[Classic & Latest] Famous and Popular Songs That Sing of Youth
Love, club activities, relationships with friends, thoughts about becoming an adult, school life, hopes for the future, anxieties… Youth is a universal theme in music and literature.
Whether you’re in the midst of it now or it’s a distant memory, you probably have a favorite song tied to your youth.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of songs themed around youth.
See if your own song of youth is on the list!
We’ve gathered tracks from all eras, so it’s also great for anyone looking to discover new music!
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[Classics & Latest] Masterpieces and Popular Songs That Sing of 'Youth' (51–60)
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE has delivered a gem of a song that beautifully captures both the brilliance and the fragility of youth.
It delicately portrays the feelings of trying to embrace everyday anxieties, inner conflicts, and the pains of growth as cherished memories.
The song was also chosen as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery” and won the 66th Japan Record Awards in December 2024, marking an unprecedented achievement of back-to-back wins for the band.
This heartwarming track offers empathy and encouragement to middle school students grappling with the uniquely turbulent emotions of adolescence and feelings of self-doubt.
It will surely stay close to your heart and give you the courage to look ahead.
DoodleMrs. GREEN APPLE
Since kicking off Phase 2 in 2022, the three-piece rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE has released numerous buzzworthy hits.
“Doodle,” included on their fifth album ANTENNA, was chosen as the song for Kao’s ‘Merit’ commercial.
Its lyrics, which seem to affirm living life with all you’ve got, are filled with positive messages that ease worries in both work and private life.
With a brisk, summer-tinged ensemble that lifts your spirits, it’s a high-velocity rock tune brimming with a sense of speed.
Run Through the MemoriesMy Hair is Bad
This is a youthful rock ballad by My Hair is Bad, also included on their sixth album, “ghosts.” Released digitally in June 2024, it was written as the theme song for the film “Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary,” which premiered in August of the same year.
The lyrics, depicting the shifting emotions from meeting to parting and then to a new departure, leave a strong impression.
The song captures a sense of hope for the future while cherishing precious memories.
Its warm tone makes it a perfect fit for a movie ending theme and resonates deeply.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to reminisce about their youth or overcome a farewell with someone important.
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.ONE OK ROCK
It’s a song brimming with the feeling of spring.
Included on the album “Zankyō Reference,” it features ONE OK ROCK’s powerful sound and lyrics that resonate deeply.
The title is made from the initials of vocalist Taka’s friends, and the song sings of friendship, youth, and hope for the future.
It’s loved not only as a graduation song, but also as an encouraging anthem that gently pushes those taking a leap into a new environment.
It’s a track we especially recommend to anyone starting a new chapter in the spring season.
[Classics & Latest] Masterpieces and Popular Songs About “Youth” (61–70)
CorrectRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS delivers a tender melody with a profound message that resonates deeply during graduation season.
The warm soundscape woven by piano tones and a student choir gently embraces moments of looking back on youthful days.
The lyrics, which depict the search for the right answers in life and the journey to find one’s true self, strike a universal chord that anyone can relate to.
Released for streaming in January 2024 and followed by a limited-production CD in February, this work was born from encounters with the younger generation and takes on a new challenge by incorporating a student choir.
It is a heartwarming song that stands beside young people leaving their schools and those facing turning points in life.
OrangeSPYAIR
A bittersweet anthem of youth by SPYAIR, released in February 2024 as the theme song for the film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, which poignantly portrays sweet-and-sour coming-of-age moments.
With fresh, vibrant vocals and an energetic band sound, the song captures the hearts of young people where hope and anxiety intertwine, conveying a strong resolve to keep moving forward even as they reluctantly part from friends.
Its refreshing yet heartrending melody and empowering message that points toward the future make it perfect for spring—the season of new beginnings like moving up a grade or graduation.
It’s a song that gently gives a push to everyone setting out on a new path with memories of cherished friends close to their hearts.
A voice that calls summerSizuk/Shunryu
This is a refreshing, fast-paced summer song from Sizuk, a music project by Shunryu, a creator active in anime and idol songs.
The track’s central theme is a “youth song where you can hear summer,” and both the sound and the lyrics convey the exhilarating feeling of youth associated with the season.
A major highlight is the vocals by kotoha, who is also active as a member of Haconiwa Lilliy; her resonant voice, which carries a positive image, enhances the youthful atmosphere.
With its driving sound and lyrics that paint scenes of youth, the song vividly conveys the sense of fully enjoying summertime.
