[2025] Iconic songs and love songs themed around or set by the sea and sandy beaches — sea songs

Summer MemoriesKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi / Summer Memories

When it comes to classic songs about the summer sea, you can’t leave out Ketsumeishi’s “Natsu no Omoide” (“Summer Memories”).

Doesn’t everyone have unforgettable summer memories? The song paints irreplaceable moments spent with friends and lovers.

Those unforgettable, joyful times come rushing back every time the season returns, don’t they? With its laid-back melody, this comfortable track stirs up our fond memories.

If you’re planning a trip to the beach, why not use it as your BGM on the way?

Swaying feelingsZARD

Swaying Feelings – ZARD (Full)

A timeless masterpiece by the now-late ZARD’s Izumi Sakai.

Lyrics by Izumi Sakai and composition by hitmaker Tetsurō Oda.

With an endlessly refreshing melody, Sakai’s beautiful voice expresses the pure feelings of a woman—an iconic summer song.

It was used in a Pocari Sweat commercial, and even now, hearing it brings images of the ocean to mind.

Island SongThe Boom

The Boom - Shima Uta (Live)

THE BOOM is a four-piece rock band whose name was given with the paradoxical meaning of “always staying true to our music without being swayed by trends.” Did you know that their single Shima Uta—now synonymous with the band—is actually a song that recounts the tragedy of war and a wish for peace? Its message—hoping that prayers will cross the sea and be heard—is indispensable even today, when conflicts continue around the world.

With melodies and sounds that evoke the Ryukyuan scale and Okinawan music, it’s a million-selling hit that moves the heart and is known by everyone.

blue carSpitz

Spitz / Blue Car

This song by the beloved national rock band Spitz depicts a summer episode related to the “Blue Car” in its title.

The mid-tempo band sound, which seems to express the joys of summer, along with the airy guitar tones and vocals, leaves a striking impression.

While it portrays the act of heading to the seaside by car, it isn’t merely a simple outing song; it also conveys a sense of strength that suggests moving forward into the future.

It’s a track with a mysterious charm—refreshing yet somehow imbued with a dreamy, fantastical atmosphere.

Summer rainKobukuro

Summer rain

This is a Kokuburo number that was also used as the opening theme for the anime Cross Game.

While Kokuburo’s signature songs often include ballads like Tsubomi and Sakura, this track is a fast-paced, up-tempo piece befitting summer.

Depicting a love swaying beneath a shared umbrella while being drenched by a summer rain, the song poignantly portrays the frustration of wanting to express one’s feelings but being unable to act as hoped.

Although the word “sea” doesn’t appear in the lyrics, it evokes the feeling of wanting to break free from the umbrella and shout at the top of your lungs by the seaside.

Sinbad on the ShorePink Lady

Sinbad of the Seashore / Pink Lady

Pink Lady, a female duo whose innovative choreography, costumes, and songs made a powerful impact on the idol scene of the time.

Their 4th single, “Nagisa no Sindbad,” became their first million-seller and a massive hit.

The lyrics weave a sexy story set on a summer beach with humorous phrases, creating a perfect contrast with the refreshing melody.

Since its release, it has been covered by many musicians and stands as a quintessential Showa-era pop tune.

Adeline by the SeasideRichard Clayderman

Richard Clayderman 'Ballade pour Adeline'

This is the debut piece released in 1976 by Richard Clayderman, a pianist from France.

In Japan, it’s often heard as background music in a wide variety of settings, which sometimes leads people to mistake it for classical music.

However, it is modern music performed on the piano and classified as easy listening.

It’s a gentle piano piece that evokes images of a calm shoreline and the clear air of morning, as if straightforwardly expressing the title of the composition.