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 (11–20)
love hotelkuriipuhaipe
This song vividly and fleetingly portrays a nighttime relationship.
It’s a track by the rock band CreepHyp, also known for songs like “Shiori” and “Oyasumi Nakigoe, Sayonara Utahime,” included on their second album, “Fukikoboreru Hodo no I, Ai, Ai,” released in 2013.
The sentimental guitar phrases really stick with you, and vocalist Ozaki’s gentle voice sinks in, too.
I think it’s a piece that people around 20 years old, in particular, will relate to.
Drunken Summermurasaki 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!
Summer Time MagicAme no Parēdo
This song sweetly portrays the feelings of a summer romance.
It’s a work by ame_no_parade, released digitally in July 2019 and later included on the album BORDERLESS.
Its refreshing electronic sound, danceable rhythm, and catchy melody are captivating.
You can picture two people playing by the seaside under a blue sky.
The inability to express their feelings honestly gives it a bittersweet touch.
It’s perfect for listening to on a summer evening while walking along the beach.
secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
This is a signature song by ZONE that depicts a parting that comes with the end of summer and the pledge to meet again afterward.
The overall sound is gentle, emphasizing a sense of poignancy; in particular, the mellotron tone that resonates at the beginning seems to express the pain in the heart.
The lyrics look back on the event that led to their meeting and the memories they’ve built up, conveying how much they cherished the time spent together.
Though the farewell feels lonely, the strong vow that they will surely meet again is moving, and the song also conveys an energy that urges the listener to move forward.
End of SummerShimizu Shota
As the end of summer draws near, you get that distinctive, aching tightness in your chest, don’t you? In those moments, Shota Shimizu’s timeless ballads gently stay by your side.
They make you feel the memories of a summer romance spreading through your heart like the gradations of a sunset.
The unspoken loneliness the protagonist must be feeling, and the tenderness for days that won’t return, come through vividly in his emotive vocals.
This song is lovingly included on his March 2014 album ENCORE, and is cherished among fans as a hidden gem.
It’s perfect for the threshold of autumn, when the lively season bids farewell and a touch of sentimentality sets in, or for a quiet night spent alone, lost in memories.
If you savor each lyric as you listen, you’ll be drawn even deeper into its world—no question about it.
Please enjoy it that way!
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
Like waves that surge and recede, this is one of Southern All Stars’ signature songs, painting an overwhelming swell of emotion you can’t control.
The lyrics, which layer the deep sorrow of heartbreak and a sense of helplessness over the irresistible force of nature, have touched countless hearts.
Beginning quietly with a piano melody and then enveloping you in grand strings as the feelings rise, the song was released in January 2000.
Embraced as the theme for the TV show segment “Mirai Nikki III” on “UNNAN no Hontoko!”, it became a work remembered both in records and in memories, winning the Grand Prize at the 42nd Japan Record Awards that same year.
On nights when you’re weighed down by unbearable sadness, listen to this song—surely it will stay close to your heart.
Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters (21–30)
The End of SummerMoriyama Naotaro
It’s a song that gently captures summer gradually giving way to the next season, carrying a sense of loneliness at the passing of time.
The calm sound evokes someone fondly looking back on summer memories, and the tones of traditional instruments, led by the sanshin, convey a warm nostalgia.
It’s also said to depict a wish for someone who has journeyed far away, and the soaring high notes of the vocals conjure an image of trying to send words across the distance.
Rather than simply letting time flow by, the song gently teaches us that it’s important to pause at times and look back on the past.