Lovely summer song

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

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Pop music writer/editorKEI
A style that keeps updating my favorites while loving mainstream and hit songs. I have experience writing articles for outlets like Utaten. Since I discovered music as a student, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. 2000s J-POP and 2010s K-POP were my youth, and I’m also loosely into jazz and R&B. I enjoy good music across genres with a “good is good” mindset. Thanks to my past work environment (and its influence), I listened to a lot of classic rock and kayōkyoku, which may have broadened my tastes. At RAG MUSIC, I mainly cover K-POP. I focus on reviews that emphasize feelings people can relate to, and on editing aligned with local pride and hit potential. Thank you!

When it comes to events in July, many people probably think of Tanabata first, but in fact, Tanabata is a Chinese festival that was introduced to Japan during the Nara period.

In the West, it’s said that there are also customs of celebrating Tanabata in places like the United States via Japan, and there are several songs themed around the Milky Way, which is indispensable to Tanabata.

So this time, under the theme of classic Western songs you’ll want to listen to on Tanabata, we’ll introduce tracks that sing about the Milky Way, the starry sky, and the stars.

We’ve also picked songs that mention the Milky Way in their lyrics, so you might make some unexpected discoveries.

[2025] Classic Western songs to listen to on Tanabata: love songs about stars and the Milky Way (41–50)

She’s Like A StarTaio Cruz

Taio Cruz – She’s Like A Star (Official Video)

She's Like A StarTaio Cruz

It’s a beautiful love ballad by British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, his 2008 hit that sings of love and admiration for a special woman who shines like a star.

It was released as a single from Taio’s landmark debut album, “Departure,” and its lyrical lines comparing her to the morning light and an angel are striking.

The repeated references to stars brilliantly convey her radiance and the magnitude of her presence.

I think this song is a lovely piece that teaches us to appreciate the ones we love.

It’s a classic I highly recommend for a quiet night with someone special.

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Wishing On A StarCover Girls

The Cover Girls – Wishing On A Star | OFFICIAL VIDEO

Wishing On A StarCover Girls

Speaking of Tanabata, one of the fun traditions is writing wishes on tanzaku.

That’s why I want to introduce you to Cover Girls’ “Wishing On A Star.” It’s a ballad about a woman making a wish upon a star—but rather than a hopeful wish, she longs to be reunited with a lost love.

This bittersweet story is perfect for Tanabata.

By the way, it’s a cover of the song of the same name released by Rose Royce in 1978.

That version leans more into R&B—be sure to check it out too!

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A Thousand MilesVanessa Carlton

Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles

A Thousand MilesVanessa Carlton

This is Vanessa Carlton’s debut song, notable for its beautiful piano melody and clear, transparent vocals.

It expresses the bittersweet feeling of lost love, sung against the backdrop of an urban landscape.

Released in 2002, it became a worldwide hit and was nominated for a Grammy.

It’s also known for being covered by ONE OK ROCK.

It might be nice to listen to it while remembering a lover you’ve been separated from.

How about humming it on the night of Tanabata, making a wish as you do?

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Swimming In StarsWayfarers

Swimming in Stars – Wayfarers (Official Audio)

Swimming In StarsWayfarers

A perfect song to listen to while leisurely gazing at the stars in the night sky is “Swimming in Stars,” created by the female singer Wayfarers in 2018.

Its grand, dreamy sound gently resonates throughout.

The melody is refreshingly light yet tinged with a certain wistfulness, leaving a strong impression.

The generous choral work that wraps around the fantastical lyrics is soothing as well.

Experience the electronic sound that relaxes the mind.

It’s a track that’s just right for a Tanabata night filled with wishes—whether you listen alone or while spending time with someone special.

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Long DistanceBrandy

Brandy – Long Distance *With Lyrics*

Long DistanceBrandy

A song whose lyrics about a woman in a long-distance relationship are perfect for Tanabata is Brandy’s “Long Distance.” It’s a 2008 work by the artist who was popular in the 1990s, and Bruno Mars also took part in writing and composing it.

The song powerfully conveys the pain of a woman who wants to be by her loved one’s side, but can’t because the physical distance keeps them apart.

Perhaps Orihime, who could meet Hikoboshi only once a year, felt the same way in her daily life.

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MoonshineBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – Moonshine (Official Audio)

MoonshineBruno Mars

On Tanabata, when you take your time gazing at the night sky, you can’t help but want to listen to something romantic, right? The perfect song for that moment is “Moonshine.” It was created by Bruno Mars, the American singer-songwriter who brings nostalgic yet fresh pop music to listeners around the world.

Its warm melody line, set to a slow tempo, strikes a chord.

You’ll swoon over the dramatic love story that unfolds under the moonlight.

It’s a love song that makes you appreciate the importance of the one you love all over again.

Why not take Tanabata as a chance to share your pure feelings?

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Ain’t No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye、Tammi Terrell

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Ain't No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye、Tammi Terrell

It’s a classic that celebrates the power of love, woven with a soul-stirring, soulful vocal performance.

The duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell became an instant hit upon its 1967 release, reaching No.

19 on the U.

S.

Billboard Hot 100 and No.

3 on the R&B chart.

The lyrics—declaring that no high mountain, deep valley, or wide river can stand in the way of love—light a beacon of hope in listeners’ hearts, like stars shining in the Tanabata night sky.

When you want to feel the bond with someone special, listen to this song and you’ll sense the strength of love, like Orihime and Hikoboshi crossing the Milky Way.

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