[For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories
What was your youth like?
Did you ever throw yourself into something, agonize over love, or spend tons of time with friends? I imagine each of you has spent that special time in your own unique way.
And among those reading this, some of you might even be right in the middle of your youth now!
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs that sing about all kinds of “youth,” the kind that will set your heart ablaze.
It’s a playlist that feels like the very heart of young people—hot, sweet-and-sour, a little bitter, and swirling with all sorts of emotions.
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[For Adults Too] Youth Songs That Let You Look Back on Your Memories (81–90)
Scooping up blueatarayo
This song was written as the theme for the variety show “Zeroichi.” It’s a work by the four-piece band Atarayo, released digitally in May 2022.
The refreshing band sound sets off vocalist Hitomi’s straightforward singing, and it’s truly heart-cleansing.
The lyrics portray youth, friendship, and the parting that will come someday.
Listening will make you want to cherish the time you can spend with your friends right now.
Please take your time and savor it.
Swaying FeelingsZARD
This is ZARD’s signature song, featured in a Pocari Sweat commercial and certified a million-seller.
Even among the tracks that drove the Being boom, this one stands out for its refreshing feel.
The moment the intro starts, you can almost see the dazzling summer sunshine.
Izumi Sakai’s straight, crystalline vocals beautifully capture the thrill of a budding romance, winning the hearts of many.
The wavering emotions of longing for someone—sweet, a little frustrating—make the pure lyrics deeply relatable.
As a timeless classic, it continues to color the youth of countless listeners even today.
SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A song chosen as the theme for the film adaptation of Inio Asano’s original work Solanin.
Even among ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s catalog, it’s a particularly beloved, sentimental, and emotional classic.
The lyrics, which bring back memories of days when we threw ourselves into everything, make your heart swell.
It may also remind some people of farewell scenes in movies or performances at school festivals.
We’re often encouraged by juniors and the younger generation who are chasing their dreams, aren’t we? Though it was released in 2010, it never loses its luster, and it makes us realize the importance of what we’ve lost as adults—our relentless passion, dreams, and love.
Solanin resonates with those feelings about life; it’s a youth anthem we want to cherish all the more now that we’re grown.
Full of memoriesH₂O
A classic by H2O that stirs sweet, bittersweet memories, like flipping through an album filled with youthful moments.
The innocent smiles captured in photos, the glimmering memories like sun-dappled light, and a beautiful melody line that gently embraces the dreamy, Cinderella-like feelings of girlhood make this a memorable song.
Released in March 1983 and used as the ending theme for the anime Miyuki, it reached No.
6 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
Since then, it has been covered by numerous artists and cherished in school music textbooks and as a choral piece.
It’s a song that quietly speaks to the importance of looking back on memories while accepting your own growth.
One you’ll want to hum with friends, wrapped in a sense of nostalgia.
I got a girlfriend.SHISHAMO
This early signature song by SHISHAMO features down-to-earth lyrics that feel like a snapshot of sweet-and-sour youth.
It vividly portrays the feelings of a man who has just fallen in love.
You can sense how he’s bursting to tell someone, and it even makes the listener’s heart flutter.
The track is included on the album “SHISHAMO,” released in November 2013.
It’s perfect for those who want to look back on their first love or who are in love right now.
It’s also recommended for moments when you want to savor the feeling of holding a secret with someone special.
Blue PhotographMatsuda Seiko
Although it was originally a B-side single, this celebrated ballad won overwhelming support as a TV drama theme song.
The poignant melody blends beautifully with the world of the TBS drama “Ao ga Chiru,” and it likely remains deeply etched in many hearts.
When it was first released in October 1983, it was a B-side, but due to its strong reception it was reissued as a double A-side, and it held the No.
1 spot on TBS’s “The Best Ten” for eight consecutive weeks.
Seiko’s crystal-clear vocals express pure feelings for friends who part ways upon graduation.
It’s a gem of a song to revisit at life’s crossroads, as you look back on a radiant youth.
[For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories (91–100)
Drowning in summerBocchi
Do you have any wonderful summer memories? Sometimes we all get nostalgic and a little sentimental.
That’s why I recommend “Drowning in Summer.” It’s a track released by the four-piece rock band Bocchi, and as the title track of their first EP, it has drawn a lot of attention.
In the song, the singer looks back on beautiful summer memories and wishes to turn back time.
Give it a listen and let it take you back to your own beautiful summer days.
