calling them… This song vividly captures that real hesitation of thinking about the one you like and wondering, “I want to see you, but will it bother you?” The track is very simple, making it perfect for nighttime listening.
If you don’t have the courage to call, listening to it might just give you the push you need.
Time, stop.Yazawa Eikichi
If you’re a fan of Eikichi Yazawa, you can’t skip this one as a summer song, can you? “Jikan yo Tomare” (Time, Please Stop) was his fifth single, released in 1978.
At the time it was used in a Shiseido commercial, and many people probably also remember hearing it in a Suntory BOSS commercial in 2017.
While Yazawa is known for songs that exude a masculine vibe, this track captures the bittersweet, slightly sentimental feelings of a man in summer.
It’s a song that will resonate not only with men of Yazawa’s generation but likely move younger listeners as well.
KizunaORANGE RANGE
ORANGE RANGE may have a lively, high-energy image as “summer guys,” but they’re actually a band that’s well-regarded for their ballads too.
Their 2004 release Hana is famous as a ballad, but this song Kizuna is another track I really want you to hear.
Being from Okinawa, they convey something that truly resonates, evoking grand natural scenery and landscapes.
It’s a number I recommend as a companion for your heart—listen to it while gazing at the summer sea or sky, especially when you feel like you’re about to break.
A Love Story Ten Years AheadTUBE
Speaking of summer, many people think of TUBE! You probably recall their various hot summer anthems.
But Ten Years Ahead Love Story is a complete departure from TUBE’s fiery side—a gentle, soothing summer ballad.
It’s included on their 1991 album Shonan.
The song portrays a straightforward devotion: continuing to think of a former lover for decades, even millennia, until they meet again.
An unforgettable summer romance, like the one in this song, never fades no matter how many decades pass, does it? The feeling of hoping that there might still be a chance, rather than simply moving on, is also deeply relatable.
When you want to sink into the memory of that unforgettable summer love, make this song your soundtrack.
