[2026] Best melancholic summer classics in Western music: recommended popular songs

Summer’s EndJohn Prine

John Prine – Summer’s End Official Video

John Prine, who sadly passed away in 2020, included a song themed around the end of summer on his final album, The Tree of Forgiveness.

That song is Summer’s End.

In it, the person he’s lost is likened to a summer that has passed.

The highlight is how the emptiness is conveyed through a variety of literary expressions.

It’s a gentle folk song—perfect for when you want to unwind alone.

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Peaches ft. Daniel Caesar, GiveonJustin Bieber

Justin Bieber – Peaches ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon

Starting with a light, airy piano tone and featuring a mid-tempo, groovy melody, this uplifting track showcases Canadian artist Justin Bieber with R&B singers Daniel Caesar and Giveon.

It’s a popular single from the album “Justice,” released in March 2021, celebrated for its gentle worldbuilding filled with deep love for his wife and irreplaceable memories.

The lyrics skillfully weave together a happy life with a loved one and experiences in his hometown and California, conveying the comfort of living fulfilling days.

Also featured in ANA’s international in-flight entertainment program “SKY CHANNEL,” this song is perfect for weekend drives or moments when you want a refreshing change of pace.

Summer is OverKSI

KSI – Summer Is Over [Official Music Video]

The more fun you have in summer, the lonelier its ending can feel, right? With that in mind, let me introduce “Summer Is Over.” It’s a track released by the British rapper KSI, expressing the desire to “live through summer once more” as the season comes to a close.

That alone is bittersweet, but if you reinterpret summer as a period of happiness in life, it becomes even more poignant.

The chill vocals and melody also make it a perfect, mellow listen for the end of summer.

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One Kiss Don’t Make A SummerLucky Soul

One Kiss Don’t Make A Summer

Lucky Soul is a British rock band that also enjoys great popularity in Japan, where they’ve even toured.

When it comes to their summer songs, “One Kiss Don’t Make A Summer” is the standout.

It’s a pop-rock track, and vocalist Ali Howard’s clear, crystalline voice adds a refreshing feel.

The lyrics brim with seasonal atmosphere, portraying a summer romance and the frustration of not closing the distance with someone you’ve just started getting to know.

Give it a listen while imagining that tantalizingly close yet elusive relationship.

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Rose Colored LensesMiley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus – Rose Colored Lenses (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus.

Her release “Rose Colored Lenses” is crafted in a way that anyone can relate to.

At the very beginning of the song, we meet a woman who wakes up because of the strong sunlight streaming into her room.

It then depicts her heading out even though she doesn’t want to go into the heat.

It’s a classic summertime scenario, right? Another highlight is how a bittersweet love story unfolds alongside it.

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