Popular Japanese Summer Songs
Hi there. It’s Mr. Wada back on duty. I would like to introduce popular Japanese summer songs this time.
Contents
Popular Japanese Summer Songs
RIDE ON TIME by Tatsuro Yamashita
Year released: 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrR6M8v_QT8
If you think Christmas Eve is all he’s got, you may want to check out his summer songs. They sound awesome as well. He has more influence by American pop music but sounds new even after decades.
Season In The Sun (シーズン・イン・ザ・サン) by TUBE
Year released: 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUq2j3Ellb0
They are like representative of summer. Almost all of their songs are about summer. Ah Natsu Yasumi (あー夏休み) is another hit in 1990 (very catchy).
Shonen Jidai (少年時代) by Yosui Inoue
Year released: 1990
A late hit song of a popular folk singer from the 70’s. His distinct voice made me want to imitate in childhood (and still). I still hear this song on TV commercials as one of classic summer songs.
Natsu no hino 1993 (夏の日の1993) by Class
Year released: 1993
A hit song by a one-hit-wonder duo from early 90’s.
EZ DO DANCE by TRF
Year released: 1993
A popular dance group that made the movement of 90s’ Japanese dance music. It has been a revival hit again in the 2010’s as an exercise music.
Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い) by ZARD
Year released: 1993
ZARD is a solo project of a singer Izumi Sakai, who unfortunately passed away in 2007 after creating numbers of hit songs in the 90’s and 2000’s.
Natsuiro (夏色) by Yuzu
Year released: 1998
A debut song of a folk duo from the late 90’s. They became stars from street performance. After them millions of street musicians followed them and performed on the street to be the next star. (but only a few can succeed)
Natsumatsuri (夏祭り) by Whiteberry
Year released: 2000
It is a cover song which was originally released in 1990 by another girls band called Jittarinjin. It was also very known but if you were born after 80’s, you probably think that this song is by this Whiteberry.
Naminori Johnny (波乗りジョニー) by Keisuke Kuwata
Year released: 2001
He’s from one of the most popular Japanese bands called Southern All Stars. This song was released during the band had been on a hiatus.
secret base by ZONE
Year released: 2001
A hit song by a girls band from the early 2000’s. Sounds very melancholic.
Natsu no Owari by Naotaro Moriyama
Year released: 2003
Aside from his hit Sakura song, this song has been one of the songs to play when summer ends. Sorta sounds like Okinawan music.
Suirenka (睡蓮花) by Shonan no Kaze
Year released: 2007
A popular….reggae group? (I still don’t know how to describe them). Seems to be one of the most popular songs for party people.
Lastly
How do you find it? Summer break, summer fest, fireworks, etc. There are many events for making summer memories. What songs remind you your summer memories? Please share your thoughts in the comment!
See you around!
Well. Let’s start w the stinks. The winner here is hard to choose. There are two strong candidates: “Suirenka” and “EZ DO DANCE.” Hmm… I can’t bring myself to have another listen…. Going to have to choose “EZ DO DANCE!” Stinktronix!
As for good stuff, my general tendency is to choose anything older over the youth of today. Naturally, that gives “RIDE ON TIME” an advantage. (Why do you guys insist on using only upper case letters? Mysterious…) But “Season In The Sun” also feels good. Hm… The turntable sounds of the former are going to have to win out here. Congratulations Mr Yamashita!
Honorable mentions: “Yureru Moi” for being by someone calling themselves “ZARD.” And “Natsuiro” for the Barenaked Ladies aesthetic.