Winter Songs: Classic tracks you want to listen to in winter. Songs you long for during the winter.
When you think of “songs you want to listen to in winter,” what comes to mind?
In the J-POP scene, countless winter songs are released every year, and there are so many popular hits as well as hidden gems!
Of course there are tracks that depict snow and Christmas, but even songs without explicit seasonal words—those whose sound evokes the atmosphere of winter—are captivating.
I’m sure you also have a special winter song of your own.
In this article, we introduce timeless tunes that will stir up fond memories or make you want to listen as they match the winter scenery.
From love songs to pieces that sing of beautiful winter landscapes, we hope you’ll find a track that resonates with your heart.
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[Winter Songs] Timeless tracks to enjoy in winter: songs you’ll crave when it’s cold (91–100)
wintering swallowMori Masako
This gem of a ballad, which eloquently sings of the aching melancholy of painful love, is a masterpiece that showcases Masako Mori’s outstanding vocal prowess.
Its poetic world is striking: the feelings of a woman who has thrown herself into a forbidden romance are overlaid with the image of a lone swallow that defies the seasons and makes its home out of place.
Mori’s limpid voice intertwines with the heartrending melody, where sorrow and passion cross, creating a deeply moving song.
After its 1983 release, her tearful performance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen drew widespread attention, and the song earned her the Best Vocal Performance award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.
Even among enka songs that give voice to bittersweet longing, this work stands out for its richly expressive phrasing.
It’s the perfect piece for those moments when you want to pour your emotions into the song and sing your heart out, as if setting your soul free.
Fun Fun ChristmasBENI
Fun Fun Christmas, sung by BENI, an R&B singer from Okinawa, is her 14th digital single, released in 2014.
It’s a collaboration with the interior shop Francfranc and is included on a compilation album presented by Francfranc.
This catchy, upbeat Christmas tune evokes Mariah Carey and is a perfect track to lift your spirits during the holidays—give it a listen!
[Winter Songs] Masterpieces to listen to in winter. Songs you long for in winter (101–110)
LOVER SOULJUDY AND MARY
Her one-of-a-kind high-tone voice, unlike anyone else’s, vividly colors the winter season.
The lyrics are wonderful, too.
This song was also used as an insert track in the film Moteki, which reignited its popularity.
Back then, her voice carried more clearly than it does now, giving a different impression.
It’s a winter-perfect love song that creates a world only YUKI’s singing can bring to life.
Because it’s a cold nightTRF
It’s one of TRF’s signature tracks—the dance & vocal group that epitomized the ’90s—and of course it was produced by Tetsuya Komuro.
Compared to TRF’s other songs, its more relaxed tempo and the resonant keyboard tones evoke a loneliness like a winter wind.
The lyrics portray how the cold of winter deepens a sense of solitude, and how that growing loneliness amplifies one’s feelings for a loved one.
In contrast to that imagery, the upbeat vocal delivery is striking, making it feel as though the shifting emotions of winter are being enjoyed to the fullest.
Christmas timeZARD
Christmas Time is a single released under the singer-songwriter name Barbier by Seiichiro Kuribayashi, known as a composer for artists like ZARD and TUBE.
The lyrics were written by Izumi Sakai of ZARD, who also contributed chorus vocals.
The words, which express realizing how important you were only after breaking up, evoke a bittersweet feeling.
Later, ZARD self-covered the song, and it’s included on ZARD BLEND II ~LEAF & SNOW~.
Be sure to compare the versions!
youKōda Kumi
Set in a town where winter snow falls, this ballad sings of the aching feelings for a former lover far away.
Released in December 2005 as Kumi Koda’s 19th single, it became her first to debut at No.
1 on the Oricon charts.
Also featured in a GemCEREY commercial, the song is marked by Koda’s emotionally expressive vocals.
Its piano-led, gently restrained sound beautifully captures the poignancy and loneliness of love.
It’s sure to resonate with those carrying the pain of heartbreak or wishing to be reunited with someone dear.
Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo
One of the quintessential winter songs of the 1990s is Shogo Hamada’s “Kanashimi wa Yuki no You ni” (“Sorrow Like Snow”).
It was first released as a single in 1981, but a remade version used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Ai to Iu Na no Moto ni” in 1992 became a massive hit.
The 1992 version topped the Oricon Singles Chart for a total of 10 weeks and sold 1.703 million copies.
Its lyrics, which sing of the loneliness and sorrow that everyone carries, likely resonate with many people.