Lovely winter song

Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s. Timeless masterpieces of winter songs.

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Among the four seasons, there have long been many songs that take winter as their theme.

What’s more, the cold of winter can stir a certain wistfulness, and that’s part of the appeal—so many winter songs slip gently into the heart when you listen.

In this article, we’ll introduce, all at once, a selection of winter tunes that we especially hope people in their 60s will enjoy.

We’ve chosen not only the songs you still often hear when winter comes around, but also nostalgic tracks that may bring back memories of your youth.

They’re all timeless masterpieces that haven’t lost their luster, so please take this opportunity to give them another listen.

Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s. Timeless classic winter tunes (1–10).

Midwinter DateNEW!Mari Amachi

Mari Amachi ☆ Midwinter Date

Midwinter Date NEW! Mari Amachi

Mari Amachi, who was a national idol in the early 1970s.

This song, included as the B-side of the single “Futari no Nichiyoubi,” released in December 1972, warmly depicts lovers intertwining their fingers and snuggling close as a wintry, leafless avenue is swept by a cold wind.

The lyrics are by Michio Yamagami, the music by Masayuki Hirao, and the arrangement by Shunichi Makaino.

The words, which sing of love nurtured in the cold season, combine with Amachi’s clear, transparent voice to evoke a sense of hope amid the poignancy.

Featured on a single that sold about 440,000 copies at the time, the track was also included on the album “Ashita e no Melody” and has continued to be loved by fans.

Give it a listen while imagining a moment spent with someone special on a chilly day.

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Snow, fall.NEW!Gamu

Let it Snow / Gam

Snow, Fall! NEW! Gamyu

This song, which opens Gam’s December 1981 album Kazabana, by the lyrical folk duo renowned in the 1980s, is a winter ballad that echoes with bittersweet feelings entrusted to gently falling snow.

Carried by soft guitar tones, it delicately portrays the tremor of a heart thinking of someone amid a scene of swirling snow.

The transparent harmonies and introspective lyrics weave a world imbued with Gam’s signature lyricism, offering a warmth that seems to nestle into winter’s stillness.

It’s a track that seeps into the heart when, alone in the cold season, you find yourself recalling days gone by or someone dear.

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Before winter comespaper balloon

Before Winter Comes (’77) Paper Balloon KAMI FUSEN

A paper balloon before winter comes

Known as Paper Balloon’s signature song, this piece became a major hit, selling 450,000 copies.

Released by CBS/Sony on November 1, 1977, it reached No.

4 on the Oricon weekly chart and ranked No.

27 on the 1978 year-end chart.

Its melody, imbued with a folkloric atmosphere, and lyrics expressing an unforgettable longing for a former lover resonated with many listeners.

Through depictions of sloping streets, seaside scenes, and urban landscapes, it conveys a poignant wish to reclaim lost love.

The shifting emotions that accompany the changing seasons are portrayed with finesse, revealing the delicate feelings of a woman hoping for a reunion as winter approaches.

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Recommended winter songs for people in their 60s: Timeless winter classics (11–20)

The Color of WinterMomoe Yamaguchi

Momoe Yamaguchi - Winter Colors

Fuyu no Iro by Momoe Yamaguchi

This is a winter ballad by Momoe Yamaguchi that resonates deeply.

Its wistful tone and delicate vocals beautifully capture wintry scenes and the warm feelings of lovers.

Released in 1974, it reached a high position on the Japanese music charts and became widely recognized as one of Yamaguchi’s signature songs.

Written specifically for her by Yoko Aki and Kyohei Tsutsumi, the piece was reportedly crafted after a deep study of Yamaguchi’s personality and vocal timbre.

The lyrics, depicting a one-sided crush, convey the pure and heartrending emotions of a woman in love.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to spend a quiet moment thinking of someone special while wrapped in the chill of winter.

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From the northern innHarumi Miyako

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn (Full with Lyrics) Harumi Miyako / Kita no Yado Kara

From the Northern Inn by Harumi Miyako

It’s a classic that vividly and emotively portrays scenes of Japan’s northern regions and the lives of the people there.

Harumi Miyako’s powerful vocals bring the seasons to life—the winter chill and snowy vistas, the arrival of spring, and the autumn foliage.

Released in 1975 as her 67th single, it became a massive hit, selling over 1.

4 million copies.

In 1976, it won the Japan Record Award and has remained one of Miyako’s signature songs, cherished by many.

Highly recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in the serene beauty of the North while listening to a voice that resonates deep in the heart.

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Winter RivieraShinichi Mori

Winter Riviera

Riviera in Winter - Shinichi Mori

It’s a classic song that portrays winter’s loneliness and the sorrow of farewell.

Takashi Matsumoto’s lyrics and Eiichi Ohtaki’s composition blend beautifully, and Shinichi Mori’s distinctive husky voice resonates deeply.

Released in November 1982, it reached No.

10 on the Oricon weekly chart and No.

41 on the year-end ranking, and it also received the Special Gold Award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.

Noted as a new kind of enka incorporating pop elements, it has been covered by many artists.

It’s the kind of song you want to listen to on a winter night when you’re alone—a mature winter tune that stays close to the hearts of those who’ve experienced the end of a romance, and one that has been loved for a long time.

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Winter LightningAlice

You’re Rollin’ Thunder

Alice of the Winter Lightning

This is one of Alice’s signature works, likening a storm of emotions to lightning.

With lyrics by Shinji Tanimura and music by Takao Horiuchi, the song was released in October 1977.

Although it initially struggled, it became a major hit the following year, ranking 16th on Oricon’s 1978 year-end chart and selling a total of 540,000 copies.

The lyrics are striking, overlaying the pain of parting with fierce lightning and expressing emotions that surge from deep within the heart.

It’s a track that signals a new frontier for Alice as they shifted from folk to rock.

In 2021, it was also featured in a McDonald’s commercial, remaining beloved across generations.

When your heart wavers in the cold season, why not give this song a listen?

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