[Summer Songs] Summer tracks recommended for teens: A roundup of the latest and classic hits

Flowing voiceMei-chan

Flowing Voice / Mei-chan

Meichan is a singer who made his major debut in 2017 and is also active as a Vocaloid producer and YouTuber.

His digital-only single “Ryūsei,” released on August 23, 2023, was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Our School Broadcast.” The lyrics, which evoke a summer romance, pair with a brisk, exhilarating ensemble to lift your spirits.

It’s an upbeat track with a soft yet resolute vocal tone that leaves a strong impression—highly recommended for karaoke, too.

Summertime CinderellaGreen Yellow Society

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Summer Time Cinderella' Official Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Summer Time Cinderella

Ryokuoushoku Shakai is a four-member co-ed rock band that’s expanding its fanbase with powerful high-tone vocals and songs brimming with fresh pop sensibility.

Their 7th single, “Summertime Cinderella,” was written as the theme song for the TV drama “Midsummer Cinderella.” The arrangement moves from a sentimental intro featuring piano and strings into a light, breezy A-melody, making you feel refreshed just by listening.

True to its title, the summer-evoking lyrics convey the arrival of the hot season, delivering a refreshing, upbeat tune.

All of the YouthFujifabric

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

This is a memorable masterpiece distinguished by a gentle melody line that tenderly embraces the poignant scenery of late summer and the fleeting nature of youth.

Set against fireworks and twilight, it portrays the desire to cherish this moment intertwined with anxieties about a changing future.

Beautifully balancing Fujifabric’s refined musicality with the delicate world of its lyrics, the song was released in November 2007 as their 10th single and served as the lead single for the album TEENAGER.

It was featured as the opening theme for NTV’s Oto Moe! and later as an insert song in Fuji TV’s 2013 drama SUMMER NUDE, capturing the hearts of many.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on nights when you wish to bask in precious memories, or when you need a gentle push before taking a new step forward.

August nightYoung Skinny

Hachigatsu no yoru

Young Skinny, who are expected to be the next big break, released the mini-album “If I Have to Act, I’d Rather Be Myself” as a nationwide distribution just one year and four months after forming.

Featured on their first mini-album, “In a Daily Life Full of Lies,” is the song “August Night.” It’s a rock tune with striking lyrics depicting a woman who’s slipped deeper and deeper into a relationship.

The song conveys a murky, sticky emotion that evokes a humid summer night.

Beautiful JourneyHirai Dai

Hirai Dai / Beautiful Journey (Music Video)

This is a song by singer-songwriter Dai Hirai that evokes a gentle summer landscape.

With a calm sound that suggests the refreshing air of a breeze sweeping along the summer shore, it stirs a sense of nostalgia.

True to its title, the lyrics seem to depict beautiful summer scenery and travel, while also expressing summer romance, resulting in a deeply affecting piece.

It’s a track that conveys the careful layering of summer memories and radiates both passion and freshness.

secret base ~What You Gave Me~Meiko Honma (Ai Kayano), Naruko Anjou (Haruka Tomatsu), Chiriko Tsurumi (Saori Hayami)

We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day. ED [secret base ~What You Gave Me~ (10 years after Ver.)]

When it comes to summer songs, this track is almost always mentioned: ZONE’s signature song, “secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~.” Released in 2001 as ZONE’s third single, it remains a frequently heard summer classic that has been covered by numerous artists.

It enjoyed a revival and reached a new generation when the voice cast of the TV anime “Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai” performed it as the ending theme.

Fireworks MagicAnzako

Asako An - Magic of Fireworks (90-second Sing Trailer)

The lyrics, which evoke a bittersweet summer love story, make my heart flutter.

It’s a song by Anzako, a female singer from Tottori Prefecture.

It’s the title track of her 2018 mini-album “Hanabi no Mahō” (Fireworks Magic).

The catchy chorus has a charm that makes you want to listen again and again.

This is the kind of love you’d want to experience, isn’t it?