Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters.
When you think of summer, what kind of image comes to mind?
It’s a season that’s hot and liberating, with lots of fun events, right?
But alongside that glamorous image, don’t you sometimes feel a vague sense of wistfulness—something a bit emo?
In this article, we’ll introduce a bunch of emo songs you’ll want to listen to in summer, the kind that resonate with those feelings.
From band tracks to singer-songwriter pieces, we’ve gathered many songs across eras and genres, so be sure to take your time listening while reading the lyrics.
Emotional songs you want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters (1–10)
Drunken SummerNEW!murasaki ima
A song by Shion that portrays an earnest love at summer’s end.
Featured on the album “Gallery,” released in May 2023, this track is characterized by a style that brings emotion to the forefront.
Throughout, it evokes the atmosphere of a ’90s ballad.
Husky vocals and sections mixing in whistle tones are used in various places.
The way the falsetto envelops subtle shifts of feeling is astounding, making it a perfect piece for those who want to linger in the afterglow.
Its distinctive sense of rhythm is also a highlight!
Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End
It’s an emotional love song that captures special moments like magic on a summer night.
Released by indigo la End in 2015, this piece blends a chilled sound with delicate lyrics and melody.
It portrays the scent of summer stirring memories of a former lover.
The lyrics, depicting the bittersweet end of summer and the beauty of things that are fleeting, truly resonate.
Maybe you, too, have experienced a love like this.
Summer IllusionOmoinotake
It’s a nostalgic, bittersweet love song that recalls a summer spent with someone special.
Created by Omoinotake, a three-piece band from Shimane Prefecture, it was released in 2020 as their sixth single.
The track has an ennui-laden vibe, pairing a chill rhythm with relaxed vocals.
Listening to it feels like your body is being enveloped in sound.
On a quiet summer night, especially while gazing out the window, it may resonate even more deeply.
Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako
It’s a ballad in which Hanako Oku’s piano tones and clear, translucent voice gently nestle close to the listener’s heart.
The piece centers on treasured memories from days gone by and feelings that never change, and it almost seems to convey the aching wishes of the film’s characters.
Featured as an insert song in the animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, released in July 2006, it moved many people and can be heard on the single Garnet and the album TIME NOTE.
If you listen to it when you’re feeling a touch of loneliness at summer’s end, or when reminiscing makes you long to see someone again, the worldview of the lyrics will surely resonate with you.
It’s the perfect song for those moments when you want to tuck away memories of someone dear and indulge in a slightly sentimental mood.
Please take your time and savor it!
Blues in the Closetzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
Amid a jazzy piano sound, this track exudes a poignant, sentimental atmosphere.
Packed with the charm of Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni, “Blues in the Closet” evokes emotions tucked away in the heart and feelings that can’t be put into words.
Released in June 2024 as an insert song for the film “Even If I Like You, I’m a Contrarian,” it’s a richly layered piece that matches the movie’s worldview.
ACA-ne’s transparent vocals gently envelop the song’s complex emotions.
It’s the kind of track you might want to listen to on a summer evening, when you feel just a touch of loneliness.