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 (21–30)
That summer is becoming an addiction.Jenīhai
Released in September 2025, this piece is a number that beautifully captures the fleeting nature of summer and the lingering afterimages of memory.
Alongside vivid scenic descriptions, it sings of unforgettable memories being etched ever deeper into the heart over time.
Takashi Niigaki’s crystal-clear piano melodies intertwine with Ikkyu Nakajima’s wistful yet resolute vocals, enveloping the entire track in a nostalgic atmosphere.
It can be described as a work that showcases the band’s ensemble, whose expressive power has grown even further since the album “Jenny Classic.” It’s the perfect song for immersing yourself in cherished memories that resurface at the end of summer.
A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo
It’s a cool dance tune suffused with the sultry heat of a summer night and a fleeting, ephemeral vibe.
The track is a duet featuring Ukigumo, the guitarist from the band Tokyo Jihen, on vocals.
The rhythm incorporates elements of Brazilian music, and the interplay of the two Auto-Tuned voices is irresistibly captivating.
The lyrics portray a man and woman’s cat-and-mouse game set during a festival night, along with a sense of urgency toward a season that slips away in an instant—evoking Shiina Ringo’s distinctly mature worldview to the fullest.
Released in August 2015 as part of a double A-side single, it was used in Coca-Cola’s summer campaign commercial, making it a familiar tune in many households.
It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly muggy summer night, soaking in a sentimental mood.
All of the Youthsuis from Yorushika
This is a song that evokes the fleeting tenderness of the last fireworks of summer fading into the night sky.
The vocalist is suis, known as the singer of Yorushika.
It’s a cover of Fuji Fabric’s classic 2007 track, produced by music producer Seiji Kameda.
Released in June 2024, it also drew attention as the theme song for the Netflix film “I Have One Year Left to Live, and I Met a Girl With Six Months Left.” The nostalgia for passing seasons and days that won’t return is delicately rendered through suis’s voice, which blends clarity with a boyish quality, and it truly hits home.
It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to intently on nights when you’re immersed in summer memories, or as the seasons change and you find yourself lost in thought.
Drowning in summerBocchi
Let me introduce Drowning in Summer, a track that’s been spreading by word of mouth, especially on social media.
It’s a summer song by the rock band Bocchi.
Set on a summer day, it depicts someone reflecting on a past summer romance.
If you watch the music video along with it, it’s easier to grasp: the song alternates between a past summer and the present one.
This structure really heightens the bittersweet feeling and the fleeting nature of memories.
Also, the overall high-pitched sound palette suits summer perfectly.
cotton candyback number
Back number is a three-piece band that has produced many hit songs, including Hanataba released in 2011 and Takane no Hanako-san released in 2013.
Their 2012 release Watagashi is a supreme summer song that perfectly suits the setting of a summer festival.
With its minor-key chord progression, the track has a slightly kayōkyoku-like vibe that makes it especially interesting.
The more you listen, the richer it becomes—surely a hidden gem among their songs.
sodasumika
A song by sumika that blends the fizzy, sparkling refreshment of a carbonated drink with a chest-tightening wistfulness.
It’s said that vocalist Kenta Kataoka wrote this passionate piece in almost a single night, channeling regret over a relationship left unresolved by a “misguided sense of kindness.” If you’ve ever struggled to express your feelings, you’ll feel that frustration all too keenly.
The track was included on the mini-album “I co Y,” released by an indie label in November 2014.
It’s a love song that gently stays by your side—whether you’re basking in a joyful summer romance or weathering a slightly bittersweet one.
Sunflower FireworksAile The Shot
A bittersweet, stylish summer tune where an urban groove reveals the scenery of a summer dusk.
It’s a track by Aile The Shota, produced by ☆Taku Takahashi of m-flo, released in June 2025.
It portrays the frustration of a love where the person can’t confess their feelings, and the lyrics tighten your chest in contrast to the song’s pleasant vibe.
The delicate vocals and wistful melody create a sentimental summer mood, making it impossible not to dwell on its story.