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. A year in review through music [Almost the end of the year!] (71–80)
New Year’s Eve (Ōtsugomori)sadamasashi
The last day of the year—New Year’s Eve.
The title of this song, “Ōtsugomori,” is read as “ōtsugomori,” not “ōmisoka.” It’s one of the tracks on Masashi Sada’s 32nd album, “Nihon no Utsukushiki Omokage,” released in 2006.
On this day, with the New Year arriving tomorrow, how do you spend it each year, and what feelings do you have? This song beautifully expresses what you might call a “reset.” Even though there were all kinds of unpleasant things this year, a new year begins tomorrow, and it’s a song that makes you feel ready to start fresh and do your best again.
CalendarShibasaki Kou
“Calendar” depicts spending New Year’s Eve with a loved one while looking back on memories from the past year.
It was included on Kou Shibasaki’s 2007 album Kiki.
The lyrics are distinctive for chronicling events from January to December like a diary.
Phrases evoke various scenes, such as travels with a lover or partner and savoring delicious foods.
Sung over a melody that expands a pop-inspired worldview, her cute vocals convey a sense of fun.
Why not listen to this track that captures the flutter of excitement before the New Year arrives?
Rock ‘n’ roll drummers love cleaning.Gita Panda
An artist who made his major-label debut at 24 and is now expanding his fan base while producing albums for various musicians, Guitar Panda.
The track “Rock ’n’ Roll Drummers Love Cleaning,” included on his 8th album, Guitar Panda’s Rock ’n’ Roll Pandemic, features irresistibly catchy phrases that stick in your head.
Its cleaning-themed lyrics are likely to evoke the year-end atmosphere familiar to people in Japan.
It’s a catchy pop tune that also makes you rethink your relationship with cleaning.
I’m here (feat. STUTS)butaji
This song, which depicts the joy of walking down a year-end boulevard together and the feelings that return more vividly as time passes, is captivating for its unique sound that fuses electronic elements with folksy live instrumentation.
Butaji’s distinctive vocals blend beautifully with STUTS’s track-making.
Included on the album “RIGHT TIME,” released in October 2021, the track delicately expresses loneliness, regret, and the feeling of thinking about someone, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s a perfect song for those spending the New Year’s period alone or anyone who wants to look back on time with someone special.
Why not surrender yourself to Butaji’s voice and quietly reflect on the past year?
Mr.SnowmanE-girls
With its memorable hook and addictive rhythm, this cute winter song will have you humming along before you know it.
It was also featured in a commercial for “e-ma throat lozenges.” A love song that portrays a woman’s feelings, it captures the kind of tender emotions that feel like your heart might just melt.
Don’t you sometimes long for someone’s warmth when the cold winter sets in? It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while watching the falling snow and thinking of someone special.
