An anthem for your 30s. Beloved and popular songs that are both heart-pumping and heart-fluttering.
Introducing songs that will instantly make people in their 30s think, “So nostalgic…!” I’m sure everyone has that one track that links straight to their teenage memories.
Don’t you ever get the irresistible urge to listen to those songs when they come to mind? In this article, we’ve gathered unforgettable tracks—mainly from the ’90s and 2000s—that anyone in their 30s has likely heard at least once.
These are songs that bring back memories from those days, making you laugh, cry, or want to see someone again.
As a small break from your busy day, why not take a moment to look back at the past?
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Coming-of-age songs for your 30s: Heart-pounding × heartwarming classics and popular tracks (71–80)
Paradise BabyRIP SLYME
This is a signature track by RIP SLYME, a 1-DJ, 4-MC group that enjoyed immense popularity as a Japanese hip-hop act.
Many people probably spent their youth with this song as the soundtrack.
It’s a slightly flashy, yet bittersweet anthem that also captures a boy’s melancholic summer, winning over countless fans.
Even now, it’s the ultimate summer tune that can fire up drives, karaoke, and parties alike.
TwilightGOING UNDER GROUND
This is the ninth single by GOING UNDER GROUND, a rock band from Saitama whose name was taken from a song title by the British rock band The Jam.
Many of you may have heard it, as it was used as the theme song for the information program “Ashita o Tsukame: Heisei Wakamono Shigoto Zukan” and as the ending theme for the variety show “Ganso! Debuya.” The arrangement, which evolves from acoustic guitar arpeggios into a fast-paced rock sound, builds anticipation and gradually lifts the listener’s spirits.
With a breezy sense of exhilaration that evokes the feeling of wind, it’s a comfortable rock tune that will bring back youthful memories for those in their 30s.
DAYSFLOW
This is the 11th single by FLOW, a five-member rock band known for producing numerous anime songs and enjoying popularity both in Japan and abroad.
Used as the opening theme for the TV anime Eureka Seven, the track stands out for its refreshing ensemble featuring brisk guitar cutting and strings.
Its catchy melody and the rap section in the interlude are sure to get the crowd going at karaoke.
For those in their thirties—the generation who grew up with it—it’s a breezy number that’s likely to evoke nostalgia while soothing a tired mind and body.
Give it some guts!!Urufuruzu
This is the ninth single by Ulfuls, a band whose songs—pairing soulful vocals and hot rock sounds with somewhat comical lyrics—have gained widespread popularity.
It’s one of their most iconic tracks, of course, but it’s surprising to learn it actually sprang from producer Tetsuya Komuro’s advice: “I think music like disco would suit you guys.” With its recurring, catchy phrases and an upbeat arrangement that naturally lifts your spirits, it’s the kind of tune you’ll find yourself humming along to—even if you’re not in your thirties, the generation it defined.
It’s a number I’d love people in their busy, hard-working thirties to revisit, as its straightforward message gives you a real push forward.
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
A wedding classic! Countless couples have played this song at their weddings and receptions.
It was also the theme song for the drama “Virgin Road” starring Emi Wakui.
After taking a year off for marriage, childbirth, and childcare, many people may vividly remember her tearfully performing this song upon her return to the public stage at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen a year later.
By marrying the one you love, you come to know the word “eternity.” What wonderfully romantic lyrics!
A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE
This is the sixth single by SIAM SHADE, a five-piece rock band that was active as a visual-kei group in their indie days and gained popularity for their high level of musicianship.
The song was used as an ending theme for the TV anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, and is also known as one of their signature tracks that brought the band’s name to a wide audience.
The contrast between the refreshing lyrics and melody and the irregular meters in the guitar solo creates a tension throughout the track, even as it remains catchy.
For those in their 30s, it’s a pop-rock tune likely to revive youthful memories alongside the anime’s visuals.
come againm-flo
This is a 2001 track by the music unit m-flo, known for crafting floating, futuristic-sounding music.
It gained attention by being heard in various contexts, including commercials, and became such a hit that it’s considered one of their signature songs.
While highlighting the group’s hallmark digital sound that evokes a near-future vibe, it also carries a sense of wistfulness that feels like winter’s chill.
The warmth in the vocals imparts a quiet exhilaration to the heart.
