When you think of summer, you think of youth! That’s the image most of us have, right?
During summer break, we go out to all sorts of places or throw ourselves into club activities… Not only current students, but adults too probably have all kinds of memories, don’t you?
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs that are perfect for a summer that feels full of seishun—that youthful spirit!
We’ve gathered tracks packed with different shades of youth—friendship, romance, dreams—so you’re sure to find something that really hits home.
Alright, let’s dive in and start listening!
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- [Summer Classics] When it comes to summer, it’s got to be this song! A roundup from timeless staples to the latest hit tracks.
- Club Activity Youth Songs: Motivational Anthems and Timeless Tracks of Memories with Teammates
- Summer songs that get middle schoolers excited: Popular tracks you’ll want to listen to in your youth
- [Youth Anthems] A curated selection of popular and latest songs to hype up your school cultural festival
- [Guaranteed to resonate!] Youth songs that strike a chord with teens. Recommended coming-of-age tracks.
- [August Songs] Carefully selected masterpieces, classics, and the latest hits you’ll want to listen to in midsummer!
- Love songs you want to listen to in summer. Love songs that color the summer.
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- Recommended summer songs for high school students. Midsummer classics and popular tracks.
- [Summer Love Songs] Hot and Heart-wrenching! Carefully Selected Summer Tunes of Love That Set Your Heart Ablaze
- [Clubs, Friendship, Romance] Youth songs middle schoolers should listen to
- A Must-See for Those in Their 20s: A Collection of Youthful Songs That Bring Back School Days
Youthful songs to listen to in summer. Classic summer hits and recommended popular tracks (1–10)
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
After returning from an activity hiatus of roughly two years, the three-piece rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE began their “Phase 2” in March 2022, and this is their seventh single.
Chosen as the theme song for the film Aonatsu: 30 Days to Remember, the track’s exhilarating opening perfectly evokes the heat of adolescence.
Its lyrics and melody carry a wistful tone amid the sense of speed, likely to resonate with memories of a summer that will never come again.
It’s a rock tune you’ll want to hear in summer, capturing the reality of each fleeting moment that matters to young people.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
This song beautifully captures the bittersweetness and fragility of youth.
Amid the passage of time, the image of someone moving forward while holding precious memories close is striking.
You can feel a resolve to embrace one’s imperfections while accumulating beautiful moments.
Released in April 2024, the track was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime ‘Oblivion Battery.’ Its refreshing melody, which matches the anime’s worldview, is pleasantly soothing and perfect for anyone navigating the complex emotions of adolescence.
Packed with the charm of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, this piece also makes a great BGM for creating summer memories.
summer festivalWhiteberry
A five-member girls’ band from Hokkaido, Whiteberry was formed when all the members were in elementary school and made their major debut in junior high.
This is their third single, a cover of JITTERIN’JINN’s 1990 smash hit, reimagined with a refreshingly straightforward rock arrangement that sets it apart from the original.
The lyrics, depicting a big summertime event of youth, are sure to stir bittersweet memories for many.
If you’re living your youth in real time, you’ll definitely relate—an essential summer song.
Summer Colorsyuzu
Even after they started performing at larger venues, Yuzu—the folk duo that never forgets to value a sense of closeness with their fans—continued to deliver performances with that spirit, and this is their first single.
Despite being their debut single, it has become one of Yuzu’s signature songs.
Its unique harmonies and the refreshing feel evoked by the title make it a truly pleasant number.
The driving rhythm of the acoustic guitar strumming perfectly matches the summers of a youth that rushes by.
It’s a classic summer song you’ll want to listen to while feeling the hot summer breeze.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
This is the 10th single by the three-piece rock band Fujifabric, who have continued their energetic activities with the remaining members even after the sudden passing of their central figure, Masahiko Shimura, in 2009.
The song has been featured in numerous tie-ins, including TV dramas, music shows, and commercials, and is widely known as one of the band’s signature tracks from Shimura’s time.
The lyrics, which evoke vivid scenes of summer, convey a sense of youth that continues even after student days are over.
With its lyrical melody that stirs a nostalgic feeling, it’s a timeless summer classic that never fades, no matter how many years pass.
Ghost in the FlowersYorushika
Summer has a way of making us recall the past, doesn’t it? If you’re in the mood to bask in nostalgia, I highly recommend this piece.
It’s a song by the band Yorushika, released as a digital single in 2020.
It served as the theme song for the animated film “A Whisker Away.” The band’s sound is marked by a striking clarity, with beautifully resonant piano tones, and vocalist suis’s delicate voice adds depth to the track.
It’s a tear-jerking summer song whose poignant lyrics and worldbuilding will stir your heart.
secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
Despite making their major-label debut with the catchy tagline “Bandle,” a fusion of band and idol, ZONE is now revered as a legend by many girl bands.
This is the third major single by the rock band ZONE.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama Kids War 3: Don’t Mess With Me, and it became a turning point for the band, as it marked the first time ZONE performed live instruments rather than using them merely as props.
Its bittersweet story, depicting childhood memories everyone shares, resonates deeply alongside its catchy melody.
It remains a quintessential summer anthem in J-pop history, covered by numerous girl bands to this day.