[2025] Classic Western love songs to listen to on Tanabata: tracks about stars and the Milky Way

Walking On The Milky WayOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Walking On The Milky Way

This song, with the grand title “Walking on the Milky Way,” is a synth-pop masterpiece released in 1996 by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, a leading force in the UK electronic music scene.

As Andy McCluskey himself has called it one of his finest works, it brilliantly fuses an expansive, string-laden sound with elements of baroque pop.

Included on the album Universal, it reached No.

17 on the UK Singles Chart, yet at the time it suffered the misfortune of being rejected by BBC Radio 1 for being “not trendy.” Even so, the performance with a full orchestra on BBC’s Top of the Pops remains legendary.

Wrapped in a cosmic sense of scale and a beautiful melody, it’s the perfect track to listen to while gazing up at the Tanabata night sky.

Milky WaySyd Barrett

Syd Barrett – Milky way

Speaking of Syd Barrett from Cambridge, England, he’s known as a founding member of the legendary band Pink Floyd, but the body of work he left during his solo career after departing the band in 1968 is not to be overlooked.

This track, included on the album Opel released in October 1988, is one of the previously unreleased recordings from June 1970 at Abbey Road Studios, produced by his former bandmate David Gilmour.

While it has elements of psychedelic folk, it carries a more introspective, dreamlike atmosphere, where Barrett’s delicate guitar work and distinctive vocal style meld to draw listeners into a fantastical sonic world.

As a song themed around the Milky Way, it’s a perfect pick for the night of Tanabata.

Counting StarsOneRepublic

OneRepublic – Counting Stars

Since releasing their debut album in 2007, OneRepublic—an American band known for wielding catchy, approachable melodies—has continued to produce songs loved by people of all ages.

The track introduced here is one of their signature hits, released as a single from their third studio album, Native, in 2013.

It’s a model pop song: a superb piece that captivates with its solid band ensemble, striking keyboard phrases, and an irresistible sing-along melody.

Looking at the lyrics, you can’t help but be struck by sharp lines like “let’s count stars instead of money.”

MILKY WAYBap Kennedy

MILKY WAY by Bap Kennedy (1962-2016)

As a song themed around starry skies and the Milky Way, the work crafted by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bap Kennedy radiates a special presence.

Featured on his 2005 album The Big Picture, this piece is also noteworthy for being a collaboration with Irish music legend Van Morrison.

Blending elements of country, folk rock, Americana, and Celtic soul, the sound exemplifies Kennedy’s musical versatility and builds a richly layered world befitting the grand theme of the Milky Way.

With contributions from renowned musicians—including pedal steel guitar virtuoso B.

J.

Cole—the track boasts a lush musical texture.

It’s a perfect choice for a Tanabata night, when you want to gaze up at the stars and slowly immerse yourself in the music.

Megumi The Milkyway AboveConnan Mockasin

Connan Mockasin – Megumi The Milkyway Above [PHLP01]

Conan Mockasin, a New Zealand-born artist who continues to captivate music fans around the world with his dreamy psychedelic music.

This track, which opens his 2011 debut album “Forever Dolphin Love,” features the word “Milky Way” in its title, making it a perfect song for a Tanabata night.

The sound woven from gentle guitar arpeggios, rhythmic percussion, and his distinctive high-pitched vocals is filled with a floating sensation, as if you’re gazing at constellations glittering in the night sky.

Coupled with the children’s voices inserted at the beginning, it invites listeners into a phantasmagoric world.

Steamtrains To The Milky WayDanny Wilson

Steamtrains To The Milky Way

A hidden gem that lets you immerse yourself in the dreamy world crafted by Danny Wilson, the sophisti-pop band from Dundee, Scotland.

As the title suggests, this song paints a fanciful image of a steam train to the Milky Way, a beautiful ballad that weaves a delicate melody with longing for the starry sky and a desire to escape reality.

Featured on their 1987 debut album “Meet Danny Wilson,” it boasts a refined arrangement highlighted by Roddy Lorimer’s trumpet, evoking the elegant atmosphere of Burt Bacharach.

It’s the perfect track for those moments when you want to gaze up at the night sky and spend some quiet time, away from the bustle of everyday life.

Goodbye, Milky WayEnigma

Enigma – Goodbye Milky Way (Official Video)

The German music project Enigma, renowned for its cosmic grandeur and mystique, released in 2006 an album titled “A Posteriori,” whose closing track is a perfect choice for Tanabata—like a farewell sung to the Milky Way.

Enigma, led by Romanian-born Michael Cretu, continues to captivate listeners around the world with a distinctive sound that fuses New Age and electronica, and on this album it takes on the sweeping theme of a collision between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Enhanced by Louisa Stanley’s narration, the piece conveys a cosmic ending and a new beginning, drawing the listener into the depths of outer space over the course of roughly six minutes.

As the finale to a masterpiece nominated for Best New Age Album at the 49th Grammy Awards, it’s a recommended track for anyone who wants to gaze up at the night sky and contemplate the mysteries of the universe.