Resonance of Twilight: Emo Western Songs Echoing at Summer’s End

A Little More SummertimeJason Aldean

Jason Aldean – A Little More Summertime (Official Video)

This is a gem of a ballad by Jason Aldean, a heavyweight of the country scene from Georgia, that sings of the bittersweet end of summer.

Released in July 2016 as the second single from the album “They Don’t Know,” the song delicately portrays a love lost with the close of summer, with lyrics that resonate by overlaying the end of a romance with the changing seasons.

Marking a shift from his usual country-rock sound, the track showcases a more melodic and emotional approach that reveals a new side of Aldean, and it became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Billboard country chart.

It’s a perfect classic for those slow moments by the seaside at summer dusk.

Summertime’s CloseZach Bryan

Zach Bryan – Summertime’s Close

Zach Bryan, a singer-songwriter from Oklahoma, began making music while serving in the Navy and, after receiving an honorable discharge in 2021, devoted himself to music full-time, becoming one of the standout artists in today’s country-folk scene.

Blending elements of country, folk, and Americana, his sound is marked by understated acoustic guitar and poetic lyrics.

Featured on his self-titled album “Zach Bryan,” released in August 2023, this song is a superb ballad that delicately captures nostalgia for summers past and a longing for lost love.

True to an artist known for songs expressing deep love for his mother, the track beautifully conveys nuanced emotions rooted in personal experience, making it a perfect choice for spending a quiet moment alone by the seaside at summer’s end.

Talking to the MoonBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – Talking To The Moon (Official Lyric Video)

This gem of a piano ballad by Hawaiian singer-songwriter Bruno Mars portrays the pain of heartbreak and longing for a loved one through a romantic theme of speaking to the moon.

Released in 2010 on the album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, it features a serene sound in the key of C minor at 73 BPM, with a poignant melody woven by his rich falsetto.

It was used as an insert song in the Brazilian TV drama Insensato Coração and topped the local charts for 22 consecutive weeks.

It’s a perfect track for solitary moments at dusk or quiet nights spent thinking of someone special.

Didn’t We Almost Have It AllWhitney Houston

Whitney Houston – Didn’t We Almost Have It All (Official Live Video)

Whitney Houston, the American songstress who shone brilliantly in the 1980s.

Among her many hit songs, a considerable number of people say their favorite is Didn’t We Almost Have It All.

Released in 1987, the song reached number one on the U.

S.

charts.

With her powerful voice and expressive delivery, she sings of lingering feelings toward a lover on the verge of parting.

HonestyBilly Joel

Billy Joel – Honesty (Official Video)

Billy Joel is an American singer-songwriter famous for hit songs like “Just the Way You Are” and “The Stranger.” This is a single taken from his 1978 album 52nd Street.

The title, “Honesty,” is a word that means “sincerity.” In this work, he earnestly conveys that while it’s hard to find sincerity, he still wants to remain sincere.

Just The Way You AreBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are (Official Music Video)

In April 2018, EXILE ATSUSHI covered Bruno Mars’s “Just the Way You Are” with Japanese lyrics, and it became a hot topic.

Billy Joel also has a hit song with the same title, and what both songs share is the attitude of “I love you for everything you are—your good parts and your flaws alike.” Whether that stands up objectively is another matter; love makes even pockmarks look like dimples.

That’s what romance is like.

Bruno’s original version was released as a single in 2011.

Cruel SummerBananarama

Bananarama – Cruel Summer (Official Video)

For those who came of age in the ’80s, the British girl group Bananarama needs no introduction.

Amid the disco boom of the time, they scored huge hits in Japan, and their quintessential summer song is surely “Cruel Summer,” also known by its Japanese title “Chigireta Heart.” Its sound is quintessentially ’80s new wave with a catchy melody, yet it isn’t a bright song—there’s a distinctive, lingering sense of melancholy.

A literal translation of the original title would be “Cruel Summer,” and indeed the lyrics tell the story of a woman who experiences a painful breakup in the summer.

The Japanese title likely follows the lyrics, and you could say it’s an excellent title that captures the essence of the track.

Perhaps some people make a point of listening to this song at the end of every summer, deliberately revisiting those bitter memories.