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)
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.
Trace that dreamYOASOBI
YOASOBI is a music duo that made a striking debut with their smash hit “Yoru ni Kakeru” and has gained popularity both in Japan and abroad, especially among younger listeners.
Their second digital-only single, “Tracing That Dream,” based on the short story The Droplet of a Dream and a Star’s Flower, later drew attention again when a ballad version was released.
Its liberating melody over a driving piano phrase feels perfect for a summer road trip.
The lyrics, which make you want to head somewhere far away, lift your spirits—it’s a refreshing pop tune through and through.
Emo Songs to Listen to in Summer: Masterpieces by Rock Bands and Singer-Songwriters (31–40)
silver vineSato Chiaki
Chiaki Sato—known as the former vocalist of Kinoko Teikoku and a multitalented solo artist—released Matatabi in July 2024, the theme song for the film Bake Neko Anzu-chan.
Set to warm, country- and folk-tinged guitar tones, the song gently sings of summer days gone by.
Images like festival sounds and lukewarm ramune soda are sure to stir listeners’ unforgettable memories of summer.
It’s a gem of a track to revisit cherished memories with, especially as the days begin to grow shorter.
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.
Baby BabyKami wa saikoro o furanai
A work whose straightforward vocals and emotional sound resonate with the heart.
Released in June 2024, this track is packed with feelings born during a tour of live music venues.
While it has an upbeat tempo, it also carries a faintly wistful atmosphere—a captivating, exquisite balance.
The lyrics, which strive to evoke a fleeting impulse, are sure to move you.
It’s a song you’ll want to play on a hot summer night with the window open.
Front Memory feat. ACA-ne (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.)Shinsei Kamattechan
An emotional song that pensively portrays the everyday moments of summer.
Released by Shinsei Kamattechan in August 2023, it features ACA-ne from Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.
Created as a rearranged version to commemorate the band’s 15th anniversary, the track delicately captures the hazy feelings many young people likely harbor.
It gives voice to those inexpressible emotions inside you.
A perfect song for those vaguely bittersweet summer moods—one that will surely stay by your side.