[2026 Edition] Moving Western Songs to Listen to in Summer: Tear-Jerking Masterpieces

Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)OMI

OMI – Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix) (Official Video) [Ultra Records]

This masterpiece revives the song released in 2012 by Jamaican singer-songwriter OMI, with German producer Felix Jaehn adding tropical house elements.

The track is a heartfelt ode to gratitude and love for a partner, infused with deep feelings for the person who offers support.

Its lively blend of trumpets, conga beats, and samba-style piano brilliantly captures both the liberating spirit of summer and the bittersweet ache of love.

In 2015, it reached number one in over 20 countries and was featured in the dance game Just Dance 2016.

It’s the perfect song for reaffirming your feelings for someone special, or for sinking into a reflective mood on a summer night.

Please Please PleaseSabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please

This song by Sabrina Carpenter—who hails from Quakertown, Pennsylvania and got her start on the Disney Channel—beautifully captures the complexities of love in a way that truly resonates.

Its lyrics interweave affection for a lover with anxiety about others’ judgments, brilliantly expressing the subtle emotional currents of modern romance.

Released in June 2024, this disco-pop-tinged country-pop track became Sabrina’s first No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 67th Grammy Awards.

It’s perfect for those summer evenings when you want to bask in the bittersweetness of love, or for anyone navigating complicated feelings of the heart.

The Ocean ft. Shy MartinMike Perry

Mike Perry – The Ocean ft. Shy Martin

Mike Perry’s “The Ocean,” by the Swedish DJ, is a tropical house track that pairs perfectly with summer.

Released as a single in 2016, it features singer-songwriter SHY Martin as a guest.

It reached high positions on charts in countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Austria.

With romantic lyrics that tell a lover “I want you closer,” it’s a love song at heart.

Its comfortable tempo also makes it a great pick for a driving playlist!

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Hamada Takuya

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SunflowerPost Malone, Swae Lee

Post Malone, Swae Lee – Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

With its light rhythm and catchy pop sound, the collaboration “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee is perfect for the blazing summer sun.

Released as a single in 2018, it was chosen as the theme song for the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which premiered the same year.

It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for several awards, including Record of the Year at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

The lyrics, which depict a deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend, are heartrending when you listen closely.

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Hamada Takuya

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CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (Official Music Video) [HD UPGRADE]

The somewhat languid vibe of the sound might suit a sweltering summer drive scene.

It’s one of the signature songs by the globally popular mixture rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the title track from their seventh album released in 1999.

That dry sonic texture is one of their charms, isn’t it? The lyrics, which sketch out the two sides of the same coin—dreams and reality—are deeply affecting.

When you’re feeling down and on the verge of tears, this cool number might be just the fit.

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Araki Jakkan

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Our Last SummerABBA

Our Last Summer

A gem-like ballad that captures the beauty and bittersweetness of a youthful summer romance.

Crafted by ABBA, the world-renowned group from Sweden, and inspired by a love experience set in Paris, the song carefully portrays romantic scenes such as strolls along the Seine and conversations in cafés.

Frida’s emotionally rich vocals beautifully convey the brilliance of youth and a poignant longing for the passage of time, resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in November 1980 as a track on the album “Super Trouper,” it was also featured in a key scene of the musical “Mamma Mia!” Highly recommended for those wishing to reflect on memories of love or to indulge in gentle melancholy on a quiet night.

Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey – Summertime Sadness (Official Music Video)

This song, which sings of the bittersweet yet beautiful feelings etched into the heart at summer’s end, remains beloved by many as one of American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey’s signature works.

Released in June 2012 as a single from the album Born to Die, it is a ballad that weaves elements of dream pop and trip hop, poetically portraying a breakup with a lover and the fading of summer.

Its gentle 125 BPM tempo and wistful melody in C-sharp minor beautifully capture the sense of loss that arrives alongside sweet summer memories.

The remix by French DJ Cédric Gervais became a major hit, reaching No.

6 in the U.S., and won a Grammy Award in 2014.