Favorite Songs for Women in Their 50s: A Curated Selection of Sweet and Bittersweet Love Ballads!

Gentle RainKyoko Koizumi

Kyoko Koizumi – Gentle Rain (Official Video)

The lyrics penned by Kyoko Koizumi herself delicately depict loneliness in the city, chance encounters, and a heartfelt longing for the other person.

Released in February 1993, the song drew attention as the theme for the drama “To Love” and became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon charts and selling over 950,000 copies.

Koizumi’s voice, carried by Shoko Suzuki’s beautifully composed melody, blends poignancy with warmth, gently resonating with listeners.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to alone on a rainy day—one that softly soothes the heart when you’re feeling the loneliness of the urban bustle or holding onto thoughts of someone dear.

Alone in the twilightYumi Matsutoya

Yumi Matsutoya - Alone in the Twilight (Recording for Speaker Evaluation)

Yumi Matsutoya is a leading Japanese singer-songwriter who has been active for many years.

For women in their 50s, she might be the perfect artist.

She has many classic songs, but the one I especially recommend is “Hitori in the Twilight.” It features a vocal line that showcases her signature Yuming style, yet the melody doesn’t jump drastically up and down, so it’s relatively easy to keep pitch.

The chorus raises the voltage all at once, but the overall range isn’t that wide, so if you choose the right key, even those with lower voices should be able to sing it without difficulty.

Mysterious Peach PieMariya Takeuchi

Mariya Takeuchi – Mysterious Peach Pie [Live Version / 2000]

A spring song brimming with Mariya Takeuchi’s charm, depicting the fresh exhilaration of a budding romance.

The natural brilliance that colors the city further heightens the feelings of that moment you fall in love.

It gently captures the buoyant, fluttery sensation of an unexpected, delightful encounter arriving at just the right time.

Released in February 1980, the song reached No.

3 on the Oricon chart.

Chosen for Shiseido’s spring campaign and enhanced by Mitsuo Hagita’s light, airy arrangement, it caused quite a stir.

A perfect track for those who want to discover a new self with the arrival of spring, or to bask in bittersweet memories of young love.

Slow motionAkina Nakamori

[Official] Akina Nakamori 'Slow Motion (from “Hajimemashite”)' [1st Single (Released May 1, 1982)] Akina Nakamori / Slow Motion

A gem of a love song that portrays a fateful encounter on the beach as if time itself had stopped.

Its delicate lyrics and harmonious melody leave a striking impression, letting the protagonist’s pounding heartbeat seep into the listener’s own.

Released in May 1982 as Akina Nakamori’s debut single and included on the album “Prologue ,” the song is elevated by Nakamori’s vocals, which blend innocence with allure.

It’s a track perfect for the season of refreshing spring breezes, and anyone who has ever felt the thrill of budding romance is sure to relate.

Why not surrender to the pleasant early-summer wind and bask in those bittersweet memories?

Second LoveAkina Nakamori

[Official] Akina Nakamori 'Second Love (from “Hajimemashite”)' [#1] [3rd Single (released Nov 10, 1982)] Akina Nakamori / Second Love

A heartrending love ballad released in November 1982 that delicately portrays the feelings of a girl inexperienced in romance.

Within its gently enveloping, warm melody, the bashfulness and bittersweet longing of a girl in love are woven.

The song earned Ms.

Nakamori her first-ever No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and is regarded as one of her signature works.

Since June 2024, it has also been used as the departure melody at Seibu Ikebukuro Line’s Kiyose Station, continuing to be cherished across generations.

With its relaxed tempo and tender melodic line, this piece is also an easy, soothing choice to sing at karaoke.

Love Can't Stop ~Turn It Into Love~Wink

WINK – Love Can’t Stop

It was released in 1988 as Wink’s third single.

Originally a song by Australian artist Kylie Minogue, Wink covered it, and it reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart, becoming Wink’s best-selling release.

It was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Oikaketai no!” and is a classic that has been covered by many artists.

My dear youSeiko Matsuda

My Precious You — Seiko Matsuda

It was released in 1993 as Seiko Matsuda’s 34th single.

The song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Was I Really That Ugly?”, starring Seiko Matsuda herself, and it reached No.

7 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

The lyrics, which honestly express the joy of meeting someone special, are particularly striking.

It’s a song that makes you want to sing while thinking of that one irreplaceable person in your life.