A Must-See for Those in Their 20s: A Collection of Youthful Songs That Bring Back School Days
People in their 20s today—what songs come to mind when you hear the phrase “youth anthem”? The songs you listened to as a student can instantly bring back the fun times and the tough moments, right? Why not take this opportunity to look back on those memorable classics from your youth? In this article, we’ll introduce songs that people in their 20s find nostalgic.
Surely, memories of what happened back then—exchanges with friends, and the person you had a crush on—will all come vividly flooding back.
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[A Must-See for People in Their 20s] A Collection of Youthful Songs That Bring Back School Days (11–20)
crescent moonayaka
A heartwarming song that sings of the bittersweetness and hope of a long-distance relationship.
Released in 2006, it’s beloved by many as one of Ayaka’s signature works.
It was featured as the theme song for NHK’s program “Mirai Kansoku Tsunagaru TV @ Human” and used in au’s “LISMO” commercial, making it popular across a wide range of ages.
Through the image of a crescent moon, it beautifully expresses the feeling that hearts remain connected even when apart.
For people in their twenties, it’s no exaggeration to call this a defining song of their generation.
Give it a listen and let it take you back.
~asterisk~ORANGE RANGE
Many of you might recognize it as the very first opening song of the anime BLEACH.
Released in 2005, the track felt fresh and memorable for ORANGE RANGE’s sound at the time.
Its crisp rap and catchy melody make you want to hum along! For those of that generation, I’m sure it brings back memories of student life or club activities.
I also love the romantic vibe that conjures up the night sky—it suddenly made me feel nostalgic, remembering how fun trips with friends were.
Starlight ParadeSEKAI NO OWARI
I imagine quite a few people got to know SEKAI NO OWARI because of this song.
The dance-music-like beat combined with its fantastical sound left a strong impression—I remember being really shocked by it at the time.
It has a slightly different vibe from their more recent tracks, so listening to it now feels very nostalgic, doesn’t it? I bet many of you also listened to the album ENTERTAINMENT, which includes this song, over and over.
Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze
It’s a pure love song, just as the title suggests, that sings about life-sized feelings for someone special.
It’s a smash hit by the music group Shonan no Kaze, released in 2006 as their fifth single.
Many listeners resonated with the lyrics, which candidly express how the singer fell in love, memories with that person, and their honest feelings.
When it was a hit, some people may even have borrowed the song’s courage to confess their love.
To this day, it remains a popular choice for karaoke.
Butter-FlyWada Kōji
Back then, nothing could beat the excitement when this song first started playing on TV.
It’s “Butter-Fly,” the iconic debut single by Kouji Wada and the very first opening theme of the anime Digimon Adventure, released in 1999.
True to a series starring boys and girls, the lyrics and melody are straightforward and burning with passion! Listening to it might bring back memories of your younger, purer self.
The chorus just makes you want to sing along! It’s a timeless anthem—a true monument in the world of anime songs.
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
This is their fifth single, released in 2005 by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, and one of their signature songs, well known for being used as the opening theme for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist.
I’d bet anyone in their twenties today knows the shouted chorus.
It’s a track that had a huge impact on band kids as well.
[A Must-See for Your 20s] A Collection of Youthful Songs That Bring Back School Days (21–30)
The BeginningONE OK ROCK
A little while back, it might have been BUMP OF CHICKEN or RADWIMPS, but especially for people in their early twenties, when you think of the quintessential Japanese rock band, you just can’t leave out ONE OK ROCK, right? And among those who play in bands, I bet a good number have covered their songs at some point.
This track was released as a single in 2012 and was later included on the album Jinsei×Boku=.
For our generation, ONE OK ROCK really is a charismatic presence, isn’t it?