A classic that evokes the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Just a little left of this year!]
What kind of year has it been for you?
This year felt long yet short, and at last it’s time to wrap it up!
Year-end always comes with all sorts of events, and music is essential for getting into the spirit, right?
So in this article, we’ve picked out plenty of songs that are perfect for the end of the year.
From songs about the year’s end to winter tunes, we’ve gathered popular tracks across generations—so you’re sure to find the perfect song for you!
Whether you’re someone who says, “This year was great,” or someone who feels, “This year was so-so,” we’ve got a full lineup of year-end songs we hope you’ll listen to.
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Timeless songs that evoke the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Almost there for this year too!] (61–70)
ToughSaucy Dog
Saucy Dog is a rock band that has gained popularity for songs depicting the feelings of youth and the complexities of love.
“Tough,” included on their 2019 album Blue Period, is a track that portrays the emotions of facing the cold and loneliness of December.
As days pass in pursuit of dreams and goals, the song conveys the anxiety that arrives with winter through Shinya Ishihara’s emotional vocals.
It’s a rock number that delivers honest feelings, paired with a driving band performance that evokes the momentum of adolescence.
last year, this yearandāgurafu
A rock number that vividly colors the year’s end, fusing delicate emotional portrayals with Japanese elements.
Released digitally by UNDER GRAPH in December 2012, this piece sings of gratitude for the year gone by and hope for the year ahead.
The intro, beginning with the timbre of the koto, conveys a superb harmony between Japanese tradition and contemporary sound.
Homecoming trips, reunions with friends, and the joy of welcoming the New Year are gently conveyed through warm, heartfelt vocals.
Also included on the album “7+one ~Oto no Irodori~,” it has become a song cherished across generations.
It’s perfect as background music for time spent with loved ones from New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day.
Its touching melody and lyrics will make the close of your year something truly special.
Spaceship on New Year’s EveSuga Shikao
“Spaceship on New Year’s Eve,” a song by Shikao Suga that even has “New Year’s Eve” in the title.
This track is included on Suga’s tenth album, THE LAST, released in 2010.
When you think of New Year’s Eve, it’s common to picture the streets packed with excited young people and others cutting loose—a familiar scene we often see, and we shrug it off as a year-end thing.
This song vividly portrays those streets and people, but gradually it takes on an unusual, unsettling atmosphere as it unfolds.
Thank youŌe Senri
Senri Oe’s 25th single “Arigato,” released in 1992.
At the time, this song was the theme for the TV drama “Juunen Ai,” starring Masatoshi Hamada of Downtown and Misako Tanaka.
The lyrics are very simple, but that simplicity really hits home—it’s a number you want to listen to as the year draws to a close.
As the year ends, is there someone you want to say “thank you for this year” to? How about using a song like this to express feelings you usually can’t put into words—maybe even giving it as a gift?
BlizzardMiura Daichi
This is a song by Daichi Miura that was used as the theme for the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
He’s garnered huge popularity for his authentic dance performances and powerful vocals.
Inspired by an icy world, the track has a cool vibe and a stylish finish.
If you’ve got a spacious karaoke room, it’d be fun to learn the choreography and show it off!
Auld Lang Syne ~ Hotaru no HikariHirahara Ayaka
The original is the Scottish folk song “Auld Lang Syne.” In Japan, it was translated as “Hotaru no Hikari” and has long been a standard song for graduation ceremonies.
In Europe and the United States, it is a representative song sung on New Year’s Eve.
Ayaka Hirahara, known for the hit “Jupiter,” sings this song in English.
Released in 2014.
29Nishino Kana
“29” is a song that candidly expresses the feelings of facing the last year-end of one’s twenties.
It was created by singer Kana Nishino—known for many love songs told from a woman’s perspective—right as she was turning 29.
Looking back on school days, work, and everything up to now, the lyrics convey a resolve to live positively without sinking into negativity.
It’s a track many will relate to, with its message of “before I knew it, it was already the end of the year.” Spend your year-end with its shimmering strings and interweaving synths.