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.
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Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: Classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters (91–100)
Our DiaryME:I
A heartwarming pop song that gently wraps summer memories.
It’s a track by ME:I, included on the single “Hi-Five,” released in August 2024.
Set to a refreshing melody, it poetically depicts summer scenes like pool days and stargazing at camp.
Perfect for when you want to look back on memories with someone special—it’s sure to leave you feeling cozy.
Just about 21 hours after its release, it surpassed 2.6 million streams, capturing the hearts of many listeners.
It might also be a great listen as the season begins to feel like summer’s end.
ciderThe Birthday
This work stands out for its lyrics that capture everyday urban life from a unique perspective.
It’s included on the EP “April,” released in April 2024, and carries special meaning as Chiba’s posthumous work.
The Birthday’s signature guitar-rock sound and Yusuke Chiba’s emotional vocals are utterly captivating.
With a worldview that seems to move between reality and unreality, it stimulates the listener’s imagination.
Give it a listen when you want to connect with the small happenings and quiet emotions tucked away in the corners of the city.
fireworksaiko
One of singer-songwriter aiko’s signature songs is Hanabi, released in 1999.
It’s cherished as a classic that portrays summer romance.
The lyrics depict a scene of gazing alone at the summer night sky while overflowing with thoughts of a loved one.
The rhythmic band arrangement also conveys a surging feeling of love.
With a touch of poetic flair, it’s an emotional love song whose poignant phrases resonate deeply.
Let her voice—showing many shades of expression—bring you the feeling of summer.
Lamp starharuka 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.
summer shelterŌgami Mio
A nostalgic rock number that seems to distill the bittersweetness of summer’s end.
Its subtly ephemeral mood is captivating, inviting you to reflect on days gone by.
This track was released in advance from the second album “My Sparkle,” due out in August 2025, and drew attention for its stellar lineup, including Do As Infinity’s Ryo Owatari on guitar.
It sings of life’s journey of repeated partings and reunions, a quiet resolve to set out again after a brief rest.
Mio Ookami’s gentle yet steadfast vocals deepen the world of the song even further.
Give it a listen when you want to step away from the noise and sink into your thoughts.
sparklerInoue Sonoko
Senko Hanabi is a song released while Sonoko Inoue—who has become especially popular among young listeners as a singer-songwriter—was still in high school.
Produced by Ryota Yanagisawa of SUPER BEAVER, the track’s exhilarating pop-rock sound captures the fresh sparkle of youth.
At the same time, Inoue’s crystal-clear vocals layer on a bittersweet mood, evoking the loneliness that can suddenly follow happy moments and a tender affection for things that fade away.
It’s the kind of song that, when you listen to it in the slightly cooler night breeze at summer’s end, brings a rush of sweet-and-sour memories to your chest.
A number that gently stays close to a heart lingering over a season gone by.
SUMMER SONGYUI
Singer-songwriter YUI made her major debut in 2005 with the single “feel my soul.” Released in 2008, “SUMMER SONG” is a perfect summer track where the light, acoustic guitar sound blends exquisitely with her gentle voice.
At the time, it was promoted with the tagline “YUI’s Summer Song,” and it must have been quite a challenging work for her.
Precisely because of that, it was created with a strong emphasis on summertime vibes—melody, accompaniment, and lyrics all come together to form a refreshing, truly top-tier summer song!
