Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters.

Quiet seamakaroni enpitsu

Macaroni Enpitsu “Quiet Sea” MV

This is a track that conceals a core strength beneath its calm surface.

Created by Macaroni Empitsu, it was unveiled as a surprise on the opening night of their landmark concert at Yokohama Stadium in June 2025.

Its pop-rock sound, perfect for celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary, slowly seeps into the heart.

The emotive vocals and delicate keyboards weave a sonic landscape like ocean currents that embody both serenity and power.

Put it on when you want to step away from the bustle of daily life and spend some time reflecting on yourself.

BoyhoodInoue Yosui

Boyhood - Yosui Inoue

That melody that gently stays by your side in those fleeting, bittersweet moments at summer’s end really resonates in the heart, doesn’t it? Inoue Yosui’s work has an irresistible charm, with a richly poetic worldview that awakens distant memories and the landscapes from the days when we were boys and girls, hidden in everyone’s heart.

Along with the beautiful tone of the piano, those faint feelings from back then seem to come back to life.

Released in September 1990 as his 29th single, the song became widely beloved after being used in a Sony commercial in 1991, and it even went on to sell over a million copies.

It’s also well known as the theme song for Toho’s film “Shonen Jidai” (Childhood Days) and is included on albums such as “Handsome Boy.” If you listen to it when you’re feeling a little sentimental, or while savoring the summer night breeze and reminiscing about the past, it will surely soak gently into your heart.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata – “Himawari no Yakusoku” Music Video

On summer evenings, when you’re suddenly overcome with a tinge of melancholy, many people turn to Motohiro Hata’s warm ballads.

His voice—often described as “made of steel and glass”—gently soaks into the heart as it conveys messages about deep bonds with loved ones and how hearts remain connected even when apart.

Released in August 2014, this song is also known as the theme for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon and has been widely cherished, earning a million-download certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

It is also included on the album “Ao no Kōkei” (Scenes of Blue).

When you look back on your joyful summer memories and feel a touch of loneliness, try listening while savoring the lyrics.

It’s sure to warm your heart.

Fish’s LoveSuper VHS

Fish's Love

It’s a number whose lyrics resonate with the heart, conjuring bittersweet scenes of summer.

This track by the electro-pop/new wave band Super VHS, featuring Mei Ehara, rides an urban sound to sing of a fleeting love.

Released as a 7-inch single in April 2019, it had previously been included on the September 2016 compilation album “Young Folks in Metropolis.” The cool vocals seem to accentuate the protagonist’s hidden passion and sadness.

Give it a listen on a night when you’re in the mood for a touch of sentimentality.

sunflowerAdo

[Ado] Sunflower

Ado, who sparked a social phenomenon with her powerful vocals, delivers in this work a masterful performance that radiates the warmth of gentle summer sunlight and captures delicate emotions that tighten the chest.

The protagonist, who wishes to change their inability to be honest, takes a step toward the light, guided by the presence of someone dear—like a flower blooming straight toward the sun—an image that will surely give listeners a gentle push forward.

Released in July 2023 and serving as the theme song for the TBS drama “18/40: Dreams and Love If We’re Together,” the track also drew attention for having lyrics and composition by Miyuhan and arrangement by 40mP.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on quiet summer nights, or when you feel a touch of loneliness as the seasons pass and want to find a small hope for tomorrow.

NatsuneGLAY

GLAY / Summer Sound

It’s a heart-stirring ballad where summer scenery intertwines with a past love.

The lyrics convey the narrator’s helpless feelings as every touch of the beautiful summer landscape brings back memories of an unforgettable lover.

This beautiful melody was released as a single in September 2006 and became widely beloved as the theme song for TBS’s “Koisuru Hanikami!” It debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon chart, marking the remarkable achievement of GLAY’s tenth consecutive year with a No.

1 single.

It’s the perfect song for those moments when you want to reminisce about a summer love that has slipped away.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Popnever young beach

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

The refreshing, sparkling sound is pleasant to the ear.

It’s a track by never young beach, released as a single in May 2020.

It was used as the theme song for a theatrical original animated feature of the same name.

The lyrics well up from the heart, sung over a light, breezy melody.

It portrays fresh emotions—like a pure desire to convey heartfelt feelings directly, and a longing for the exchange of words.

It’s an anime song you’ll want to listen to under the dazzling summer sun, or when you want to express feelings that are hard to put into words.